This year's parish picnic was FUN! We had one out at the park the first summer we were here, the chapel lot last year, and this year we were out at a park on North base again this year.
Service outside on bleachers.
PMOC grilled. PWOC set up and cleaned up. Actually....my gals (and kids) ROCKED. I wanted to clean the bird poop and such off the tables....THEN we cleaned bugs, frogs, leaves and such out of the bathrooms. LOL
The service was great, it's always fun to have the whole parish together for a service. The weather was PERFECT...not raining, not hot or humid. School starts on 30 August so everyone is coming home....and it was fun to catch up with friends I've missed during the summer. Great venue for catching up. Another highlight was our FIRST registration to attend Asia Region Conference. This was a great way to spend the day.
At the end of a very "work intensive" week, Michael suggested we meet to attend the Obon parade. This was a fun family outing. We picked Jared up and brought him along too. Here are a few photos from the parade.
Stacia - just one of the crowd
Each float is pulled by long lines of people - some of them a bit more serious about the work than others
"Thank you for your Support ~ Bonds of Friendship" - the community here really does seem to appreciate all the efforts of the base community to be of help
Drummers - watch video to hear
Hydraulics raise and lower parts of the floats to navigate traffic lights etc
Last week we were honored to have the PACAF Command Chaplain in town. This means he's a level UP from local....he oversees all the chapel operations in the Pacific (AK, HI, Guam, Japan and Korea).
Our Wing Chaplain is TDY (out of town) and so it fell to Michael, the Deputy Wing Chaplain and Sgt. W, our NCOIC, to play host. I think they did a great job.
This meant they spent hours of extra duty. Ate out with Ch. D and Sgt. U every night, took them down to show them the tsunami damage, provided briefings etc. The entire chapel staff put in many extra hours to host DVs for the week. They done good!
For ME it meant I ate out three times last week with them and various groupings of staff members. LOL I also got COINED - yes another USAF command coin. ::snort::
This is a post about Stacia, but it will be hard not to write it about ME. ::snort:: Hard to believe our baby is six years old. Harder still to believe that somewhere in the last six years I've learned to be content if she is the last. I certainly wasn't content to have her be our last four years ago when we lost the twins.....but now I see...
It's O.K. for God to be sovereign. It's O.K. to move into new seasons. It's a JOY to move into these seasons as Stacia's Mommy.
We knew last week would be busy....so we surprised Stacia Sunday a.m. with decorations and gifts. We asked what her perfect birthday would look like. "Going to Burger King and taking the food to the Weasel's Den (indoor play area)." She was SURE.
Proving once again how uniquely she graces our family - she insisted she did NOT want one of our famous Ice Cream Cakes....she wanted an "Newman O cake".
We went about making her dreams come true. She chose the flying pig hat.
Shaun the Sheep is always a hit
This thing says 50 PHRASES....and wouldn't be quiet all through the commissary. It was hilarious to see the confusion of the bagger and to reveal the mystery to her at the end. LOL
Either too much cake or a REALLY bad hand of cards?
Blog readers know my motto is to embrace life in the fish bowl.....mainly because I was raised in the fish bowl...being a pastor's kid and a missionary kid....and then married into the fish bowl...it seems healthy to embrace it.
However, in the past few weeks I hit a spot where it seems unwise to be totally transparent.
Life has been tough...the Lover of my soul has met me IN THE STORM. Life has had a few unexpected twists and turns in the past few weeks. Enough said....but I CAN share
Lessons I've learned....
God faithfully prepared me with journal entries from the months prior
"God will allow all to be shaken in my life so that which remains is stronger. His kingdom cannot be shaken. In times of shaking I'm to serve with gratitude."
Or: "Lord, help me be quick to look for you in unexpected storms."
Or: "My sheep know my voice and a strange voice they simply will not follow. Father, may I listen for and follow your voice alone."
I have felt these lyrics in new ways the past few weeks.
Here before Your altar
I am letting go
of every motive, every burden , everything's that of myself
I just wanna wait on your my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are
Here in your presence
I am not afraid of brokenness
To wash your feet with humble tears
I would be poured out till nothings left
It's possible to forgive instantly and walk in forgiveness. Walking in forgiveness keeps channels open for God to work in hearts all around.
Leaders make decisions, fail, make mistakes and learn from them.
I am NOT a perfect leader (knew that ::snort::), neither am I a perfect failure (need to remember this). I hear over and over the words God clearly spoke to me in moment of near panic over leadership responsibility, "I don't call you to be perfect, I call you to be faithful." That was good 2 years ago and it's good today.
My words at WILD ring in my spirit, "Follow the heart of your king!"
I learned that I still want to be practically perfect. When all broke loose I was "weathering well" until Kari Jobe "My Beloved" came on. I was gasping and sobbing so hard I had to pull over at the train park (and don't think THAT wasn't shocking to kind folks in the park).
You're My Beloved
You're My Bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me my love...
I was gasping out, "No. I've failed AGAIN." His words were sweet.... it's precisely in times when I feel least deserving I most need to embrace intimacy with Him.
Again I heard "let Me lead," "keep your gaze focused on Me," "dance with Me."
Now is the time to STAND and FIGHT for the vision He birthed years ago....
God waits for us to say, "It's all YOU God or this is not working!" and He steps in and shows His stuff. I'm in awe.
NEVER say you will "never" do anything in ministry...there just is no telling where that sort of silliness will take you. ::grin::
Finally, if God is sovereign...He is! That's it. Nothing more. This includes His hand in Air Force assignments, personality conflicts, leadership issues, health, natural disasters....He is sovereign.
We are women who seek passionate intimacy with God and each other. We desire authenticity in relationships. We embrace PWOCI’s vision, to “be women who foster an atmosphere of intimacy, simplicity and legacy. "
We seek REAL ministry in PWOC; we hate playing games. I’ve celebrated the Trophies of God’s Grace in Asia! Unfortunately, I’ve also seen some embrace plastic charades rather than reality.
“If you knew who I was, you wouldn’t want me in PWOC?”
“Oh, you’re a sinner too!”
Many have told me, “You’re the only one I’ve told this to.”
Why do we feel we must be perfect to be accepted? Why do we reject a sister based on pre- cross mistakes or her current struggles?
Sadly, some are uncomfortable with the reality of the woman sitting next to them. Women carry needless shame, feeling they must hide who they were pre-cross. Some are devastated by rejection as they attempt to find intimacy with “good” Christian women. Many slowly wither praying for someone who will truly know them and still care enough to be a mentor. This is NOT the gospel.
Do we BELIEVE the gospel? Are we merely paying lip service to the gospel? ALL have sinned (Rm 3:23). The wages of that sin is death…BUT the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Rm 6:23). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rm 8:23).
Mentoring begins as new Christians find mature Christians to assist them on the journey from muck to life. Consider the possibilities in the following examples. You were a drug dealer 10 years ago; I’m recently saved and struggle with cravings for drugs. You struggled with infidelity- your marriage is now vital; I just heard of my husband’s infidelity. You walked the pain of infertility; I was just told I’d never have a child. You survived child abuse and are victorious and whole; I need to know HOW you got to that point. You struggled with sexuality pre-cross; I believe God (and Christians) could never accept me because of my past sexuality. Legacy comes as we courageously cast off the plastic charade and share our lives openly and honestly with one another.
Is it uncomfortable when women are authentic? It CAN be. Is it risky for all? YES.
I beg God to make us women who truly BELIEVE and embrace the gospel, rather than perfecting plastic charades. Are we serious about His kingdom coming in our midst?
We must be prepared to accept broken and wounded women as Jesus did, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” (Jn 8:11).
