"It's begining to look a lot like Christmas..."

I keep singing this song to the kids... why? I don't know! It really isn't looking a lot like Christmas. I'm still not finished shopping, haven't even begun to wrap anything, haven't bought any food to cook... I really need to get off this blog and get going! Why am I so unmotivated?

I will say that even in the midst of missing out on the "feel" of the season, I am focused in my heart on the true reason for the season. I think it's a good trade off! Maybe that's it, the lesser my thoughts on the "stuff", the more my focus on Him... What an amazing Gift our Father gave us in giving up His own for us. To pursue us and love us even as we are, filthy and unworthy of His riches.

I was talking to the kids this morning about how Christ traded our dirty dog pooped sin smeared coats for His clean sinless robe of a king, what a trade! What are we trading this season? Are we including Him in our efforts? Is he the focus of our time, energy and words? I want Him to be in our home even amidst the distractions. May He be in yours too!

Merry CHRISTmas!

WHY VANCOUVER ?

http://web.mac.com/jeff_phillips/Site/Home.html

Vancouver 2010

Vancouver 2010
Much more than just the Olympics are coming to Vancouver in the next year. Much of our prayers and thoughts are focused on Vancouver as a family. Brian and I prayed and entertained the thought of moving to Vancouver since Oct 08. This followed the decision of Jeff and Sara Phillips to plant a church in the west end of the downtown area of Vancouver, B.C.

The Lord had intertwined our lives and put us in a place of knowing them and as they asked many couples, families and singles and churches to consider teaming up with them. We prayed about it and went on with life hoping the Lord would audibly give us a resounding YES or NO. He's just about done that before with some things in life, opening and closing doors that couldn't be done other than Him. But that's not how all this has unfolded.

Jeff and Sara made a couple of trips up there and in July we went with them and 3 other couples to check it out. Prior to our trip I had great excitement over the possibility of our family joining this church plant team. However, I was met with a heavy and overwhelming reality within our first few hours after landing.
Living in a downtown setting with kids would be tough! Logistically, many things would have to change! You wouldn't just jump in the car and do your weekly grocery shopping. You would have to make several trips a week and carry your bags home. Walking the kids to school (2 or 3 different schools) would be different. No more just letting the dog out the back door- there isn't one on the 10th story of an apartment building!
Finding a 3 bedroom apartment could be tough, if we found a 4 bedroom, we most surely could not afford it. 1,ooo square feet apartment run from $2,ooo and up per month.

I really, really wanted to tell the Lord not NO, but heck NO! Forget me asking You if you want us to go, let me just tell ya Lord, I don't want to go!!! That was day 1 in Vancouver. By the 3rd day things were seeming a little more familiar, I wasn't wanting to crawl out of my skin so much. We walked the city and saw a lot of it. Went up to Whistler. Attended one of the few churches downtown that seemed to be sound, and experienced an amazing worship service. There we were in a sanctuary filled with all different people groups worshiping the One True God! It was very moving to say the least. It left quite an impression on me!

Coming back to Bible Belt Suberbia America is a stark contrast. It's so easy to just show up at the church of your choice and convienence. Pick any one on any corner. Most people in the South would consider themselves "Christian's" just because someone in their family attends church. It's not so in Vancouver. Very few people even have a christian in their family line. They don't have the opportunity to choose any church on any corner. Not having this cultural influence of the institution of churches prevalent in their culture, they worship nature instead. How I long for them to know this Creator that make the beautiful mountains and oceans they adore!

Long story short, upon arriving back in the U.S. , neither Brian or I could sleep until we said Yes. After we said yes, joy and peace came flooding. Isn't that just like the Lord! We've joined up with the team. We have our days, just like everyone else where we question our sanity... will the house really sell in this economy, what if Brian's company won't let us transfer to Vancouver... what if we can't raise enough support to supplement the high cost of living, what if it's dangerous for our children...

Here I am Lord, send me... we're willing, that's all. I've seen enough to know that faith runs parallel with obedience. As one grows, so does the other.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

http://www.journeytovancouver.com/

*see also "Why Vancouver?" post

100 Things I love about Brian
alright, so it's not actually 100 things...
i'm going to keep working on it!

-He loves the Lord, he led me to the Lord many years ago

-He's the total package: an artist, musician, and athlete

-He actually likes to go to the store for me

-He folded a basket of whites for me tonight (:

-He loves our kids, a GREAT dad, spends good quality time with them

-He's a hard worker, true salesman, never knew a stranger

-He never has an unkind word for anyone. and if he does, it must be true (:

- Changed name from Mr. Wonna Nedda to Mr. Doneeda, love it!

-that's a start, more later...

He even cares about diswashers!

So, our dishwasher says "Quiet Guard" on the front of it, ha! It's not ever been so quiet! I turn it on at night to lull me to sleep. But, the past week, it's been rumbling me to sleep. It's gotten so loud, I have to close the kids doors, so not to wake them as it runs! I'm quite sure the Lord cares about even these things, why, because I care, and He cares for me. How can I prove this? Because today, a sweet friend brought me a dishwasher that just so happens to match my kitchen! I wouldn't have even cared if the Lord had provided one that didn't match, but since our house is for sale, it really does matter, to Him and to me!

True Story.