The rain has begun

Hello to all our friends in the midwest and other places of the world that read this blog. :) It's starting to really feel like we live in a rainy state. It's been raining basically off and on during the past 3 days! When looking at the weather update it just says rain for the 10 day update except for one day, ha.

One funny story...well, it might just be funny to me. Yesterday, Jess, CJ, and myself went to watch the guys play dodgeball. That's not the funny part, but shoot I wish you guys could come experience them playing that sport! :) As we were driving we (well mostly Jess and me) were all just talking about frustrations and letting some steam out. Then we get to the parking lot of where we need to be which was pretty interesting. CJ saw a spot and we were rejoiced. Well the spot where she parked at was basically over a gigantic puddle. I was pumped about getting out because I had my rain boots on (smart me, go me!). Jess made it out safely, but CJ was on the side where the water was WAY deeper. I checked it out, played in the water, and told CJ that it would probably be best if she crawled over to the passenger side to get out of the car because her shoes sure weren't going to make that HUGE puddle (maybe she should invest in rain boots, haha). So CJ gives me her purse, which I couldn't figure out how to grab because I was already gripping much needed coffee in both hands. CJ finally just gave me her purse and she closed her door. I proceeded to stop playing in the water and went on the sidewalk by Jess. We laughed and were friendly observers of CJ's mad skills of climbing over the seat to get out of the passenger door. She made it and conquered the puddle on that side! HOORAY!

I only say this slightly irrelevant, useless story that might not really make you laugh only to say that I needed it. My frustrations and everything else just disappeared during that moment. We need people in our life to have fun with, to laugh with, and to experience life with. :)

Much love,
Stacie :)

Living out our "thank you"...

This past week Rachel and I took Elias and Jael to a pizza place which had a big indoor play area. The play area had slides, video games, a merry-go-round and a maze filled with tubes (like you'd see at a McDonalds or other fast food restaurants) but only so much bigger. In addition it had a big netted pit filled with little balls that kids could jump in and play in. Needless to say, we didn't spend a lot of time eating! As soon as Elias was done with his pizza he was ready to go and play. So we got everything cleaned up and entered the chaos. There were easily 35-40 children in there running, playing, and screaming. Elias didn't waste any time and went sprinting to the pit of balls and jumped right in. Then he went to the maze, then down the slide, then back to the pit, then back to the maze...you get the point. Jael didn't waste any time either. She went right to the merry-go-round, then to a smaller slide, then to the maze, then down the big slide (hilarious...), then to the pit, then to the merry-go-round again. It was so much fun watching them just play and enjoy this enormous play room. We probably spent nearly 45 minutes there. Rachel and I had so much fun just watching our children play and enjoy where we had taken them. As I was driving home that night an interesting thought came to my mind. I told Rachel that I didn't even care if Elias and Jael didn't verbally say "thank you" to us for taking them there. For me, watching them have so much fun and enjoying where we had taken them was all the "thank you" I needed. I wonder if that thought was a glimpse of God's perspective (that seems to happen to me a lot now that I have children). I wonder if the best "thank you" to God is simply living life to the full. Jesus said "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." That's what my heart yearns for, to live life to the full the way Jesus did. To enjoy living into His kingdom here on this earth as an expression of my gratitude for His glory, goodness, and mercy. What better "thank you" is there!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Blessings!

Clint

Some things I love about my church: Derek's fire and hardworking energy toward what he desires this church to be. Rachel's questions that are so sharp, and always make me think of new things. Drew's love of his church members, and how he defends them. Clint's comments that seem to fit just at the right moment. Stacie's rambling circle talk, that makes me think in about 12 directions at the same time. Elias' voice changes when he gets so excited about something. Sarah when she pushes through her discomfort. Karyl's wit that fits in perfectly to make me laugh a lot. Staci's struggles and emotions that she goes through on the behalf of others. Jael's love of the simple things in life like fun ice cream glasses and her toothy grin. Colby's ability to love with quality, not worrying about quantity. Jenny's presence...even though she's far away she still feels here.

Richard

He wore a navy blue hat and a cardboard sign. His face was speckled with salt & pepper whiskers and he held a dark, wooden cane at his side. He stood very still, as a statue, near the busy road. He seemed to stare off a bit, but it felt he was looking directly into me and piercing my heart. He spoke very sincerely and had a genuine tenderness that exuded from him. His hug radiated a warmth that stirred my spirit.

His name is Richard. He needs you to pray for him. Please, pray for him.

Go Ducks!

First of all let me begin by officially saying "hello" from Eugene. My parents, older sister, and I arrived in Eugene on Jan 2nd and Rachel and the kids and Rachel's parents arrived on Jan 9th. It was the first time Elias and Jael flew on an airplane and they did great. So that is beautiful. We had a great time with both of our families being here and were extremely sad to see them go. We miss them dearly already. But we are acclimating to life in Eugene now. We are very happy with our apartment. I have successfully hung all the necessary pictures and shelves which has made Rachel very happy. And I've always said, "A Happy Wife is a Happy Life." The kids have acclimated well to sharing a room. Usually Elias is pretty tired by around 8:30 at night and could go to bed pretty easily but Jael is quite the talker and usually stands up in the crib jumping and yelling "Elias" until she gets bored and eventually lays down. Needless to say, each night is an adventure. We love being close to the rest of our church. We can get to anyone's house in less than an 8 minute walk. It has been really fun to acclimate back into the life of our church family. I've been riding my bike or walking everyday into downtown where I spend most of my days getting a feel for the city of Eugene and thinking about the church plant. I've been telling Rachel how much I want to know everything about the city and the people right now. You would think that after 9 months of waiting for our house to sell I would learn something about patience and waiting on the Lord. I know I have been formed and have learned to wait but I continue to feel like a kid in the candy store. But you know, the fact that I'm ok with the tension between the two (the slow process of learning about the culture and feeling like a kid in the candy store) reminds me that I have been formed....and am continuing to be formed. I'm thankful that God has wired me the way I'm wired and am thankful that He continues to invite me into further formation into his glorious image. What a beautiful invitation!

Clint

I don't know

So.... I haven't had anything super inspiring to say...and so you haven't heard from me in awhile. So I'm going to ask a question. I want to know where and how you feel closeness with God. And I realize as a grammer teacher now,...there's no question mark in that. I think I feel God the most when I am alone in nature...but I forget that and spend a lot of time without that element in my life. So I want to be able to encourage you to spend that time with God where you feel Him or Her or It or Them the most. Where is that? Sarah

A good reminder

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you...
Psalm 55:22

For the rest of my life, the week prior to my dad's death will be hard for me. That "week" is currently this one.

I'm not alone in my suffering for each one of us has a lot of suffering and hardships that we deal with every day.

So I will choose to cast my burdens, my life, my heart, to God...i believe he will sustain me! It was a good reminder for me to receive that verse during this week.

Much love,
Stacie :)