Blessed

We are traveling together again, planing to return to Alaska in the spring. On Monday we went to the Border States Fellowship meeting in Overland Park Kansas. The pastors and other missionaries there were so encouraging. Tonight we are in a hotel in Lawrence KS, waiting until tomorrow to share the needs in Alaska with the Lawrence Baptist Temple. In between Overland Park and Lawrence we made a quick trip to Des Moines to visit family and take care of some things. It was great to see my girls and Justin too. I am thankful to have a son in law who loves the Lord, and loves my daughter and grandaughter. Mayleigh calls me Annah and says it very well now. She also says I loooooove you. She is such a little cutie and so happy :)

After visiting the church here in the morning we will make our way back to Wellington, visit a church tomorrow evening on the way back, and then get some stuff done before it's time to leave again on Saturday for a church in Bonner Springs KS.

Please continue to pray for us.... We need more churches to have us come in and present the field, also more churches to partner with us in reaching the people of Alaska's Aleutians. Please pray about the housing situation in Unalaska.

It was great at the fellowship meeting to have pastors come up and let me know that they and their churches had been praying for me. Tonight I feel very blessed.

Waiting

It's my birthday and so I was thinking about the things I've learned this year. I guess one of the biggest lessons I've learned is to wait on Him. Psalm 27 has so many lessons for us but one of my favorite is in Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart, Wait, I say, on the Lord." We are in a "holding pattern" right now. Waiting for a tax return to pay some money we owe, and to pay for the move to Alaska. We are waiting for a house or apartment to open up in Unalaska. I'm reminded of Noah when he was building the ark. He just kept building, while people questioned and laughed. He obeyed God, not knowing for sure when the rain would start. I think of Sarah, encouraging her husband to have a baby with her maid, not believing that God would keep his promises to her husband by giving him a son with her. There have been times this past year that I've stepped in and tried to run ahead of the plan that God had laid out for us, convincing myself that it was what God wanted. After reading Psalm 27:14 this morning I am realizing that it takes more courage to wait on God, to take one day at a time, faithfully doing the things He leads us to do that day. If you are in a time of waiting ... take courage... rest in your heavenly Father and let Him strengthen your heart. Watch and be ready to move ahead as soon as the Lord opens those doors and in the meantime focus on HIM and prepare for the battle ahead!!

John was laughing as he was looking at facebook tonight so I asked him what was so funny. It was this picture! So cute but so funny too.

I'm not sure what Mayleigh was thinking but since (as Kristi says) we are 2 peas in a pod, I could probably guess. She probably was just worn out and needing a nap. Really though how often do we as adults feel like folding our arms across our chest and saying "no more, I've had enough"? That's how I've been feeling the last several weeks. I want to be back in Alaska. I want to feel good. What does God want? I fully believe He wants us in Alaska and that He will get us there very soon. He gave us a new supporting church last week and several churches have scheduled us this winter to present the field. He knows better than we do the amount of support we need and when the time is right for us to move to Dutch Harbor. God knew the healing that needed to take place in our family after the last several difficult years and He is Jehovah Rophe, the God who heals. So, this week, I plan to look to Him one day at a time, and to do everything I can to prepare to leave as soon as He opens a door. I look forward to teaching kids in our sending church tomorrow, going to the pumpkin patch on Friday, trying to sell some of my bread and butter pickles and salsa at the Farmer's Market Saturday morning, and traveling with my sweetheart to a church in Pittsburg Kansas Saturday afternoon. Jonathan is actually going to stay with Grandma Bev Saturday and Sunday night while we travel. He doesn't like to be away from us but he's been "practicing" spending the night with Grandma! I found his Aleut Lullaby CD that we bought out in Dutch Harbor and he does fine at Grandmas as long as he takes it along and listens to it as he goes to sleep.
Hope you all have a super week and that you "keep on keepin on".

Good news/ Not so good news

Not so good news first: About 2 weeks ago I mentioned that I was feeling bad. My doctor thinks I may have diverticulitis acting up. So after a couple of days on a liquid diet and 10 days on antibiotics I am feeling better but still having some pain. Talked with him today and he said to do another few days of liquids only and 10 more days of antibiotics. Then they will probably do a colonoscopy just to make sure everything is ok! Prayers appreciated. I am anxious to get back to Alaska and am learning much about patience these days.

I did get some GOOD NEWS today though. I had my yearly visit to my cardiologist. Went just a little early so that when doors open for us to go back to Alaska I will have that visit over with. Anyway, he said my heart sounded really good. I was still uncertain about a cardiologist in Alaska. He said he will take care of finding one in Anchorage who knows about Adult Congenital Heart defects.
That is a blessing to me!

God is using the events of the past several weeks to teach me to rest in Him. I woke up this morning thinking about one of the little boys I met at a VBS we helped with in Craig Alaska when we were there. He loved the wordless book bracelets we made, and said he would never take it off. So thankful that God chooses to use us and praying that we can get to the people of Alaska Very Soon!

September 11 and Texans

This day has been really different for me. We are back in Kansas and I was looking forward to teaching Sunday School this morning. Instead I ended up in pain, on my couch, watching the September 11 memorial services. Just before we went to Iowa I was in the same kind of pain and my doctor changed my medication. I thought it was working well but the last few days have been pretty rough. I did feel good enough tonight to go to church but guess I'd better give the doctor a call tomorrow.

While watching the memorials this morning I was reminded of several Bible verses that talk of God's faithfulness. Lamentations 22:23-24 about how His compassions fail not, II Corintians 4:8-9 about being persecuted but not abandoned, cast down but not destroyed. Isn't God amazing? I love that He is my strength in my weakest times. Today I was also burdened to pray more for our country. God's word says that a nation is blessed when God is their Lord. I pray that our country will truly turn to Him and make him our LORD.

OK, so I talked about September 11, so you might be wondering what about Texans? Well, you'ld probably never guess it but I love watching NFL football and my favorite team of ALL is the HOUSTON TEXANS!! When I was in 5th grade I had open heart surgery at Texas Children's Hospital. Our family stayed in the Ronald McDonald House in Houston and at the time the Houston Oilers had donated a lot of money to make the Ronald McDonald House super nice. They had Houston Oilers jerseys on the walls of the house and pictures of the players! I pretty much decided that they were great. Well years later they became the Tennessee Oilers, I believe, kinda lost track of them but then when I heard about the Houston Texans they became my team. I was disappointed today to see that they had a game but it wasn't on our TV, but TOTALLY excited to find out THEY WON! Of course, being a Kansas girl who likes football I did watch the KC Chiefs, not good. Then tonight after church I yelled for Dallas and it was a super good game but they still lost to the New York Jets. I also picked my favorite college basketball team based on where I had my 1st and 3rd heart surgeries.... University of Kansas... Jayhawks!! But we'll stick with football for now. Jonathan can only handle my enthusiasm about 1 sport at a time :) He told me tonight that "Mom's aren't supposed to get so excited about football."

Kristi, Xtra Tuffs, Grandpa, and Bubbles

Kristi in her wedding dress with her Xtra Tuffs!

I love this picture of my beautiful daughter. It's a reminder to me that while Kristi's wedding was amazing, life is tough and sometimes marriage is tough! It takes work. As a Mom, I think the best thing I can do for Kristi and my new son in law is to pray for them dilligently and serve the Lord faithfully! So, while I can't always help in material ways I will always love and pray for my little girl and her familly.

The other picture is my honey with our grandaughter Mayleigh. Even though life can be tough, it's so important to laugh together. Work hard but take time to play! Appreciate the simple things like bubbles, raindrops, sunshine, laughter, and sleep (which is what I need now). Goodnight friends.

Iowa for Kristi's Wedding

I have pictures of Kristi's bridal shower with Justin's side of the family, and of a day we spent at Camp Dodge's Gold Star museum. Good pictures, and I wanted to put them on my blog this week BUT I can't find my camera right now. We have been staying with Kristi for a few days. Now we're at my mother in laws so other people can stay in Kristi's apartment as they come into town for the wedding. Maybe I left the camera at Kristi's house.

Hope you all will pray for Kristi and Justin this week. Their wedding is at 2:00 on Saturday. Our van is full of stuff they rented to decorate the church with :) Also pray for Kristi's little girl Mayleigh. I am enjoying every minute I can get with her. Please pray as they become a family that they will seek to please the Lord, and live for Him.

I was thinking tonight about just how quickly time flys. I will try harder to make every day count! Hope you all have a great rest of the week and weekend and I'll plan on being back next week with pictures.

God's sense of humor!

When I was a kid and went to church with my Grandma, missionaries would come to church with the best stories. They would be all dressed up and I thought their lives, while difficult, must be pretty near perfect :) I thought wow, those missionary kids and yep pastors kids too, have perfect parents who love the Lord and do just about everything right. Now that I am a parent to MK,s I realize how wrong my perception was. Don't get me wrong I love being a missionary and can't wait to make it out to Dutch Harbor but I'm just a normal person, one of God's kids, dependent daily on His love and graciousness. I'm also a person very prone to clumsiness, and embarassing moments. Up until yesterday my most embarassing moment was when I wore two shoes that didn't match, a black one and a blue one, to church. One of the kids I was teaching let me know during the middle of our singing time.


Well yesterday's embarassing moment beats that one by a long shot. I've been teaching the 6th - 8th grade class in our sending church since our Pastor had surgery in June. Yesterday I had 7 kids, 3 boys and 4 girls. As I was teaching I noticed my capris that I was wearing were a little lose. That happens since my surgery, with the changes in my medication. My weight varies quite a bit. Anyway, I didn't think it was a big deal. They didn't seem that bad. As I stood up and took a couple of steps, yep you guesed it they fell down!! I caught them pretty quickly but not before the kids saw what was happening. Now the old, shy Jody wanted to crawl in a hole, and never come out. But God, in His love gave me the ability to laugh at myself. The kids and I laughed together for several minutes and then I had the opportunity to tell them how I felt, that I dreaded facing their parents and people who would hear about what had happened but that working through those embarassing times is part of serving the Lord. After my day yesterday I am so thankful that my God has a sense of humor and knows that I'm far from perfect but that I love Him and want to serve Him with my life. What an honor that God would use an imperfect, accident prone person like me to reach people for Him.

We will be leaving Thursday to go spend some time in Iowa before Kristi's wedding. Please pray that shortly after that we will get to Dutch Harbor Alaska. Also please pray for our sending church, Wellington Baptist Temple, that people will step up to fill in the gaps that will be left when we leave. After all, while God wants us to do our best I don't believe He values perfection as much as He values love for Him and a willing heart.

Rain

It's Saturday. John and Jonathan are busy moving old appliances. I'm HOME ALONE and could get so much done but my back hurts really bad. Guess I'll blog, but about what? My thoughts are jumbled!! Oh well, here goes! It's been a good week overall. We got some much needed rain here in Kansas and I think we may get more today. I love it! People here tend to get tired of it but it reminds me of the song my cousin Joe sang at Mom's funeral, JESUS BRING THE RAIN. Mom requested it before she died. Here's the lyrics...

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Artist - Mercy Me

I love those lyrics. I'm not always thankful for the rain and have not always reacted to rain the way I should, but God always uses it if I look to HIM.

One thing I've had some frustration with this week and it's not a big frustration but I'm looking for the right cardiologist for when we head out to Unalaska. Found good Adult Congenital Cardiologist's in Seattle but would like to find a cardiologist in Anchorage who could do my yearly check up and communicate with the ones in Seattle if need be. I have been researching Tetralogy of Fallot through the Adult Congenital Heart Disease website. It's new. I'm amazed at all the new advancements in knowledge about adults with congenital heart defects like mine just in the past several years. I called a heart Institute in Anchorage but have not yet received a call back. Will call again next week. Please pray that God will help me to find the right cardiologist. It took a while to find Dr. Beck here in Kansas. He's good, and was an answer to my prayers several years ago! :) Not all Cariologists know a lot about Tetralogy of Fallot. I know that there's someone in Anchorage just as good as him though!

Well, this blog will get way to long if I keep going so I guess today I'll end by saying THANK YOU for your prayers and I'll try to blog again next weekend!

Jody

Praise

God is amazing! Serve Him no matter what. Sometimes we don't know the next step. John, Jonathan, and I have a huge desire to get to Unalaska and share Christ with the people there. I have struggled with health issues but am doing much better. We've become grandparents to a beautiful little girl, who is now a year old and so precious. We are getting used to my daughter and grandaughter living away from us after having them in our home for a year. To me that's kinda tough. Such a quiet house. I guess what I want to say is that no matter what God allows in our life He is stil God and He is in control. We have lots of stuff coming up the next several months. Jonathan will be working on catching up on his schooling and I'll be working with him. I'll be speaking at a mother/daughter banquet in April. We will be going to Junior camp with the kids in our sending church and planning a VBS at our sending church. John will be calling churches and visiting churches trying to raise more support. Our hope is to move to Unalaska in August! Your prayers are very much appreciated.
Jonathan just got up, got his cereal, and came and sat next to me on the couch. He's 12 now and doesn't want to cuddle much these days so when he does I love it. He had a growing pain this morning and told me that he usually gets them a few months after his birthday! Come to think of it I think I have had some growing pains lately. The kind I get when God is growing and stretching me, reminding me that my strength is found in Him and that I am not my own.
OK... Jonathan is needing my help with his Bible quiz, working on learning the 10 commandments. Guess I'll post this and hope you all have a great day.