in all and in everything

I've started this habit when I find myself unable to sleep or fighting off feelings of uncertainty: I take out my trusty journal and start adding to my thankful list, writing down all the things I am thankful for.

An internal transformation usually occurs in this time as I find I don't have near as much room in my brain for that anxiety that was plaguing me, for that discontentment, for grumpiness, or for pity parties.

But here's the thing...

I've been challenged over the last year by the verses that command me to give thanks, in all things. 

Or in everything.

All means all. 

Everything means everything.

My thankful list should include the good and the bad. 

One of my favorite all time books is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, I love the story where she and her sister are sent to the Nazi prison camp, Dachau, and assigned to a flea-ridden bunk room. That first night as they realize the terrible conditions they choose to stand there and pray, giving thanks specifically for the fleas. 

Later on during their stay they are able to start and lead Bible studies in that room without fear of discovery from the guards that were present in every other bunk room, who kept away because of the fleas.

My thankful list has slowly gone through a transformation to include the things I would categorize as difficult...the low bank account statement, the sickness, the difficult person I am dealing with, the child with an issue I can't figure out...

When I thank the Lord for the difficult things in my life, I am trusting His Sovereignty and allowing myself to let go of the control. Then the biggest transformation of all can occur: I am filled with Him, not my worries about me, and true peace comes and settles in. 

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

In all things, give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

swiftly fly the years: Ella McKay turns 9

My firstborn is 9 today. 

I remember the day she came into the world so well, surprising us all at her 5 week early entrance, but thriving and healthy at 6lbs 2oz.

From early on she has always had a sweetness, a goofiness, and an up-for-anything-ness. 

She has always been a lover of creatures, big and small.

Outdoors is where her creativity expands and she is always making up some fairy world or fairy house.

She reads. all. the. time. Fantasy books being her favorite...but she will read anything and everything...all the day long if I'd let her.

Her favorite subject in school is History. 

Her favorite color is yellow. 

Her favorite Disney princess is Jasmine. 

Her favorite food is anything mexican.

Her favorite movie is Maleficent.

Her favorite Bible verse is John 3:16.

Her favorite sport to play is soccer or gymnastics.

I'm finding it hard to believe she is 9, as I'm sure every other parent can relate to this reality. When your child is a baby you hear the sentiment of how fast times goes spoken to you all the time...annoyingly so. To "cherish every moment" when you are in the thick of sleepless nights and spit up and chronic ear infections is rather hard to swallow. 

But then you blink.

And your child is 9.

And you realize they were right.

My dear Ella,

I love you. And I really like you. I love the person you are growing into and I love the patience you extend to me as I navigate these new waters of parenting a tween. You are loved by so many and you know how to love well. You are just getting so stinking fun! I am looking forward to this new year with you, even if I may not handle everything the way you want, always know that I am on your side. 

Happy 9th Birthday! (How bout we wait two years to turn 10?!!)

all my love forever,

Your Momma

the backlog: while we wait

This is the last of the backlog.

And it is really not so much a backlog post as a general update on what is the latest with our family.

We are semi-settled in VA, enjoying country life and gearing up for our first real winter in over a decade. Despite missing our friends in NC, we love living close to family for the first time ever in our married lives. We all LOVE the family dinners and sleepovers and date nights and drops in's to just chat with Nena and all that living close to family brings. We are cherishing this time.

Our school year is off to a great start. We've already had a better few months than our entire year of school in Haiti. Eli is making great strides and I am much more focused and armed with many more resources to help him along...and it is showing. I'm so proud of him.

Ella misses her buddies. A lot. We are planning a trip back to Haiti to visit them (taking just Ella probably) sometime in early 2015 if we can manage it. She'd go tomorrow if I'd let her.

In other kid news, Zoe bid a final goodbye to the paci and didn't look back and Ella turns 9 this week.

We traveled to NC to our home church to share about our year in Haiti earlier this month. It was wonderful to be able to update and thank everyone for their support of us over the last year. I think it provided some closure for us as well.

I'm speaking at a Ladies Christmas Tea at a local church on December 6th if anyone is interested in the Roanoke area. You can sign up and get more details here.  Public speaker I am not, but I am trying to not miss any opportunity to share what the Lord has been doing in my life.

For the first time since we moved back we have actually stayed right here in VA for longer than 2 weeks. Our traveling days are slowing down, slightly. We do head to FL for Thanksgiving next week as Jeremiah's parents are flying back to the states for the holiday and we are missing them terribly. After our FL trip we have no known trips planned for the entire month of December! It sounds wonderful now, but I'm wondering if I'll get restless, ha!

But what about Jeremiah's job? 

Good question. We are still waiting on the Lord for the answer and trying to be obedient to what he has brought us to in this season.

In the meantime he is just lazing around watching sports in his underwear all day long.

Yeah, right...

If anyone reading this knows my husband you know that he is incapable of laziness. He is the hardest worker I know. He has been staying busy renovating the house we are staying in as well as providing handyman services to some local friends and family to help make ends meet. (If you are needing some home repairs done in the Roanoke area, he's your guy! Seriously, the man is amazing.)

If you'd like some specific ways to pray for our family during this time, we'd love if you'd pray that we'd truly be able to grow in this season, not be anxious about the future, for an open door and a clear direction, and for the Lord to provide for all our needs.

Happy Friday everyone! 
(and good riddance to the backlog!)

the backlog: Dr. Norman T. Briggs

An athlete,

an artist,

a (journal published) scientist,

a hopeless romantic,

who wooed his Sally Lou for over 60 years,

father to four,

Grampa to many more,

was Norman Theodore Briggs.

________________________________________________________________________________

He was Grampa to me and was the first person to introduce me to the world of art. 

My favorite birthday was the year he took me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in D.C. After our guided tour (by portable cassette player with headphones no less!) he took me to the gift shop and let me pick out any print I wanted. I choose Renoir's Girl With a Watering Can. We went home and he disappeared into his basement (I never dared to venture down to that scary place) and emerged later with a handmade frame for my print. 

That print hangs in my girls room today.

He always encouraged my attempts at making art. He hung one of my very first paintings in a prominent place in his house and I'll never forget the impression that made on me, that he deemed it worthy to be hung in his house. In college he would ask questions about my art classes and sincerely listen to my talking and was interested in my drawings.

He saw the world through the eyes of an artist, and it was apparent in the way he created things and arranged things.

Thank you Grampa, for first opening that door for me, for believing in my art, encouraging me, and for showing me how to find the beauty. You are missed.

The infamous birthday trip to the art museum. 

       

the backlog: Uganda

I got the pleasure of traveling to Jinja, Uganda at the end of October with my Via sister, Kelly, and three of her girls. Although it was my first time traveling to this country, it felt almost familiar to me...as so much of our family is tied to this country, having lived, served, or adopted from there...for over twenty years of my life.

Coming off of a year in Haiti, I was really interested to see the differences and similarities within the two countries.

My first impression of the country was its lushness. 

It is so green, mixed with the rich color of the red dirt. 

Beautiful. 

The Ugandan people I encountered were helpful, cheerful, and had a quiet unassuming demeanor. 

The Islamic calls to prayer throughout the day were sad to hear. 

A highlight of the trip for me was a trip out to Arise Africa's Bukelaba Children's Home and meet some of the faces I have heard about for years.

Of course, the children were incredible...

My nieces were kind enough to give me the lay of the land while we were there...

Beautiful, right?!

Another major highlight of the trip for me was getting to meet my niece Chloe for the very first time! She is a sweet and playful little girl who fits perfectly into their family. I loved playing with her and cuddling with her (the girl is a great snuggler!) I loved spending time with all the girls and getting to be an Aunt without the distractions of my own kids.

I loved my time with Kelly and Jonathan and getting to see their life in Uganda. I pray for them everyday and see pictures and read about what they are doing...but to get to see it all with my own eyes made it that much more real.

I know firsthand how hard it is to live in a country that is not your home country and all the struggles that come with raising a family, homeschooling, maintaining your marriage, staying effective in your ministry, and I couldn't be more proud of them! In case you haven't before, you can check out more about them here.

a free for all for friday

First things first. In case you haven't noticed...Christmas is coming! Here and in Haiti! There are only 4 spots left, but if you'd like to sponsor one of our kiddo's in Haiti for Christmas, click on this link here and sign up! It has all the details and info you will need.



Zoe is having major withholding poop issues because she doesn't want to poop on the potty or in her diaper. Which, in turn, cause serious back up issues. We've never had a poop issue before with our kids, so, once again, this is a first with the Zooble. She is so stinking stubborn. I don't know where she gets it.

I introduced Ezra to the calculator this week. His mind is blown. He keeps it in his pocket and randomly pulls it out and does a math problem and keeps asking me, "but, how does it know?!"

It's cold today. Really cold. We've spent a whole decade in fake winter in North Carolina and then missed a whole year of winter altogether in Haiti. I am a little scared and excited about a real Virginia mountain winter.

I got into project mode this week and repainted my dining room table.
And then the sideboard.
And then Ella's desk.
And then another table...

Today, Ella spilt fingernail polish remover on her freshly painted desk and one of the boys colored on the kitchen table. Both were accidents and I, of course, kept my composure calm at all times...

Ahem.

Happy Friday everyone! Stay warm!

the backlog: Briggs Vacation

Later on in the month of September we joined up with my family for a few days at Corolla Beach, NC. We didn't have the best weather, but we managed to fit in a whole lotta fun anyways...

The football gang.

I always love that feeling of anticipation right before you see the ocean.
No matter how often I see it, that feeling always wells up. 

Adults only dinner out =)

It only takes about 3 hours for everyone to mobilize when going out.
Good thing there were these handy steps for those that were waiting for everyone else.

We had several rainy cool days in a row.

We found fun ways to keep ourselves occupied in the rain. Gold press on nails anyone?!

Just a "few" of us saw a movie one rainy afternoon.

And then, the sun broke out!

Zoe and her bff cousin Maddy.

Sometimes, even these two are bff's.

My dad with some of the littles.

One BIG happy crazy family.

the backlog: Via Vacation

We spent a week with our Via family at Lake Anna in September. 

With 16 adults and 20 kids, a lake, a boat, some sunshine, a few fishing poles, the first ever family talent show, a waterslide, basketball, ice-cream, a birthday party throw in, hammocks, relaxation, and lots and lots of family togetherness... 

It's possible that we had a little bit of fun.