Struggles

Out of shallow weakness be

the everlasting security

to keep me on a bended knee

surrendered to Thy love

constraining me beyond

tempting paths that lead

to false security.

Emotions feed upon

tangible reality,

Yet faith will feast

when thy Word

means more than bread 

alone.

Ben

Ben can play for hours on his own. Every school day he jumps off the bus, gobbles up his lunch, tells me all about his adventures, and then runs off to play. On this day, the sun was out warming up the front porch, so he decided to take his bucket of Lego's and camp out there for the afternoon. I'm always genuinely surprised at what he engineers out of those things. As I watched him play, I realized how much older he looked, and that he would soon be off at school all day. To say that I will miss his company is an understatement. But, I also get excited for all that God has ahead for him. I'm thankful for a small and wonderful school, where he is safe and challenged. I'm thankful that he is healthy and growing older, with his own ideas & opinions. I'm thankful most of all for his heart and the desire he has to understand God's love. He likes to tell me, "I love you sooo much Mommy, but I love God even more!" Next week he will be going to his first T-ball practice with Daddy. They are both very excited. I'm realizing that Ben has been under my wing for the past six years and now it's time to let him venture out a little bit more on his own. It seems like we are transitioning from "most of the time with mom" to "more time learning with dad". It is an important milestone in a young boys life and I am so grateful for Aaron, and the example that Ben has to look up to.

It's a Small World After All

Last weekend we set out on our first camping trip of the season. We are blessed to have a group of families from our church that we go camping with from about April through September. Most of the places we go not very far away. We usually leave on Friday and come home Sunday. Saturday night's we have a big potluck dinner together and on Sunday we meet for worship and teaching. It is always a good time to slow down and get back to the simpler things in life. 

Our camping trip this past weekend was at Champoeg Park. It is in a beautiful green valley surrounded by tall oaks and winding trails. Patches of forest tempt the kids to explore wildlife and maybe catch some poison oak along the way! The "Meeting House", where we had our potluck and Sunday service, is rustic but beautiful, equipped with it's own wood burning stove.

What made this camping trip especially memorable was the opportunity to meet a German couple, Ludwig & Gabriella, and their 22 month old son, Luke. They are traveling through the states for 10 weeks in the most unique "Motorhome" we have ever seen. Ludwig, a lieutenant and pilot for the Bavarian Police, entirely built this tank/recreational vehicle on his own. It is the most efficient & sustainable machine I have ever had the chance to see. They were also the most outgoing people I think I have ever met! We were so blessed to see them come to our potluck and the Sunday service. I don't know where their hearts are at with Christ but I was impressed by their willingness. After talking with them for a while, Aaron and I found out that they live just outside of Munich. When they learned that we will be going through there on our trip in May, they insisted that we meet up with them so that they could give us a tour of the city! We can't wait to see this wonderful family again..and to think we met each other on a random weekend at Champoeg Park in Oregon! I love the way God works!