Saylah

I had the honor of doing a photo shoot this week with darling little one-month-old Saylah. So much fun! Girl after my own heart... accessories and clothes! 

Soak then Go!

It is stunning in the midwest this May. So green and sunny and wonderful. I have so much paperwork to do yet the sun lures me out to it's beams and I follow each time... papers in tow until they start blowing with the breeze and send me back into my cave. It seems that what I have missed most the last few years on the field and here and there on the globe... is a patch of luscious grass. It is so good for the soul!

Samuel has been in Scandinavia for one week. One week to go. Miss him! We are so incredibly excited and full of wonder at this season God has brought us to and anxiously awaiting our relocation to Asia in 2 just months. I have the honor of speaking at Victory School of Ministry's graduation this Saturday evening. My subject is one that is very close to my heart. Something that I walk out first hand, that at times tastes bitter and raw and dirty and difficult. Respond to your call. My passion is first of all preaching Jesus to unreached and then pulling people to the field where they will discover the adventure of their lives and be changed over and over again. The call will move on if you don't respond. That's basically the topic of my week! So even under these loads of paperwork that show no immediate fruit... I am planning, strategizing and dreaming all in RESPONSE to the call God gave my life! Lining myself up for an open heaven! God loves action! Success in the Kingdom = Action!

I love how Lance Wallnau described this in a conference last weekend... marinate yourself in the presence and then step OUTSIDE of your bubble! David was a harp-playing worshipper that soaked himself in God's presence and then stepped out to kill a giant! You can't have it one way and not the other... or you will be an unbalanced Christian. Get on your face and then get out there!!

Here is a wonderful, intimate worship song for your Wednesday... and after you listen to it... go do something :)

Surreal

The last days have been so surreal and wonderful and intense. My family flew back to Hawaii on Saturday and then I had the honor of meeting a spiritual legend in God's kingdom, Huldah Buntain... And her daughter Bonnie Long. Decades ago, Huldah, her husband and their 9 month old Bonnie took 3 ships over 2 months from NYC to Calcutta, India. They thought they would be there for one year. God had other plans though :) The work they have done through hospitals, school, almost 1000 churches and feeding programs has touched their corner of Asia in radical ways! Their testimonies and stories brought tears to my eyes. It was incredible to sit and glean from both of these warrior women. Seeds have gone deep in my heart :)
Huldah and Bonnie speaking at a mother-daughter breakfast...

This week my church is hosting a "Signs, Wonders and Miracles" conference with Jesus Culture leading worship and speakers like Georgian Banov and Patricia King. Inbetween all of these sessions Im piled up with paperwork for Until the Job is Done. Im just longing so much for Asia right now.
Samuel is in Sweden now meeting churches, packing and fixing visas. We spent the last 2 days having "staff meetings" together and enjoying the gorgeous green of Ohio. Cant wait for him to get back in 2 weeks!

Be blessed today. God loves you so much. His plans for you are breathtaking..


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Village

Today I'm thinking about waking up early and heading to a remote village. I love the thick, hot air that blasts your face through opened windows on the ride over dusty, bumpy, impossible trails. I love seeing monkeys and camels and elephants on the journey. I love arriving to the most beautiful, curious faces that emerge from simple huts with their bare feet. Oh such love. The best part comes when the Gospel is preached! The sick are healed! Souls are saved! That's living!!!!

Family reunion

My family has been spread out across the globe the last few years. Samuel and I in Africa/Asia, my parents in Hawaii, sister in Kentucky, brother in Ohio.... We never know when we will all see eachother next. But this week, we've all been together!
Here's the breakdown...

Me, mom, my little brother and daddy at the airport...



We spent a few days at Kalihari, a huge African-themed water park!
My nephews and niece with samuel...


















Sweet baby Izabella turned 1 year old!!



Got my ukulele from the islands and we all sang by firelight in the backyard...



Squeezed a 5 minute date in with samuel for photos and ice cream...



Next week will be exciting too! Looking forward to late nights and adventures! Cherishing the moments of life...

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Schedule

Samuel and I went to Cleveland yesterday for a little shopping and Cheesecake Factory! This guy was in love!




Tomorrow morning my parents will by flying in from Hawaii for 2 weeks! We will have a full house of chaos and craziness and we are all so excited! My sister, her hub and their 4 kids are coming in this weekend as well! Woo!


This Saturday - 6pm @ the RIOT, Samuel and I will be preaching for Fusion young adults!

Sunday - Samuel will be preaching @ 10:30am @ Victory Columbiana Campus

Hope to see you there!


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Stunning

The beautiful moment of saying "yes"...

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A day in the park

Ohio has had beautiful weather this week. Does my soul good. Perfect time to pull out the baseball gloves, my favorite.

Picked up a new leather journal too. Another one of my favorite things :) I go through one every 2 yrs or so. There's nothing like reading the Word of God and then sketching in my journal! Those two books go hand in hand for me... On airplanes, trains, beaches, grassy patches. Love it! The best part is flipping back to what was happening one or two years ago... And seeing how far I've come. Maybe you should pick up a journal too :)

Happy thursday!

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A few Favorite things...

It doesnt get much better than this. Jesus. Nations. Culture. Little dirty faces. Sunshine. Sam.

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Happy birthday samuel!

Just got done editing some photos. Here she is folks... The prettiest girl! My neice Izabella!




Tonight we went to a steakhouse to celebrate 3 birthdays in my family! Including my Samuel who will be 28 years old tomorrow! The waitors even sang for him :)



Love you babe! Happy birthday!!!!



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Sunday's coming!

God is super good and definitely ushering His church into a new season of hunger, passion and drive to step it up. I have a feeling people's expectations for themselves are growing to a new level. It's so fun to be a part of His Kingdom! Never gets old.

I love this weekend. Yesterday was "good Friday"... the day to remember Jesus' death. HE took death, shame, punishment, sin, hell upon Himself so that YOU DON'T HAVE TO! Don't pay for what He already charged to Himself!! Receive salvation and God's Holy Spirit as a free gift! But remember... after you receive it... it will cost you everything. Daily. But it's so so good.

And don't forget... Sunday's coming!! The day Jesus stepped out of the grave, alive! Whoo!

A lot has happened this week. And I'm excited to tell you that we have extended our trip in the states until July after which we will make our move directly to South Asia (no Sweden in between) ... but Samuel will still be heading to Scandinavia as originally planned in May - for 2 weeks. He has to renew his visa and pack our bags for the move! There is just too much happening in the spirit here... and we want to be a part of it all, overflowing!

If you have a chance to see us, we will be preaching at Victory Christian Center - Columbiana Campus  on April 29th at 10:30am and then in the evening at New Life - Poland at 6pm. Would love to meet you there if you're in the States!

Today I plan on making some Indian food for our family's Easter dinner tomorrow... gotta bring some culture to the table!

"White Owl"

The words of this song have been blowing my socks off... powerful stuff. I just discovered Josh Garrels... you can download this free album here.



Happy Tuesday!