bugs & rocks & spider webs & such

“As quick as you shake off a fly…as quick as you remove a rock from your shoe…as quick as you clear a spiderweb from your face –that’s the quickness that you need to respond with when the enemy lies to you.  Immediate action.” 

That was one of the things I felt like God spoke to me last weekend during our silent retreat (I had my fair share of bugs and rocks and spiderwebs).  All week I’ve been thinking about it – and have had lots of tangible, hands on (and in face) reminders of it… Here are some of things I’ve been thinking about:

The enemy is a liar.  He just is.  When he speaks, he lies – that’s his native language…lying is what comes natural to him…what he’s always spoken.  At times he’s pesky like a bug…other times annoying like walking into a spider web…other times there’s a clear risk involved – there’s the potential to be stung or bitten.  Other times it’s rather frightening and intimidating…

I’m not saying it’s always possible to avoid the lies and traps of the enemy (or is it?!)….but LOTS of his traps and lies are completely avoidable if we’ll just have our eyes wide open and be on the lookout (I’ll let you draw your own conclusions and such from the rest of this…)

• Some paths are more prone to spiderwebs….if you know they are coming, you can act accordingly!
•  Sometimes the wasp nest or ant hill is clearly visible – clearly avoidable.
•  Sometimes the very tool we need to clear the spiderweb is right there for us to pick up (I’ve found walking with a stick to be quite helpful…I probably look like I’m doing some sort of chants or mystical movement waving the stick around in front of me [maybe like that one lady at the track...]…but it clears the webs from my path and I’d rather look silly than have spider webs all in my face)(lots of lessons in that)
• Sometimes it’s as simple as being still and letting the bug fly away - not wasting any effort and not giving it any attention whatsoever.
• Sometimes it means choosing another route altogether. 
• It’s ridiculous to walk around with a rock in your shoe….especially when the solution is so simple – take it out.

I'm thankful that God is willing to use rocks & bugs & spiderwebs to remind me of His Truth…His  Truth really does set us from…and especially sets us free from the lies that would try to entangle us. 

t to the h to the ursday.

• swift & easy trip to and from the airport saturday morning (right on schedule!)
• molly & carey got to pick blueberries (it just makes sense that 2 people i love soooo much would be friends!)
• FAMILY (i had the privilege of "watching" some families from afar on saturday...it's just a beautiful unit that God created!  He's so smart.)
• the silent retreat (so thankful that our God wants to interact with us - He wants to talk to us and tell us stuff!!)
• "so long as you are conscious of My Presence with you, all is well." - jesus calling
• fun time at the water park sunday afternoon - double bonus: it was free!  no sunburns!
• super fast shopping spree at old navy (one skirt on clearance, one skirt = 1/2 off)
• amy's here!
• italian dressing (it's amazing all the things it's good on!)
• the sunrise (and getting to see it so many mornings this week)
• sharing chocolate
• tuesday morning worship (and beginning class every morning with worship)
• birthday cake iced latte (1/2 price!)
• taking the long way home
• when lost things are found
• card/letter from holly price
• the manilla envelope from beth showed up!
• talking to molly on the phone
• cucumbers & tomatoes
• seems like the texas bug of choice is the cricket (not roaches)
• surprise doughnuts!!
• "focus on the Father, not my flaws.  Look to the Savior, not the self.  The Messiah, not the mirror."
• note from tabitha.
• a good (accidental) bruise and a fun story to go with it (and when that bruise is gone)
• incredible package from beth - full of so much fun and practical stuff!
• date night!!!!!  it lives on! 

One of the things i miss most...

...my spot on the floor in the back of the sanctuary at CCC on wednesday mornings at 11:00.

So very thankful that the same God that was so faithful to meet me there is faithful to meet me here. 

but i still miss crave. 

Reverse Thinking - this was shared in class today. it's pretty incredible.

i've been looking forward to thursday all week.

it's fun to share the gifts that God has shared with me...thankful to have a place to share them.

• fun texas bar-b-que place (complete with a pig fountain where the water was coming out of the pig's backside...)
• ann voskamp's blog a holy experience
• walking into my home to the sound (and sight) of a group of people worshipping
• the van ride back from athens (texas) - rich conversation
• God's got answers for my friends.
• crayola colored bubbles (bit messy...but fun and pretty)
• stamps from beth!
• early morning walk/worship/shower routine
• good quotes
• fun mexican place!  pasado's (i think).  they not only did complimentary chips and dip but also complimentary flour tortillas AND icecream AND sopapillas!
• seeing the vignery's!!!  i love how our families fit.
• doughnuts in our crowd management course (managing a crowd is always better when doughnuts are involved)
• the ability to get clean - so easy, so accessible
• emma & caroline interacted with a dog - willingly and positively!!!
• free postcards
• excellent fathers in my life
• "He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole & holy by His love."  ephesians 1:4
• watching caroline worship beside Nick
• hot tamales served as a snack!
• walking to church
• nick's creativity.
• God still enjoys me even if i feel distracted.
• josh's laughter. it's infectious!
• letter from shelley & ella grace!!
• swinging (picture below)(the picture was taken by a sweet girl named michelle - this girl has a LOVELY heart full of thoughtfulness and service.)
• breakfast for supper
• the God we serve is GOOD.

a psalm and such

I'm pretty amazed (and quite thankful) that my "job" this week - and these next few weeks - is primarily to sit in classes like "Faith Foundations" and discuss things like "The God We Serve" and "Kingdom Principles."  Other than youth camp for 5 days in the summer in high school, I've never had such a concentrated time of studying and discussing God's word.  It's quite nice. It's also incredible to think about the fact that my other primary responsibilities are (in no particular order) 1)to get to know the brothers and sisters that God has intersected our lives with  2)to prepare myself and our kids for a 2 1/2 week field service to Ghana (as well as life on the ship in general!) 3) to enjoy this time - and to enjoy my family. 

As part of class today we were told to write a psalm...

God, You are good - not once have you left me alone.
     ...through my childhood and growing up years
     ...in times of recognition and times of extreme loneliness as a teenager
     ...in the peaceful times and the frustrated times
God, You are good - not once have you left me alone.
     ...all through college and times of decision
     ...in leading me to nick and the beginning of our life together
     ...through our years and work with Teen Advisors
God, You are good - not once have you left me alone.
     ...in the births & deaths of children
     ...in our journey of being parents
     ...in the mundane & the extraordinary
God, You are good - not once have you left me alone.
     ...in our community, friendships & church family
     ...in our comings & our goings
     ...through this transition to Mercy Ships
God, You are good - not once have you left me alone.

Every step of the way and every step that is to come - God, You are good - not once have you left me alone.  I trust You! I love You! Not once have you left me alone.

If you have a few minutes, you might want to try writing a psalm of your own....(and if you want to share it, i'd love to read it/worship God with it!). 
    

thankful thursday...including a few pictures!

•  the "no smoking indoors" law in GA (some state we stopped in apparently doesn't have that law. made me realize how very thankful i am for it!)
• an incredible car ride to texas!
• breakfast with sam and christy friday morning - that french toast was AMAZING
• a beautiful (and delicious) picnic lunch packed by mrs. collins!  so thoughtful! so generous!
• 1/2 way to texas prizes were a hit
• eli's excitement over the bingo game
• loving people so much that it's hard to say good-bye
• community living.  i really like it.
• facebook feeds
• restful sunday. sabbath.
• mary is here!
• there's really alot for the kids to do here at the IOC (international operating center)
• "give your mind a break from planning & trying to anticipate what will happen." - jesus calling
• caroline's cuteness when she's eating bananas
• baby cows running across the field
• this is so right
• baby deer running by the van (i'm realizing i really like wild baby animals)
• playing catchphrase in the lobby/family room
• God's pullling up things that we (He and I) can work on
• my dependence on nick.
• eli's ever growing independence...
• watching my kids willingly choose to get vegetables on their plates at meals. 
• doodling in productive ways (see picture of cup below)
• the fact that i don't have a panty cabinet...but that could be fun (i misspelled pantry on the cash crew blog...the lovely carol hill helped me see the error of my ways!!!)
• 2 braids (on emma, caroline & me - thanks to mary!)
• "replying in blue" to emails (sometimes)
• listening to emma play trains "beep, beep...i'm going through..."
• caroline's love for the song "i'm trading my sorrows" (it's become quite necessary in the falling asleep process)(and it's fun to talk about all those words/phrases and what they mean)
• i passed the fire safety test!!!
• doing something i've never done before (and have never even thought about doing!)
• vaccuuming our whole home in less than 5 minutes
• i really started working on isaiah 55 this week (you're thinking "'about time!" aren't you, lauren heath?! "Ho!" Though my version says "hey there!")
• my very own early morning crave wednesday morning (thanks for waking me up, God)
• getting to watch part of the office in our safety training class.  it feels so good to laugh so hard!
• 3 sleeping children.

and...for the first time ever...a few thankful thursday pictures!!!!!




Mail!!  Thanks Molly, Kaci, Carey & Beth!!!

Eli Whitis is HOME from Ethiopia!

Laptop Sleeve & "accesory bag" - major cool
points for Bertie's Closet Etsy shop

My fun Gateway Mug - everybody got one...saves on strofoam cup use



texas - day 1 - the inside scoop

i typed most of this in an email to a friend...decided i'd share it here, too (not so much on our family blog...just here...the inside scoop just for you "because he told me to" folks.  feel special - because you are!)

texas, day one - a success!! kids woke up early (6:15 texas time)....at one time or another they were all in bed with me and nick...it was quite sweet (never all 5 of us at the same time though...that would be a bit much for this double bed!). eli and caroline rode their bikes - not sure they've ever ridden bikes that early in the morning! - and we had our breakfast outside - breakfast is sort of "continental" here in the dorm. there's really a great selection - bagels, cereal, fruit, toast, boiled eggs...probably more that i haven't noticed yet.

when we got here yesterday we were told about orientation today - at that point i realized that we should have lined "the nanny" up to be here starting today (we had it in our heads that we needed her to be here for monday morning) ...we made it through the day fine - but it did make me rather grateful that we do have "the nanny" (all 3 of them) lined up for the rest of our time here.  the kids were just with us most of the day - they played some of the icebreaker games (eli said "i got to meet a lot of boy grown-ups today.") and listened to alot of the stories that were shared and instructions being given.  for the most part they were FANTASTIC during the "quieter" parts of the sessions.  they did a good job of entertaining themselves with bendaroos, sharpies & clothespins, legos and play-doh...we had quite the "activity center" going on.

the sessions were alot of general information/meeting people/some team building exercises (including a really cool one that i need to pass on to kaci and leah - it's perfect for TAs and Velocity!!! and something we've never done before!!!)...everyone shared a quick(ish) version of their story - of how they got to today/Mercy Ships. it was INCREDIBLE to hear the stories -- to hear how God orchestrated things for people...to hear how He was working in all of our lives....to know that, just like we have a story of how God lead us to this point, every other person in the room does, too.

there are about 34 people in the onboarding program. there are 3 other families in the onboarding process - 2 of them aren't here yet...and the one that is here doesn't have their kids with them.

one of the couples just decided 3 weeks ago that they were coming/doing this. he's a dentist and was at a conference where a Mercy Ships person was recruiting (and apparently doing a great job of it!!). makes our 4+ months seems like an eternity to prepare and get ready!!!

for lunch we had chicken and pancakes (yup!).  dinner was ham, scalloped potatoes & green peas.  salad was available for both meals.  eli and caroline rode their bikes to and from both meals.  something is going on with the chain on his bike...he keeps coming off.  here's hoping someone can fix it. 

after dinner we went for a family swim.  had lots of fun swimming and playing tag with mr. jj and frieda (not the frieda from the mercy box videos...another frieda from norway...or sweden...not sure which one). 

we got to skype with yaya and grandaddy tonite....so glad that happened (if anyone else would like a skype date, let us know!!! we'll see what we can do!).

there's crushed ice here in the dorm kitchen....just discovered that tonite!!! sweet little gift. nick is on a wal-mart run right now...with a request to get a 12 pack of cherry coke :) (and big pretzels for caroline)(not sure what made her think of that!).   gonna enjoy it while i can!!!!

 i think the plan is to go to an early church service in the morning and then head to tyler to pick up mary...gotta figure out how to get there (to the airport). thank goodness for google maps....

 like my request for mail on facebook? i really want some!! :) i should say something like "if you "like" this comment i'm expecting mail from you."  would love for the kids to get lots of mail, too (hint, hint).  i'm so grateful for friends who will send mail. 

i've got to figure out a better system for the kids clothes..right now it's just an explosion of clothes spilling out from the suitcase all over the floor ...and there's a little more organizing/straightening to do with our toiletries. gonna go see what i can do...

thanks for continuing to share life with me....

let me know if you have specific questions you want answered in regards to our texas time/mercy ships...

overwhelmingly thankful...

• fun & fabulous time with mademoiselle mishawn, impromptu icecream and strolling are delightful!
• final friday fun and the unplanned trip to the dollar store that followed
• running to the pool with eli & caroline riding their bikes
• free cherry coke from CFA (still thankful that CFA has cherry coke!!)
• wal-mart run is done (x2)
• date at carrabba's with nick and emma...it's fun when we get to give her our undivided attention
• a productive evening
• mailout is ready (thanks to the help of my "boots")
• got to give a fun gift to beth & ben (check out their adoption story if you want, it's lovely! another pair of shoes)
• giving gifts. (especially in plastic purses to little girls with words written in french all over it)
• receiving gifts. can we say primary love language?
• receving words of affirmation.  close 2nd in the primary love language race. (and it's been a season of being blessed with so many words of affirmation.  wow.  i especially love them in written form)
• "be alert for signs of His presence." - jesus calling
• organizing and getting the sun-room into a useful state....what a wonderful space.  so thankful that i got to help do that...just a little sad that we didn't attack it together sooner, miss molly.
• new little laptop.  funded by a strong and capable and Godly supporter...not to mention generous.
• ordering a lovely laptop sleeve for new little laptop from etsy.  a super special splurge.
• coffee time with courtney!  and 2 times in less than a week!
• the camera works!  thanks to ritchie for getting me a charger...and thanks to bethany cols for donating it to the yard sale.  this is a tangible and practical reminder of how God provides and gives the sweetest of gifts in the sweetest of ways.
• when test results are negative (and negative is the BEST possible result!) (no worries, not mine)
• He is WITH US...never once leaving us alone.
• the love & care that is being poured out on me...it's a bit overwhelming (in the most holy and wonderful of ways).
• crave.  eyes off me.  eyes on YOU.
• cafe 2:42's roast beef sandwiches...yesterday's was the best yet!
• handfuls of hot tamales
• this is hard.  i'm thankful that it's hard....it's easier to depend on Him when i know i can't do it myself.
• boxes for shipping are packed and ready to take to the mail room (except for one that is waiting for 2 quick add ons from one special lady) (it's well worth the wait)
• waking up refreshed and EARLY (without an alarm clock or kids) even though i KNOW i didn't get enough sleep. 
• the treats and games and fun and incredible time we're going to have in the car tomorrow.  in jesus name, it's going to be the best road trip the cash family has ever taken!
• that friendships are going to be BETTER, STRONGER, even MORE AMAZING in the coming days!!  God, we trust You.

how could i???

i'm not sure how i did it.  but i managed to leave off one of my BIGGEST thankful Thursday items. how could i??  how dare i???

my sweet, incredible, lovely, thoughtful, faithful to prayer, french-speaking, amazing, encouraging, love-my-tuesday-time CAREY BRAY brought me the most delightful of treats this week...all the way from St. Simon's Island....a Sonny's Delight (2 of them!).  deliciousness and wonderfulness and a boatload of memories contained in one to-go box.   it's cake-like brownie with a cream cheese-ish middle topped with fudgey icing.  the race for "favorite" is quite a close one between Sonny's Delights and Cappucino Blasts from Dunkin Doughnuts,  Dairy Queen,  BASKIN ROBBINS :)

Most of my growing up years my family went to St. Simon's Island for a week during the summer...and we always managed to find our way to Sweet Mama's - usually multiple times.  I can still smell that place...and see us there...and taste the goodness.  I  had a Sweet Mama's shirt during high school/part of college.  We even had Sonny's Delights brought in for our wedding reception (I'm still very grateful to Kim Dixon & her mama!!!!) 

Thanks, Carey, for bringing me this treat....it certainly was good for my tastebuds...but even better for my heart!   Thanks for being so wonderfully thoughtful....