Happy 21st, Kevin!

This week we celebrated Kevin's 21st birthday! He was home between work in Seattle and a badminton tournament trip and we had a fun evening celebrating his birthday. On his real birthday he'll be in Orlando, Florida playing a tournament, so we decided to celebrate a bit early. Chimichangas and black bottom cupcakes were fun to make for his special day. We laughed a lot. We simply enjoyed being together as a family and celebrating this milestone.

We are so proud of Kevin and the young man he has become over the last years. He is incredibly passionate about what God is doing, fiercely loyal, and amazingly tough. In the last year he has lived in three houses in two countries, competed in some amazing badminton tournaments including his first international tournament, gained varied work experience, and made 3 round trips between Manitoba and Washington. It really has been quite a year!

I am continually amazed that this is really our son, and am so proud of him. Happy Birthday, Kevin!

Normal

Normal rarely happens, and when it does, it is usually at an unexpected time. I expected the last couple of weeks to be normal. And they have been in many ways. We've done school and Garry has been working. But that's about where our normal ends.

Spokane has experienced one of the biggest power outages in the past 20 years. We are thankful that our house is in an area that has not been affected, but everyday life has had to adjust. We've been playing host to some people who have no power. School has been closed so Garry has been working from home and helping others repair a roof and dispose of a huge tree in their yard. Kaleb has been sick and now I caught his cold.

We also found out last week that we needed to get our insurance and drivers' licenses changed as soon as possible, and that has been a bit of a challenge. Garry has figured out insurance while taking my written and driving test have been a bit of stress to me.

Kevin is working in Seattle and doing a lot of badminton. He's competing in his third tournament in as many weeks, and will play 3 more tournaments in the next 3 weeks. He is enjoying the journey, but it is busy for him.

Kaleb is doing his best to take advantage of sunshine this week to ride his bike and be outside. His friends have been out of school due to the power outages, and that has been good for him.

Yes, "normal" is somewhat elusive. Or maybe normal is this, being present in the moment and waiting expectantly for the next opportunity and change.

Unexpected travels

Thursday morning I had no idea I was going anywhere. Friday noon found Kaleb and I on an airplane bound for Manitoba. Saturday I was sitting in Winnipeg with family, watching Kevin play a badminton tournament. The following week was full of unexpected blessings as Kaleb and I visited family and friends. Thursday morning I was up early to say goodbye to Kevin and Kaleb as they headed to Washington in Kevin's car. Saturday I flew home. Sunday Kevin left for Seattle and Vancouver, and Monday Garry headed out for North Carolina. Today Garry should be home and next Sunday Kevin will be back for the day.

This coming and going has been unexpected and fun and sometimes challenging. I loved getting back to Manitoba and sharing stories of what God has done in the year we've been in Spokane. I loved seeing friends and hearing what God is doing in their lives and how things are unfolding for them. It was amazing how Kaleb was able to connect with so many people in a week, and I saw the blessing that was to him. Kevin had a chance to connect with a lot of people and they are excited about his next step as he moves toward school next semester: his sad goodbyes were a thrill as I pondered the connections he's made in Manitoba.

Garry sounds like he has had a good week in North Carolina, attending a safety summit. It has been a great opportunity to connect with a  lot of people in mission aviation, hearing what is going on in different organizations and discussing challenges and joys. I'm very much looking forward to hearing more of what happened when he gets home later today!

This coming week is Missions Conference at Moody Bible Institute, Spokane. This is the first time we've been here for this, so it will be fun to see how it all works. We anticipate some opportunities to connect with students and build into their lives and passion for God and ministry in mission aviation. 

These weeks of travel and connecting have been an unexpected blessing of refreshment and encouragement. And now i am thankful for the coming weeks which look like they will include some normal routine, some building into the everyday things that God is calling us to in this season of life and ministry.

Supply Lines

In a war, the troops must be trained and supply lines must be maintained. I've been thinking lately that the same is true for us, in most areas of life. Everything we do takes resources, and those resources seldom appear on their own. 

Things that you pass on must first be learned, food that you cook must be purchased, vehicles need fuel and maintenance to keep running, and relationships take a certain amount of time to grow. Yet, sometimes we can get so focused on forward motion we lose sight of keeping the supply lines open, and we find ourselves in a bad spot.

Some of the most important supply lines are the invisible ones of prayer, worship, and time in the Word of God. These things change us and allow us to see and do what God is calling us to do. And they keep us focused on the things He has for us and save us from the distractions that want to capture our attention.

As good supply lines are built and maintained, we enjoy the increased return of our investments.

Update:

We've been reminded of this in various interactions this week as things we have been working toward are beginning to come together. 

Kaleb recently met another young guy who is also a believer and lives in our neighborhood. They've had fun hanging out and being teenagers. Kevin spent last week working with a construction crew in Tacoma, an interesting experience.

As we head into another week we are thankful for the supply lines God has given us and the investments over time that allow us to be here and be involved in this ministry. May you week also be blessed by your supply lines and the ones you provide for others!

Truly seeing

Every week, every day, every moment has it's opportunities, the good works that God has prepared for that time and place. I've been hanging out in Psalms lately and have been impressed again with how often we are told to praise God, remember His works, and speak of what He has done. It's reminded me to look out for what God is doing, to pay attention to the opportunities, to thank Him for His work. And it's good medicine for my soul!

The past couple of weeks have been busy in a very fragmented way. When the days are invested in a multitude of things, it's sometimes hard to see progress. But when we consciously ask God what He is doing and the ability to perceive His work, things change. We begin to see. We enjoy. We appreciate. We praise Him.

Here are a few of the things I am thankful for right now:

• It is amazing to be a part of mission aviation worldwide: we are investing in the next generation, and the people Garry is working with are thankful for the input He gives
• Change in both Kevin and Kaleb as they grow and learn
• Great times with family and friends are a gift from God: left to themselves, relationships easily deteriorate to a source of pain instead of joy
• God gives wisdom as we ask Him for it, whether we need it in the large scope of ministry or the small things of plans for today
• Health is truly a gift, from a day of feeling energetic to simply being able to walk
• I've met a number of ladies recently who are passionate about God or just getting to know Him, and that is energizing
• We are members of God's Body, and that is incredible

May you be blessed today by the blessings in your life, may we each have eyes to see what God is doing and both where He wants us to be involved and what is not ours to do.

Kevin recently posted a story about "seeing" on his new blog. Check it out here

A Great Visit

Two weeks since I was last on here. But I had good reason: Garry got home late last Friday and his Dad and Doris came to visit this week. We had a great time with them, just being together and showing them our lives and regular places here in Spokane as well as finding a few new places.

One evening Doris and I joined an If:Pray meeting, a great time with other women who are passionate about knowing and loving Jesus. I hadn't met most of the women there, so it was fun to hear some of their stories as well as pray together. God is at work and using His people all over the place.

We enjoyed showing Dad and Doris around Moody Aviation and sharing what God is doing here and the ways we get to be a part of it. I think Dad was most impressed with the Kodiak, which is a good airplane to be impressed with.

One day we decided to go for a hike at a small park, and missed our turn. We were looking for a place to turn around and ended up in a parking lot. Bear Country Carvings is a great little place, and we got to chat with the owner and hear a bit about this history and learn some about chainsaw carving. It is really quite an art, and apparently there is a more of it on the coast. It was a nice detour on the way to the park, which was also a good time as we walked around the lake.

Meals around our table, exploring local coffee shops, and walks in the neighborhood quickly filled the few days Dad & Doris had here. It was just good to be together.

I got to do a lot of things with Dad & Doris while Garry was busy at work. These days he is focused on better defining roles in the Safety Department as well as setting priorities for the next few months. Too many opportunities is a good problem to have, because it makes us think through which ones are ours to take. 

Value

Some things feel valuable and others just feel useless. A long soak in the tub feels useless to me, for some reason. A cup of coffee while staring into space feels like a waste of time. This week we were reminded that these things are often key. They allow us to keep creating, thinking, and producing. And I think they remind us that the world does not, in fact, depend on us. That we but a small part in a big production: our part matters, but it has its time and place. And sometimes what that place demands is that we slow down and savor the moment and drink from the well of God, whether that is through the beauty he created, the activities He gives to enjoy, or the solitude that He inhabits.

We had a busy week, really. Work and decisions and company. Places to be and people to see. The normal things that make up life. And to end the work week, we went cycling at Beacon Hill. Now, Kaleb can really take advantage of much of what Beacon offers: the rest of us less so, with me at the bottom of the riding scale. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy being surrounded by beauty and away from work and home with my three men. It was both fun and refreshing.

After we went home and cleaned up, I began problem solving in new ways. I was reminded of the gift of simply being alive. I was challenged to enjoy simply being. I was extra thankful for Garry and our sons. I was ready to tackle something new. I was ready to engage in life again. I fell asleep with those thoughts and woke up thinking the same ones.

Not that this never happens, maybe it's just been a bit too long since the last time. Or maybe I was just in a better place to simply enjoy the moment and the process. Whatever the cause, I'm simply thankful.

Family & Friends

 Family and friends are some of the greatest gifts given to us by God. We've thoroughly enjoyed visits from both this summer. People from Manitoba, Oklahoma, and Kansas have graced our home, and our lives are richer for it. We are so blessed by the people God has brought into our lives and the ways our stories have intersected.

We've found some new coffee shops and tried out new restaurants. We've gone to BBQs in the park and found new places to picnic. We've taken people to see Moody Aviation and what God is doing there. And in the process of welcoming people to our home and Spokane, we've found that this is, in fact, becoming more home to us.

 Kevin is in Spokane getting his green card right now, and it's been great to have him home. He's gotten involved in the badminton community and is making friends through that as well as a Bible study. He's also been helpful around the house, doing repairs and projects. He's found a few new places to work out. He plans to head back to Manitoba to train and work in just a few weeks, and we will miss him like crazy when he goes.

Kaleb is busy doing animation these days, working on a project for Malachi Man and also creating a short film for a contest. He's also enjoyed riding bikes and showing friends from Manitoba his life here. He's found he likes cold brew coffee and joined a youth group.

Garry just got back from a trip to Bolivia and plans to head to Denver in a couple of weeks. Work has been both busy and surprising as various projects have come together. He is enjoying his responsibilities that allow him to interact with people from many different mission aviation organizations.

I've enjoyed the more relaxed schedule of summer, sharing conversations with friends and organizing things at home a bit more. I've done some writing and soon hope to finish up school planning for the next year. It's been nice to take opportunities to meet other staff at Moody Aviation as well as interacting with students.

We are so thankful for the people God has allowed us to know and the family He has blessed us with!