I Wish I Could Time Travel

Don't you just wish sometimes you could go back and undo something stupid. I am working really hard to get a monthly e-mail Newsletter put together to try and reach more of my friends and family with information about our next assignment. I started using MailChimp and had so many bad/old e-mails they locked my account. Then I was to go through a lengthy process to have people sign-up again. So this time I had to send an e-mail from my personal e-mail address asking everyone to join my list again. (Here comes the stupid part.) I put all 290 emails in the "To:" box and hit send. (This is such a huge pet-peeve of mine.) Now I have shared almost my entire e-mail list with everyone on my e-mail list.

I am so sorry. Again, I am so sorry. All I can ask is that if there is someone out there who likes to make funny comments on mass e-mails and hits "Reply to all," DON'T.

Finally, I you wish to receive these e-mails please click HERE and sign-up.

I feel like a dope,
Wes

Lent

No...not the stuff you pick out of the dryer. That's lint. This is a season in the church calendar, like Advent.

Take a moment and let me share a song from one of my very favorite singer-song writers, Andrew Peterson.  Lyrically a fantastic song, especially for the season. Hosanna!

Have you ever done the lion's share of cooking for a big holiday meal? The kind where all the extended family comes out of the woodwork to eat their fill? One can spend the better part of a week actively preparing dishes for such a big meal. And in 20 minutes, 30 max the meal is done and you're left with a week's worth of dishes. That's how I feel about the day after a holiday. December 26th, Easter Monday, July 5th, April 4th (or whatever the day after your birthday is)--you've looked forward to these occasions of celebration for a whole year and all of a sudden like that, they're over.

That's why I like the seasons of the Church Calendar. Advent and Lent are the most familiar, Advent leading up to Christmas, and Lent the 40 days leading up to Easter. Resurrection Sunday should be the Christian's biggest cause for celebration. What better news? What better gift than our Savior defeating death and sharing it with us? It's far more than one can contemplate or celebrate in one Sunday, or even in one week (Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, with its own significant observances). Neither Wes or I come from church traditions that make a big deal about Lent (which is fine). But this year I decided that we should (or I'd like to) observe Lent with a sacrifice of some sort, which is the tradition. Something that would help me think about Easter, Jesus, his sacrifice, his miraculous rising, and our promise of New Life through the busy weeks leading up to Easter Sunday.

This year we have given up secular music for this season. I know that occasionally it is good for me to quiet some of the extra voices in my life. Since I like music, I listen to it it quite a lot. Over the past few weeks I've found myself turning the radio off a little more (because when you take away secular music the selection gets much smaller!). It has been good to sit or drive in the silence for a while.

I didn't choose music because I think there is something wrong with secular music. I quite enjoy it. It has been a sacrifice for me to go without it, and it's been a sacrifice of my pride and preferences to have my car radio set to K-LOVE for the last several weeks. I recognize that for this season it's more imoportant for me to hear the words focused (mostly) on God than anything else, it helps my mind wander in good directions.

Have you ever given something up for Lent? What is your experience like? I hope it has helped you focus on God's amazing love for you, and your need for Jesus' sacrifice.

God bless,

Elaine

P. S. It's hard to even write this post using the labels "secular" and "Christian" for music since that is another whole conversation, but they work for getting my point across.

Pressing on towards the goal

(Rebecca Hawkins serving the Hospitality House in England in 2007)

Life is so hard to plan. I am trying my best, but it seems like everything is waiting on everything else. An example of this we cannot get a specific assignment until we have enough funds. I believe we won't get enough funds until we have a specific assignment. Paradoxes like these are what requires us to live by faith. Right now I am in the moment of wanting to "do." God continues to tell me to "rest." You see my dilemma.

Well we do have a plan at least (even if God makes a few tweaks to it). Elaine and I have decided we would like to be back in the field by October. That will give us enough time to adjust to the new baby boy, time to visit many of you and time raise the funds necessary to survive in the field.

I understand that in the upcoming months hearing me ask for support might get old (and I understand that) but please understand it is our livelihood and we must do it. It is the very nature of the calling we have accepted. So please if you can see our vision and want to help, we need your support. We really desire to see the dark and lonely lives of unsaved servicemen brightened by loving hospitality, family and fellowship of believers.

For His Glory,

Wes

(A group of Airmen outside our house in Alaska having a little impromptu prayer)

Then There's Just Life

Hello friends, Elaine here. Wes asked me to write a blog update, and since he's been working so hard trying to get us caught up on all sorts of communication, its nice to give him a break.

Since we talk about things of substance frequently, I don't feel bad bringing up the weather. Today is beautiful here in Aurora, CO. It's sunny and 65 degrees. It's a great change from our former home, where yesterday the Iditarod commenced, and "spring" is still two full months away. Now, our forecast has snow in store on Wednesday, but that doesn't change today.

Ada and I just returned from a walk to the park where we played on the swings, watched the kids, and slid down the slide. She is not quite walking yet, but I think the park will be much more fun for her once she is.

Yesterday Wes installed a screen door in our kitchen, which otherwise has no windows and is a dark, unpleasant hole. Today it is pleasant.

Our baby prep for Baby Boy is coming along well. We've toured the maternity ward at our chosen hospital, assessed sleeping arrangements for the new addition (they do sleep, right?), realized we were waaaaay more concerned about being prepared for Baby #1 than this one, and helped Grandma make her travel arrangements to come help with the big one and welcome the little one.

One day at a time, things are fairly straight forward here. Eating vegetables, not eating things off the floor, trying to get out and have some fun (I'm looking forward to exploring two fabric boutiques I just discovered, later this week). Thank you sincerely for your prayers and support. And thanks for keeping up with us!

God bless,

Elaine