I just had to share a little bit of my trip to Valdez. Yes, you can see the evidence of the oil field all around, but God's creation far outweighs a few (enormous) tanks and pipelines. It was truly a vacation for me to go and serve my husband.
You see, my whole purpose in going here was to help my husband ... well ... live out here in a tent while he worked 12 hour shifts for 7 days in a row for 3 weeks straight. Yep, he was gone for 12 hours of every day. When one is reduced to living in a tent, there is little housework to be done and fewer bills to pay, etc. The one meal I prepared was by necessity simple and quick to make every evening! I had the luxury of gallivanting all around the area and exploring on my own.
Occasionally, I would wait and explore with my hubby when he got home, but most of these sights were mine alone. It gave me some real time to rest in Jesus. I wish I had some really profound revelation that He gave me, but really I felt like I was just enjoying dessert!
One thing this time did do for me, however, was prompted by reading Brother Lawrence's "Practicing the Presence of God." I was in the middle of a rather lewd novel based in 17th century England when I realized that I would be really embarrassed if Jesus caught me with that book. Oh yeah. He already knows. He's been right with me the whole time. I, in my humanness, skipped right over the to the last half of the last chapter. I just couldn't throw it out without knowing the ending (by the way, justice was done at the end)! I did know, though, that I didn't need to read it anymore. That is actually a really huge thing for me. I love to read and I am such a "check the box" type of person, that to not actually read the entire book was difficult. Sort-of. This one was actually easier than I would have thought to give up. It was a small, but profound moment for me.
I also had some confirmation of some major decisions while I was gone. Until those all come out in their own time, though many already know, I am just really excited about where my life is going. I have sensed a real growing in my and my husbands relationship with Jesus this last year and I feel that things are going to be different. I don't know anything other than that, but in another month or so, I'll be in a much better place to find out!
I feel like I could write an entire post on this next subject, and likely I will, but before it escapes my brain I wanted to share!
My husband and I have received the name of our first child! (pause for effect!)
No, I'm not pregnant and if I were, I'd have some serious explaining to do!! We have not adopted, and I am certainly not referring to an animal.
Just today we received the name of the child we are going to "sponsor" through
Childrens HopeChest. I got the email and read down through some of the apologies from the gal saying it had taken so long because of their ongoing move and then she shared the name of the person who is the sponsor coordinator for Ethiopia. I'll share more about all that later, but at the very end of the email, was the name. I am still choking up.
You see, this is not just a "sponsorship" to us. If it were, we could simply set up an automatic withdrawal and likely never even notice. An easy check in the box. Instead, this is a child who desperately needs someone to love on them and care about them. It is so much more about choosing a relationship than writing a check. Yes, we will provide money to provide schooling and meals, etc., but we are truly hoping to develop a lifelong relationship and someday even meet and love on in person! If we are really blessed, we will visit many times. That's what you do for family.
This is not our only child. We are anxiously awaiting information on our other child from Uganda. We also hope to meet this special one and share our love in person.
Again, it's just at the beginning, so I will wait until I have more information before I share it all! Actually, I'd also like to show my husband first - he gets home on Friday!
I just love Dessert!
