He made it!!

He made it, he made it! I just got an email from him that he made it to the Ryder's. 12:30 pm our time and about 10pm their time. As I know more I'll post more.

Thanks for all the prayers!

The Secret is out!!!

What a night! And we pulled it off! Tonight was Marlon's suprise party send off! I have wanted to post about this and the crazy, chaos of planning and being sneaky so Marlon wouldn't know...but I couldn't because he of course reads this from time to time...lol. Now it's all over and I can finally talk...well, type about it!

We had a gathering of at least 50 people. Family and friends gathered in his honor...to send him off and wish him well. Some friends we haven't seen in months, like Jen and Victor to those we see all the time...like Dave and Sue. I am so thankful to my parents and sister/brother in law for all the help they gave me today, as we put together the last little details and snuck food out of the house...lol. Marlon was thoroughly suprised. To see so many people who he loves so much and is proud to call friends gathered together...it was amazing.

He was able to share a little bit about the trip...what he would be doing there and how his time will be spent. Many could not believe that there is an expected 10,000 people at the crusade!! The number of lives that could be touched is outrageous and the feelings of joy that I have...that God would use my husband for something so amazing...words just can't even express. I enjoyed watching everyone trying the Dance Dance Revolution, filling their tummies with the food, random conversations from people who might never meet. Dave and Troy...Pops and Roger...Jenni and Sue...Uncle Jerome and Gary...Sue and Aunt Darlene...amazing. God is amazing. (ps. Amy and Gabby we missed you!)

Will I miss my husband? Oh my goodness...sometimes fear seeps in and I wonder if I will even be able to sleep at night without him there. But then there is a peace that transcends all understanding and I know that his obedience is much more important than the fact that I will miss him. That following God's leading and call to take this opportunity takes precedence. The blessings to flow...I can't even fathom how many lives will be changed, including our own. I am excited for my husband and for the seeds he is planting for eternity. I think of how our lives have changed, even in the past 2 or 3 years. It's outstanding what God can do when you focus on Him and His plans over your life.

Lord, thank you for the amazing man that you gave me in Marlon. Thank you for his courage and faithfulness. Thank you that he stands up for justice, that he follows Your word, that he desires to be obedient, that he cares for me and my feelings, that he desires to grow in You and closer to You. Please bless everyone who came tonight and those who could not. Take away that which is not from you and overflow with abundance that which IS from you in their lives. As Marlon sets out to do the work that You have placed before him, Father, keep him safe. Keep his body healthy and his mind clear. Do not allow Satan to infiltrate his travel, his study or his sermons. He will be very upset at what Marlon is going to do, but I have complete faith that You have put the steps before him and marked the path he is to take. Encourage him, comfort him, nourish him. May mighty things happen in Your kingdom this next month. Amen

3 days?? 3 days??

So Marlon leaves Monday. Crazy! It seems like we were just praying and moving forward with making the plans for this trip and now it's here! I am so excited for him and this opportunity. He has everything he needs (suit bought and sent to be pressed) and we'll start packing tonight just so we don't leave everthing to Sunday. Sunday is church of course, I have to teach a different hour than my normal hour as well...Isaiah has a game...I have a wedding shower...dinner at Pop's with Marlon's family...it will be a busy day and won't have a lot of time available to pack. He has his final itinerary of how his days in both Nairobi and Lusaka will be spent. His laptop is full of the sermons that he will give and ipod full of songs he'll like. We also made sure our web cams work so that we'll be able to see each other a few times while he is gone. That was one thing about his trip last year to the Philippines...it was hard not to see each other. This time he's gone a month and we knew that we'd want to see each other...especially the kids!
I am so thankful to have Marlon as a husband. I think back to the early years of our marriage. There was so much conflict there that we both created. Issues and baggage that had to get cleaned up and taken care of. I remember when His walk with Christ was developing at a much quicker rate than mine and that sometimes created conflict. The best thing that ever happened for our marriage was that we both put our trust in Christ and decided to walk with Him each day. Does that mean we don't have problems? Hardly! I remember looking at Christian couples that never seemed to have issues as deep as ours and wonder if they were just pretending or not dealing with things openly. What I think now...is that there is just a peace that transcends understanding when you are filled with the Spirit. Even when we argue or disagree...there is this underlying love that you know is there and you feel safe and cared for...even in those ugly moments. Whatever happens in our future...wherever ministry path we end up on...I know Christ will be at the center of our marriage and that is something I am grateful for in a way that words can't express.
It'll be a long month...but I can't be selfish and hold him back from God's mission field just because I'll miss him. I have full faith that God will take care of each of us in the way He sees best...until we are all together again!

What I love about Jordyn...

Jordyn came when I was very young...when I didn't know much about being a parent and did my best to do right by her and watching her now truly amazes me. This young lady is so sweet and kind. She is often the friend that everyone tells their problems too and if she could help them all she would. Jordyn is very intelligent. How many people get an A+ in a Advanced Placement course?? She has goals and is driven. Jordyn is a responsible young lady who has earned the trust and respect of her parents.

Jordyn loves musicals and anything to do with Disney. We love to sing show tunes together and I swear she is a throwback to the 80s...even though she didn't exist then...lol!

If you know Jordyn, then you know a young woman who is intelligent, conscientious and a dreamer.

Why I love Isaiah...

Ahhh, Isaiah...the oldest boy. This is a peaceful, patient, special young man. (He is 10 after all, I'd better say young man...lol) When he was born he slept through the night at 3 days old! Isaiah is the kind of kid that everyone wants to be friends with. He is a leader and level headed. He is kind and worries about other's feelings. I love that even though it might not be cool to snuggle and hug your mom anymore...he is always checking to make sure that I am okay. That I don't work too hard, that I am taken care of. It's his nature to try and settle conflict, wonder where he gets that from? lol

Isaiah strives to put his best foot forward in everything he does. He is creative and artistic as well as athletic. When Isaiah smiles at you it just warms your heart.

If you know Isaiah...you know a boy full of devotion, love and thoughtfulness.

What I love about Izzy...

My baby. My sweet boy. My cleaning partner. This boy is very, very smart. He does exceedingly well in school--working in the Gifted and Talented Program for a couple of his classes. He loves to learn. Even when he was very young he would ask me to print him out homework. I would find homeschooling websites with printable worksheets and he would do them. Izzy is a daredevil when he's trying to keep up with his brothers, but otherwise he's a pretty cautious kid. This is the one who is constantly blowing out my candles because he doesn't want them left unattended...lol.

I was able to stay home with Izzy for a year before he started school and I think that is part of why he has a special bond with me. Thoughtful and kind, Izzy is the one to bring up who we should say a prayer for and loves to make people cards and pictures. Sometimes he will say the most profound things which always takes us aback because of his age.

If you know Izzy then you know a kid full of love, compassion and wisdom.

What I love about Elijah...

Okay just a mommy being sappy, but I thought it'd be fun for the kids and some of you to know what I love about each of my kids. Since I came upong this picture of Elijah first I thought I'd start with him.

Elijah marches to his own drummer. He is not afraid to be himself, do off the wall things and try new things. He never settles...he will keep at something until he gets it. Elijah enjoys life to the fullest. Each day is an adventure to make a new friend, make someone laugh, get outside and run around! lol You definately won't see him following what anyone else has done or trying to be like anyone else. What a wonderful quality in a child. I hope that is only strengthened as he gets older.

This is the funniest kid I've ever met. We've actually had teachers tell us he could be a comedian..lol. He had comic timing and says the most off the wall things. This is one kid you can't stay angry with!!

If you know Elijah, then you know a kid full of love, energy and spirit.

Give me a break...

That is totally what I was thinking in my head when my Old Testament teacher started teaching class tonight. I just wasn't there. With Marlon leaving so soon, worries about my friend's pregnancy, a lot on my plate at work...I was wondering why I hadn't stayed home! So I just prayed. And instantly I felt revived, felt ready to listen and focus on what Samir was saying. I tell you, that man is brilliant! If you ever have opportunity to take one of his classes I would encourage anyone to do so. Doesn't even matter if you plan on getting a degree or just want to have better knowledge of the bible--what you will learn is amazing!

So after class on the way home I was thanking God for answering my prayer and I thought of a sermon Marlon gave on prayer a few years ago. In October, I will visit John Burke Correctional on my own which means I will not only lead worship, I will also give the sermon...and I think I am going to tweak the talk on prayer. Tweak because some things will be the same==like the 4 answers to prayer, but the in between will be different. I think the first thing I learned about prayer that I had not known before I was a Christian was that God won't answer your prayer if it is not within His will. For example, there were times before I was a Christian that if someone hurt me intentionally I would pray that they would get hurt or feel what I felt. God isn't going to answer that prayer. God wants us to be at peace and doesn't punish others because I fancy Him to. Another thing about prayer is that sometimes the answer isn't what we think it should be. At those times it's easy to fall into a trap of thinking that God doesn't hear you or that maybe He doesn't know best. He sees the big picture, we often only see our small area. For those of you who might not know Christ it may sound a little wacky...but if you do then you know what I am talking about. Releasing your life to Him really changes not only your perspective but also takes away some of the worry about whether or not things will be okay. Put all of your faith in Him and follow His lead and you can't go wrong!

Busy day tomorrow. Tuesdays are always a little hectic. Hubby in prison (hehe..that always makes me giggle to see it written down) work of course, then football for one, soccer for another and Tuesday Nite Live at church for me and Izzy. Jordyn gets to stay home to do her AP work and have a little quiet time. Marlon was so sweet to switch his night of work at Norris Adolescent Center from Tuesdays so that he can be the carpool dad and I don't have to miss my bible study. So we all end up getting home between 7:30 and 9:00.

Well, off to switch the laundry (what else is new--with 4 kids is it ever all done!) and then bed. One of these days I'll get in bed before midnight!

Fun Day

Yesterday was really a fun day. Because of Jubilee Sunday at our church, there was no Sunday School to go to. What a wonderful time to all sleep in a little bit which we don't very often do. A couple of errands in the morning and then Isaiah had his game at noon. They played well, but lost 2-1. It was a great game and it's always exciting when it's neck and neck right down to the last minutes. He is starting to see what he does well AND what he needs to work on to improve. We always try to process with him after the games so that a loss doesn't weigh on him the whole day.

Then we did lunch with my family. My parents, my aunt, my sister and her 2 daughters...as well as the 6 of us! What a group! We went to Golden Corral where we haven't been in ages. Their steak is very good and it's always nice to hang out with everyone--even if it gets a little chaotic with our big group!

In the evening Marlon and I went to John Burke Correctional. We weren't able to go last month because of Marlon's surgery so it was very nice to be back. The worship was so powerful and heartfelt. I love leading worship, but I love it best when each one in the room is truly worshipping with full abandon. Not worried about what's coming next, not focusing on the person next to them who doesn't sing very well, not worried about hitting all of the right notes...you can truly feel the Spirit surround you. The ladies were eager for the word and had a lot to chat about afterwards. One woman who I've been speaking with each month when we go, will now be moving to half way house before being released in a couple of months. She has made great strides in forgiveness and standing on the truth of the Word. She is working with her social worker to find a church home near the halfway house and asks for prayer to stay focused on God and surround herself with strong Christians who can help hold her accountable. She sometimes feels like because she is in prison her walk is different than someone who isn't. I told her while her day to day life may look different because she is in prison...we all struggle with different things at different times and having other Christians to help hold us accountalbe is a good thing. Nobody is perfect and nobody has a perfect life. I remember before I became a Christian I knew Christians who made me feel like you had to lead a perfect life in order to really be a "true" Christian. Only after becoming a Christian did I realize that the only perfect person to walk the earth gave His life for each of us. While I do have a responsiblity to follow His path and allow Him to direct me, I can't try to be perfect because it will never happen. I shared this with her and it seemed to calm some of her fears. It was such a God thing too because in Marlon's sermon he spoke about Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." What God desires most from us is our obedience. In being obedient to the Word we will show our love, our adoration, our desire to be like Him.

Sorry got off to a tangent there...lol. Anyway, it was a fun day!

On my mind today...

As I went about my business today (running to the bank, Isaiah's game, watching the U-13 game early, visiting my grandma's house)this has been in my mind. How do we get the young people in our communities to respect themselves and behave with self discipline? Of course the pat conservative answer is that they deserve whatever they get as a result of their own actions...the pat liberal answer is that we need to just take the reins and take care of them.

After all of my years in social work and ministry...my thoughts are somewhere in between. There are kids who do not have respect for themselves, let alone authority. There are kids who honestly can not see past tomorrow because they truly don't know if they'll even HAVE a future. Why plan for something that may not occur. Our families have broken down to the point of treating 14 year olds like they are grown. Our parents let their kids run wild and then complain when they're held accountable for their actions. Then there are the outskirts. Those are the people who live on the outskirts of what is really going on in the world and want to point fingers and get angry over shootings-etc....but they certainly aren't going to do anything about it until those things move into their community.

Start with one. One kid, one smile, one kind word, one prayer...one chance. Don't treat young people like a pet project that you are going to "save" from themselves. Each day as you come into contact a young person...make a difference. If you don't come into contact with a young person...you aren't looking because they are everywhere. They are the clerks at the store you go to, the cashier at McDonald's...they take your ticket at the movies and walk past your car as you pick up your child. Don't think a hard nose teenager is a lost cause. Don't. It is never too late. Showing love and compassion go a long way and the Holy Spirit can do amazing things with just a little.

I think what got me thinking about all of this was a phone call I had with one of the girls from Teen MOPS. We only talked for a short bit...but I could tell that she seemed much more chipper and happy after we talked. There have been plenty of times when I was tired or worn out when she has called and I've quickly gotten off of the phone...but taking that 10 minutes today to chat and make plans for later in the week really made a difference. Don't miss out on creating those relationships. Invest in our future.