Today a boy who lived with us a few years ago came back to visit. We sat around telling stories of crazy days of dorm life and bonding and your father’s skills at the detective side of his job. There was a pulling into the circle that occurred with the story-telling. Young and old, newbies and our core-kids all gathered to listen in. Laughter and memories revived a home-feeling inside me to a level that I haven’t felt since a holiday or baking cookies.
Also today, I wrote a letter to a heart-friend I haven’t seen in several years. I thought I might do a little rewind of life -- to let you see some swooping shots of your momma’s life these days, and over these past few years. Maybe you’ll be pulled into the circle too.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter:
"Our house has been under renovation for a year and a half. They should be done around Thanksgiving-- and it looks beautiful. What a blessing! We will have moved 4 times in the year and a half by the time all is said and done. We have stayed in some very cool houses in the meantime. In one of the houses, we had a bed bug infestation in the dorm side of the house -- but miraculously never in the apartment! (thank You Lord!) The current house is a log cabin in the woods from which we bus our boys in to school everyday. We have our first senior this year -- who has lived with us the entire time we’ve been at FCA (Sam). Some of our boys have asked to start calling Ran Dad. It is a humbling, amazing life we live. I’ve been playing music in our house for a long time now with one boy (Chase) who I tell I am only half a musician without him. We’ve taught some of my college songs to our student body.
Teaching is sweet. I love it. Dr. Cooper came last year when we had a CIU student teacher here. Dr. Layman and Dr. Uecker (from the seminary) have also come to do training with the FC teacher staff. The CIU connection always refreshes my heart and urges me onto loving and serving more whole-heartedly. I love my students this year (as I have every year) -- their stories break my heart and drive compassion deep in me as I lead them to more and more truth in the freedom of God’s Word.
My marriage is delightful. I love Randy. He is just getting better and better. He is a stinking good counselor and wise parental figure for our boys. I am very proud to be his wife.
My babies are such a joy. They fill my life with snuggles and giggles. They are also my biggest challenge and frustration as I see my impatience and selfish heart most vividly in the daily dying to myself that life with them requires. I am learning more and more what it is to be a Momma and what that instills into a child and what it means to pass on the fear of the Lord to my children. I get a weekly break on Saturday afternoons that I consider Sabbath and that keeps joy as oil in my momma-gears.
Randy’s best friend of 20 years and his wife moved into the little boy dorm as dorm parents over a year ago now. That has been an unbelievably good gift that now makes us feel like we have family here, right next door! Our kids play together like cousins and when we have dinners together filled with much Arrowood-laughter (as they normally are) it just feels like a little bit of heaven.
I lead a girls Bible study on Thursday nights -- it basically is a group of quality Jesus-loving girls that I get to shepherd and encourage on to loving the Lord more. This past summer I had two of the seven girls choose major moral failure and lie about it really well over a period of time. This was a deep betrayal to me when I found out and has made me feel gun shy and doubtful about my discipleship/teaching efforts. But the Lord has helped me grow in it to remember that I cannot change hearts myself and that I must remember to pray more for my girls. Also this summer, I had my first original discipleship girl get married and I about died of happiness and joy.
I love doing my hobbies in the afternoons while my kids nap -- quilting, reading, painting, writing. My sister, mom and I are writing a blog/hopeful-one-day-book for little Eden. You should read it!"
:) :) :)
:) :) :)
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