The Intentional Life

Oy, yes, it's a few days late. Please don't hold that against me. You were lucky enough to have family stay the weekend with us over your birthday and that led to no Internet time which led to no birthday post. It has nothing to do with you being the middle child, although I am sure later in life you will think that it does. Hannah, you longed for the day you turned 7.  Just like all those birthdays before. 3+3+1=7.  Hey, we didn't have any other candles...   And now here you are.  The lucky number 7.  For some reason, when I was your age, I wanted to stay 7 forever.  I would even cry sometimes at the thought of growing up.  I'm no longer 7 (obviously) but now you are.  It's clear by the high-water jeans that used to once pool around your shoes that you are growing. It's obvious in your reading and math skills that you are learning. And it shows in your actions that you are maturing. As has become the norm, y...

"Slowly [the boys] are beginning to realize they're getting the best...and to also give the best out of their lives." --John & Mwila, houseparents at Zambia's Student Life Homes   Since January, three Student Life Homes in Zambia are providing a safe environment for 39 students in the freshman class. This move gives them a place where they can thrive in a healthy, family environment away from the temptations and negative influences found in the compound where they were raised.  As expected, it's been a bit of an adjustment for the 11 boys in John & Mwila's home. Learning to function as a family with roles, rules, and certain expectations has taken some time to get used to for a group of boys who are accustomed to living on their own, answering only to themselves.  As you heard in their testimony, John & Mwila have not only met hardships along the way, but have experienced great joy of slowly transformed lives of boys...

Friday was about forgiveness. Sunday is about the defeat of Death. The grave could not hold Christ. And now, because of His resurrection, the grave no longer has a hold on us as well. Lord I'm crooked from head to toe Got dirty hands and a dirty soul I was lost but now I'm found Ain't no grave gonna hold me down Ain't no grave gonna hold me down

As we are coming to the close of the Friday before Easter, we reflect on what happened those many, many years ago. High noon came and it went. Darkness. A ripped temple veil. Death. What's so Good about Friday? The war was over.  But Satan thought he had won. But, praise the Lord, Sunday is coming! Songs minister to me, as they do to so many others.  This is the one that has been running through my head today. So long, you wages of sin go on, Don't you come back again I've been raised and redeemed; You've lost all your sting To the victor of the battle at High noon in the valley In the valley of the shadow

 "Mom and Dad Snowboarding"  by Hannah  March. That bridge between Winter and Spring.  We don't expect warm weather right at the start, but we sure hope it has something for us by the end. Thankfully, March delivered here this year.  The final day of March gave us temps in the 50's!  Although, I had my doubts when it decided to send snow just days after it was officially Spring. With the weather still frigid, we spent most of it indoors.  Dance parties, hide and seek, Lego creations, and drawing were our weapons of choice to whittle away the remaining cold days. March Madness showed up, much to Paul's delight, and gave us a reprieve with endless games of basketball. Balancing an egg on the Spring Equinox   Paul went to a Dad's Night at Maddie's preschool.  This was the front cover of the book she made.  I love this chalkboard wall.  And I love changing it up every month.   Snow on March 23rd....

I thought it was a thing. I remember my mom doing it back when we were young. Cataloging it with a picture. 12 eggs all in a row, standing up on end. On the Spring Equinox.  It had something to do with the earth's position that eggs could stand on end on this day, perfectly balanced. Well, that was last century.  When Google was just a word you used to describe a really big number, not a search engine. My childhood facts were dashed, as Snopes.com revealed the truth. The Chinese are often cited as having originated the practice of standing eggs on end during the equinox. Just as the equinox symbolically restores balance to the world by signalling its rebirth after a season of darkness, the equinox literally balances the day by dividing it into equal portions of darkness and light. Nonetheless, the vernal equinox brings no special egg-balancing properties with it . Standing an egg on its end is something just about anyone can do any day of the year; t...

"We have a new family and a new home and we are now back in school!" -Famatta, child from New Hope Children's Home  Ebola . The deadly virus that prowled West Africa last year, dominating the news and our newsfeeds. In Liberia alone, taking the lives of over 4,000, and leaving in it's wake sons and daughters to be orphaned and alone. Meet three of those children: Famatta (14), Olbed (13) and Delight (8), son and daughters of George and Oretha Kanwah, whose lives were taken by the Ebola virus. In response to this catastrophe, Lifesong staff in Liberia have established New Hope Children's Home , a home to not only provide shelter for 10 children orphaned by the Ebola virus, but also to give caregiver jobs to Ebola survivors. Fametta graciously shares the devastation they have saw and felt, and of the hope that is slowly shining through... "My father got the virus when a lady in his church was sick and he took her to the hospital. While at ...