Graduation 2012

 Well, it's done.  The graduation of Paul's seminary studies at Reformed Theological Seminary!  We were so happy to have Grampy and Grammy join us for the ceremony.  Here are some of my better pictures, but Grampy got some really nice ones. We are so very proud of Paul!

Here's a shot I got of Paul after the processional into the sanctuary.

(Central Pennsylvania friends, the fellow standing next to Paul is Stewart Folmar and is from Grassflat!!  Such a small world!  It was fun chatting with his family who know the Central PA area well...and even know Pinchatouly!)

Reptile-land Lizards and Amphibians Zoo

If you're looking for a reptile and amphibian zoo to visit, look no further.  The Henry kids are welcoming patrons to their newly opened Repitle-land Lizards and Amphibians Zoo!The welcome sign to the Zoo!

Love this added advertisement...

More enclosures

Queen Butterfly

Deer skull, box turtle shell and bird skull found on various expeditions.

Black Racer Snake skin...found on a hiking trail.

Enclosures with lizards inside.  The lizards that are listed are NOT what is inside...we're pretending they're more exotic than the anoles found here in Florida!

The book table (what's left of it).

 A Gopher Frog found on a Florida hiking trail.

 My zoo keepers!  It's a zoo here, most days!

 PJ with a female Eastern Fence Lizard found on a Florida hiking trail.

Adele holding (petting!) a crab shell found last year at the beach.  Not a lizard or amphibian, but hey, you never know what you're going to find at a zoo!

Around the corner

Graduation is just three days away!  Paul will graduate Friday evening.  The ceremony will take place at RC Sproul's church, St. Andrews in Sanford, FL. RTS is also hosting a banquet for the graduates on Thursday in which Paul and I will attend.  He has completed his last final and is breathing easy!

We are so thankful to those of you who have carried us in prayer these past three years...and many of you who have prayed regularly for us for years.  It is a joy to serve with you and to see how faithful our Father has been to us.  Of course, this is just one chapter in our journey.  We still need your prayers as we embark on this new season of life.

Please be in prayer for our upcoming trip to Thailand. We will be leading a Vision Trip. We leave June 7 and return June 19th. Pray for our safety as we travel about in Thailand and pray for clarity for those praying about joining us for a longer-term of service in Southern Thailand.  We are excited to see what our Lord has for us and them in the coming weeks!

Again, thank you for your labors!

daily inspiration: week 7

            An afternoon tea party complete with cherry shortbread cookies...yum, yum!

               Two happy boys who plan to sleep out under the stars in a makeshift tent.

     I often tell my kids that they can't choose their family...thankfully, these two are good buddies!

Less than two weeks...

until Paul graduates from Reformed Theological Seminary!!! Yay!  He has two major papers to finish and two finals...and then he's done.  whew.  breath.  Yeah, we're stoked!

And, a month from now we'll be in Thailand.  Did I mention how our Lord has graciously provided ALL our funding?! He never ceases to amaze us! Thank you to all who continue to pray for us...we feel your prayers and are so very thankful for your important ministry.

This post is short and sweet!

The Lord's Day

O Day of Rest and Gladness, O day of joy and light, O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright, on you the high and lowly, through ages joined in tune, sing "Holy, holy, holy" to the great God triune.

So very thankful for the Lord's Day yesterday.  My soul was nourished by the Word.  So very grateful.

feels like the world is caving in

not a good day here in sunny Florida.  I think I've cried at least every 20 minutes!  ha!  There are so many emotions running through this body today...and the lack of sleep last night isn't helping, I am sure.  (weak smile).  I've asked every one of my children to forgive me today, for harsh words spoken and for too many over-reactions to innocent playing.  I wish I could just crawl off to a hole in the ground somewhere so I don't do any more damage than I've already done.  I am reminded of a song by Sarah Groves about a tornado...and that's me today...I'm leaving destruction everywhere I go, I see it, I repent, confess and yet I do it all over again.  So very discouraging. Oh for grace to trust Him more.  So glad tomorrow is the Lord's Day!  Please pray with me that today gets better...that I would trust Him more...and not allow my emotions to run rampant, and not use my lack of sleep as an excuse to not love well.  Thank you for your prayers.

Have I ever mentioned how I hate packing?

I abhor packing.  If it's an overnight trip, I abhor it. If it's a weekend trip, I abhor it. if it's a week long trip, I really abhor it. If it's moving from one place to another?  Well, that just about puts me over the edge.  And, if it's moving across the world...well, you've probably guessed it, I do lose it.  Despite my abhorrence of packing, it is a part of my life.  It is more a part of my life than I would ever love to admit, but it is there.  Growing up in the same house for 18 years, NEVER having to move didn't prepare me very well for my adult life where I move about every 1 1/2 years on average! arrrgghhhh...it drives me crazy.  And, it would be a whole lot easier if I didn't have four children all in different stages in life and will continually be so.  This makes knowing what to purge and what to keep an even harder feat.
So, I am pausing at this moment of the day, to center myself and to ask forgiveness of my Lord for the impatience and harshness I've had with every one of my family members as I purge and gear up for a big Yard Sale the end of June.  It's just so hard to get rid of things.  It's not that I am particularly attached to things, it's more that I feel like I am hurting the person who gave whatever it is I want to get rid of.  I know that the person usually spent money on the gift and put thought into picking out the right gift and, for me that makes it all the harder!  I know this is a good problem to have, but it is so hard.   I am sure I am not the only one who suffers from this...whatever "this" is!
Just to update you all on what's going on with us and why we're packing....Paul's sister, God love her, is also packing and moving to Canada in July.  Her sweet husband got a job there and so they are moving their family.  As a result, they have offered us their home to live in until we leave for our second term in Thailand.  As you can imagine, this is a huge blessing to our family and I hope to theirs as well.  Their home is in a Jacksonville, FL suburb.  So, we are planning to move "north" (hahaha!) in mid July and occupy their home for them.  We are so thankful, once again, for God's provision and that we will be closer to family as the time draws near for us to leave.  Paul's parents and one of his siblings live nearby and his other sister isn't too far away either.
We would certainly love for you to be praying for us.  Paul is finishing up his coursework at RTS and will be graduating May 25th!  This is great and wonderful and we're so glad, but at this point, he is not much help with purging and packing. So, your prayers are appreciated for that as well.  Also, we are leaving for a Vision Trip June 7 to Thailand!  Elizabeth and I are traveling alone while Paul and PJ are traveling with our friend Drew. We will meet up with the other members of the team in Bangkok and go to Southern Thailand from there.  We would ask for your prayers concerning all the details of this trip. We praise God for providing the funding for this important trip and look forward to see how He will work through it. Please pray for those are exploring and praying about working with us in Southern Thailand.
For today, though, I could use your prayers for me as I purge and pack in the coming weeks...that I would remember that even in this I am to glorify my Lord.

daily inspiration: week 6

 tadpole found on the Peace River a couple months ago has grown into this beautiful frog.

Daddy was in need of some decompression from his studies, so a wrestling match ensued.

This girl loves balloons!  Who needs toys?!

weak

Per my post last week, this may not come as a shock, but I have been feeling so weak.  I guess that is a very good sign but it sure does make me feel discouraged!  Here are some verses I've been clinging to:
Romans 8:26
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness."

Philippians 3:3b
"put no confidence in the flesh."

2 Corinthians 12:9
"My grace is sufficient for you; for My power is made perfect in weakness."
v. 10
"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
13:3b-4
"He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For He was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God."

This does much to encourage my soul!

expectations...a deadly foe

The past couple months have been really difficult.  I cannot seem to pinpoint exactly what has made them hard, but they have just been very hard.  As I was talking to Paul last night I explained to him that I feel like every relationship I have I am ruining.  It's like anything I "touch" simply goes all wrong.  I really try not to think of myself more highly than I ought.  I just seem to see with such much more clarity how I affect others...and unfortunately not always for the best!  I especially see it in our family.  I am short tempered and just plain rude with the kids at times.  And, poor Paul, he gets the brunt of my selfishness and glares and unloving responses.  And, what makes it even worse is that I look at the those in the world who are not lovers of Christ (what I claim to be) and they seem to love their families and friends with such joy and delight and selflessness.  And I doubt God's goodness and I doubt God's love for me and I think "if only I can be more patient. If only I have more self control in my responses to the kids, if only, if only...."  My expectations of myself, Paul and our children are endlessly high and unobtainable.  I've been learning to tell myself that this is not who I am.  I am a child of the Father's and because of Christ I have been made righteousness.  That doesn't mean I don't ever sin (come and live with us for a while and you'll see plenty of sinful moments!) but it does mean that when my Heavenly Father looks at me, He sees Christ's righteousness.  And, as I write this post, I think for the first time ever, I may know why the past couple months have been so difficult.  I am learning what it means to be free in Christ, my beloved Lord. I am learning that I am dependent on Him for EVERYthing. This I have known for years, in my head.  But, I think it is becoming more of a knowledge in my heart.  And as a result I am trying to let go of sinful habits I have formed that I thought were godliness but actually are sinful. Such as guilt, self-righteousness, self-pity, covetousness, pride and the list is probably 100 miles long.  When I look at my sins, I don't see them as sins, necessarily all the time.  I see them as my rights and find ways to justify the way I am feeling.  Instead of submitting my "rights" at the Cross and repenting and believing in Him who died for me I go on fighting for them.
Isn't this the point?  That we preach ourselves the Gospel everyday?  Everyday we need to hear, Christ died for me, I have been bought with a price and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.  The Father loves me, He loves me enough that He sent His beloved Son to die for me and not only that He has sent His Spirit to live INside of me.  EVERY day we need to hear this message.  It's not like you wake up one day and you decide to follow Jesus and then that is it, my fire insurance (escape from hell ticket) has been purchased and now I don't have to worry about how it'll all end so long as I don't murder someone or break someone's marriage up, I'll be good for the streets of gold.  Oh no, dear reader, if you think that you might well be on your way to hell.  Following Christ is a daily laying down of yourself for the sake of Christ.  It's a daily reminder that He died for me!  He died for me and now I can live for Him!  It's true freedom but I realize this sound foolish to those who don't know Him.  Anyway, after writing this post, I think a lot of my difficulties are coming from the expectation I have to be perfect clashing with the Lord's desire for me to glorify and enjoy HIM!  I am seeing more of my sinfulness as I see more of His holiness and it makes me uncomfortable and yet this, Lord willing, will evoke real change and transformation in my heart to make me conformed to the image of Christ Jesus.   And this will only happen by the power of His Spirit at work in me.  So, I think, if I have my theology right (!) that I am feeling this tension because God is at work!  I am trying to preach the Gospel to myself, daily.  I am trying to remember the Cross in those hard moments of the day.  And, by God's grace, He is putting me through the fire, refining me as gold and one day I will stand complete in Him, as pure as gold.  The fire burns and it hurts, but it's for our good and His glory and I am learning that when I hurt to press into Him even more.  What a Father!  What a Lord! What a Savior to save a worm like me!

daily inspiration: week 5

 Ducklings on the pond.

 Socks are a good source of fiber!

Adele and her friend Martha playing princesses and dollies.

gearing up

Well, time is a ticking and that means the days are drawing closer to Paul's graduation and Lord willing, our departure for Thailand.  We are getting super excited about heading back to South East Asia.  Paul, PJ, Elizabeth and I are leading a vision trip in June for about 10 days. It's going to be a crazy trip as Elizabeth will be on my lap the entire flight...but I am so excited to be going.  I am looking forward to reconnecting with many friends there and seeing the new city in which we will be living.  I am looking forward to praying with future teammates (maybe?) and waiting upon the Lord together to see what He wills.  And, I wouldn't be human if I didn't admit the fears that also reside in my heart.  Fears of pure exhaustion from traveling with a small child, fears of tsunamis, fears of language blunders, fears of danger and the list goes on and on.  My hope, however, is in Christ and His calling and His assurance that I am His and nothing can separate me from Himself.  Praise His Name!  I am keenly aware of our utter dependence on Christ in this trip...and in any future ministry.  Without Him we are just chaff that the wind blows where it will.
Dear reader, would you pray for our trip?  Elizabeth and I leave June 7 and Paul and PJ leave June 8 (I think).  Please pray for safe travels both to get there and back and in country. Please pray for many opportunities to share the Gospel of Christ with many people.  Pray for our language to come back quickly!  Pray for those who are praying about working with us on a longer term scale.  Pray for protection from disease. Pray for protection from the forces of the spiritual realm.  Pray for the funding we still need and praise God with us that several on the team are doing well with raising funds!  Pray for all the little details that could become big details.  Mostly, pray that we would know Christ more and that we would glorify Him with our lives.
Thank you!

daily inspiration: week 4

 We broke out a new toy for Elizabeth to play with.  It was PJ's and yes, we've hung onto it all these years.  My sister, Cathy, got it for PJ his second Christmas.  Elizabeth loves it...and so do the other three!

 This is the face after she tried to rip Paul's face off...she's notorious for grabbing at his face.

 Ninja warriors working on their moves in our driveway. PJ with his neighborhood friend Jackson.  It's been such a blessing having him live just a few doors down the street!

And, I found these two deep in imaginary play. I am sure at some point Calvin will hate me for putting this on the blog...but it's just so cute!

daily inspiration: week 3

Elizabeth giving a high five!

A fort made out of tree limbs...our own occupy Oviedo movement!

And a beautiful full moon at the beach.  It was gorgeous.

Easter 2012

 Here are my four peeps on Easter morn.  With the help of a dear friend, Rocio, I made Adele's dress.  It's not perfect, but it's not too bad, either!  I will say, though, that if Rocio hadn't helped me I would have given up!

Easter Weekend

 Well, it's been a fun Easter weekend, thus far.  We decided to head to Cocoa Beach Thursday evening to spend the night at Nana's condo.  We all had a wonderful time playing in the ocean and on the beach.  Below, you'll see Calvin lost his second tooth.  Pretty soon he's going to have a whole new smile.

 This girl wanted us to cover her feet, so we started making her into a mermaid but she persisted we make her into an manatee...so we did. =)

 And, Adele is really enjoying her role as big sister these days.  It has been such a blessing for me to see her growing and loving Elizabeth by nurturing her and playing with her often throughout the day.  I pray they'll be best friends and Adele will be a good example for Elizabeth as well!

 We returned home this morning and so we dyed eggs...that was a lot of fun too.  PJ was concerned about one of Adele's eggs when it cracked and some of the dye got into the egg.  He told her she coudln't eat it (he thought it would harm her).  Some tears were shed momentarily until we told them it wouldn't hurt her.

And this one seems to always have this shocked expression...I guess dying eggs is shocking when you're only 8 months old!

daily inspiration: week 2

Week Two for daily inspiration, joining my sister-in-law Nancy in recording my kids lives.  Well, and other things too!
#1 The woodpecker in the top picture was spotted Sunday at Paul's folks' house.  He stayed a long time, allowing me to take WAY too many pictures of him! But, how beautiful.  The way the Lord has designed the woodpecker alone shows a glimpse of the wisdom of His creation.
#2 Adele painting with watercolors.
#3 Elizabeth turns 8 months old today! Yippee....and she's ALL over the place.  She was contemplating climbing onto the metal rack yesterday.  One tooth came in on the bottom, her hair's growing and she's pulling herself up on anything remotely sturdy.  She climbed up two steps Sunday at Grammy and Grampy's.  She just keeps on developing beautifully. I am so thankful for my baby! =) She keeps us all in stitches.

earrings

Here is Adele with her turtle earrings in her ears.  Her Aunt Cathy gave her money for Christmas to get some earrings...and these are one pair she chose.  The other pair are little feet. They're so cute.  As you can see from the pictures, she was in quite a silly mood for these pictures!

daily inspiration

My sister-in-law, Nancy (over at emerald lane blog), has started a weekly post about daily inspiration including three pictures.  I don't know if I'll be able to do it weekly, but I'm willing to try. (I don't always have a computer available to use!)  Anywhoo...here it goes!

                                Calvin lost his FIRST tooth...so his smile is changing!

                          Inspired, yet again, by Nancy, we tried our hands at painting.

     And there is no greater fun that building forts in the living room with a HUGE African basket to make a cave, and Mommy allowing Elizabeth to hang as well. =)