Goodbye and Hello

Christmas 2024

 

Us trying to be normal, which we aren't.  Noah is just acting out what his shirt says! 😂

                                                       Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025

 God has been so incredibly faithful the last weeks.  Husband is recovering well and we just thank God for His constant care and love over our family during this particularly difficult season.  He is for us and wow, have we ever experienced His daily bread faithfulness over and over and over again the last few weeks.  Thank you to all who have prayed so faithfully for us.  For those who have met untold practical needs from lunch at the hospital on surgery day, to spending the day with our children, to meals, to grocery money, to job leads, to texts and phone calls...you know who you are and we are grateful beyond description for each of you.  

As I reflect on 2024, I am overwhelmingly grateful the good Lord doesn't allow us to see the future.  I am GLAD I could not see what 2024 held for us or the situtation we would be in as the clock hit midnight and brought in 2025.  How grateful I am for unaswered prayers or when the answer was no for our protection and provision.  How grateful I am for the many "yeses" our sovereign Lord allowed for us the last 12 months that brough so much joy to our hearts: my children got to hug both their grandmas this year, my husband was able to celebrate his parents 50th wedding anniversary with them, I was able to spend an entire month up North with a great portion of my immediate family, my little brother got engaged, we sat for 12 wonderful months under strong, Biblical teaching of God's Word with our church family, a dear cousin moved to our city, new friends who have enriched my life so much (thank you especially Amanda, Marie, Leslie & Shannon) wow, the list goes on and and on and on.

As we enter 2025, I am so grateful a)I can't see the year ahead and b)we can look back on the last year and trace the Hand of God in our lives and home.  I can and will TRUST He will be the same sovereign, provisional, present, loving God He was last year as we move into a new year, full of new opportunities and with blessing, new responsibilities.  To whom much is given, much is required.  I feel the responsibility to not hoard all He has done in my family but to pass on His blessing to others and most of all, share about the God who cares so well for His people.  

May this year be one in which you taste ever more of the Lord and His goodness in your life.  That does not mean an easy road, but a journey in which you press ever more into Him.  In which you watch Him use whatever means He chooses to bring His glory about in your life and are truly okay with His sovereign will in your life.  That is what I pray for myself and my family.  

                                         Much love from our family to yours in 2025!

God is For Us

 

God is for us.  He likes us.  He loves us.  He wants the best for His children.  

He is NOT against us.  Ever.

This is my mantra.  Some days I say it to myself several times a day, sometimes a few times an hour.  Some days I can't even say it through the tears, but I preach it to my heart anyway.

What do you preach to yourself in the middle of overwhelming loss?  Of temptations that never seem to leave you in peace?  When you are sure you can't take one more piece of bad news?  When that diagnosis comes back positive and aggressive?  When it seems impossible and improbable that relationship will ever see restoration?  When someone you most needed walked out on you?

In our home we have daily opportunities to practice preaching TRUTH to ourselves and our children.  The truth of God's Word and the work of the Holy Spirit when we crawl to the Throne of Grace, is what keeps us praising in the pain these days.  It keeps us hoping when life feels pretty hopeless.  It keeps us smiling when the tears are near the surface...or spilling over.  

If you would like to pray for our family specifically please reach out to me and I will share more in detail.   I will say that husband is scheduled for a significant surgery on Thursday, December 12 and will need several weeks at home to recover.  We have also recently been informed the Houston plant to moved us here 18 months ago is now closing and we will be unemployed sometime in January.  How in the world do you look for a new job while recovering from surgery?  How, how, how is what we are tempted often to ask about a lot of circumstances in our lives but what I hope to instill in my own heart and that of our children is to ask "how am I glorifying God through this suffering?"

Please pray for our family.  Pray for our children.  How I pray they will make the heart decision to be better through this season and not bitter.  It's the difference of one small letter.  We all have the opportunity to make that decision.  We are not suffering any more than many people we know personally right now.  In fact, on the suffering meter, we may be quite low, but it is how a sovereign, LOVING, good God has decided our family needs to grow in faith and trust.  I was reminded recently: we either trust God or we don't.  It's that simple.  Not simple to do but simple in assignment. 

And through it all, I am reminded of a sweet lesson the Lord taught me two years ago now when we were facing a different kind of hard.  Praise in the pain, Jama!  Develop a grateful heart in all things.  Worry about absolutely nothing, pray about everything and always, always be grateful.

I am grateful for so many things but will hit the TOP 10!

1. Our families that love and pray so faithfully for us and often even meet practical needs-my hand-held mixer went out in the middle of a cake order last week and in two days a beautiful new KitchenAid (I've never had one!) was on my front porch.  The family members who blessed us know who they are and know what that meant to me.  I may or may not have cried and maybe even a few times since!

2. Our church family here in Texas who has just embraced our family is so many ways and loved on us constantly since our arrival 19 months ago.  They pray for us, text us, call us, pray some more, ask for updates, feed us spiritually week in and week out, bless us financially and show up in a dozen different ways as Jesus' hands and feet to us.  Most recently many have put in baking orders and provided odd jobs for me to help with our current situation.  We are overwhelmed to say the least!

3. A beautiful Fall in southern Texas-the cool breezes have been such a relief from the overwhelming heat and it has meant more park and fishing outings!  Sometimes it is just the boy child and I and sometimes daddy and sister join and sometimes even other friends.  What a joy!  The last few days have even brought much needed rain in small amounts. 

4. If you have prayed for our homeschooled high schooler this semester, THANK YOU!  We survived a very intense and tough semester but she persevered.  I am so proud of her.  Two weeks ago a dear friend came through on her way to a debate tournament in another city.  She is a seasoned homeschool mom with a kiddo Chloe's age.  The two of us stayed up into the night talking about we might do differently for our girl going into next semester.  She gave me practical and wise counsel and left me with a math textbook that she said she "accidentally" ordered two of and knew as we were talking why she had an extra one.  How I pray a change in curriculum will bring some relief to the angst of the last four months and how incredibly grateful I am for the answer to my prayer for direction, though as often is the case, from a completely unexpected source. Chloe and I are just so excited to not be dreading starting semester 2 in January. 

5. Quick scheduling and even quicker insurance approval for above mentioned surgery.  This all happened 2 days before company announced their closure in January 2025.  

6. Launching of our little baking cottage industry in November.  I have been desperately disappointed that low protein levels have eliminated me from donating plasma recently but in November the Lord provided odd jobs and baking orders that exceeded what I was making donating by a couple hundred dollars.  Go God!!  I do hope to get back to donating because I weirdly enough, enjoy it and it does improve lives at the same time.  Until then I will keep baking up a storm in my little kitchen!

7. I now have a family member residing close by and that has been super special already.  I hope we don't overwhelm her too much with our joy in having her close to us now.

8. The faithful prayers of God's people.  A dear friend from our church in California said of course they continue to pray for us because we are after all, family.  Oh the comfort to know we are so loved and cared for, even by people so far away.  These prayers sustain us.

9. A sweet Thanksgiving celebration at dear friends from church.  It was such a relaxing, sweet day of games and fellowship and amazing food.  I was not sad at all at not doing the turkey but sure had fun making lots of rolls!

10. This season of celebrating the coming of the God-man, Jesus.  He humbled Himself and was born just like you and I, yet He came from the realms of glory for you and for me.  Wow!  Our little family has no idea what Christmas will feel like this year considering so many unknowns, but I know what it will be: a joyous remembrance of what truly matters.  Christ with us!!!

                                                                        Keeping our eyes on JESUS!

                                                                                                    Jama

Trafficking in the Truth

 

"Trafficking in the truth"-Pastor Daron Roberts, sermon on September 15, 2024

John 14:25-31

What does that mean?  We usually associate the word "trafficking" with all kinds of evil movement and slavery of our most vulnerable human beings.  So what does it mean to traffic in the Truth?  He said simply it means a well worn Bible, a vibrant prayer life, listening to Godly, biblical sermons, faithful involvement in a Christian church community where you know people, and are known.  Where everything I do, say, spend time at, think about, meditate on and hold up as valuable is based in and around the Truth of God's Word.  Wow.  I keep hearing this during my week: am I trafficking in the Truth?  Are my words tempered with Truth?  Are my thoughts lined up accurately with Scripture?  Is my mind being renewed daily by the Holy Spirit and focused on having the "mind of Christ?" Are my actions truthful?  Do my actions line up with what comes out of my mouth or is there discrepancy that causes others to wonder about my faith?  That causes others to doubt my God or His power to transform a life?

I fail so often.  How grateful and humbled I am for the grace of God, the patience of a loving heavenly Father, the faithful, convicting presence of the Holy Spirit.  How grateful I am that He hasn't finished with me yet and will keep convicting me of Truth and give me the strength and endurance to keep "trafficking" in it.  I have been given absolutely every single resource I need to live in the Truth.

The month of September has been a full one for us.  Birthdays abound: mine starts the month off and we celebrate Noah's right in the middle.  My husband and children fixed me a delicious lunch while I sat on the couch.  What a treat!  A Sunday afternoon nap and a family movie completed my perfect birthday.  I also had a special visitor in my cousin, M, that week so that made it extra perfect. I am most blessed.  

Stuffed potato with BBQ Chicken, Caprese Salad and Coconut Cake

Noah chose the 12 white roses

Noah turned 11 and as we always do on every.single.birthday we thank God almighty for protecting his life one more year.  I would say he is our most accident prone child but to be perfectly accurate the Lord blessed us with TWO accident prone children.  We are grateful beyond words that the accidents/injuries seem to be less frequent the older they get!  But we still thank God for His protection over Noah, who we never know where he is or what tool or saw he is building something with or contraption he is about to jump off now.  His lego creations continue to blow my mind.  His imagination has no end and he still loves to tell his mama all about his dreams and aspirations for the future. 

He chose a few special people in his life to have dinner with him.  His buddies and he smothered the trampoline with 2 liters (no kidding!) of dish soap and had a glorious time in the water.

Noah informed me that 5th grade is MUCH easier than 4th grade.  Not sure why but amen!

Chloe has informed me she is pretty sure she won't survive High School.  I can't imagine why!  We continue to cherish any prayers for our homeschool kiddo as the past several weeks have been the toughest of her school career ever.  I would despair unless the Lord had showed me so clearly this is a process and journey He has her on and it is for His glory and her good.  Mama is learning to not step in and try to fix it all for her.  We still have many tearfilled days together but I see her growing in ways she never could have without the challenges that have been thrown at her this year already.  We really do only grow when the pressure is on and pain does stretch and grow our character in beautifully painful ways!

I have been experimenting with sourdough again.  My starter died a tragic death after I had surgery and didn't give it any love for several weeks as I recuperated.  I was given a new batch of bubbly, smelly starter and have been having a great time.  Below is our newest favorite and I think I found a recipe my family will eat in sliced bread.  My goal is to no longer need to buy bread for sandwiches and toast.  So far I have made English muffins, regular round loaves, pancakes and sandwich bread.

My husband is maintaining health wise.  He has had some discouraging news recently regarding the pain and lack of mobility in his leg.  Physical therapy is not a good option at this point so we wait on the Lord's direction as to how to help him strengthen that leg and avoid more serious problems in the future.  He is no longer a good candidate for bone marrow transplant but has been put on a stem cell transplant list.  That process may take another year.  He has agreed to a new med in clinical trials so that is the next immediate step.

We are so grateful for the many people who pray faithfully for him and ask us regularly how he is doing.  We depend on those prayers and will keep you posted as we can. 

And just like that it is the last day of September.  Fall is coming slowly to southern Texas but we are so enjoying a MUCH milder September than last year.  It is amazing to step outside and feel a cool breeze!

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine up on you, and give you peace!

If there is any way I can be praying for you or your family, please reach out.  It is a delight to pray for you as you have so faithfully prayed for us.  

Blessings,

             Jama

Summer Gone By

 

North Dakota Sunset

Of our summer gone by, I could write pages and pages of the 4th of July celebration, of baseball games with losses and wins, of learning to make perogies, of special Canadian visitors, of a family wedding, of hours and hours at the pool, of countless chats with my mother, of visiting downtown D and learning about small town life.  I could tell of the chats on the brother's back porch, listening to music and reminscing of times and people gone by and how different our presents look than we always imagined but that doesn't make them any less the present they are.  Of dreams of the future and most of all how everything that isn't right today will be right someday when our King comes to reign forever and ever!

I could share how my heart swelled to overflowing to see our kids get to know each other and enjoy each other for a whole month!  The hard part about getting to know your nieces and nephews better is that you miss them all the more when you say goodbye.  And do we miss them.  There were many tears at goodbye time.  There always are.  There always will be.  Until.  Until Heaven where there will be NO goodbyes and NO tears!  We long for that day but until then we will enjoy the glimpses of heaven we get here on earth.  The here and not yet.  That is the beautiful complexity of the Christian faith journey.  Here is so good and yet so hard.  And yet!  Our future with Jesus will be even better.  Wow!

I will share a few of the hundreds of pictures I have of our month long journey to, in and back from North Dakota!

I had good intentions of taking a picture at each state border, but really who has time to stop FIVE times and take a picture on dangerous two lane highways, when kids were often sleeping and mama couldn't wait to get to her mama's house! So, we have one picture of one state line!

Day One-no wonder I was tired!

Day Two-arrived at my parents at 4pm.  Not bad eh?  We ate snacks all day long so we didn't need to stop to eat and we blazed through five states in two short days!

We made it to Grandma's house by Tuesday afternoon, July 2nd.  We left our house on July 1st at 4:50am.  I was one tired driver but very happy to be with my family!

4th of July Family Baseball Game

Family Basketball tournament

Uncle spent a small fortune to bring much joy and excitement to the nieces and nephews that evening.  I have to say my brother put on one of the nicest fireworks shows I have ever seen.  And much to this mama's chagrin even let the kids take turns lighting them! 

Sweet friends of my brother and sister in law's set up a two day slip and slide every summer for their friends and we got to enjoy with them.

Nothing like Grammy's homemade Raspberry Cheesecake Ice Cream!

What can I say except he is a doll.  This kid owns a piece of my heart!

Coffee with Mom and my girl

She's in such a picture avoiding season.  Can't wait until that passes but until then...

These girls spent hours baking up yummy treats together

Tea Time at Grandm's House

Family Movie Night at Uncle's House

Tye Dye Project-thankful for Aunt Maria's patience in helping the kids with the dye!

Wittling wood at Grandpa's house-thank God for a very patient Grandpa and uncles who so generously allow these kids access to their tools!

Our sweet little ballplayer!

Where else would we rather be, really?  Love me a good ballgame, especially when it is a 8 year old kid's game!

A day at Theodore Roosevelt State Park-North Dakota Badlands

She's definitely one of my favorite people in the world

Nothing like mentioning to your long lost Canadian friend who you literally haven't seen for nearly 17 long years, "hey why don't you come see me in North Dakota-it's a lot closer than Texas!"  And come she did and brought her dear parents and sister with her.  What a JOY.  These precious people are my Canadian family-the ones I spent every holiday and possibly weekend with during my two years of Bible College when I wasn't able to go home.  Almost 17 years ago the four of them made the trek to California for our wedding and Kristi and Chantel sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" during our wedding ceremony.  The fact that they made the effort to come spend four days with us in ND and get to know my children meant the world to me.

Mama Whiteford and daughters taught us how to make perogies.  The first time I ever heard of or tasted perogies was at their home in Canada and I never forgot them.  They gave us a cooking lesson and then fed us a delicious dinner that night of sausages, perogies dripping in melted butter and topped with sour cream and bacon bits.  Yum!

Then there is the wedding in Oregon my mom asked if I would accompany her to.  My little girl cousin, J, married her sweetheart in Oregon on July 21st. Still can't believe my much younger cousins are growing up and getting married.  It was such a joy to be there and get to spend two very short but sweet days with some of my mother's family.  Mom and I met up with the twin, the other J, in Denver and shared a flight to Oregon late Friday night.

I have always called him Uncle Michael, but he really feels more like an older brother to me.  Getting to see him, even if ever so briefly was just wonderful. 

Father of the Bride and his older sisters.  Just missing Uncle John who wasn't able to make it due to illness.  We sure missed them.  

Ah, two more of my favorite girls ever.  

The darling bride and groom.  Almost wedding time!

Could he be any cuter?  I seriously thought about just bringing this one home with me!

My mama and I

Night before the big Departure Day-last pictures, last supper.  Not a few teary goodbyes.  Many "see you soon."

To say I love these precious people is to put it mildly-we definitely left a piece of our heart in North Dakota-I wonder how many times we can leave a piece in Brazil, California and now North Dakota and still be okay?  Like I said at the beginning of this post, heaven sure is a sweet anticipation.

The tye dye shirts turned out so fun!

We are always missing someone special-so just for the record this is me with two of my three brothers.  Someday we will again have one of all of us together.  Someday.

Mount Rushmore

I honestly was not too excited about stopping at Mount Rushmore on the way home but a certain little boy had mentioned it a couple times and it really wasn't that off our path so off we went.  I was pleasantly surprised by our few hours there.  It really is an amazing place.  We met amazing people and were so very glad we took the time.  And talk about beautiful country.  Wow.  I so enjoyed all the states we drove to and this gorgeous area of South Dakota that is home to Mount Rushmore monument.  God's creation is just stunning and I thoroughly enjoyed all He allowed us to see.

We arrived safe and sound on Friday evening, August 2.  It was so very good to go, to be there and so very good to be home.  It felt like we were coming home and we thank God for that.  We were so glad to be reunited with husband and daddy.  

We hit the ground running as school start day was just around the corner.  Clothes were washed and ready  for school in record time as well as backbacks and school supplies.  A few moments of consternation were felt when some homeschool curriculum was opened to find incorrect textbooks had been ordered but it has all worked out nicely.  Little Man settled nicely back into his routine at the same school, teachers he already knew thanks to being at small school last year and buddies he was excited to see after summer break.  Little Woman has had quite an adjustment as she is now a Freshman in high school and this year has been quite a bit different than her fairly laid back year last schoolyear.  Let's just say mama and girly have had quite a 10 days back to school.  We will find our way by God's grace but if you think of us as we start year 2 of homeschooling, please lift us before the Throne of Grace!  We need it!

Until next time, may He get all the glory and honor!

Jama