Seeing Them as God Does

I have a friend who is an gifted photographer. She has been given an eye for capturing the heart, no, the very soul of a person. I believe that this gift comes from her great love for God and the time she has spent sharing that love with others around the world. She sees others as God sees them and He allows her to capture that on film so we might be able to understand His love for all people.

My hope is that I may see people through God's eyes, see their very soul and feel the love He has for them. May I have the ability to shower the world with His essence in all I do.

The Shy One

So, the big boys are with the student group at IYC. Always interesting to get together with the parents and compare notes when the children are away...and good to have a counselor letting us know the real 411. You think they'd know by now "mom always finds out!"

I get this text letting me know that Sam is trying for a world record in high fiving. Apparently, the child who usually avoids people like the plague, is standing at the end of a busy mall escalator high fiving everyone who gets to the bottom. I'm hoping this is the direct result of an inspirational Worship time teaching to share God's love...but I'm guessing it has more to do with the youtube video of the guy who offered free hugs...

It is harmless fun!

The Shy One...yea, right!

Mission Trip Planning

We are about to embark on an exciting journey. 46 people...families are traveling together to share God's love with Spruce Pine, NC. In preparation we've had a couple of meetings at our house. Our children have played while we have planned. Our children will travel with us to learn about mission work first-hand. Now we do the last minute prep with excitement and expectation of all God will do.

Please join our families in prayer for:
God’s protection as we travel and serve
A growing spirit of Christian family among our team
More donations of supplies – we need much more of all of the items in our list
Our open hearts and minds to the spiritual as well as the physical needs of those we serve
God’s blessing on our team and on the people and ministry of Appalachian Church Planting
The hearts of our children – let’s ask God to raise up missionaries from among our families – what a blessing that will be!
Tremendous, divine love among all the members of our team as well as our fellow servants at ACP and Western Carolina Church – Jesus said that’s our greatest evangelism tool! (John 13:35)

Then and Now

October 13, 1990

Celebrating our anniversary early in Charleston.

Yes, that's my son

We have a funny family story...five generations of the first-born sons have be given the middle name of Edward, Jacob being the fifth. However, the story goes that Jacob's great-great grandfather was skipped over for this honor. Being born one-day before a horrible cyclone hit his birth town, his father opted to name him James Cyclone after finding the newborn and his mother alive in the rubble. Story says James hated that name, went by James C. and once his son was born quickly re-established the tradition of Edward.

Well, this story was shared with me during my pregnancy. I thought it was a super cool story. I kidded Philip that we should name our child Cyclone. He certainly moved within my frame like a cyclone. In the end (and after a YOU WANT TO CALL MY GRANDCHILD WHAT? response from my mother) we named him Jacob Edward.

Fast forward a few years. Jacob loves the cyclone story. Jacob has always been a cyclone! And now, Jacob sports a "cyclonic" look on his head...the cock-eyed, crooked mohawk. And...sh...don't tell him (because I had to show the obligatory motherly eye roll at first)...I actually kind-of like it. Makes me laugh everytime I see it!

I should have gone with my instincts 15 years ago...He is Jacob Cyclone!

Who's Driving?

Our family now has a teenager with the treasured "temporary permit" that allows me to hand over my keys and let him drive. Ugh, ugh, ugh and more ugh.

It's not that I think Jacob cannot handle the task. Really, I know, he needs the practice and, for the most part does very well. But I had no idea how much WORK it is to sit in the passenger seat, knowing what needs to be done, and NOT DO IT and NOT SAY ANYTHING! Of course, if it's a major obstacle, I will speak up. It's those small things...the not slowing down soon enough for a stop sign, the hesitant gas pedal, the too fast gas pedal, (you know everything all of us have done during the learning process) that it is so hard to stay quiet about!! Because, he has to experience the herky-jerky stop, the extremely slow starts, the jump of the car to learn not to do these things.

It makes me wonder...when God gives me the keys and sits in the passenger seat how can He possibly stay so quiet when I'm about to make a wrong turn? Isn't it amazing that my creator sits patiently and quietly, allowing me to make my own wrong turns, quick stops, false starts in order to allow me to learn and become closer to Him? Wow. And, when I realize my mistake and have an oops, He's right there, encouraging me and telling me to try again, you will get this right...I am right here with you.

I am going to try to keep this in mind the next time Jacob is driving. If God can allow me room to learn from my oopsies, surely with His help I can let Jacob do the same! And thankfully, I know that God is with both of us when in the car!

Summer Fun

We enjoyed a week at Hilton Head with family in June. Philip and I even managed to escape a couple of nights to Charleston for some alone time. Thank you Bill & Becky!! Not many are willing to take on our fabulous four!

One of our favorite stops on the way home from down south...the Tamarack in West Virginia. We woke Sam up in order to stretch our legs...can you tell? Jacob, Asher & Anna were all wide awake and ready for a break - Mom & Dad were, too!