Friends Are A Gift From Jesus

Our friends and co-laborers here in Botswana have a daughter named Allison.  She came and stayed a while with me this afternoon.  Caden was taking a nap and the big boys were still at school.  So we decided to watch Cinderella together.  For some reason this is not a movie that is Ever requested by my boys.  We talked, colored, baked cookies, and I put her hair in a ponytail.  These couple of hours were precious.  The boys soon came home from school and the house was filled with laughter and excitement.  I noticed they were all outside looking for ladybugs and grasshoppers, collecting rocks, and climbing our tree.  She even said she would play football with them and Kendall said, "I'll go easy on her, Mom."  I know if they would have played she would have proved herself a worthy opponent.  

  God uses my children, nieces, nephew, the children of my friends, kids from the neighborhood, and my boy's buddies to bless my life everyday.  Let us not dismiss them in order to get on to "more important" things.  Take time to get to know them and share God's love with them.  That is what Jesus did and taught.  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Mark 10:14

Caden Sweeping...

Sweeping the dirt....

This picture was taken today in our front yard.  One thing I have learned since moving to Botswana is how to sweep the dirt.  There is  a fine art to sweeping it correctly.  You bend at the waist and sweep in one direction.  You put your left hand behind your back as you sweep with your right.  As you can see, Caden still has to work on his form a little.  After you are done sweeping is should all look nice and "clean".  I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that while you are sweeping away the lose dirt underneath it is still simply dirt.  

When it comes to our own lives do we just ask the Lord to help us sweep away the lose "sin" in our lives that seems easy to remove.  Or do we let Him go deeper into the sin that maybe we have not even recognized.  

For me it is all about my relationship with the Lord.  I do not want there to be anything within me that would keep me from walking with Him in harmony.  "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

  So I continue going before my Father and asking Him to show me any "dirt" in this heart of mine.   "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9

Just remember to allow God to dig deep into your heart.  He is faithful and will heal the brokenhearted.  

Heart Lessons

I have been reminded this week to share with those which God has placed around you how much you love them and more importantly how precious they are to the Lord.  Over the years many friends in my life have passed away unexpectedly.  Remembering my last moments with them, I try to think about the last thing I said.  I know that life is like a breath and it vanishes so quickly, but so often I have not taken every opportunity to share God's love with others.  My mind drifts to the story of the last supper in the Bible where Jesus washed His disciples feet:

"So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him......".

 After Jesus washed their feet He told them, "And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet.  I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you."  John 13:4,5,14,15

I can never go back in time and share with those friends how dear they are and that grieves my heart.  But I can allow God to use that grief to help me become more and more dependent on Him to show me how to wash the feet of others.  

A Boy's Life

Here is Caden up in the tree house.  He loves being outside.  The weather is beautiful here.  Wish you could come for a visit!
This is our Kendall during his cricket tournament.  He played 4 games this morning! He loves every sport he has every been introduced to.
Okay, so I don't know the rules for cricket.  I just know they should hit the ball and run to the other wicket and they break for tea.  They had a nice little table set up with hot tea and biscuits(cookies).   
And here is Landon home from his 5 day trip out in the bush of South Africa.  It sounded a bit like survivor for a 10 year old.  They learned to build their own raft, build  a go-cart, climb up a mountain and come back down with a rope, they cooked their own dinner, and went days without a shower! (The last activity was optional, but I think many of the boys took part.  I just thought they all got really good tans!)   

Children growing up...

As my children continue growing older, there are new depths to my trusting in the Lord.  Landon left this morning to go across the border into another country for 5 days of camp.  He was very excited about cooking his own food, washing his own dishes, and gaining some independence.  This morning I was the last parent to say goodbye, the last to give a hug and kiss, and I even got on the bus to take his picture.  I had never prayer walked a bus before!  I know, I am a little attached.  I am going into brand new territory with my first born.... letting go.  Please do not misunderstand me, I do not want him living with me all his life.  Todd and I long to see our boys grow into responsible adults, but the steps getting there can be difficult for a Momma.  The scripture that the Lord brings to mind... 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6,7

So I continue to trust and pray that the Lord's perfect will be done.  Thank you for walking on this journey with us.  There is nothing like walking with Jesus and seeing your children trust and walk with Him as well.