Time to slow down

The past few weeks here in Glasgow have been a bit of a blur for me. Usually when things gets really busy that is when time flies and everything blurs together. However that is not the case here. Up until the first week of August life was pretty hectic. It was a busy season of ministry, but that season has been coming to an end (for me at least) and I find myself slowing down in all areas of life.

You could look at this two ways. The old me (well to be honest part of me is still like this) hates this! If you know anything about me, you will know that I hate to be bored and I love to keep busy. Sitting around watching movies all day or being stuck inside is not my ideal kind of day. I would much rather be working hard, being outside, being active, anything other than sitting around the house all day. I think at times I have become quite legalistic in terms of time and making the most of it, and I think God is trying to break me of that.

The past few weeks I have not had as much work to do as normal and likewise have not had much energy either. I guess being 38 weeks pregnant it is time to start slowing down. At first I had a really difficult time just laying low with not much on the agenda, in fact somedays I still do. Somedays I just want to go for a jog, or even a walk that doesn't leave me sore and out of breath. Just yesterday we walked to the hospital (about a mile and a half ) and walked home. The walk home was quite painful, but the hardest part of it all was that in my head I kept thinking this shouldn't be difficult, I ran a marathon last year, why can I not walk for 3 miles. And on Sunday I came down with a cold, which normally wouldn't slow me down, but this time it really knocked me out and left me on the couch all day.

I guess what I'm trying to say with all this is that slowing down is not a bad thing. I woke up this morning (quite late I might add) feeling as if God was saying to me, it is ok, slow down, don't feel guilty, rest is good. So many times in my life I become so legalistic that I end up feeling guilty for not being able to live up to the crazy standards I give myself. This is just one of the areas I do this in. This week I think God is really trying to change my heart, to help me realize I am being ridiculous and putting laws on my life that he didn't intend. The great thing is we have a loving God who not only shows us our sin, but offers forgiveness and peace when we repent. And that is what I feel. I feel as if I can leave this old way of life, the one of feeling guilty for not living up to crazy standards and have peace and freedom and REST in God. I can take time to relax without feeling lazy and sinful, knowing that God himself rested and expects us to do the same. I will continue to grow in this area and pray that I will learn to glorify God even in my rest. Plus in 2 weeks (or whenever baby decides to come) that might be the end of my rest for awhile;)

My resting chair, where Ben "makes" me rest:)

You are loved!

Full Term!

The reality of being a father for such a long time seemed so far away. Obvious signs of a growing bump have helped slightly in the realization that the time is coming, but everything has sort of seemed to sneak up on me rather quickly. As of yesterday Dani is officially full term! We are 3 weeks out from our due date! Sometimes I have thoughts like, "is this real life right now?" or "hurry up and take your time!"

All in all we are so excited to meet our baby boy. God has been so faithful to us through this whole process of trusting Him in having a baby in a different country and away from family. There has definitely been times where it has been hard(and I'm sure there will be more), but He has surrounded us with not only His love, but the love of our church family here in Glasgow, Scotland as well! God is so good!

pregnant glow!

baby buuump!

Ready for our wee hospital visit!

Baby clothes washed and separated!

BONUS: For those of you who missed the "Workout advice for expectant dads video" on facebook, here's your chance to see it! :)

                                     

YOU ARE LOVED!

A Rip Roarin' Root Tootin' Good Time with Jesus

Our SonWest Roundup Holiday Club finished up on Friday and was a great time. We didn't quite have the 40 kids we were praying for, but I think God gave us the exact right number of children for what we could handle and so the leaders and teachers could really invest in the kid's lives. It was great to see so many kids show up who don't normally attend church. It is exciting to know that each of these kids heard the gospel this week in a way that was relevant to their young lives. I don't know of any decisions that were made for Christ, but we pray that this week laid a foundation that will be built on in the years to come. On Saturday we had a family fun day which included a rodeo bull, face painting, water guns, a tea and coffee room, and a bouncy castle. Many kids came back with their families and had a great chance to meet some people from the church and get connected. On Sunday most of these families came back for church, which was a huge answer to prayer because we know that each of those families have now heard the gospel clearly. Now we are praying that they too would make decisions for Christ.

Ben had the second longest ride on the rodeo bull of 50 seconds!

I am so glad we had the opportunity to serve the Lord through this Holiday Club and to work with so many great volunteers from the church. It was so awesome to watch God work through kid's lives and it gives me so much joy to be able to teach young children about the love God has for each and everyone one of them. It definitely makes me miss my teaching days at Schaeffer and Coulee Christian, but am so excited that I will get to start teaching these important truths to our son in just a few short weeks. This week for me holds catching up on lots of rest (I'm exhausted from last week), washing baby clothes, finishing the nursery, and packing our hospital bag. Baby Arant is due in less than four weeks and next Tuesday I am officially full term. Continue to pray for us as we prepare to nurture this life God is blessing us with and strive to seek after Him in all we do!

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

You are loved!

SonWest Roundup

Hey y'all! Getting in the spirit for our Holiday Club (VBS) here is Glasgow, Scotland that we are starting this week! Be praying for us this week as we reach out to the community around our church!

Harvest kids excited for a trip out west!

Gettin' in my cowboy zone y'all!

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Pray for 40 kids to come!

2. Pray for volunteers to have a meaningful impact on the kids lives.

3. Pray for Dani to have energy to get through the week.

4. Prayer for our church to grow through this opportunity.

5. Pray for entire families to come to Christ through this Holiday Club (VBS)


YOU ARE LOVED!