Psalm 126 "The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy."

God's fingerprints have been all over our spring and beginning of summer.  I often feel the urge to blog and then am not sure how to put it all into words. 

1. Since I last wrote, Paul and I both got new jobs.  He started his in May and I will begin mine in August.  He loves his one mile commute and coming home on his lunch breaks.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye to my students after teaching them both first and second grade, however, I know God is preparing me for a new season of teaching (for the students and myself)...one that I would have never applied for: 5th grade.  For this primary grade lover, 5th grade is definitely an opportunity for feeling intimidated and/or taking God up on an opportunity for growth and stretching.  I'd love your prayers as early August approaches!
2. My parents also came to CA for the first time to visit and see "our world."  Paul scrambled to prepare our 2nd bedroom and install our 2nd bathroom (from scratch), but pulled it off around midnight on the night before they arrived. :)  I was able to share my old and new schools with them.  They were also able to worship with us at our church. 
3. Our first anniversary!  We celebrated our first anniversary with both sets of parents and Paul's grandma.  What a wonderful day to reflect on the past year of growth and memories together.  
4. Each of the previous blessings has caused us to look up and thank God for how involved he is in each detail of our lives....yet today something happened that made me feel a sense of urgency to blog..

In February I found a lump on my skin.  It caused some alarm since I've never had anything like that before.  After several doctor's appointments, an ultrasound, and a surgeon's consultation, nobody seemed sure what it was.  We decided it was best to remove and biopsy it.  This was scheduled for June 11th.  However, after we realized how much better Paul's new insurance plan would be compared with my old plan, I canceled the surgery so that I could have it done under the care of a doctor within our new network.  On June 26th, my mom and I went to a dermatologist, who felt sure it was a cyst and could be removed.  Please know that I do NOT like needles in any fashion, but knew this was part of stewarding my body.  This procedure was scheduled for today.  For the past few days I haven't been able to see or feel the lump.  I told the doctor this as she prepared the supplies.  
She took a look and agreed,  "I don't see any need to cut you open if I can't even feel where I need to cut.  You're one of the lucky ones that had the cyst go away on its own."  

I replied, "I'll be singing a praise song on the way home."  
That's not luck!  That's GOD!  He heals.  
Paul and I will fly east early Thursday morning for my brother's wedding. Now, there's no need to be 
concerned about the care of the wound, etc. during all the traveling and festivities.   Thank you Jesus for your love and healing physically and spiritually.

Redwood Remembrances - a living and lasting legacy

    My grandpa passed away on March 29th, passing the torch of faith to his descendants.  He carried this torch throughout his life as he continued to answer God's call to ministry.  Several times he retired from preaching, and several times he stepped back to the pulpit to shepherd God's people.  Sowing the word of God creates a lasting legacy that continues to bear fruit in the lives of those who knew him.
     For his family, the legacy begins with faith and extends to countless character traits unique to grandpa.  Sure, there are the deer he fed, then hunted from his bedroom window.  His trademark car since the 80's?... a Subaru station wagon (red in later years) with the license plate "Redwood."  Each time he retired one of these cars, it was replaced by another Subaru station wagon.  While driving around, he never got tired of tinkering with the gadgets in the car or narrating each landmark along the route.  If you weren't riding with him, never fear, he had a set of walkie-talkies to make sure you didn't miss anything along the way.  Then there's Christmas gifts... You never knew what the gadget of the year would be.  However, once one person opened their gift, shortly you saw a complete set of identical treasures filling the room.  Perhaps, a crockpot in the shape of a football, a year's supply of paper towels, a bacon rack for the microwave, a TV screen with moving fish, etc. 
      It's hard to pick which memories are the most endearing here.  My family made several displays representing my grandpa at the funeral "viewing."  There were jars of seeds, an ice cream maker, fishing pole, etc.  What stood out to me the most were the endless pictures of memories each family member had to share.  He was at EVERYTHING: graduations, sporting events, marching band shows, commissioning for mission trips, vacations, holidays, weddings, etc.  Each one of my cousins dearly loved, and was dearly loved by him.  All 11 of us have different talents and interests, yet he loved each one of us and related to us as individuals.  There are common threads of him reflected in us (faith in Jesus, serving, gardening, art, hunting, fishing, a love of nature, traveling).  From him we learned that that family is a treasure. 
       Surely his neighbors will remember his ever expanding orchard of trees:  pecan, apple, peach, pear, plum, apricot, etc.  His plastic bag scarecrows with hand-drawn faces were always creative in the vegetable and melon gardens.  While he planted fruit and vegetable seeds, the seeds of truth and trust in Jesus are what will continue to bear fruit.  A pastor and friend of my grandpa spoke at his burial, referencing 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.  As I looked around, I saw living fruit in each of the people Grandpa loved and served.  We'll always have the memories and we'll always have the call to sow seeds of faith into the lives of others.   I'll miss his presence in my life, yet know that we'll only be apart for a short time.

"Who am I?"

Tonight as I was driving home Travis Cottrell's version of "Just as I Am" came on the radio.  The newly added chorus resonated within my soul and in light of Easter and Christ's resurrection, I wanted to share it.

"I come broken to be mended,

I come wounded to be healed,
I come desperate to be rescued,

I come empty to be filled.

I come guilty to be pardoned

by the blood of Christ the Lamb

and I'm welcomed with open arms,

Praise God, just as I am. "

Immediately, I thought, Who am I

• to be filled?
• to be the receiver of God's consuming grace and redemption?
• to be provided for physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually?
• and on...

God completely amazes me with the places he brings us to, the situations he brings us through, and the growth he provides during each season.  I am in awe of how God fills.  His word says: "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11  His purpose stands.
Before I came to CA nearly two years ago, I was told that the job market was really tough and there were no teaching positions.  After two months of subbing, God provided a full time position at a school full of young teachers.  Through this, God provided me with local Christian friends around my age.  God's economy is beyond what our human eyes can see.
Tonight I had dinner with two of those friends.  I marveled at God's plan to build friendships while providing a job. 
For years I've had a sewing machine, but very little knowledge of it.  A woman from my church decided to offer free sewing lessons to those of us who wanted to learn.  She brought me home a few days ago and it was such a blessing to learn more about God's faithfulness to her.  
Of course I also see God's hand in my marriage.  Paul and I continue to merge our separate lives into a partnership for God's glory.  
The beauty of all this is that I come to Christ just as I am and he does much more than I could ever ask.  He goes ahead of me.

"Just as I am, I would be lost

but mercy and grace

my freedom bought

and now to glory in your cross

Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come." 

I am full.
God overflows. 

Daniel

There are people that walk into our lives and God instantly gives us a connection and love towards them.  In 2006, I was hired for my first teaching job as a kindergarten teacher.  I scrambled to prepare everything for open house day when I would finally meet my first class.  The day arrived and the first student to walk through my door was Daniel.

That year I learned that I loved teaching kindergarten and loved each one of my 24 unique students.   Half way through the school year Daniel told his parents he wanted to visit me at my home.  We explained my 45 minute commute and the logistics so he settled on a Burger King dinner date. 

In May, when his family announced they were moving, I was devastated.  I'd come to have a special bond and love with each of these five people.  They had come to America so that Daniel's father could attend seminary at Liberty University.  That spring, he completed his classes and received a position as pastor in California.  That seemed so far away to me!   Daniel's last day was field day.  Our class wished him well with hot Cheetos, his favorite snack, and a shirt we had all signed. 

Little did I know, God planned for this family to stay in my life well beyond that year.  On several of my visits to see Paul, I was able to spend a night with them.  We scattered a few emails throughout the past 3 years, but no visits had taken place.  Last month Daniel emailed me from his newly established email account.  We set up today for a reunion. We split our 3 hour drive and meet in the middle for lunch.  I can't explain the joy in seeing him and his mother again.  They are a true picture of God's encouragement, love, and graciousness.  Only as we talked did he humbly reveal that he recently skipped a grade to be in 7th (still making straight A's).  He's read through the entire Bible 5 times!  Isn't God amazing?  He has specific purposes for Daniel, yet Daniel doesn't seem to realize what a gift of learning he has.  I'm so thankful to be a part of watching these plans unfold over the years!

Christmas

Paul finished our living room floor just in time to buy our first Christmas tree.  We prepared for the parade that goes right down our street.

After celebrating with family in CA, Paul and I packed our bags and headed east just in time for Christmas. 
Our first Christmas as husband and wife was truly blessed.  My entire family was home and together for our visit.  Ben's fiance, Kate, came for a week and my grandpa came too.  During our time we were able to spend quality time initiating Paul into the family and catch up with friends.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

VanGilder Clan

I treasure every visit with Grandpa.

Sisters :)

First time plowing snow

let's go jogging

Growing Conditions

    My move to CA and desire for a garden has required me to learn about the plants that grow here and their growing conditions.  The climate and temperature pattern is very different; rain only falls in the late fall and winter and the temperatures stay milder.  This requires sprinklers in our yard if we want anything to grow, but also opens up a lengthy list of perennials since the plants don't die in cold winter temperatures.  Instead of apple orchards, you'll see almond orchards.  The leaves are starting to change (finally!).  The maples and oaks are scattered among Chinese Pistache trees.
    This weekend was a hard one to be away from my family.  They gathered together to take part in a very exciting event.  Up until Friday, I didn't realize that I'd be the only one not present.  Secondly, there are some things that need to be taken care of that would be so easily accomplished if I was there and could do them myself.  However, relying on someone else makes it more complicated. 
     Yes, I miss being home, but you know what?  Lately, in spite of these challenges, I feel thankful.  Life is always changing and no season is ever permanent.  There are many reasons to be thankful for this exact time in life because there will never be another season exactly like it and when it is gone, I will remember it with a smile of thankfulness.  As I was reading the "Thanksgiving" sections of New Testament letters this morning, God drew this analogy: 

 "what grows in one season (climate, location, or set of circumstances) can't grow as easily in another"  

Just as it is for plants, so it us for us.  He brings us to specific circumstances to accomplish specific purposes and fruit. God is growing a different kind of fruit in my life during this season.  As he guides me along his perfect path, here are some of the things uniquely specific to this season that I'm thankful for.   

•  God, who continues to be near and present in each step, continually forgiving me because he loves me
• my marriage to Paul and the opportunity to experience life together
• our church and church family,  the genuineness and desire to grow in Christ and the constant ways they reflect Christ to others, their openness to let people serve.  This church of around 100 members just raised over $26,000 for missions at their fall bazaar!
• my students.  teaching them for 2 years in a row gives the opportunity for strong connections and to gaze upon so much growth!
• my team at school.  This unique group of women is encouraging and supportive.  We're united as a grade level.  This past week we gathered to celebrate an upcoming wedding, two of us traveled to San Francisco to preview a possible field trip, and two of us are starting a Bible Study together.  
• the progress toward making our house into a home
• Cleo, the friendly neighborhood cat, that realizes I want a cat so she visits me often.  

• friendships in the area.  This evening while jogging I ran into my friend, Ericka and her little Lucas.  It's amazing how many similarities we have and how easy it's been to become friends.
• the frequent communication I have with my sister, brother, and parents 
• my in-laws, nieces and nephews
•  as life continues, the list grows...