January 8

After three wonderful weeks with two wonderful families and many friends, Daniel and I boarded a plane this morning to return to Ottawa. It’s hard for me to believe that a year ago this morning, I was also boarding a plane with Daniel Harris. January 8, 2010, we were comparing passport mug shots with Alana and Marcus, on our way to unknown adventures in Singapore, Nepal, the Philippines and (for me) Indonesia.
Over thirty hours of travel to Singapore was just the beginning of good discussions and revealing situations that helped me to get to know this guy a little more.



It’s been a good year.

We’re celebrating our five month anniversary … preparing to hit the books on Monday … looking forward to the next four months at Augustine … and excited where prayers and ideas will lead us to be next January 8!

Not Only with our Lips, But in our Lives

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we thine unworthy servants do give thee
most humble and hearty thanks
for all thy goodness
and loving-kindness to us and to all men.

We bless thee for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for thine inestimable love in the

redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And we bessech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies,

that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,

and that we show forth thy praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives;

by giving up ourselves to thy serice,

and by walking before thee in holiness

and righteousness all our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee

and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end.

Amen.

A Story of Us

"We Fell in Love"

It would appear that the author of Caffé Latte con Amor has been with more occupied with “caffé latte,” “amor,” or some other pastime outside of blogging. That’s a true story. And I suppose the following has more to do with love than lattes, so be warned.

In the words of my brother regarding his own love story…

“We met.”

“We fell in love.”

“We got married.”
Between meeting and falling in love, Daniel and I enjoyed many years of friendship. I’m not interested in posting the few “friends-and-not-at-all-in-love” pictures of that time period, and I assure you that you’re not interested in seeing them.

The events of the past year--particularly the last six months--have been such a surprise to me that words like beautiful, miraculous and surreal are inadequate to describe them. I have received gifts of experiences, friendships, lessons and love that I did not anticipate and that I do not deserve.

I opened my journal recently and noticed a comment from January 1 of this year. I had written something like, "I wish I knew what would fill the pages of this upcoming year..."

I'm glad I didn't. I think I would still be hiding under my bed. :)

Someties I'm so impatient during waiting times to discover "what's next." But over and over, in retrospect, I'm amazed and grateful at the timing God graciously allows. However unexpected, the events of the past six or eight months were perfectly orchestrated and overwhelmingly peaceful.

On this 34th day of "happily ever after," I shall close for now and save more updating for later.

Signed, a happy wife in Canada.

Dashed Dreams, No Answers

“Do you feel like you’re seeing—living—‘Same Kind of Different than Me’ every Monday?” the pregnancy center director asked me. “We have the same deal here as that story … and it could be you.”

Yes, it could be.

I fill out the forms and follow protocol. But notes on the form tell facts, not the story of a life. I hear the stories of dashed dreams. I talk with many girls my age and younger who have already experienced a divorce. Eyes speak what could never be told with words: fear. Rejection. Disillusionment. Sometimes the nonchalant gestures and confident explanations try to stretch a band-aid over the raw wound. Unbidden tears spill as they tell pieces of their brokenness.

Today, it was my tears … at hearing how this song verbalized the prayer of my heart.

Little girl twenty-one, the things that you've already done

Anything to get ahead

And you say you've got a man, but he's got another plan

Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one, you never thought that this would come

You starve yourself to play the part

But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true

And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around, you're not too far

To back away, be who you are

To change your path, go another way

It's not too late, you can be saved

If you feel depressed with past regrets

The shameful nights hope to forget

Can disappear they can all be washed away

By the One who's strong can right your wrongs

Can rid your fears, dry all your tears

And change the way you look at this big world

He will take your dark distorted view

And with His light He will show you truth

And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

There could never be a more beautiful you

Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops they make you jump through

You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do

So there could never be a more beautiful you

“With His light He will show you truth.” There is no single answer to the 15-year-old reeling, at seeing those double pink lines. There is no single answer for the 17-year-old who thinks the next man will fulfill her dreams. There is no single answer for the 21-year-old, overwhelmed with the responsibility of supporting her two toddlers alone. There is no single answer for the 23-year-old who sees abortion as the only option.

The stories—the hurt, the complications, the fear—are beyond me. What I saw and heard last week, sitting across from beautiful girls, overwhelmed me. Their need does not overwhelm our Father, though. And while there are no single answers to the years of decisions, the myriad factors and the built up pain, there is ultimately hope only through Christ.

I pray that my few words can express Christ’s compassion. I pray that His truth would be spoken in love here, even when it’s rejected. I pray that “little girl twenty-one” can experience the same forgiveness I have, and someday testify to the power of God transforming her heart and life. I pray that our Father would be glorified here by the compassion, listening ears, truth spoken, needs met—His love reaching out.

Challenge ... Report

In January, I joined a challenge to read the Bible in six months. April 1st marked the halfway point on the calendar, but I’m just now giving a reading update. I should be on about Day 100 … and I’m not. I have to agree with Kaylene's post earlier this week; I don't have legitimate reasons to fall behind! So the technical report is that I'm about twenty days behind schedule.

That said (i.e. what I haven't read), here's the good news (i.e. what I have read)!

For the first time, I'm reading the Bible chronologically. There's no perfect, historically-accurate list, but this new order has really challenged my thinking. For example, I can tell you the books of the Bible that Solomon wrote. But it's given me a different perspective to actually read Proverbs and Song of Solomon while I'm also reading 1 Kings and 2nd Chronicles. It's helped me see the stories in context and realize how deeply parts of the Bible are interwoven.

I'm looking forward to reading about the kings of Israel and Judah ... with the minor prophets sprinkled around in the right spots. I've never been able to connect those very well.

I intend to catch up, and look forward to doing so! My friend Marcus gives some encouragement about catching up, finishing well, and learning willingly in his post Success in Failure.

Reign

You thought of us before the world began to breathe

You knew our names before we came to be

You saw the very day we fall away from You

And how desperately we need to be redeemed

Lord Jesus, come lead us,

We're desperate for Your touch

Oh great and mighty One,

With one desire we come

That You would reign,

That You would reign in us;

We're offering up our lives

A living sacrifice

That You would reign,

That You would reign in us.

Spirit of the living God fall fresh again

Come search our hearts and purify our lives

We need Your perfect love, we need Your discipline;

We're lost unless You guide us with Your light.

We cry out for Your life to revive us,

Cry out for Your love to define us,

Cry out for Your mercy to keep us

Blameless until You return.

Lord Jesus, come lead us,

We're desperate for Your touch

Oh great and mighty One,

With one desire we come

That You would reign,

That You would reign in us;

We're offering up our lives

A living sacrifice

That You would reign,

That You would reign in us.

So reign, please reign in us

Come purify our hearts

We need Your touch

Come cleanse us like a flood

And send us out

So the world may know You reign, You reign in us.

- Starfield