Home on the Erie Canal

Friday, August 5, 2016

Beautiful Blessings - 8/3/16

~ going to craft time at the library with the kids

~ seeing them have fun playing with partial decks of cards

~ a boyfriend who will do your chores so you can take a nap just because he loves you ;~)

~ teaching him Clock Solitaire

~ ending up at the playground on a walk together so I can swing

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Beautiful Blessings - 8/2/16

~ watching Sarah, Plain and Tall

~ watching Finding Nemo for the first time in 7 years

~ a day to recouperate

~ teaching myself Clock Solitaire

~ good progress made on my knitting project...like GOOD progress XD

The Reason I Live (a guest post)

{by Naomi H.}

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 4:5-6. It says that “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

This verse is a verse that I quote almost every day. It reminds me that my identity is not in the things of this world, but in CHRIST ALONE! HE ALONE is my light, my life, and my salvation. He is my everything, my strength when I am week, my light when all is dark, and my friend when I feel alone.

On the other side of the coin, it also challenges me to evaluate my life and see if I am showing Christ the way that I should. Are all of my words, actions, and even thoughts Christ-honoring? Do I respect and glorify Him with everything that I do?

An old friend of mine had a gift for writing poems. Although the friendship is long over, the poem has stayed with me through the years. I entitled it “Faith Sings a Melody”. Every now and again, I dig it out and read it. It reminds me that the Christian walk is not a destination, its a life long journey. A path that brings us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Faith sings a melody, glorious and free

In Christ my faith I’ve put, it’s time to lean on He

Who’s died to pay my debt, no more chains on me

A song which rings aloud, for all the world to hear

Now this song I cry, as Christ does now draw near

I’ll sing it loud I’ll sing it proud, best of all to make it clear

I’ve faith in Jesus Christ, my life He does lead

This passion and this love, his commandments I shall keep

This greatest book of all, a blessing now to read

This faith now does tell me, He is stronger than I

And on this mountain top, I lift his name on high

And soon the day to see His face, I know it does draw nigh

Naomi is a good friend of mine, who I met through John. She is going to college for nursing, loves hedgehogs, and has a beautiful heart for Christ! I'm so proud to call her a friend! Best part of it? We are twins in so many ways...including the fact we both love Psalm 27!

10 Most Popular Posts of All Time - #7

At #7 we have:

Skirts: things I've learned about them

Random things I've learned about wearing skirts, including the respect that others see!

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Learning in Belize - A Sequel to Learning in Ecuador (a guest post)

{by Heidi S.}

Last time Moriah asked me to be a guest on her blog, I gave her a journal entry of my time in Manta, Ecuador. This time, I thought I would share how God has been faithful in the past 2 years, and what he's doing with me here in San Pedro, Belize (Central America)

Two years ago, upon leaving Ecuador, I reflected on how God never left me. All through the trip he had his hand on everything. Upon leaving America for Belize, I see the same thing. He has been faithful every step of the way. I started a nanny job in November 2014. I never thought I would ever leave them. They had adorable children, and I told everyone that I planned on staying with them until the youngest children were old enough to go to school. And they were my plans. Clearly, God had a different path for me.

It was September 2015 that I really felt like God wanted me to do something else, to go somewhere else. I prayed about it, asked friends and family for advice, read the bible, and prayed more. In November, on my birthday, I announced to my family that I was taking this leap of faith and applying to be a Mission Nanny. I waited until after the holidays and in January of 2016 I was accepted to be a Mission Nanny.

Mission Nanny is an organization that sends a volunteer nanny to families that are working around the world in bringing others to Christ. Once I applied they had me pick 3 families that I had prayed about serving. My top three choices were Belize, Honduras and Uganda. Two weeks after giving my choices, I was told that the family in Belize was interested in having me come be their nanny.

I had a phone conversation with the mom here in Belize and felt even more peace about it. She asked me to come on board for their July-September quarter at a school they teach. A and I (mom and dad of the kids I nanny for) work on a campus for a school called YWAM. (Youth With A Mission) Here at YWAM, there are people from ages 18 to nearly 63. A and I, help in leading these people towards God in discipleship classes (Learning who God is and how we can love and serve him more)

Back to me in America. I had to go through the fire of telling the family I nannied for that I was leaving. I did that at the end of February and just like I prayed, they were okay with it and encouraged me to follow my goals and dreams. I was so thankful for their understanding. In May I left the family that were knit in my heart and began to prepare for Belize.

Something I prayed daily for was God to help me leave my family, friends and home. I asked that he give me people who would welcome me, that the children I would nanny for here in Belize would like me, that they wouldn't be spoiled.

And through each one of these, God has been faithful and blessed me better then I thought possible. While I had a few nerve-wracking adventures along the way of getting here (hey, everyone needs stories to share, right?) I got here safely. I have two beautiful roommates that I love talking to and whenever I need to share something, I can count on them to be listening ears. I have two children that, while they have their moments (what child doesn't?) are very happy little kids and are fairly content.

I've had some ups and downs within in the past month that I've been here. I've gotten sick twice (swollen lymph nodes, lack of energy) I've had a few mishaps with little F-girl who is in the process of being potty trained. J-boy doesn't always nap when he should. I'm an introvert, so I don't usually seek out fellowship as much as I could. I mess up. I make mistakes. I'm not perfect.

But God is. And I'm thankful for this beautiful, messed up life I've been given. Never once has he failed me and I know I can place my future in his hands. While I may not know where he has called me next after Belize (there's another hundred roads I could take at the end of September) He is faithful and will show me when the time is right.

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deut. 7:9

You can follow her adventures at her blog, Mary Poppins: A Practically (Im)Perfect Nanny!
(P.s. you really should read her blog...because I came up with the name ;~) heehee!)