Joy No Matter What

 Christmas

 

We went back to Quincy last weekend to spend Christmas weekend with my family.  It has been one hard year for my family, so to all be together was very special.  My parents have been separated since this past May, and since then all of our lives have been filled with new struggles and challenges.  There has been a lot of hurt and tears, but despite the change in our family God is still constant and there and in control.  As much as I wish sometimes this struggle in my family would go away I would be a fool to actually want that.  When I ask myself how has God shaped and taught me this past year, it has most prominently been through the struggle of my family being broken.  I praise Him for this trial although it is not always easy.  Right now it is not hard for me to say this, but tomorrow it may be different.  God give me the grace to trust in your sovereignty! 

City Life

A couple weeks ago Matt got the opportunity to go to Chicago with his dad to the Asta Farm Show.  Of course for mom and me that meant 3 whole days of shopping and spending time together.  We didn't mind at all. :)  

Here we are taking a shopping break for some lunch and warming up from the walking in the cold.

Here is the KSI booth where Matt and Dad spend a lot of their time during the show.

The last day we were there we didn't fly out till late in the evening, so all 4 of us got to spend the day together exploring Chicago. 

We went and toured Pacific Garden Mission

What a place.  It is a homeless shelter that teaches the Gospel to all who enter through their doors.  It is also where the radio program "Unshackled" is produced.  It was very encouraging to learn about the different ways they reach lost souls for Christ

This man here (in which I forget his name) gave us our tour of the mission.  He shared his testimony of how he came to the mission as a homeless person and how God used the mission to help grow him to greater maturity in Christ.  He is now working for the mission as he continues to live there. 

Ok, now off to the Sears Tower.

It looked so close......but was really FAR away!  We definitely got our exercise in this day.

We made it all the way up.

Quite the view!

Walking onto this made our stomachs turn a little. :)

Dad and Matt at most likely Matt's favorite store we went into....Apple.

We went to the American Girl doll store to check it out.  I had never been to it. 

Yes mom, you are as hip as Julie. =)

I love hanging out with someone so cool.....yes, you babe!

Oh yes.  I can not forget this picture.  The blue paint on Matt's face is proof that he got to participate in the Blue Men Group show that we went to see. 

It was a fun trip!  We really enjoyed getting away and spending time with mom and dad.  As nice as it was to be in the big city I think we were all ready to head back home after 4 days there.  

Birthday Boys

My sweetie turned 24 on November 8th and my dad turned 51 on November 26th!  I'm a little late posting this, but it is too important to skip over. =) Since their birthdays are so close we decided to have a double celebration.  Matt requested his favorite soup and my dad brought over his favorite wine (which is probably now my favorite too).  We had a very nice dinner and conversation before we headed into the living room to open some gifts.

soup, salad and bread......definitely a comfort meal

Excited to rip into their gifts.

My dad always tries to guess what the gift is before he opens it.

An amazon box.....what could it be?

Ahhh haaa....books!  These should keep my dad busy for the next month.

As you can see in this picture wrapping gifts is not a gift of mine.  It's the effort that counts right?

This was kinda funny:  Matt really though that the small gift on the top was a ring.  Especially when he unwrapped the paper and saw a ring box.  I knew what he was thinking, so I thought I would play along and get on one knee.... :)

No ring.....just a coupon to go watch shopping.  

We really enjoy playing Ticket to Ride, and since Matt has lived in Europe I thought he would love to have the Europe version.  

It was a fun, love filled evening.  We spend the rest of the evening playing Matt's new game and watching FOOTBALL!  Matt and my dad were in manland!

Thanksgiving Special

We had a fun time with our Kaeb family on Thanksgiving.  God has been good to our family, and it is always special when we can get together.  

Just want to thank Dad and Mom Kaeb for all they did for us kids over the Thanksgiving holiday.  As you can tell by this picture they worked hard and helped create a weekend to remember!

Here are a few pictures of some of our nieces and nephews walking on the ceiling.  We had good entertainment this Thanksgiving! 

Uncle Neal is STRONG!  Brock looks like he is trying to get his ceiling legs. 

Maelyn even looks like a princess upside down!

 We will have to see if Uncle Neal can lift Tristan up like this next year. :)

Jaci looks like she is dancing upside down.

Friends=Fun

A couple weekends ago Matt and I and Mark and Ash went out to Indiana.  Why did we go?  To visit some of mine and Ashley's old friends.  I must say that it was very refreshing and comforting being with some of my good friends.  Now that I am married to Matt I am constantly in "Matt's world".  That meaning I live where he grew up, I'm with his family more often than my own, I hangout with his friends more often then I see my own and so on.  Don't get me wrong here....I love being a part of Matt's world, and it is slowly growing into "our world," but I do miss certain friendships and relationships so much.  I'm thankful for a husband that is willing to travel with me and support me in keeping up with some of my dear friends.  

  Chelsie, Maria, me, Kim and Ash

Us gals and our husbands.  FYI: that is Mark and Ashley's baby Reuben.  Not Kim and Ryans. :)

This get together marked our first ever "traveling potluck".  Us girls always joked about it in our single days together.  The next get together is due to take place in Kansas!  Whootwhoot!

MEN of my life

Why do I have such wonderful guys in my life?

Mathew: Beloved leaf bagger.  I'm thankful for a husband that helps around the house/yard.  He definitely has his strength in doing the outdoor chores, but he is getting better at the inside stuff. ;)

Dad: Beloved leaf raker.  I'm so thankful to have my dad here in Sabetha with us.  He is not here because of perfect circumstances, but I see him letting God use him where He has him.  He is a HUGE help when it comes to projects like this, and he is always so willing to help us out.

I'm just blessed and thankful to God for giving me a perfectly-imperfect husband and a perfectly-imperfect dad!  

*Disclaimer-I did do some raking too.  I just have no proof! ;)

The Spirit's Anointing

We are taking a systematic theology class at our church, and this past week the topic was the Holy Spirit.  We watched an excerpt of David Platt's Secret Church, and it covered 4 significant issues related to the Holy Spirit: 

1. Blasphemy against the Spirit

2. Baptized in the Spirit

3. Filled with the Spirit

4. Gifted by the Spirit (what about prophecy, tongues, healing?)

Platt did an amazing job digging a little deeper into these topics.  I am not going to go into any detail of what we talked about and learned, but I will share a quote that Platt shared with us.

By E.M. Bounds

First let me share a definition of unction: anointing of the Holy Spirit

"Unction is the sweetest exhalation of the Holy Spirit.  It carries the Word like dynamite, like salt, like sugar; makes the Word a soother, an accuser, a revealer, a searcher; makes the hearer a culprit or a saint, makes him weep like a child and live like a giant; opens his heart and his purse as gently, yet as strongly as the spring opens the leaves.  This unction is not the gift of genius.  It is not found in the hall of learning.  No eloquence can woo it.  No industry can win it.  It is the gift of God- the signet sent to his own messengers.  It is heaven's knighthood given to the chosen true and brave ones who have sought this anointed honor through many an hour of tearful, wrestling prayer.  Earnestness is good and impressive; genus is gifted and great.  Thought kindles and inspires, but it takes a diviner endowment, a more powerful energy than earnestness or genius or thought to break the chains of sin, to win estranged and depraved hearts to god, to repair the breaches and restore the church to her old ways of purity and power. Nothing but holy unction can do this."

What a beautiful and expressive way to explain the anointing of the Spirit!

"Parents" for Awhile

Matt's sister Kim and her husband Neal are adopting from Ethiopia.  After years of waiting and praying for a child/children they were matched with twin girls.  A little over a week ago they were able to go to Ethiopia to meet and spend time with their little girls Kebe and Shena.  We got the great opportunity to go spend some quality time with their 3 other children and watch them for a few days while Kim and Neal were gone.  Here is a little bit of what our days were filled with~

Matt and Brock and Cailer had some fun moments on the trampoline.

What a fun uncle. :)

Ashley and Reuben spent the night with us one night.  Enjoyed spending time with my sister and my little nephew. 

Reuben really liked Jaci's pink, fuzzy chair.  She was sweet and shared with him.  Good job Jaci!

Kim and Neal left a small gift for their kids to open everyday they were gone.  Probably the highlight of the kids day!  They loved it!

The kids and I decided it would be fun to throw their parents a welcome home party.  What is a party without cupcakes!?

Good job Brock!

So pretty like you Jaci ;)

2!  Wow Cailer!

Licking the icing was the best part.

I think we made plenty.

Opening their last present which means.....MOM AND DAD ARE COMING HOME TODAY!

Decorating for the party.

Brock wrapping the doorhandles with streamers.

Cailer made a beautiful sign.

Jaci geared up to go on a walk.  Tutu and all!

Jaci was my buddy the whole time we were there.  

Practicing our surprise shout for when "mommy" and "daddy" get home.

I think they are pretty pumped here knowing they are going to see mom and dad soon.

He's cute.

And they went crazy.....

Reunited Blissful Smiles

Kim and Neal got the kids Ethiopian clothes.  They loved them!

Here's a video of the surprise.......

We definitely got a little more of a glimpse into what it is like to be parents.  Spending time with the kids made Matt and me both realize how much time we have to ourselves and to spend with each other.  Taught us a little more how selfless being a parent is as well.

We are blessed by Kim and Neal's example in loving and caring for the orphans of the world.  We have learned a lot through watching them go through their journey.  Praying for them as they find out the details in bringing their little girls home.