A Hug in a Box and Measuring Cups

 

It was a hug in a box that arrived at my door on Saturday!

I sat in the middle of my livingroom floor and tears just oozed out and overflowed as I opened the last item of my "hug in a box."  A small glass measuring cup with a rubber lid.  Okkkaaay, you say.  What in the world would make you cry over that?  There is a whole back story so let me share.  A few weeks ago my young son confessed in the car one day on the way home from school that he doesn't think God will ever give him his one hearts desire, a dog.  So we talked about God's glory and timing and we don't really have an appropriate home today for a pet, etc etc.  And it's all true.  When it will bring our God glory, He will provide a companion for Noah.  But I will say, my mama heart broke just a little to see his loneliness and his deep desire for a dog and the tears leaving a wet path down his cheek in spite of his brave attempt to hold them in.

Fast forward to this past Saturday evening.  Chloe and I were preparing dinner and pre-prepping Sunday lunch and I make this random comment that someday I will buy myself glass measuring cups that don't have their numbers all rubbed off!  My Hug in a Box was already at my door.  The children found it moments later and now you know why I couldn't hold back my tears because HE CARES!!!!  He cares about silly little things like measuring cups and how loved and thought about I would be by that box full of sweet little things she knew I would enjoy.  I texted her right away and guess what?  The measuring cup was an afterthought.  A padded box that would fill in a gap and keep everything else she had chosen secure and safe.  

Noah was helping me unpack and looked at me startled when he saw my leaking eyes.  I said, "Noah, you remember your despair of ever being able to have a dog?  If God thinks it was important to send me a little measuring cup literally minutes after I commented in wanting one, don't you think He cares even more about your little heart and desire to have a furry companion?"  He got it.  Clearly.  His eyes filled with tears and we leaked together!  What a marvelous, KIND God we serve.  

I have had a whole blog about kindness pending in my head.  I will save that for another time but can I just say that the last weeks we have been the recipients of so much kindness by our God and His people?  It feels like it is raining material blessings.  It is terrifically overwhelming.  And humbling.  How I pray we use these gifts well and for His glory and honor.

Our precious friends drove an hour, took the trampoline apart, loaded it up, brought it to our house and then helped us put it together.  Someone at church just wanted it out of her yard before her move and we were the super excited recipients of her generosity.  Literally three days before she offered it to us, Noah had said AGAIN how much he would enjoy a trampoline.  HE CARES!!!!

It was such a sweet team effort!

The kids have logged HOURS on this trampoline already.  Lord, you are so KIND to us.  We did not need a trampoline but You saw what a blessing it would be for our kids and chose to bless us generously!  THANK YOU!!!

A wonderful outing with our Canadian friends to the Houston Botanical Gardens on the last holiday.  These are the places we have to visit before the harsh southern Texas heat hits! 

Silly, silly girls!  Where teenage girls come up with so much to laugh about I don't know but I love to watch their budding friendship.

What a gorgeous display of God's creation.  Many of the plants are still small but so many were in full bloom and it was breathtakingly beautiful to see.  Of course, I think the girlies are pretty too!

Dear ones, if you are unsure of His care and love over your life, look around you at the beauty of creation, the beauty of God's people, your family, your home, your job or form of sustenance.  How He sends little things into your day to make you smile.  How He knows what you have need of right now, today, at this moment.  If you need a hug in a box, please let me know.  I have been the recipient of many precious care packages over the years and I know how loved they can make one feel.  

                                                                                     Blessings and Joy on your day,

                                                                                                            Jama

Talking to the Lord About YOU!

 

Talking to the Lord about YOU!

What in the world do you do with all those beautiful Christmas cards and pictures you receive every year?  Let's be honest, we can't keep them all every year or we would have boxes in storage of them.  But we can't throw them away can we?  I mean, people spent money (I know how much because I sent them in the Fall and know how much these beautiful creations cost!).  They took the time to type out my address label or if they are like me, they hand addressed all 100 or whatever astronomical number they sent out.  Then they spent the money again on that stamp that is also reaching astronomical numbers these days, like everything else. 

So, what do you do with those cards?

I struggle every year when I start organizing and putting away the Christmas decorations and clutter that always accumulates by oh, mid January.  This year I received a brilliant solution to a prayer I never even prayed!  Why not keep them with my little gratitude journal and Bible and every morning take the one that is next in the pile and pray for that family?  Ta-da!  I don't feel guilty for throwing them away and YOU are being prayed for.  If you took the time to send us a card this year, just know you are being lifted before the throne of Grace every few weeks or days or how ever many cards I have! 

Which brings up another thank you I owe to those of you who blessed us with cards and letters.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  The method to my madness in sending "We Moved" cards in the Fall was so I didn't miss out on those beautiful cards at Christmas time.  There are a select few that sent us Christmas cards every.single.year we lived in Brazil.  You know who you are and know what that meant to me because I have told you.  

When you live abroad you lose contact with many, many people.  It just happens.  It's not anyone's fault.  It's reality.  It was my reality and took time to work through the pain of friendships/contacts lost but in the end it just made me overwhelmingly thankful for those who took the time, cost and energy to keep in contact.  My heart overflowed when those cards started arriving and it wasn't any different here in Texas this year.  Far away from our family and long time friends, we didn't know what Christmas would look like but our tree was decorated from top to bottom with cards and pictures of people who didn't forget us.

I have not forgotten you either and it is a privilege to pray for you.  Sometimes I take out your card and cry because I just miss you and your family so much.  Usually there is a smile in the midst of those tears because your friendship makes my family and I smile and brings us so much JOY.  Sometimes I look at your card and long to see you again because its been so many years since we last met but you still include us in your lives.  Thank God for those letters that often accompany the picture so I can actually figure out who is who in those kids who have grown and changed so much and low and behold aren't babies anymore.  

And to you sweet, welcoming Texans who have just embraced our family and loved on us at Cornerstone Bible Church, thank YOU for sending us cards too.  Know when I see your faces my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for you and your friendship.  Thank you for ministering to us in so many, many ways.  Ya'll especially make me smile! 😁 

So, if you sent us anything this past Christmas season and want me praying for something specifically, please let me know.  We love you and thank God for you and hope you leave us on that card list! 

Side note: our tree is still up and lit up and adding so much fun to our somewhat empty living room I just didn't want to put it away this year.  We just took off the Christmas decor and hung fun hearts and ta-da, we have a Valentine's tree.  Easter is coming but it's still decorated with hearts to remind our little family to love dearly, completely and well AT HOME. 

Blessings on your February 20th day!

Jama

Self-Pity: When Life Feels Desperately Unfair

What do you do when you feel that pang of self-pity began to demand attention in your spirit?

What do you tell yourself when you find the "It's not fair!" phrase coming out of your mouth?  Maybe you don't even say it, heaven forbid, but you think it plenty.

I have been thinking about self-pity since reading this convicting line in my most recent read, The Christian Home, by Paul Shirley.  I highly recommend this little book as a side note.  It won't take you long to read but will surely prick your spirit a few times if you are anything like me.

"Self-pity is really just being mad at God because He didn't let you control your life and keep your idols"  (A Tired Family chapter, page 93).   

Let's just say this entire chapter (the subtitle being -"Shepherding your heart through ministry fatigue, especially for Mom") just hit me between the eyes.  OH, MY.  Any mama (and I believe even fathers) that finds herself/himself just plain ol' tired and bone weary would be encouraged by this author's reminders.  

"Maintaining a healthy spiritual life and vibrant family life requires diligent effort on your part-especially for moms who are on the front lines of ministry at home.  The numerous responsibilities of life coupled with the extensive needs of your family, create a lot of work in the Christian home.  Since we live in a fallen world, you can expect for this to be a struggle, make you tired and tempt you  in unique ways.  Your carnal desire for comfort will sometimes chafe at the restrictions imposed by the burdens of this ministry, but you must remember that God has imposed these burdens on you for your good and His glory." (page 89).

My calling is hard.  Exhausting.  Wearisome.  It is an emptying out of myself and my desires and comforts and replaced with Him.  His grace.  His strength.  His selflessness.  His joy.  That is so radically different than we Christian women (and men) are hearing from the world around us.  Let's be honest, or even from many of our Christian brothers and sisters.  Magazines, sermons, Facebook, and Christian authors often present the Christian life as a list of to dos that if you do them correctly will get you a nice, smooth, problem free life.  And my pitiful self-pitying, weary little heart just falls in line.  How grateful I am for men and women of God who are oozing the Holy Spirit and are telling us a different story.  They remind us that "in this world we will have tribulation!"  How grateful I am for the pure Word of God who brings my mind and heart into right thinking, feeling and choosing when I commit to spending time in it every single day.  How rich a reminder to press into Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, for strength and grace to serve selflessly, joyfully and whole-heartedly those He has called me to serve.

That being said, I had much opportunity to put this into practice this week as we sent my parents off after a sweet, sweet five weeks with them in our home.  It was a harder goodbye for me than usual.  Not sure why, but Thursday (departure day) found me with almost hourly opportunities to reign in my self-pity and look to Jesus for comfort and JOY.  

We have had guests pretty much since November 7th.  It has been wonderful.  It has been sweet beyond expression.  The hardest part of having guests and visitors for our family is seeing them go.  But we have been called to stay.  I have once again been called to live a very long distance from my parents and brothers and their families.  I don't know why but I know He is good and arranges all things for my good and His glory.  So, as I am trying to teach my children and my heart, enjoy every single moment you have because they won't last forever.

He said he wanted to have typical Houston fare so here we are at the local "typical."  We all tried fried Alligator for the first time.  What an adventure!

Our girl has been on a new health journey this month so she and I make lots of dr. visits to a town 45 minutes away twice a week.  The discovery of this three story, brand new, sunny library has made those trips a bit more fun.

Family Wall Art at the Sawyer Yards downtown!

We got to enjoy this cousin three weekends in a row as she was working 4 hours north of us and choose to spend those days with us on the weekends.  We kind of hope she "needs" to come back very soon!

A great cultural experience at Sawyer Yards

We survived our first southern freeze!!!  We are so grateful for a wonderful property manager who took many precautions to protect our outside pipes and educate us on how to avoid busted pipes.  We came through wonderfully...our neighbors were not so fortunate.  Texas weather is indeed quite fascinating!

This weekend we had visitors from North Carolina (cousin flew home early the morning of this picture), North Dakota and Dallas Fort Worth area.  We were so honored they all came and were so gracious about 10 people sharing 2 bathrooms!

Two weeks ago our little man injured his ankle playing football at school and after finding out he would be wearing a boot for two weeks, we comforted ourselves with a McFlurry!

We are hopeful for good news this coming Wednesday!

My parents treated us to dinner for a belated birthday gift for this man who we just love and appreciate so much. He works so hard for us and God provides so well for us through his faithful service.

Practice never makes perfect when it comes to goodbyes, but "see you later" does hint of sweet joys ahead!

They come and love on us in so many, many ways and then leave our hearts longing for more time and so so grateful for what we had.

Have a blessed weekend friends!  May He find us faithfully serving Him with joy and courage, knowing He is holding us firmly in the palm of His sovereign Hand.

                                                                                    Because He lives,

                                                                                                Jama

 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4: 6-7

2023

When God, in His sovereignty, gave me the above passage this time last year as my life verse for 2023, only He knew what it would come to mean to me as my husband, my children and myself passed through some immense change, blessing, trials and joys in 2023.  I confess, I am excited to leave 2023 behind.  At the same time, it was such a sweet year.  I will never forget this past 12 months as I reflect on God's beautiful and sufficient provision for us one day at a time all.year.long.

There were days I quoted Philippians 4:6-7 to myself multiple times a day.  As anxiety attacked my heart like never before in my life, I would quote it in desperation, reminding myself and the enemy of my soul that anxiety would not define me but a prayerful heart and a spirit of gratitude would be my portion.  And by God's amazing grace, I experienced an underriding sense of peace that could have come only from Above.  I am so grateful to my heavenly Father for not only seeing us through the bumps and turns of 2023 but allowing us to flourish and find rest for our souls in spite of some tough experiences.

February was marked by the realization that our desire and prayers for an opportunity to leave the state of California may be coming true.  March saw us accepting a job transfer to the great state of Texas.  In April, we said goodbye to our husband and daddy and started a two month separation which is never easy and even more so as we made a huge life transition as a family but separated by almost 2000 miles.  In May, the children and I (with the help of family, friends and our church family) packed up the belongings I didn't sell or give away and sent them away in a UPack trailer, cleaned our rental of only 9 months and said goodbye to dozens of family members and dear friends.  2000 miles away Everson and our dear realtor friend faithfully searched for a rental we could afford in a city that is known for having way too few rentals for families.  Literally hours before I needed to give an address to our moving company, we found and signed on a 2 year lease.  Just in time!  

June found us four headed by car to our new state, one which I had only ever flown through two of it's major airports.  Everson flew to California to drive out with us and after one day of travel, he had a horrific health crisis that left him hospitalized for five days in New Mexico and the children and I getting to know Alburquerque, N.M. as we waited for him to stabalize enough to drive the remaining two days to our new city.  We moved into our new home on June 20th and began the rather time consuming and sometimes frustrating job of address change notifications, car registrations, bank changes, document updating, etc.  We just completed that process with the arrival of Everson's USA passport on Christmas Eve.  He is now officially an American passport holder!  Wew!  Can we say "deep sigh of relief" to finally have that list all checked off?

Everson and I both have walked our own health journeys the past six months since moving to Texas.  I have written more at length in previous posts.  Mine personally has been a somewhat private and very painful journey but again, the passage that God have me one year ago became incredibly vital to me living out the Gospel day in and day out.  For modeling Christ-likeness and joy in suffering for my children who watch my every move.  For trusting as we have adjusted to one income so I can be home with my children through this time of transition and adjustment.  For learning to trust God with absolutely everything in my life: my health, my children, my husband, for funds to pay the bills this month.

If I told of how God has provided over and over and over again through His people, it would take a book and I would be bawling all over again.  God used our church in California, our family and our new church to bless us financially so many times I would have lost count if I had not journaled every single gift.  How we prayed for God's provision for a new car and literally 24 hours later we received a substantial gift from a completely unexpected (when is such a gift expected?!) source that humbled us and amazed our children at how God was already providing for a great need (we haven't needed to replace that car yet for which we are so grateful and know when the time comes God will provide the rest needed!).  How I was paying bills before the holidays and prayed, thanking God that He knows our needs and desire to provide well for the visitors He was sending us, and how someone at church wanted to bless us anonymously and gave us a ham and grocery gift card through one of our pastors.  

I share this cap of our 2023 to encourage your heart and remind you that His word is powerful and is able to transform us from the inside out.  When we are able to apply His word and live the gospel in our lives and homes day in and day out, He is so so faithful and able to truly transform us into His image.  I have so far to go.  How I need Him.  How I need His Word.  How I want to live authentically and justly and humbly before Him in all things He allows in my life in the year ahead.  How utterly dependent I am on Him and His grace.

I don't know what the next 12 months hold for our family.  God is up to some pretty big things in my husband's health journey so pray for us as you remember us.  Please feel free to reach out in private messages if you wish to know more.  It all looks big and quite scary from a human perspective but God!  We will move forward in faith and prayer and with hearts overflowing with thanksgiving!

I will end my last post of 2023 with a photo dump!  You have been warned! 😄 We have had so many special visitors the last weeks and we have been so blessed by each one.  Happy 2024 to each of our readers.  We are grateful for each one of you.  Incredibly grateful!  

Girls morning out with my dear SIL Tati and daughter!

My brother and sister in law spent November with us

We took many fun outings, one of our favs was NASA space center

The week before Christmas found us receiving very special visitors from Southern California

Loving the Vietnamese culture they brought to our week

Museum of Natural Science

Oh we do love us a good Blue Bell ice cream!

We have enjoyed a long and sweet friendship of oh, only about 27 years.  I was a 19 year old intern when I met her and she supervised my internship.  She has walked many a path with me over the years and I am so grateful for her friendship.  It was pure joy to have her and her little family with us for a few days last week.

Oh my heart!  It is overflowing with JOY!
These three special, special people arrived Thursday night after a rather LONG three day trip south.

So far we have enjoyed Brazos Bend State Park (thank you Pastor Abe for that fantastic recommendation!) and saw several alligators and other wild life.  We have visited the Houston tunnels (thank you Joel for telling us about those!) and ate great downtown food.  All, I might add, in some 75 degree weather.  It is absolutely beautiful in our neck of the nation.  Can we say yes to warm Christmas weather?!😁

May the Lord bless you and keep you!