Just another day in paradise...

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. I believe that I say that at the end of every couple of weeks. There has been so much goodness though, which means there has been so much God at work in our lives. We went to Saskatoon for Mother's Day. It was a pleasant drive with the kids, absolute miracle. And, although we were there for only a few short days, we had a great visit with Blue's parents, his brother, Dale, and his uncle, Dennis. Family is a precious gift that is often taken for granted.
Last weekend was May long weekend here in Canada, Victoria Day. We decided that we were feeling young and adventurous and packed up the three kids, our dog, a few days worth of food and drove up to the takeoff point for the rafting trips that Blue will be guiding for this summer. Our good friends, Josh and Kelly, met us up there. Although, they were pulling a large trailer. Ok, I admit it, I was a little jealous. I do think, however, that the "five-man" tent that we slept in was a little misadvertised...maybe a three-man? Anyhow, 3 of our people were very small, and Kiska, our lab, was our heater. We had a great time, even waking up to snow the second morning, gotta love the mountains!
And, we made it out for our first, hopefully not last, hike of the year. Johnson Lake is beautiful, and the kids did a great job. I am so rich. God has given me a wonderful husband, and kids, and I am forever grateful.

What can I do?

It has been an amazing week. I called my sister on Monday. It had been nearly a week since we had last talked. The first thing she said was, "Where have you been?"
That is my sister. We usually talk every couple of days. We tell each other everything. We talk about our kids, our homes, our lives. We laugh, we cry. I live twelve hours away from her and miss her every day. She listened to me for over thirty minutes, telling her about my week. Then, my phone died. Arrgghh! Technology, who needs it? Well, at that moment, I did. So, I grabbed my other phone and called her back. This time the first thing she said was, "We sold our house!" "What!!!!!???!!" I yelled so loud, I probably permanently damaged her ears. She probably wanted to tell me quick before my second phone died. However, she managed to tell the story, amidst my whoops of excitement, of how her house sold, and they bought another house within a couple of days. God is so AWESOME!!
We have been praying for her house to sell for over a year. She and Joe live about 20 minutes outside of Rexburg, and believed that God wanted them to be closer to their church and their ministry. Their new house is four miles from the church. They also believed God wanted them to use their home for Him, they often kept missionaries in their house. The house that God has provided has more than enough space for them to house visiting missionaries comfortably. Did I mention that God is AWESOME?!
We sang a song in our worship this last Sunday that I haven't been able to get out of my head all week. I love it when that happens...

When I see the beauty of the sunset's glory
Amazing artistry
across the evening sky
When I feel the mystery of a distant galaxy
It awes and humbles me to be loves by a God so high

What can I do but thank you
What can I do but give my life to you
Hallelujah, hallelujah
What can I do but praise you
Every day make everything I do
A hallelujah, a hallelujah
hallelujah

When I hear the story of a God of mercy
Who shared humanity
and suffered by our side
Of the cross they nailed you to
That could not hold you
Now you're making all things new
By the power of your risen life




God is so good. Another amazing thing happened this week. We have been trying for a few months to make contact with and secure another lease from the landlord who owns the lot that we use for our Ice Cream Bus. We have experienced peaks of frustration that I never thought possible. Today was the deadline for submitting the lease to the Town of Canmore for development. This morning, as my heart began to admit failure, I bowed my knee to the only One who is powerful enough to create a miracle. An hour later, the call came in, they would meet with us this afternoon!
And, this evening, I am staring at our lease for the summer!
"What can I do but thank You, what can I do but give my life to you, Hallelujah, hallelujah! What can I do but praise You. Every day make everything I do a hallelujah, a hallelujah, a hallelujah."

1 in 8

I had the most blessed opportunity to attend the CAUSE Mother's Day Gala this past weekend. It has been said than when you are feeling sorry for yourself, there is always someone in a worse situation. This was one of those events that you walk away from feeling sober, guilty, and thankful all at the same time.
CAUSE Canada is a non-profit Christian organization that battles poverty all over the world, but has a focus in Sierra Leone, Guatemala and the Honduras. This particular event was a fund-raiser for the building of birthing huts for women and children in the country of Sierra Leone. This is a country that sees a staggering death rate among pregnant women of 1 in 8. Unbelievable! Canada has a death rate of 1 in 11,000. I have personally given birth to three children. Every time I found out that I was pregnant, I would experience a rush of emotions, a little fear, lots of excitement. However, it never once crossed my mind that I could die.
The cost of building a birthing hut in Sierra Leone is $3,000. This hut would provide prenatal and postnatal care. It would provide a sanitary birth by experienced midwives. It would give thousands of women hope that they and their newborn may survive.
At the conclusion of the evening, I was overwhelmed with the thought that I am so blessed here in Canada. I was convicted by the fact that I often get so caught up in my own problems, and think of the poor in Africa as something that I can do nothing about. However, God has told us that He has chosen the weak and foolish things of the world, I am sure that He can choose the poor as well.

How can I keep from singing?

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to run in the Rocky Mountain Soap Company Annual Women's Run. It truly is an amazing thing to run with over a thousand women. Blue says the estrogen is a bit overpowering for him, but he is a good sport and he and the kids cheer me on.
I ran the same race last year, and I recognized something I already knew, women like to do things like this in groups. I am a bit of a loner and prefer to run alone. Another thing about women I already knew, they love to talk. Therefore, last year I found that I was in the midst of the Canadian Rockies, enjoying the outdoors, and surrounded by talking women. And, believe me, they talk about everything...
This year, I arrived at the race, proud of myself for remembering to bring my Ipod. There would be no listening to 1,000 women talking this year, no way, I was going to listen to my praise music and was so excited about it.
A few minutes before the race began, the MC put on some rock song with the purpose to get us all "pumped up". I just smiled,put in my ear buds, and cranked up the volume. The song that came on was "How can I keep from singing Your praise?" I started jumping up and down and singing out loud. I was pumped. The whistle blew, and the herd of women began to move.... I kept singing, patting myself on the back once again for remembering the Ipod. This was going to be great.

"How can I ever say enough, how amazing is Your love. How can I keep from shouting Your name. I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing."

Wait, what was this? Where is the next song? I was in the middle of quite a lengthy hill, and was in no position to check the status of my Ipod, but, sure enough, it lay silent in my jacket pocket. This can't be happening. But, it was...

I made it through the race. I even began to enjoy the women's voices around me.
In the hour that I ran, I must have sung that song a thousand times in my head.
I realized that my sovereign God, who always has a purpose, had a plan for me. And, a few times in the last couple of days, I have felt down, or tired, or discouraged. I have lifted my eyes to the One who has given me a new song, and sung, "How can I keep from singing your praise?"

"There is an endless song, echoes in my soul, I hear the music ring. And, though the storms may come, I am holding on, and to the Rock I cling."

He is Risen!

It has been over a week since Easter Sunday, and the awe of that celebration has yet to wear off. Every time I read the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb, weeping for her Lord, questioning the man she believed to be the gardener and the Lord saying her name,"Mary", I get goosebumps. I have attended many a Easter Sunday in my 32 years, and the simplicity and the beauty of this service will forever be in my heart.

My sister and her husband pastor a small gathering of believers in Rexburg, Idaho. Rexburg is a small college town, home of Brigham Young University. The percentage of Mormons living here is over 90%. Mormonism is a false religion that has persuaded thousands of people that they can work their way to heaven. This is the town that Joe and Sus have been called to, and have served faithfully and joyfully for eight years. By the way, faithful and joyful service for God only comes from God. I am not trying to brag on Joe and Sus, I am merely trying to express my thoughts of knowing two people who sincerely allow Christ to be lived out through them on a daily basis. Allowing Christ to be seen in your life is simply a matter of putting self last and Christ first. Easy, eh?
Anyway, back to Easter. This small body of Christ in Rexburg gathered together early Sunday morning to enjoy a breakfast and to read the story of our Lord's resurrection. The service that followed was not a grand display of the talents and gifts that God has given His people, rather it was a simple offering of the heart. It reminded me of the story of the drummer boy coming to see the King at Christmas, and having nothing of material value to give, he played his drum. It was beautiful.
I have thought of that service daily since last week. What will I do when Christ says my name, "Debbie"? The desire of my heart is to immediately recognize His voice and respond, "Master".

His going forth is certain...

I am ashamed that I have let so many days drift by without writing about the goodness of my Lord. Life has this amazing capability of sucking me in, like quicksand, and time washes over me like a flood, out of my control. And, as I rush from activity to activity, from meeting to meeting, and from diaper to diaper, I find myself attempting to accomplish everything on my own, becoming proud when projects are completed, and worrying when I feel as if I should be able to do more. It is then, I feel a gentle reminder, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Two things are certain. One, God is God and I am not. Two, God is good, all the time.
Life is crazy, no one can argue that point. It is full of joys. We have committed to ministry in the outdoors this summer. Blue passed his EMR course. Ocean will be in 1st grade next year. It is also full of disappointments. Our ice cream business has not sold, and we are without a lease for the summer. But, through all of the joys and disappointments, I must know that God is good. "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain, Like he spring rain watering the earth."

Ocean reaches out

A few months ago, I began to believe that God was trying to tell me something. I was reading in II Corinthians 1, and I just couldn't get past the first four verses.
Our journey with our little boy, Ocean, has built a day-by-day faith. We have cried, we have laughed, we have lashed out, we have trusted, we have succeeded, we have failed, we have been strong, and we have been very weak. Yet, through every test, every tear, every joy, we know that "God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;" has never left our side.
"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort then which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
Knowing that God was with us, that He had a higher purpose, we chose to trust Him. But, I have to be honest, I really wanted to be able to see some of that purpose revealed here on earth. As I read these verses over and over, I began to pray that God would allow me to be able to comfort another in their pain, to be able to share my testimony and how God's love is all-sufficient. And, I believe that God was preparing me for just that.
Last week, a neighbor approached me at a play group. She began to tell me about her best friend, another lady here in my town that I have seen on occasion. This lady's name is Anna. Eight months ago, she gave birth to a beautiful little girl. This precious little one was just diagnosed with a rare form of Downs syndrome. My heart just broke as this friend related how Anna has seemingly shut herself off from the rest of the world, and is absorbed with her grief. I just wanted to shout, "I know, I know how that feels!" Her friend then asked me if I would be willing to reach out to her. I just looked and her and thought, "Yes, of course, Yes, God has already prepared me for this moment."
I feel so blessed to be able to invite her over for coffee and share that she is not alone.
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."
Please pray that God will reach out through my words and Ocean's gentleness to touch Anna and her precious baby girl.