Dear Mom and Dad {Happy Anniversary}

Dear Mom and Dad,

Happy Anniversary!

Thank you for seeing the Lord together in your marriage,

showing us an example of true love.
Thank you for living it out-not perfectly;

for being an example of Christs love for The Church.

We're thankful for you and that you can have this time together.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angel,
but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and deliver up my body to be burned,
but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13

Much Love,

Nicole, Elena, Mica, Caro

p.s.
Yes, we know you don't look like this
but we actually didn't have a picture of you on this computer!

Think on These....

Finally, Brothers,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is just,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

Philippians 4

I hope this encourages you as much as it has me this week.

Since I've been studying for some recent exams, I've come across so many dreadful, pointless plays, novels, and poems! Usually, when I'm reading fiction, I'm pretty picky about what I choose. Good thing too, with all of the Allen Ginsbergs and Alice Walkers on the shelves.

At the end of the day the passage above has been very helpful for me, to focus on what it is that I ought to be thinking.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Dear Dad and Mom,

I think by now your evening is just beginning; I hope you have time to stroll about the cobblestoned streets before you have your dinner.

We miss you here is the U.S.

Talk to you soon!

Love,

Elena

Teen Pact, the weary/fun time

Every year for the past three or four years us and some friends of ours go to this camp called

TeenPact , a Christian camp in Buda, TX (outside of Austin) where you go to the capital and learn about the government, write your own mock bills, etc. Well, we cook for the kids when they get back to the camp for dinner and early morning breakfast. We can always count on having a fun time.

So with that being said, I will show you a little peek of our time there:

Day 1:

Sunday, the day before we left; our Grandpa and Grandma came down from California to visit all the Texas family down here.

On our way to Austin, we stopped to take a break and so Lizzie and I had to stretch our legs. :)

After we picked up Rebbecca we were on our way to Buda, to the camp. I don't know if you can tell but we were packed to the BRIM, with food, clothes, bags, stuff, and people. :)

Immediately once we got to the camp we unloaded the food and set to work peeling 40lb. of potatoes, and mixing a ton of meat for meatloaf.

ALL the snacks that the students bring to eat after chapel.

Green beans!

The good old, worn swings.

Mica, getting all the bread ready.

After dinner we had to prepare the eggs for the next mornings breakfast, I believe we cracked and blended 120 eggs! Even though it tasted good after it was cooked, it did not look very appetizing in big pitchers all blended up.

In the Valley

When You lead me to the valley of vision

I can see You in the heights

And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision

It’s here Your glory shines so bright

So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown

To be low is to be high

That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley

Let me find Your life in my death

Let me find Your joy in my sorrow

Your wealth in my need

That You’re near with every breath

In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens

But they only shine at night

And the deeper that I go into darkness

The more I see their radiant light

So let me learn that my losses are my gain

To be broken is to heal

That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

Let me find Your grace in the valley

Let me find Your life in my death

Let me find Your joy in my sorrow

Your wealth in my need

That You’re near with every breath

In the valley

© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Thankful for His Sovereignty

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions,

that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia.

For we were so utterly beyondour strength that we despaired of life itself.

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.

But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.

On him we have set out hope that he will deliver us again.

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessings granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 1

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,

"therefore I will hope in Him."

Lamentations 3

14 Things I'm Thankful For......

1. My Family

for kindness, laughter, care, patience, and love they have, which I only begin to realize.

2. April blue bonnets.

3. Rainy Days,

cold dark wet rainy days, the kind that you want curl up on the couch with a cup of tea.

4. My beautiful nieces and nephew ( and I hope more to come).

5. Honest friends.

Proverbs 27:17

6. Good books.

Such as Mother, Laddie, Gladys Alyward, The Hiding place, First We Have Coffee, and on and on.

7. Our church, GfBC,

for their preaching and fellowship.

8. Sleep!

Now more than ever, 10 hours to be exact.

9. A good movie with some of Mica's popcorn , and watching with family

10. The beloved kitties, Maggie and Benny!

We sadly have to get rid of them due to Dominic's and other peoples allergies. :(

Does any want two cute, indoor cats?

11. For tough times that we go through, that shape and mold us, and strengthen our trust in Him.

12. On the edge of the Dark sea of darkness.

Thank you Loyd family for showing us this book.

13. Music.

And not just music that talks of man and his greatness, but of God.

14. Most of all God for putting me in such a family, and blessing me!

Emily's Joke

This is Emily, our dear cousin, who is more like a little sister to us. She is very good at dramatizing things, British accents, and making her brother (and us) laugh. I hope you enjoy her joke as much as we did. In fact, we've enjoyed it so much that we quote it at least once a week :).

We love you, Em!

In Christ,

Micaela

"And do not grow weary..."

"And let us not grow weary of doing good,

for in due season

we will reap, if we do not give up.

So then, as we have opportunity,

let us do good to everyone,

and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Galatians 6

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Here is just a fresh look at this encouraging passage of scripture.

So many things come to mind when I think of growing weary of doing good:

Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom, missionaries, George Muller, Sarah Edwards, David Brainard.

These people, and many more like them, are all known for their steadfastness, patience, and faith. But I know that there were instances in which they just couldn't go any further. And whether it was this passage or another that they clung to, they didn't give up.

After all, what would The Hiding Place be like if Betsy decided that she had hid enough Jews and prayed that God would never send them another? How many lives would George Muller not have ministered to, if he just sent the orphans away? I realize that in each of these situations, God's will would have been done with or without those people.

My point is that these examples didn't allow themselves to be bogged down with the cares and burdens of this world; they didn't throw in the towel or tell the Lord they were finished. They grasped His word and held tightly onto Him, because they knew that He was the only sure foundation for their lives.

Yes, being hospitable is tiring; yes, your life will be very busy and sometimes stressful when you minister to others. You can feel weighed down and tired when you carry someone elses burden, but isn't this what believers are called to do? This ought to be our joy and desire. Not because we want to appear holier or better than anyone, but because we truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ and want to encourage and uplift them in a way that truly will: by prayer and always pointing them back to the scriptures for their every comfort, consolation, hope, and peace.

That is a true friend.

So, what am I working on?

Being grateful for every opportunity to do good to others, giving a testimony by my works of what He has done in my life; no matter what the time frame.

Being grateful that He is using me in their life and simply serving in the way that He sees fit and for as long as He sees fit.

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians