Fun in Vegas

So we went to Las Vegas, and had a wonderful time visiting friends and family. As you can see from the photos, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Red Rock as well! More to follow :)

Love

Sometimes love comes in so many forms. On Valentine's Day, when Steve was on duty, I was overwhelmed by the fact that God loves us and that HE is our completion; I am God's sweetheart! He loves and adores me, in the depth of who I am, and I can dance in that grace and the knowledge that I am so deeply loved.

Some flowers I have received from the Lord recently:

• In spite of a tremendous loss of our dear Grandfather Bill Lucking on Feb 5, we have cherished the depth of family ties so much more, even across the miles. It is so precious to draw closer to those you love through such a difficult time, and what a gift to be able to share tears even with people you no longer take for granted!


• Caleb is playing alongside me right now, so cute, so quiet and yet so boisterous! He is full of chatter, and to my heart's delight, has begun communicating more and more through words and signing. Whahoo for who the Lord made this little boy to be! What an adventure...


• I am amazed that in the middle of winter, there can be a moment of sunshine; what a lift of the heart a few rays of light can bring!


• It is my friend Jaclyn's bday today, and it just reminds me that life is such a gift- just even having you all on the other side of the screen, sharing in life via blog;), is a blessing that I do not take for granted- I cherish you all in my life!


• My uncle is fighting cancer right now in California; through the difficult journey of grief with that struggle comes a reminder that God is present at all times, even when we walk through the valleys. In these times His arms are so strong that it blows you away to see how faithfully He cares about our heart's concerns.


• Steve and Caleb and I have started delighting in hide-and-seek, much to Caleb's delight.


• Caleb makes a fort out of anything. Getting out of it can be a trick though!;)

How dear all the blessings are in light of our passing lives; Ecclesiastes reminds us that our days are so fleeting; I praise God for the gift of being able to share these days, even just these moments. I don't know what is going on in your alls' lives, but I pray for them even now. Feel free to send along prayer requests and updates, for we pray fervently with dearest heart for you, and miss you all dearly.

Last thing, the verses from Psalm 37 stood out to me last night: "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord and He will do this."

I do trust in the Lord, though my heart hurts; I trust His heart completely. I know that my pain is His, that my heart's delights cause Him to laugh out loud! Like a perfect Father that He is, He cares, delights, encourages and strengthens through even the days that are most cloudy. Praise Jesus that He came to live life WITH us...never will we go through all this alone when we are walking with him. (Ps 23)

Fun with family

Fun with family on the coasts.
sjc

More love from our trip across- we love you so!

Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright...

On our trip across the country, we saw lots of people that we love so very much! We wish we could've seen you all- we miss you TONS and wish we could show up at your door singing Christmas carols and "laughing all the way"!

Hello?

We're back, after a hiatus taking us across the country. Now broadcasting to you all from Virginia Beach, we are entering the precious Christmas season with a full-fledged 11 month old...

Steve is still with the Alaska, which is now in the shipyards. Tough more bc of the grueling day-to-day grind rather than separation from deployment; I am sure so many of you all know the challenge of day-to-day intimately;)

I am totally enjoying working from home as a district manager with Arbonne International, a Swiss skincare company. No, I don't sell lipsticks; I am helping others build successful businesses on the side of their current jobs (whether corporate, medical, entrepreneur, or stay-at-home mom). I love it- what a life-giving company, and with such an awesome balance on activity and keeping my life my own. I love every day with Caleb and I also love meeting new people and helping them be as healthy and whole as God created them to be.

We have found an awesome church and such dear friends; though we miss all of you so much, God has really blown us away with His faithfulness in our move to Virginia. We are now 4 1/2 hrs from Grandma and Grandpa, and the weather today, Dec 14, is late 50s and beautifully sunny. 20 mns from the beach and 5 from a Chick-fil-A; what more could you ask for?;)

Our lil man Cae is now a big fun little boy Caleb. He isn't walking yet, but he totally enjoys exploring areas we NEVER thought he could get to! He is pulling up everywhere and chatting in his little baby banter, but he recognizes names and is learning more about the world around him.

We're back on the net, settled into our home, and kind of more into a routine, so...hello again dear friends. So sorry we were far from you all for a while. ALL of our love forever in Him, steve jules & caleb<><

Home on the Road...of Life?

So, we've moved out of our home on Doyen Street. It's odd, already seeming
so far removed from that life. The walls still echo with laughter from baby
giggles and parental doting as Caleb moved, grabbed, kicked, and chuckled
his way into our hearts with God's big ole' smile on his face. As I scrubbed
the walls and each baseboard on my knees in preparation for the white-gloved
checkout;), I saw that we had lived life to the FULL in that house. There
was no corner left un-lived in. There was no memory we had not fully
captured in our hearts of joy- what a glorious gift our year here has been.

Looking ahead to Virginia fills my brain with so many questions. There is a
peace out there; a peace of finally getting resettled into our new home; a
peace of knowing that God wants us out there and there is a purpose and
mission for us there; a peace of an Answer from Him, though it was not what
our request had been. For the longest time we had not wanted to go to
Virginia, but in talking it over with God, we both came wholeheartedly to
"not my will but Yours be done." There is a peace in praying that prayer
that does transcend understanding. Part of me still questions, though I
think that is where Faith with a capital F for "Filling my heart and mind
with a peace of not having to understand (bc it's in His Hands)" comes in.
Will I Let Myself not toil and think backwards after we have clearly
received His answer? Only inasmuch as I seek His face, for sure.

So we (Caleb and I) are here, with Steve having deployed last Saturday,
traveling between one home and another. I have great peace in many ways, yet
there is something funny about not having a home. I feel a small urge to
grasp for something to hold onto, compelled to find a reason or a "purpose"
for this next seven weeks. There is a reason we are here, with little to do
and many of our closest friends either moving away or out of town. There is
a reason for my lowkey social calendar this summer. But What? I need to keep
seeking God, but perhaps I also need to keep asking my own heart tough
questions. I have been given two full months to live life fully in whatever
arena I choose- but what is that? What should I do? I wish at times
that I was more motivated to just take the bull by the horns and go with
something, yet I so carefully want to follow God's steps. He has given me
free reign to free choice in the matter; I just want to make sure that I
also "cease striving and Know that He is God." I wish there was a clearer
picture of what I am to do with my time; oh how I would love an itemized
"To-Do" list from the Lord, leading me from knees-on-the-ground to strong- in- His- steps direction. But He's not dictatorial, He's relational. He just wants to see my face, seeking His reassuring eyes, heart and word. Thank you God that you are always there when I call (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

So like I said, I have great peace, but a bit of ambiguity about what all I
am supposed to work on this summer. I brought my GRE study book, the Pathway
to Purpose coaching book, letters galore and wedding presents to send that are long
overdue; I brought toys to play with Caleb with and camping equipment to
facilitate more adventures with Cae and friends; I brought bible studies and
of course, His Word. But did I bring my stillness? "...lead me beside still
waters, You restore my Soul." (psalm 23)

It is so sad to lose a house. Not because it really matters; not
because it's eternal. But because there's life there; there's memories,
there's "home." God continually reminds me with the military that HE is my
home, my refuge, my hiding place. HE is my husband, the One whose arms I
nestle into as I crawl into bed reading late at night after singing Caleb to
sleep. HE is the Alpha and the Omega, the One who knew my home before we had
ever seen it, and the One who knows each and every home and building whose
walls will protect us- whether literally or figuratively. HE is my strong
arms and the brilliant orchestrator of all the details of the "to-dos." And
HE is the One in whom I will find Peace.

Please, I invite you to pray with me as I seek to grasp...or to fall into
step with All that He has in store for me this summer. In the meantime, I'm going to go play with Caleb.;) jc<><

P.S. Sidenote: Steve's on the sub and he was asked to lead the bible studies there- pray for his influence as layleader, recreation committee chair and officer over the machinery division. He'll be in San Diego for two weeks with the sub and hopes to visit LA and Vegas if leave permits. Pray for his heart and his strength. He'd love to see you if he can- our love to you all, j

Father's Day 2006

We went up to Hurricane Ridge today after church. The sermon today was awesome, talking about how much influence fathers have in the lives and hearts and perspectives of their children in relationship to God. God loves us so unconditionally, it's hard to know how our kids could ever clearly see His face thru us- but hence the clay pot glory to Him, when it's so obvious that the One who walks, carries, leads and loves us through this life is Him Alone. I love God so much! He is crazy awesome, and as we played with Caleb after our day full of adventures (and "sledding" with papi!:), I just held Cae in the sweetest bear hug (steve did too!) and thanked God for our sweet little boy. He is the greatest gift to us- thank you Jesus for the precious osito you have given us. What a powerful light he is to us- may we be good stewards of His love. Proverbs 14:26 "Those who fear the Lord are secure; He will be a place of refuge for their children."
luv u all,jc