Impact-Full

YEA! So happy to say that the weeks of my husbands traveling, that I dreaded months ago, have come to an end!  

Plus, this week I had lunch with a friend returning from the US, and it dawned on me that she is the first friend of the many traveling this summer to return to town.  Definitely makes me feel that we are on the home stretch of summer furlough season here.  As I have learned after 2 summer school breaks living in Chiang Mai is there is a mass exodus in the 1st 2 weeks of June, and then a mass entrance in the end of July and beginning of August.  

Still going strong doing the summer bible study with Good Morning Girls.  If you are looking for a good book to read or looking for a bible study to start in the fall, I would definitely recommend the book we are reading.  It is titled "Anything" by the author Jennie Allen.  God is doing a great work in my heart and stirring up a fire in me this summer. 

I just want to share some highlights from my chapters this week that are challenging and impact-full.

"I don't want to make decisions based on my adequacy and capacity.  I don't want to miss what God has for us because I am afraid.  Just because we are willing didn't mean it was easy.  I still wanted God to be more clear, so we could be more sure." (Chapter 15)

"In parenting...you have two or maybe three babies who turn into toddlers. At some point you either live perpetually anxious or give in and embrace the fact that your life is now completely out of control.  Once you embrace that, parenting shifts from an agenda to an experience." (Chapter 16)

"Our reality is a cross, a heaven, and a God who sees us and gives us his Spirit so we can do something while we are here.  And that's not building a cute, easy life for ourselves where the pros outweigh the cons."  (Chapter 16)

"We doubt because of the risk, the cost, the abandonment of rights and comforts, the disapproval of people you really love, and then on top of it all, because you have now officially picked a fight with the devil.
The devil is real, and nothing ticks him off more than people waking up from the numb stupor he has crafted to keep us harmless."
(Chapter 17)

"To accept that life is supposed to be hard is the beginning of joy.  There is freedom in understanding that heaven is coming and we are not there yet.  We're called to live, instead, aware that we are at war with a ruthless enemy who is trying to destroy us if we are living surrendered to Jesus." (Chapter 17)

"God has bigger purposes in allowing us to suffer, bigger than just winning.  He allows us to suffer because we change through suffering.  We hurt with others better.  We become humble.  We want him more." (Chapter 17)

Even as I read them out of context of the book here, they challenge and inspire me to know God more.  This really is a great book to read, and study scripture along with it.  (She has lots of scripture references that go along the way with the above quotes).  

Today I will end with God's Word:

"Now I am coming to You, 

and I speak these things in the world

so that they may have My joy completed in them.

I have given them Your word.  

The world hated them because they are not of the world, 

as I am not of the world.

I am not praying that You take them out of the world 

but that You protect them from the evil one.  

They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.  

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.  

As You sent Me into the world, 

I also have sent them into the world."

John 17 v.13-18

WE ARE THEM.

This is my blessed & non-traveling life,

Jennifer

Taking back our living room

I'm definitely a "a place for everything, and everything in it's place" kinda girl.  When we lived in our last home in the US I was pretty strict to keep all my daughters toys in her room...that was their place after all.  Our living room was a family space with pictures and candles and just a few knick-knacks. 

Fast forward to living in a new country and adding 2 more little girls to the family picture...
Since living in Thailand, we started out with a very minimum of toys for all 3 girls and so they were in a box and stayed in our living room area.  With time (almost 2 years actually) of living here, our toy collection has grown way beyond a box and still overwhelming the living room area.  So, a couple of weeks ago I took back our living room from the toy over-growth by moving ALL their toys into their bedroom as I had done with Hope when she was young.  I think one of the reasons I hadn't done this before is because here we are in a 2-story house, where as before we were in a single story house. A little leary about the twins going up & down the stairs, but they are doing really well! 

It has really been great to have their room for them to play & I am actually enjoying the fruits of having twins.  They are playing together in there!  I can put them in their room and even get a quick shower in while they play with each other.  

In an earlier post, I mentioned another twin mom saying that after 2 years old it got a little easier...and I'm happy to report that She Was So Right!  

As I talked about in my last post, I am involved with a summer bible study through the Good Morning Girls blog.  This has been an AMAZING way to thrive this summer and not just survive.  We are reading the book "Anything" by Jennie Allen and there are daily scripture to read and apply to our everyday life with the help of this book.  

A couple of exciting points that I want to share are that first, I have been memorizing a weekly scripture verse for the past 4 weeks of the study!  This is exciting for me because I have done a few studies and they usually encourage memorizing scripture, but I always said "oh, that's so hard" or "I can't do that, my brain doesn't work like that".  Now I know those were complete lies from enemy, because it is possible to memorize scripture for anyone!  I just had to believe that I can memorize the Word of God and put the effort in.  

Secondly, is another point about putting in the effort...with my daughter Hope.  This study also give a great day by day plan to do with your kids, no matter their age.  Up until today, we were doing part of it...but not the whole.  Today I had to make an aware decision to sit down and do the craft and spend time with Hope, and it was really great!  This week we will be learning about prayer, and today she made her very own prayer book!

I really love being aware during my day!  

And it is a decision we have to make...

And this is life as a traveling mother...well, maybe not this summer ;-)

Jennifer

Summer Break is Upon Us...AND I'M SO EXCITED!

This time last year I was overcome with anxiety about having my daughter home everyday after being in school full-time for 7 months.  So the title of this post may surprise you that I am actually excited to be looking forward at the next 9 weeks of having 3 very active little girls around me all day.  

As I think about this change, I think there are 2 reasons.  

First, I have come to realize that each summer the girls are at a certain age to enjoy.  There will NEVER be another summer that I will have a 5 year old and two 2 year olds other than this summer.  If I stop all the nonsense that keeps me busy or preoccupied (i.e. TV, games, straightening every item, etc.) I might actually appreciate the fun that being 2 and 5 really is. 

Also, while "blog browsing" I found an online bible study group called "Good Morning Girls" (GMG).  Since signing up for their summer study, they have put together a "For Kids" version study guide using the same scriptures as my study guide.  I have often thought about starting a bible study time with Hope and the twins, but have never put that good intention into action.  Their study guide is great with all kinds of resource links for each scripture, including a craft and songs.  The idea of doing this WITH my girls is so exciting to me!  If you are interested to use their materials this summer click here.

If you are familiar with GMG, please let me know how your experience went in the comments below.  And for others who might be interested, I look forward to sharing my experience in about 8-10 weeks!

About a month ago I started to really stress about the months of June and July because my husband is traveling out of town for weeks at a time.  Let's just be honest, having all three girls at home without him is hard work.  But then I heard myself dreading days, weeks, and months that hadn't even happened yet.  It dawned on me, "how can I enjoy today or the days to come if I am dreading them?"  I can't...but I want to enjoy them...I want to find joy in each day.  

I believe that it is up to me to change my mind from dread to joy.

And just being able to write this blog about my excitement for the summer months to come proves that as we choose what to focus on, God can change my heart for the better.

This is my enjoyable life as a traveling mother!
Jennifer