Christmas Card

I always contend that the easiest day of the year is the day families take their Christmas card pictures.

Merry Christmas from all of us! (And Josh, in tight red and white stripped pj's. A gift for you all!)

 We are four days out from Christmas break for the kiddos and truthfully, I am yearning for it. It has been a rollercoaster few months for me emotionally and one less layer will be gladly embraced. For a while I just could not pinpoint what exactly was bringing me down, and to some extent, I still don't know. Today it's one thing and tomorrow another but most likely it's the combination of all the things and maybe I just need a break. 

But I am unwavering in going to the Word, even if I am crawling there. It is in my weakness that He is strong. I am still reading through the Bible and am finding much hope and refuge in 1 Peter. 

The family surges forward in spite of me. In a way, all the needs that force me to continue are a welcomed reprieve. And advent. Every morning before school our family has been doing an advent together - The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp. It has been a wonderful start for all of us. The devotion on December 12 spoke of Ruth and Naomi and these words ministered to me. 

Even in the sadness, Ruth looked for the light of God's goodness. That's what smart, brilliant people always do: they never stop looking for the light of Jesus in everything. God turned Ruth's darkness into light. He turned Naomi's sadness into gladness. There is a never a sadness so dark that it destroys gladness. All those little things that happened? God was making all the little things into a big, miraculous thing! And do you know the biggest miracle of all? Jesus coming to destroy the dark and to gather us close in the gladdest light! 

2 Corinthians 8:2-5

When we were growing up, every time my dad would receive an honorarium for performing some pastoral duty, we would gather as a family, decide who was in need, and secretly give them some. My parents did not have a lot of money and as I've grown into the parent role, I am ever aware of the unending needs of my family. It makes what my parents did even more remarkable. 

To this day, I don't know more generous people than my parents. My mom, who dreams all the dreams of fixing up her house, finally buying a new couch, installing central heat and air! They could have done all that by now but instead they chose people, loving people.

In the Japanese culture, people give gifts to one another based on how much the other person has given them. It is all fair, all the time. What a stifling way to give! and what a perversion of the way Jesus intended. 

In Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians he talked about the generosity of the people from the Macedonian churches. He said that even "out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." And hear this! "They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." 

My heart is open. My eyes are searching for ways to be a blessing to my community. As we head into the Christmas season may we jump at the chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus, even in this trial of a year. No matter how much we have or don't have. 

And just maybe, as I grow, they will too.

A Covid Halloween

The kids had a wonderful Halloween thanks to our family and friends. 

In keeping with tradition, Luke (BIL) and Sharon (MIL) went ahead and decided to make full on costumes in spite of Covid. It made the holiday still so magical for the kids and Josh and I were so thankful for the way they care for them. 

In lieu of trick or treating, Sharon also made a little scavenger hunt and put together a candy building craft. It was so perfect.

Then a few close friends came over and social distantly helped us trick or treat. 

Austie! =)

Abby's reaction to Mason the Chicken.

A Word For My Church (And Yours)

Today is election day! As if I needed to remind anyone that the culmination of the most divisive election I've ever witnessed will be decided today. Truthfully, I'm not even worried about the outcome. Sure I voted and have my opinions but once I mailed my ballot I gave it up to the Lord. 

I am more concerned about how the church will respond to the results of the election. It will be a true measure of where they are in Christ.  I'll be watching and praying and hoping that MY church is the picture of Jesus Christ. 

This year, I've had a hard time putting into words the reasons why I have felt so put off and burdened by the certain attitudes from people in and outside the church, but mostly inside it. As I've been studying proverbs and listening to some wise teachers, I've finally figured it out and I want to chat with you about it. 

There's a whole lot of scoffing going on and I think we, as believers, need to distance ourselves as far away as possible from it. 

A scoffer...speaks with contempt about people, enjoys the failures and judgment of others, doesn't take correction, only entertains their own ideas, makes light of sin and judgment, mocks people they hold in contempt.

Don't we see so much of this, especially now, as the fire heats up around the election? How much are we allowing the snark, contempt, and scoffing to dominate our conversations and platforms?

This isn't about determining who is a good Christian or not, this is about WISDOM. Psalm 1:1 says that it isn't wise to sit in the seat of scoffers, or take counsel from the wicked or stand in the way of sinners. And the next verse says that those who avoid those things will be "like a tree planted by streams of water...in all he does he prospers."

I'd rather be a tree and prosper.  

Scoffing and mocking and snarking looks a lot like our culture and we aren't supposed to reflect the culture and the world around us. We reflect Jesus. Not the world. Nor its ways.

There is too much at stake. Scoffing is the fruit of fools, not the wise. Nor the fruit of hearts surrendered to Christ. Let's reflect the heart of the Father, not the spirit of our nation.

This was penned by Kristen Lavalley on an Instagram post, but it may have well come straight from my own heart. 

Church, let's make Jesus proud.

In Pursuit of Jesus

Tomorrow I turn 39. In an effort to put forth effort, I've dropped carbs for a short time. I'm 7 days in and still ravenous! I told Courtney, my unofficial food coach, I may be the only person who gains weight after dropping carbs. lol 

Court dropping off some surprise goodies yesterday! TY!

But while the skin may be sagging, the lines increasing, the joints aching, I have never felt more settled in who I am in Christ. I have found a deep joy in this anchor I am clinging to. This last year has been such an eye opening experience. I went after Jesus BIG and in return the important things fell into place. I see words that are boring and hard but are the sum of a life well lived taking root in my life - discipline, consistency, and follow through. I am the same person, but I am different too. My heart is softer than before, my hands more willing to serve, my feet are lighter, and my joy is greater. It is less about me and more about everyone else. 

It's exciting that I know I've only brushed the surface of knowing God. I can't even imagine who I will become because of my discovery of who He is! 

I've never been the tattoo type because what if but I'd put 'In Pursuit of Jesus' in permanent ink. Maybe I will. :p

In pursuit of Jesus, forever. 

#remotelearning

 In the mess of our schedules, I forgot to pick up Landon from school on Wednesday. -_-

This job [of motherhood] has been given to me to do.
Therefore it is a gift. Therefore it is a privilege.
Therefore it is an offering I may make to God.
Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God's way.
In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.
-Elisabeth Elliot

I swapped out motherhood for remote learning. What are you sub'ing in? 

Grandpa

Tomorrow my grandpa would have been 99 years old. 

He passed away at the beginning of this year, before Covid descended. Looking back I am so grateful we were able to grieve together and celebrate his life with a funeral and burial. 

I held my grandpa in high esteem. He wasn't bitter about being interned during the war. He was faithful to Jesus. He was a pastor but not necessarily a preacher. His messages were always refreshingly short. There was never the arm waving, dramatic story, or voice fluctuations but the congregation was always left with something profound. He had a nice singing voice and if I close my eyes I can hear him singing hymns and Christmas songs while my Auntie Ruth played the piano. I can remember throwing a baseball in the backyard of their home in Anaheim. He had been through hardship but he wasn't hardened. At one point him and my grandma lived in a house with no working toilet even. Having been called into ministry, they didn't have a lot of money, but they were both hard workers and not one to complain. Over the years I would hear tidbits about his ministry and life's work through people - he married us, visited us, called me into his office one day, and so on. He was poetic and loved my grandma. Before she passed, I can't recall when the two of them weren't together. An intellectual for sure. I can still muster the distinct smell of his study. He had a big wooden table with a swivel chair and the back wall had floor to ceiling bookcases filled with biblical references and studies. He loved tempura, sashimi, and vanilla ice cream. His wasn't big on emotion but his eye always had a twinkle and oftentimes a thought would come out under his breath that I was lucky enough to hear. He was generous. One of my most memorable times with him was when he took us grandchildren to Japan with the senior adult tour he was leading. He often led the family in singing the doxology at events and hangouts. His faith was true and not just a vocation. I'm sure he is deeply pleased that his children and grandchildren love Jesus. 

"There is no sorrow without joy and no joy without sorrow, this side of heaven. They strength each other and often accompany each other." 

Today at church we celebrated seniors and ironically without my input, we sang the doxology. While we practiced I could see him and grandma, and our whole family, those who have passed and those who are still living, side by side on our knees, facing the radiant throne of Christ together, in complete awe, and surrender, and praise. 

So I bring my sorrow and trade it for joy today. For one day, this exact picture will happen. I am sure of it. A gift and testament to my grandfather's legacy of following Jesus, which has so graciously carried on in his children and grandchildren. 

Till that day Grandpa. 

Thank You, Son.

Landon informed me today that when Josh and I die soon, he is going to take over the responsibilities of caring for Abby. 

Our Covid Summer

The kids officially begin school tomorrow. It was a different summer for sure but we still did a lot of stuff we normally do - even if it did look a bit different. 

Science camp!

Playing at the park!

Swimming!

VBS!

Celebrated the 4th!

Had beach days and water fun!

Attended summer school!

Enjoyed cousin sleepovers and hangouts

Went fishing

Explored our neighborhood

Went camping!

Opened a nonprofit barbershop

Celebrated our 9th year of marriage.

Unsuccessfully attempted to exercise

And spent so much time at home.

Pretty much doing this.

All thing considered, it was a pretty nice summer.

Emerson lost her first two teeth. Landon had his tonsils removed. Abby figured out how to push a high chair to the microwave so she could climb up and push all the buttons. It's been a ride and I am so grateful that my children are little and really weren't hugely impacted by the virus. 

We start the school year with Landon in person and Emerson remote learning. I've got measured expectations and high hopes that we'll be ok. Here's to 2020 teaching us all about flexibility, grace, and seeing that fulfillment can come from nothing except Jesus.