The Intentional Life

In honor of our last week as Lead Houseparents at the Cypress House, I've compiled a list of things that I have thought over the years "if you've been a houseparent..."  The list is not exhaustive and I know there are many others that could be added, but here is what I've come up with: You can park a 15 passenger van with no sweat. All your hygiene products have a yellow COSMTCHA sticker on them. You dread Fridays and look forward to Mondays . You get excited about grass that needs mowed and weeds in the flower beds. You realize at 9PM that you need milk and eggs for breakfast in the morning - no big deal, take a stroll to the food room (as long as it isn't Monday) You know the Nutrition Video by heart. You find yourself dating and labeling all your food with masking tape and a Sharpie. Organic beet juice?  Chocolate Skittles?  In mass quantities?  Why not. Your stomach drops when you hear this go off at 3AM. But you have a...

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Romans 12:9b It's a little crazy in this place these days. Having our house finally handed back to us, we have been making daily runs of boxes over to our new home. Pack a box.  Take box to new house. Unload box.  Take box back to Cypress House. Repeat. I guess it's one way to move your belongings. At the same time we are trying to tie up about a hundred loose ends, keep being houseparents, keep being parents, maybe even a decent spouse.  Moving day is looming ever closer and it seems there are way more things to do than time to do them in. Like I said, it's a little crazy around here. In the midst of this, in the back of my mind, I have the thought floating that I have yet to type anything this month for my Romans 12 series.  I've read the verse over and over but just wasn't sure how to expound anymore upon it.   It's pretty straight forward:  hate evil, love good.  I s...

  "If our effort to love only affects ONE person...it is worth it!"  -Ivan Zhykhariev, Ukraine Graduate Child Sponsorship.  It's easy to underestimate the impact sponsorship has on a child. Not only are basic needs (such as food, clothing, shelter) met, but also a sense of belonging is given that money can't buy. Sponsorship speaks "YOU MATTER TO ME." to a child who is longing for love from a family, security and hope for a future. Giving FAMILY to Evelyn {HONDURAS} Testimonies like Evelyn's reminds us of the work God is doing to change lives in Honduras. Children who lose their earthly father, learn about their heavenly Father. Children who lose their family can say they have a new family. Children with little hope are taught that they can change their nation! Currently, Evelyn has not been chosen by a sponsor to help support her Christian education and hopeful future. By sponsoring a child like Evelyn , you can be a part of changing a...

The time is winding down and I'm getting nostalgic as it is getting closer. There are so many things about this life we have lived for the last 5.5 years that I will miss. There have been many difficult, stretching, growing times.  Things I have vaguely written about here on this blog. But there are also things about this place that I have loved and enjoyed and am sad to be leaving: This track, being right outside my door, I can take runs at 10:00 at night feeling completely safe.  This fireplace, where many conversations have taken place. This kitchen, where several messes can be going on at one time. The view from our back patio, a small break in the day, a breath of fresh air. This apartment.  A small private (the only part) haven in our world. The food room.  Just a short walk and I can have milk (as long as it's not a Monday in the summer!). Our neighbors.  Our children have countless other little kids to play with...

April seemed to go by fast .  It started off with some Spring Break, followed close by Palm Sunday, Easter on it's heels.  And suddenly we were looking at May Day.  April was a month of lessons on trust (again?!).  Despite the future being unclear, we stepped out in faith, announcing the end of our tenure as houseparents here at Gateway Woods.  We still have another 4 weeks yet, and we're plugging away, still in it.  April saw some completion of our "new" house.  Floors were installed, the little details completed.  Now we just need a new front window and out contractors can finally be done with us!  April saw a couple of us another year older.  And we're both OK with that.  I got some niece time. And some sister time.  And family time. We escaped from the packing of boxes and reconstruction of houses to take in some soccer. Thankfully the change in weather brought some incr...