One Word...Hard.

I  haven't made New Year's resolutions in a very long time.  There was a period where my only resolutions were to live, love, and laugh.  Three things that I knew I could do without fail. But, since the end of 2010, myself and several friends have prayed and listened to God's voice for one word to meditate on and learn from throughout the year.  

In  2011 my word was Joy:

After a year of grieving over leaving Russia unexpectedly I felt God promise that we would experience His joy.  We opened up a counseling center with CDF, Tom began teaching at Belize Bible Center, and we found our current church home at Bethel Disciples International Church.  We had Tom's parents come and visit us and late in the year Spencer lived with us before moving on to work at the YWAM base not far from our home. It was a joy-filled year of making friends and planting roots in our new home.   

In 2012 my word was Surrender: 

After receiving confirmation in late 2011 that all of our boxes containing our personal items and mementos were stolen, along with several thousand dollars of money we paid to have them shipped, it was time to learn how to surrender it all. It was a year of drawing closer to Him and realizing how many areas of my life I had yet to give over completely to Him. 

In 2013 my word was Embrace:

There were many highlights and a few lowlights to my year of Embrace. Tom's first group of students graduated from the two year Christian Counseling program at Belize Bible Center. I was one of those graduates. We were thrilled to have time in India with our youngest before his wedding to our new daughter-in-love, Meesha Sharp!  Embracing the fact that both of our children have left home for good to make their own way in the world.  Embracing each lesson, each hurt, each thrill, each adventure as the year progressed.  We even embraced turning 50 with a short trip to Paris before going to India for the wedding! 

For 2014 my word is Hard:

My desire for this year is to be intentional about following Him...to follow Hard.I feel led to love Hard, pray Hard, seek Hard...and so on.  I know that God will have some unexpected lessons and blessings along the way.  And I'm eager to learn what 2014 holds!

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

 

A friend of mine posted a photo on Facebook of this holiday treat.  It's a simple recipe in theory.  All you do is melt the chocolate and sprinkle crushed peppermints on top. I know, I didn't pulverize all the candy.  I left some of it in chunks...I liked it that way!!  

I had some white chocolate here at home I decided to give it go.  But, then I read about how difficult it is to melt white chocolate.  Since we don't own a microwave my first attempt at melting white chocolate had to be done using the double boiler method.  It seized up on me because some water got into the chocolate. Thankfully, Google helped me figure out what to do... so I followed the advice to add small amounts of butter until it was back to the right consistency.

I only made a small batch for my test run but it was too rich for Tom and I to finish it off in one sitting.  So it had to be stored in the fridge because the chocolate gets very soft if left at room temperature here in Belize. I will be trying this again.. it was very tasty!!

a simple advent tree...

 

I do plan to have an actual Christmas tree...but for right now...I am keeping it simple.  

As the celebration of the Birth of Christ approaches, I am Seeking, Waiting, and Hoping.  I am seeking a deeper connection with the True Spirit and meaning of Christmas, I am eagerly waiting to see how that unfolds, and I am hoping for this season to teach me more about Him.  

In the Christmas carol, 'Joy to World', we find the words, "Let every heart prepare Him room".  O, how I long for Him to find that there is indeed room in my heart for Him.  As I seek, wait, and hope I am reading a couple of Christmas devotionals.  One of which is focused on Christmas carols and the other is focused more specifically on Advent using Ann Voskamp's latest book called, 'The Greatest Gift'.  These ornaments on my little tree came as a free download when I purchased Ann's book.  Each day there is a devotional thought, an ornament, and a verse to go with it.  

Living abroad and being so far from the rest of our family at Christmas time is hard.  As an empty-nester the holidays seem to magnify the absence of Nathan and Spencer all the more.  Mom and Dad (Tom's parents) will be coming to Belize to celebrate with us.  This will be our first Christmas with them since we left the states eight years ago. It thrills me a great deal to get to spend Christmas with family!  But, at the same time it will make Spencer and Nathan's absence all the more prominent as this will be our first Christmas with the grandparents without the grandkids being here as well.  

Following Mary's example of pondering things in her heart I am choosing not to meditate on my losses but on the blessings in these life lessons.  Our children are supposed to grow up and find their own places in the world.  When they get married they are supposed to leave and cleave to their spouses. And we have not been abandoned here... God brought us to this country for a reason.  He has blessed our efforts here in Belize.  We have a home, we have a church family, we have a growing ministry, and we have each other.  And along with the Birth of our Savior these are things worth ruminating on and celebrating!  

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

 

What are you grateful for today?!

If you're blessed to be with family today add that to your list.  For those of us living abroad these holidays separated from family can be hard.  We miss our sons, our parents, and our siblings but are so grateful to have a community of American friends that we can celebrate the US holidays with. Have a Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Thanksgiving decor...

 

 

Had a burst of creativity this weekend while playing around with different fonts on my computer!

Our Thanksgiving Tree...

 

I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 9:1

 Years ago in the little church I grew up in we would be asked to give a testimony about what God had done in our lives over the past week. People would stand up and give a praise or sometimes they would sit and just shout them out.  But each week I heard something about God's goodness poured out on someone. This tree of ours is kind of like those testimonies.  We are giving praise to God for the big and the small things He is doing in our lives for the month of November.  

 

The tree is not fancy.  Just a branch cut from one of the trees in our yard.

I used the same branch for Easter.  (just click the highlighted words to see the Easter Tree.)

Some of the leaves are bigger than others but that is just so that I have room to write more when I need it. I made a template and then printed them out on various fall colors of construction paper.  Each day Tom and I talk about what we are thankful for. It's been a blessing to share with one another a bit each day and not save it all up for the holiday. And each time I look at the tree I am reminded of how good God is!

There is always something to be thankful for...

What are you grateful for today??

In honor of all who've served...

To my father and all the men and women who serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces.

I am so grateful for your service to our country and for all that you have sacrificed for our freedom!

Upcoming festival...

Ganesh idols are for sale here all along the streets.  A 10 day festival is coming and we've been told it's going to get loud!

Thank you...

To all who serve or have served in the US military...we are indeed grateful!

Memories from Mother's Day...

Mother's Day gifts from church...

praying together...

Chinese Torches from Lem and Vivet's farm...

all the moms who were in attendance...

along with Pastor Han and Pastor Dan!

enjoying a meal together after the service...

one year ago this little one was being dedicated...

 sisters sharing dessert!

Easter weekend joys!

Good Friday started off with welcoming a new little sister in Christ!

Resurrection Day was a great celebration for our Bethel Disciples family...

This was our first meeting under the new roof.  One year ago a ground breaking service was held on the property.  It is exciting to watch the progress as God provides the funds and workers for it to move forward.

Around 300 people came together to celebrate the Risen King!

Watching children get caught up in Toni's Easter lesson was a joy...

And we finished off our fellowship time with a potluck at Max and Patty's house.

 

This was our third Easter here in Belize.  Our first year we celebrated with friends from Canada who came down for a week.  Our second year we had Spencer at home with us.  And this year it was just the two of us at home but we were graced with plenty of 'family' to rejoice with.  God has blessed our time in Belize and we are excited to grow in Him along with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Bethel!

celebrating and worshiping Him...

May your Holy week be blessed!

Easter Tree Devotions...

As Easter approaches my desire for this year is to have a more hands on devotional.  With our nest empty again we have extended times of quiet throughout the day.  My little tree is sits on an end table next to my chair in our living room.  

Each time I glance over at one of the ornaments I am reminded of a name or attribute of Christ.  Today the one that stands out the most is Love.  I keep thinking of Christ being the embodiment of the Father's love for us.  And it is this love that I desire to be rooted and established in so that I may have power, together with all of the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ.  And I want to know this Love that surpasses knowledge--so that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Can you grasp the magnitude of God's Love for each one of us?

Does the thought of Christ's sacrifice remind you that God is Love?

I, for one, am still trying to take it all in...

and to Embrace this Love more dearly.

Each day until Easter I will continue to add ornaments to the tree so that I can further study and meditate on each word. I am truly looking forward to all that this upcoming holiday holds for us.  I know there will be mourning from Good Friday until Resurrection Day...but we do not mourn as those without hope...because there will also be a time of celebration when Sunday morning dawns!

May your journey to Easter be filled with the awe and wonder of learning who Christ is.

Just crocheting leaves...

Tom's been sick this week and today it was my turn not feeling up to par.  I've been in bed all day and was getting bored so to help pass time I decided to get started on my Easter tree.  My crocheted leaves are almost done!

I wonder if I'll be able to find floral wire here in Belize so I can attach them to the tree branch I'm using?  Oh well...I'll be sure to post pictures of whatever I come up with!

For my Valentine...

Special thanks to Meesha for painting this portrait for our 31st anniversary.

It's just the two of us again.  We don't own much anymore after all of our losses from our last move.  But, one thing has been clear over the past 31 years...all we need is us. Happy Valentines Day, Sweetheart!

Happy 50th Birthday Tom!!

I remember way back when you turned 16...where did the time go?  How quickly it passes!  I am so grateful to have you in my life.  And I am blessed by the journey we have taken together and all of the ups and downs we have weathered side by side.

You are an amazing man and your ministry has blessed people in various countries all around the world.  I pray that God's hands continue to bless and guide you each day.  I pray that you feel His presence leading and comforting and supporting you every step of the way.  I pray that He provides strength and insight and hope for you each and every day of this new year of your life.

I love you, Tommy!  Happy Birthday!

Family Moments...