Camping, Guests, Baptism...

We had a packed weekend last weekend.  We kicked off the weekend Friday afternoon by heading to our churches family camp.  It was a quick camp experience, but we got to enjoy spending time with great friends, being with the body of Christ, and be challenged by Luke 14:25-34 where Christ lays out the cost of following Him.  We were challenged to examine our hearts to truly see if Christ really is the one we love the most!  The lessons were convicting, sobering, and what I needed to hear.  

26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Am I willing to forsake all and bear my cross for Christ? 

Honestly, it's a continual struggle, and much of the time I do not.  I'm humbled as I look at my life and see the comforts that I cling to and the "stuff" (husband, son, shopping, self-image, safety. etc!) that can replace Christ in the forefront of my life.  This continual struggle drives me to the Gospel in praise of Christ for being my advocate!

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. Jude 1:24

Until that day comes where Christ presents me blameless before the presence of God's glory I will continue to fight against my flesh to make Christ my all! 

Here are a few pictures from our time at family camp.

Can you find Judson?

Last time we came to camp Judson was in my belly and we had 2 foster children with us.  Lots has changed!  Something that is still the same-our amazing friends!

Judson chilling with his cousin, Ian.  

Picture stats: 

Judson almost 11 months

Ian 2 1/2 months

Judson=Shrimp

It was fun to be together as a family!

I can never have too a many pictures of these two.  Love them!

We left family camp after lunch on Saturday because we had company coming overnight.  We got home and unpacked and did some much needed unwinding and got ready for our company.

Here is Judson unwinding on daddy's lap.

Our guests for the weekend were the Havenstein family.  We have just recently gotten to know them.  They have served as missionaries to college student through Navigators for 18 years.  God has been working in them a desire to make His name known among the unreached peoples of the world, so they are getting ready to move over to Malaysia to continue their college outreach.  Matt and I get the honor of being a support system to them as we lead Northridge's home team.  We truly enjoyed having them in our home where we could get to know them as a family and hear more of what God is doing in their lives.  We hope to go to Nebraska and spend another weekend with them before they leave for Malaysia.

On Sunday afternoon we went to Kansas City to witness our niece Tristan's baptism.  It has been special to see Tristan grow in Christ and be able to witness her public profession of Christ.

A 50th Surprise!

My mom turned 50 on the 19th of this month, so my sisters and I decided that we would get her good and show up in Quincy to surprise her with our lovely presence the weekend before her birthday.

Ashely, Alex, and Aubrey all car-pooled to Quincy together.  Since I am (what feels like) living on the opposite end of the world (KANSAS) I was not able to join them in their adventure. 

We all made it and had just a couple hours to set up our surprise before she got off work and headed back to her apartment. 

Let the frantic decorating begin!

This is my attempt at streamers.  My sisters gave me an ''F" in the streamer department, so I left those up to them and took on other projects.

Those streamers look much better.

Done!

Whew!  We decided to snap a quick sister pic before "the mom" showed up.

Blooper

Here is the moment before mama opened the door.

SURPRISE!!!

Mom wanted to document us and our efforts.

Yes, we made her have a good-cry.  (I think we all seriously were hoping she would ;)

Gift time.  The grandkids gave her a necklace that says: Nana.  I'm sure she will wear that proudly!

I had to assist her in opening her gift from us.  A coffee maker that grinds the beans right before brewing.  Just what she wanted.  I think she likes it.  :)

The after party picture.  Love all 4 of these gals!

The next morning we had breakfast together at one of our favorite Quincy breakfast spots: Thyme Square.

We also took some time to go visit my grandma and see her new apartment.  Dad came with me to Quincy to spend some time with his mom.

That evening we all met together for some pizza.  This is a rare moment having all of us together.  Feels kind of weird without our spouses and kids.

Mom, you have sacrificed so much for us girls, and we are so thankful!  You have had some tough years, and our prayer for you is to continue to learn how to more and more make Christ your all!

To my sisters:  You girls rock!  Thanks for what each of you did to make this happen....especially Ash!  Seeing this picture makes me miss each of you dearly.  Love you!

Hope In God

Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,

my Salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; 

therefore I remember You.

Psalm 42:5-6a (ESV)

Why am I so depressed?

Why this turmoil within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,

my Savior and my God.

I am deeply depressed;

therefore I remember You.

Psalm 42:5-6a (HCSB)

Sometimes I feel haunted and discouraged by all the moments of time in my life where I have felt "down cast"/"depressed".  Those moments date all the way back to when I was a young girl and have continued throughout my life.  In fact, in just the past couple months I can name numerous different occasions where my foe, depression, has descended on my soul like a vulture descending upon a wounded animal.  I feel like the wounded animal: helpless, unable to run, scared, and exposed to danger.

God is teaching me (through His Word, His Spirit, and my husband) that every single time I give into this foe I am not trusting Him: in His goodness, in His grace, in His plan, in who He says He is.

I am learning that when I feel the darkness and despair of depression descending on me I am:

NOT HELPLESS

Psalm 54:4  Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

ABLE TO RUN TO GOD FOR DELIVERANCE

Psalm 18:28-30  For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.  For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.  This God--his way is perfect, the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.  

NOT AFRAID

Psalm 56:3-4  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can flesh do to me?

PROTECTED

Psalm 91:1-6  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

God is teaching me that when I am depressed I am being SELF-FOCUSED.  Psalm 42 reminds me that when I am depressed (self-focused) I need to look to God and remember His goodness and grace in my life, because when I do the darkness starts to lift.

The song below was shared with me by my sister Alex.  It is by the Sing Team and is based on Psalm 42.

Girls At The Legends

 My missionary friend, Cheyenne, has been back in the states for a few weeks from Haiti.  I finally got to spend some time with her yesterday as we went to the Legends in KC.  Our main purpose was to spend some time together, but we all enjoyed the secondary purposes too: shopping and Five Guys burgers.

Jessie, Amanda, and Cheyenne enjoying their burgers and cajun fries.  We all ordered the little cheeseburger.  It wasn't so little.

It was a beautiful day!  I wanted to pull out a lawn chair and lay out in the sun by the fountain.

Jessie and I taking a break to enjoy the sun.

Cheyenne, it was so fun to be with you!  You are an encouragement to me in your faith in God and willingness to obey His calling for your life!  Thanks for planning this day we could be together!

Judson-10 Months

Huh, I'm 10 months?!!!

Haha, oh yeah.  I'm getting big!

Shwooo, I'm growing fast!

Life at 9 Months

Judson seems to enjoy life more and more as he learns to crawl faster and pull himself up on EVERYTHING. 

*He discovers new drawers to open daily....some of which are dangerous and others which are full of things that mommy is ok with him pulling out and destroying.  It's been fun to see him explore and conquer!  

*He is becoming more and more opinionated and lets us know when he is delighted by something through grins and laughs and lets us know when he is not a happy camper by fits of cries and jerking his body in awkward to hold positions.  

*His 7th tooth started popping through!  

*He is becoming a mommy's boy.  Mommy loves it....most of the time (except when trying to make dinner and she has a little puppy attached to her legs).

*He has started to make a high pitched squeal that sounds very interesting.  Stretching those vocal chords we guess.

Here are some pictures from the past month:

Happy 4th of July!

Judson loved the fireworks!

Still enjoying his swing!

He got his first sippy cup.  Still working on figuring it out....

Starting training on how to do dishes young.

Nap time=DONE!  He wakes up a pretty happy boy.

I think he is trying to imitate the pumpkins face.  :S

He loves these blinds....one of these days they will brake.

Snoozing in his bounce-a-roo.  That smile must mean he is having a good dream!

Papa took him on a 4-wheeler ride.

Still loves bath time!

Swimming with cousins Kyson and Kendon.

Water, water, water!

A baby sleeping on you=treat!

Happy Boy

Judson loves to brush his teeth.  He must feel like a big boy doing it the same time as mommy.

A little robot.

One of the drawers he has discovered.

Judson got to spend a couple days with Nana (without mommy and daddy).  He got to go to Nana's store Little Darlings and play with all the toys there.

Judson you are growing up fast.  Before you know it we will be singing Happy Birthday to you!  Praying God grows you to follow hard after Him!