Friday, August 14, 2009

Update

I was pondering my busy life and realized that I have entered a whirlwind season. Often people ask me, "So what are you doing now?" Well.... let me tell you.

We just returned from New Hampshire and also Virginia. Yes I know they are not really connected however we did connect them in an asphalt kind of way....driving that is. Ha ha. While we were in Virginia we prayed for and sent our Daughter-in-law, Tina, off to Guatemala. She will be gone for about 2 weeks. Our Son Chris leaves on Saturday to join her.

On Tuesday/Wednesday, the 18th and 19th of August, Fred and I travel to NYC to pick up Dorcas Coulebly from Mali. She will become our "adopted daughter" for the next 4 years while she attends school in Olean NY. She was able to obtain a 4 year student visa.

On Friday (August 21st)we will take Marie-Louise to East Liverpool, Ohio. She will be traveling to Honduras with Mike and Becky Ingole on her first mission trip without mom and dad.

On Sunday the 23rd Chris and Tina return from their trip.

On Wednesday the 26th Fred leaves for Africa. He will not return till mid October.

Marie-Louise returns September 5th just in time for her to start school.

In the mean time, I have churches to visit and some ladies conferences planned. October 28th I leave to Palawan, Philippines. I have a feeling that I will sleep well on the plane. Ha ha!!!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Quality Time or Quantity Time

Ah the great debate between quality time and quantity time. Is it better to have a lot of devoted time to a person or project or is it the quality of time that is greater? In pondering this I have discovered that both are true and they both demand commitment. Of course individual situations often dictate whether it is quantity or quality. Even for myself it is hard to determine which I prefer. With our lifestyle so busy and unpredictable having family time is sometimes a difficult task. I have discovered that I want both quality and quantity. I want the five minute talks and the quick little e-mails but I also long for the extended moments when nothing is said but we are all in the same room together, breathing the same air, knowing everyone is close. Our relationship with God is like that. God desires our day to day devotion time be it long or short. The fact that we designate some time to Him each day is pleasing to Him and yet He longs for those times when we retreat to a hidden place for an extended amount of time and just focus on being in His presence, breathing His air and knowing He is close. "Remember the Sabbath day" isn't legalism, it's a commitment. I don't have to be legalistic to devote quality or quantity time to God, I just have to do it.