coming home...

We recently spent three weeks traveling, visiting churches & dear friends throughout Texas, Louisianna, Alabama & Arkansas, in an effort to raise awareness and support of our recent missionary status and all that entails.

It was so fun to see the southern states, enjoy the southern hospitatlity, sweet tea, the dreary ocean coastline, tour the USS Alabama & remember those who procured our freedoms (including Garrett's grandfather who served on one such ship), meet new friends, catch up with dear old friends, encounter different worship styles and experience varying church services -- all of them with one common goal, to push people closer to God. All of them, so encouraging and uplifting in their own right. It was such a blessing and an honor to spend the time we spent traveling and establishing relationship with quality people who love God deeply.

It was nice to come home, to our place of rest.  To be found waking in my own bed, to be situated back in "my" domain. Now home, with alloted time for reflection, I have found myself to be in a place of firm resolve that I am ready for the changes which lie ahead. I am ready for the Lord to stretch me and use me for his Glory. Too long have I lived for my own good. Too long have I opted out of pushing myself, giving of myself, loving others whom aren't easy to love.

I think there may be days when I look back at this blog post and, perhaps, cry for the challenges presently set before me. Or even better; breathe a sigh of relief. A sigh that may allow me to hold my head up high and know that I stepped into the unknown, into the challenge. That I did it. I know it won't be easy, but what matters, is that I was able to give my all to serve the King of Glory. To give Him everything I have to offer, my feeble self. God has a way of taking what little we are as human beings, and doing monumental feats through us. This shall be my story. I know it in my heart.

If anyone out there wonders, why? For us, it's simple. Garrett and I have decided to be intentional with the time we have on this earth. For us, for our family, it means answering the call given in Matthew 28:19. Everyone's purpose is different; but I challenge you:

Are you being intentional with your time? With your months, days, weeks, hours? Whatever you find yourself doing, whatever task you set your hands to; do it well. Do it with purpose and joy, and breathe life into the dry bones of this old world.

Life

This serves as a very unofficial announcement that this blog is about to change, err, encompass...more...of life. This "expansion" is due to the fact that our family is embarking on a new endeavor and we are becoming full time missionaries. Therefore; this foodie's blog will sometimes take on a communicative type role for the sake of our dear family & friends. You may see more family-style entries and photos of what is going on with us as we will be traveling a lot in 2012.

I do promise to keep my passion of wholesome homemade food alive, but I may not always have time to share it. So often I think, "I should blog about this" when I make a delicious dish or bake a sweet treat; but when it comes right down to it, by the time I sit down to blog about the food goodness, I realize I would really rather spend my time creating more yummy food to eat. (I admit that was a rather long run on sentence, but I think I pulled it off successfully?) This phenomenon happens to me at home, so add in the traveling bit, and I think my cooking opportunities may wane a little...sniff, sniff. Hang around to see glimplses of our crazy upcoming adventure of a lifestyle.

What better way to get this party started than to say

 Spiderman is in the house.....

 Bodhi turns 4 years old in eleven short days. 

We are having a Spiderman party. Word. 

It's gonna be awesome.

 Ready for Super hero action.

 I think he was actually saying "Ka Chow" for this one. 

We are also very fond of Lightning McQueen.

                                                                              

YOU are my number one fan. 

 Slinging his web to the top of the Christmas tree. 

He was a little ticked at his dad for wearing his sweet Spidey mask, as you can see by his expression.