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Have a wonderful Christmas!
Love, Joel, Renée, Joshua, Rachel, (Emily), Madelynn and Hudson
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Deep Thoughts (from my 7 year old)
Today on this beautiful Sunday morning, everyone in our little family had 20 minute span to sit quiet and read our Bibles. (We go to church in the evening- so there was time to do this...)
Rachel jotted down some notes as she was reading her Bible. These notes were so precious I (Renée) had to share them with you, with her permission of course. I think my favorites are #1 and #9.
Translation of some words are followed in [ ]. Also FYI: she was reading from MOPS Mom's Devotional Bible.
1. mom's nede help.
2. lern thaingks.
3. God can hell us. [heal]
4. Go to India!
5. their are people in nend! [need]
6. tell people a\b God.
7. rest in him.
8. make joy.
9. God is the flower.
10. read the bible every Day!
11. you don't hav to be good for God to love.
12. Seay I love you to God.
13. love God.
14. be luet! [light]
15. Close to his heart-that's where God says he'll put us, We who have young ones. Is there a better plasce to be?
Amen Rachel! I have a lot to learn from you, my sweet daughter!!
Sunday, 26 October 2014
Pressed but not Crushed
(Italics taken from a devotional entitled "Streams in the Desert" p. 391-393. This particular article resonated with me (Renée) and in this post alternates with my own thoughts).
"They were a people who were living to themselves. Their hopes, promises, and dreams still controlled them, but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for a repentant heart and had surrendered themselves with a willingness to pay any price for it, and He sent them sorrow. They had asked for purity, and He sent them sudden anguish. They had asked for meekness, and He had broken their hearts. They had asked to be dead to the world, and He killed all their living hopes. They had asked to be made like Him, so He placed them in the fire "as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Mal. 3:3), until they could reflect His image. They had asked to help carry His cross, yet when He held it out to them, it cut and tore their hands."
I (Renée) remember asking God for humility. I remember asking God to challenge my faith, to grow me, to not make my life so comfortable. Little did I know how much God was going to take me seriously in all these prayers over the last 10 years...
Our most recent challenge has been a cluster of smaller, related challenges. Each a little similar, each one health related: Joel's back is a constant heartache for me. Nerve pain down his leg and into toes, tight muscles along his spine like steel cords. And yet he copes well, smiling at me throughout the day and being the Daddy his children need. But there are days that are hard. Painfully hard. And he's only 35.
A certain chiropractor was recommended to us by a friend. I had noticed the results in this certain friend who went there and so we decided to try it. This chiropractor has a strong faith in Jesus, runs his business with Christian music blaring, and treats the problem not the symptoms. There is something else that's different with this doctor than other chiropractors. His practice is based on a neurological philosophy. The spinal cord sends messages throughout the body and to all the organs and is vital to the survival and health of the body. His technique then, is to "reset" the signals from the brain to the organs by simple techniques which I do not have time to explain here.
The chiropractor evaluated Joel and to make a long story short: six years ago Joel was diagnosed with a short leg resulting with a 1.5 cm lift on his left shoe. Well, it turns out his other leg is shorter- and not by that much. So because of this misdiagnosis, Joel is now experiencing degeneration in his left hip, his scoliosis is worse and his herniated disc is not healing.
The chiropractor recommended the whole family get checked out since scoliosis and other such problems can be passed down to the next generation. So we decided Joshua should go in since he has the most health problems at the moment.
Joshua's evaluation: He has an extra disc in his lumbar. He also has a six degree twist to his spine - the start of scoliosis. And because of this skeletal problem it is pinching a nerve in his spinal cord that is directly in tune with his respiratory system, possibly causing his asthma difficulties.
"They had not fully understood what they asked, but He had taken them at their word and granted them all their requests. They had been unsure whether to follow Him such a long distance or whether to come so close to Him. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to work than to give up, and to carry the cross than to hang upon it. But now they could not turn back, for they had come too close to the unseen cross of the spiritual life, and its virtues had pierced them too deeply."
So what more can God inflict upon our nine year old son? Not only does he have asthma, super sensitive skin that breaks out in hives when a band aid touches it, had ITP (a blood (un)clotting autoimmune disease), has Type 1 Diabetes but now he has an extra vertebrae and possible scoliosis. He's NINE. There is no diet remedy for scoliosis. No herbal concoction can take care of this. This is skeletal.
The neurological chiropractor says he can treat Joshua. Correct the scoliosis and more than likely, eliminate the asthma.
Of course I have my doubts. I've heard all this "treatment" and doc's "plans" and read the books telling me about "cures". The only cure I've been able to find is the cure for Celiac Disease. Praise God for that.
This chiropractor seems our only hope. His philosophies on medicine line up with mine. His diet choices are whole grain, whole foods - pretty healthy. His methods really seem to work.
But it's an hour drive away. In good traffic.
It's also out-of-pocket.
Three days a week for the first four months of treatment. For both Joel and Joshua. That's at least six hours of driving a week.
So we keep giving it to God. Surrendering these earthly tents to Him.
"Now at last their opportunity had come. Earlier they had only heard of the mystery, but now they felt it. He had fastened His eyes of love on them, as He had on Mary and Peter, so they could only choose to follow Him. And little by little, from time to time, with quick glimmers of light, the mystery of His cross shone upon them. They saw Him "lifted up from the earth", and gazed on the glory that radiated from the wounds of His holy suffering."
Our son, Joshua, is a brave boy. He has looked at chronic disease in the face and shook it's hand. He has warmed nurses' hearts and made them smile. He has looked so sweetly at me countless times while I watched helplessly as tubes, needles and white sheets dominated his life. He has matured so much over the years as hives, asthma, and blood are just a part of our day.
Why him? Why does his body have to be wracked with shots, immune system problems, disease and now scoliosis?
"As they looked upon Him, they approached Him and were changed into His likeness. His name then shone out through them, for He lived within them. Their life from that moment on was one of inexpressible fellowship with Him above."
O Satan, beware of my son. Though you try to kill him with disease and fill his life with pain, it is through this pain he is being made new, he is being made like his Savior Jesus Christ. A suffering servant. "Jehovah saves" my son and his life will not be in vain.
"Yet God strengthened them and protected them, even from themselves. They knew it was good to suffer in this life so they would reign in the one to come; to bear the cross below, to wear a crown above; and to know that not their will but His was done in them and through them." ("Streams in the Desert" Devotional pgs. 391-393)
"They were a people who were living to themselves. Their hopes, promises, and dreams still controlled them, but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for a repentant heart and had surrendered themselves with a willingness to pay any price for it, and He sent them sorrow. They had asked for purity, and He sent them sudden anguish. They had asked for meekness, and He had broken their hearts. They had asked to be dead to the world, and He killed all their living hopes. They had asked to be made like Him, so He placed them in the fire "as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Mal. 3:3), until they could reflect His image. They had asked to help carry His cross, yet when He held it out to them, it cut and tore their hands."
I (Renée) remember asking God for humility. I remember asking God to challenge my faith, to grow me, to not make my life so comfortable. Little did I know how much God was going to take me seriously in all these prayers over the last 10 years...
Our most recent challenge has been a cluster of smaller, related challenges. Each a little similar, each one health related: Joel's back is a constant heartache for me. Nerve pain down his leg and into toes, tight muscles along his spine like steel cords. And yet he copes well, smiling at me throughout the day and being the Daddy his children need. But there are days that are hard. Painfully hard. And he's only 35.
A certain chiropractor was recommended to us by a friend. I had noticed the results in this certain friend who went there and so we decided to try it. This chiropractor has a strong faith in Jesus, runs his business with Christian music blaring, and treats the problem not the symptoms. There is something else that's different with this doctor than other chiropractors. His practice is based on a neurological philosophy. The spinal cord sends messages throughout the body and to all the organs and is vital to the survival and health of the body. His technique then, is to "reset" the signals from the brain to the organs by simple techniques which I do not have time to explain here.
The chiropractor evaluated Joel and to make a long story short: six years ago Joel was diagnosed with a short leg resulting with a 1.5 cm lift on his left shoe. Well, it turns out his other leg is shorter- and not by that much. So because of this misdiagnosis, Joel is now experiencing degeneration in his left hip, his scoliosis is worse and his herniated disc is not healing.
Forgiveness for the doctor who misdiagnosed him...
The chiropractor recommended the whole family get checked out since scoliosis and other such problems can be passed down to the next generation. So we decided Joshua should go in since he has the most health problems at the moment.
Joshua's evaluation: He has an extra disc in his lumbar. He also has a six degree twist to his spine - the start of scoliosis. And because of this skeletal problem it is pinching a nerve in his spinal cord that is directly in tune with his respiratory system, possibly causing his asthma difficulties.
"They had not fully understood what they asked, but He had taken them at their word and granted them all their requests. They had been unsure whether to follow Him such a long distance or whether to come so close to Him. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to work than to give up, and to carry the cross than to hang upon it. But now they could not turn back, for they had come too close to the unseen cross of the spiritual life, and its virtues had pierced them too deeply."
So what more can God inflict upon our nine year old son? Not only does he have asthma, super sensitive skin that breaks out in hives when a band aid touches it, had ITP (a blood (un)clotting autoimmune disease), has Type 1 Diabetes but now he has an extra vertebrae and possible scoliosis. He's NINE. There is no diet remedy for scoliosis. No herbal concoction can take care of this. This is skeletal.
The neurological chiropractor says he can treat Joshua. Correct the scoliosis and more than likely, eliminate the asthma.
Of course I have my doubts. I've heard all this "treatment" and doc's "plans" and read the books telling me about "cures". The only cure I've been able to find is the cure for Celiac Disease. Praise God for that.
This chiropractor seems our only hope. His philosophies on medicine line up with mine. His diet choices are whole grain, whole foods - pretty healthy. His methods really seem to work.
But it's an hour drive away. In good traffic.
It's also out-of-pocket.
Three days a week for the first four months of treatment. For both Joel and Joshua. That's at least six hours of driving a week.
So we keep giving it to God. Surrendering these earthly tents to Him.
"Now at last their opportunity had come. Earlier they had only heard of the mystery, but now they felt it. He had fastened His eyes of love on them, as He had on Mary and Peter, so they could only choose to follow Him. And little by little, from time to time, with quick glimmers of light, the mystery of His cross shone upon them. They saw Him "lifted up from the earth", and gazed on the glory that radiated from the wounds of His holy suffering."
Our son, Joshua, is a brave boy. He has looked at chronic disease in the face and shook it's hand. He has warmed nurses' hearts and made them smile. He has looked so sweetly at me countless times while I watched helplessly as tubes, needles and white sheets dominated his life. He has matured so much over the years as hives, asthma, and blood are just a part of our day.
Why him? Why does his body have to be wracked with shots, immune system problems, disease and now scoliosis?
"As they looked upon Him, they approached Him and were changed into His likeness. His name then shone out through them, for He lived within them. Their life from that moment on was one of inexpressible fellowship with Him above."
O Satan, beware of my son. Though you try to kill him with disease and fill his life with pain, it is through this pain he is being made new, he is being made like his Savior Jesus Christ. A suffering servant. "Jehovah saves" my son and his life will not be in vain.
"Yet God strengthened them and protected them, even from themselves. They knew it was good to suffer in this life so they would reign in the one to come; to bear the cross below, to wear a crown above; and to know that not their will but His was done in them and through them." ("Streams in the Desert" Devotional pgs. 391-393)
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Our most recent newsletter:
Happy Fall!
For those of you who haven't gotten it in by mail, or email, or Facebook, or... here's our October Newsletter. Enjoy!
Pike's October Newsletter
For those of you who haven't gotten it in by mail, or email, or Facebook, or... here's our October Newsletter. Enjoy!
Pike's October Newsletter
Friday, 17 October 2014
Hillsong UNITED - Oceans (Where Feet may fail) radio version - Lyric Video
Really enjoying this song lately. Perhaps you will too..? :) ~Renée
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Autumnal
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| We picked a bunch of these off of YWAM's apple trees.... |
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| ...And turned it into sauce! We are only about half done but we've done over 40 quarts so far! |
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| Daddy and son. |
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| Underneath the most magnificent maple I've seen. |
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| Treehouse, anyone? |
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| On a nature walk |
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Camping!
Joshua and Joel went camping this past weekend- just a quick overnight on YWAM's property in the woods. The weather has been beautiful here- in the 70's. And the fall colors are gorgeous with the brilliant sumac, the colorful maples, and even the oaks- not just plain brown. DTS staff M and student C joined Joel and Joshua as they camped near a pond full of swans and goslings. It was a nice time to just enjoy God and his creation after the first week of orientation for the DTS!
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| Notice the swans |
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| Bannock over the fire. |
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| Joshua had fun with Joel's can saw. |
Monday, 29 September 2014
School
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| The kids outside of the elementary school where J and R attend. |
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| Rachel had an opportunity to attend a K-5th Gr. "Dance Camp" after school each day for one week. At the end of the week all 100+ girls got to perform at the Homecoming Game at halftime. I believe Rachel is on the left side of the picture...Maybe you can pick her out. :) |
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| First Day of School! Madelynn, 1st Grade |
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| Hudson, Pre-K |
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| Hurrah for Homeschoolers! |
Saturday, 27 September 2014
a little wildlife this summer
Aren't these cute? Madelynn and Hudson made them in preschool this summer.
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| This one is made out of an egg carton |
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| This was a common sight this summer. Joshua outside, with a book, checking on his frog(s) in the bucket. |
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| Meet "Toad-y". |
Thursday, 25 September 2014
YWAM Mpls Staff Conference/Retreat
The staff conference was about a week long in rural MN. All the Mpls staff and their families came out for this and we all had a great time. There was childcare for the morning and evening sessions, and the afternoons were free. We spent time on the water, the kids loved fishing off the dock. there was soccer, street hockey and volleyball. And plenty of time to read and soak in the sun. It was nice to get to know our fellow staff a bit more also.
The teaching sessions were really great. Our base director puts a lot of thought and prayer into his teachings so it is well worth sitting there for 5 hours a day. We also had worship, small groups to share and pray for one another and some other fun, goofy moments. We didn't take too many pictures, but we did have a refreshing time.
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| Joshua driving the pontoon. |
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| Rachel driving the pontoon |
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| Hudson and Madelynn really enjoyed going on the boat. They had been begging me for 2 or 3 days straight and then finally towards the end of the week, we had our opportunity to go out! |
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| I'm not sure what's going on here specifically. It must be one of those goofy times. Joel took this picture, maybe he would know. You can ask him. |
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| I went sailing for the first time. Thanks L! |
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| Hudson, Madelynn with friend and neighbor, Bella. |
Monday, 22 September 2014
Some Good Friends stop by on their move west...
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| These boys are like brothers. |
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| Forgive me K, but I had to put this one on here. It's just too hilarious to leave out. |
Saturday, 20 September 2014
A Monarch Butterfly Sequence
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| The monarch caterpillar loves milkweed. They start out so tiny you hardly see them. Good thing for sharp child eyes. |
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| The caterpillar hangs upside down by it's tail sheds some skin and becomes a chrysalis. The chrysalis is actually a layer of it's skin. Aren't the gold stripe and spots neat? |
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| On day 11 or so the chrysalis turns clear, revealing the butterfly inside. |
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| We've always missed the actual hatching of the butterfly (we had four caterpillars/butterflies this summer) but here is the butterfly drying it's wings. |
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| We moved the butterfly outside where it could enjoy the sunshine and breeze. Here he's flapping it's wings. It's going to take off soon, right? |
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| Anytime now. |
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| Nature is very patient. We however are not. But we will not miss this! |
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| And there he goes! Bye Mark the Monarch! Have a great trip south! * * * And THIS is a great video by our neighbor of HER two monarchs: |
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Some little friends come to stay
One weekend in August we watched our friends' three kids. We all had a fun time. Here's some snapshots of that weekend: Enjoy!
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| S and Madelynn |
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| L loves the float-y spaceship |
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| "Dress up" was a favorite game to play |
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| No, he's not a princess. He's a bumblebee. Careful! He might sting you with his head. |
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| At MIA's free Family Day, our two families joined up and made cardboard chairs while listening to loud dance music. |
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| The girls (and L) dance while the adults decide where to eat dinner. |
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