8 letters just aren't enough

Humbled. Blessed. Excited. Scared. Inadequate. Peaceful. Privileged. But above all, grateful.

Grateful is the word that best describes what I am feeling towards my upcoming missions trip.

On February 12, I will be leaving for an amazing trip to Thailand. I have the blessing of joining other women to attend this trip with Women At Risk, Int. (WAR, Int.) WAR exists to create circles of protection and hope around women and children at risk. They are involved in all aspects in the fight against human trafficking. (http://www.warinternational.org/)

Through this experience, I will be able to gain a first hand understanding of what their ministries look like. I will be visiting safe houses for the women rescued out of this horrific reality. I will be able to interact with these precious girls and women who have endured more than I can ever fathom. One of the nights we will be putting on a dinner in order to pamper and show Christ's love to them. I am praying about an opportunity I may have to be part of an outreach to an area where Russian women are trafficked. (Don't you love how God works?) More details on that later. Cultural excurions and shopping will also be part of the trip! :)

Back to grateful.

Eight letters is too small of a word to capture the depth of what I feel, but I'll try...

I am grateful to even contemplate going on a trip like this. Three and a half years ago when my illness began, it would have been impossible. Two years ago, not even considered. One year ago, a dream. AND HERE I AM THIS YEAR PREPARING TO GO!!!! (yes, I am screaming!). To look back at what God has done through my Dr.'s and medicine, I am amazed. And Grateful. So very, very grateful. God has brought such healing to my body- I can only pray that in some minute way He can use me to bring His healing love to the hearts of those I interact with on this trip.

I am grateful to have the chance to love on some very wounded women who desperately need to know the worth they have in the eyes of Jesus. I am so inadequate to minister to women who have been through so much pain and betrayal. But HE IS NOT!! My prayer is that I will step aside and they will see Jesus.

I will need lots of prayer! So if you would like to join my prayer team, I will send you specific requests and updates via email. Just post here, email or facebook me to let me know. There is much more I could tell you about this trip, so if you have specific questions, feel free to post them and I'll be sure to answer.

I will also continue to blog about the trip- so check back if you're interested.

Grateful,

12/17/94

Today Chad and I celebrate 14 years of marriage. So this post is dedicated to you, babe.

How can I say thank you for what you've given me the last 14 years? I cannot. There aren't adequate words to express what my heart speaks. But I'll try anyway...

Thank you for:

Your commitment to God.

For praying together, teaching our kids to know God, for your willingness to follow where and when He leads, for being a student of the Word and discussing it with me, for your service to church, for your heart for others to know God, or know Him better, for your pursuit of His purpose for our lives.

Your commitment to family.

For making us your priority and for the sacrifices made to keep us there, for working hard to provide for us, for taking a second job delivering newspapers last year to make ends meet, for helping so much around the house and never grumbling, for being a "hands-on" dad, for not complaining about my cooking even though it would have tasted better if you had cooked it, for making memories.

Your commitment to love.

For never giving me any reason to doubt your commitment, for making life fun, for loving me through a very difficult illness and all that that entailed (and still does at times), for being my best friend and love of my life, for keeping me laughing, for challenging and inspiring me to love God more, for your patience with me, for believing in me.

You.

For your humility, wisdom, gentleness, sense of humor, soft heart, integrity, selflessness, love of learning, for your heart for God and others, and for everything mentioned above that stems from who you are. Add to that your intelligence, many talents, and how good looking you are!

For all of that and so much more, I do. I do for the 14th time.

All of my love,
Tam


This is a picture that I accidentally shot with my remote. Chad was making a joke and cracking us all up. Love it. Thank you for so many times like these...

The Well

One of my favorite places to be is at our local womens shelter. Once a week, I am blessed to be able to give a bit of Jesus' love to some beautiful women. If you've ever talked with me about it, you know how much I love being there. In my mind, I call it "The Well" because that is where Jesus gave love, acceptance and healing to a woman desperately in need of grace. And that is what happens there.

Not that any of them will see this, but I'll say it anyway:
Thank you to my heros who work there day in and day out in order to be "The Well" so that women in need can meet Jesus. And thank you to the women who live there, bravely facing deep pain and extremely difficult situations. Jesus paid a price more costly than diamonds for you. May your hearts be open to let Him heal them. I have learned so much from all of you. See you next week!

The Party

I was describing my kids to someone the other day who had never met them. Here's what I came up with:

Emma (11) would plan the party

Ethan (9) is always looking for a party

Audra (7) would decorate for the party

Elliana (3) thinks she is the party

Yep, she's our firecracker...she's going to give me lots of posting material :)

A blog...finally!

Well, here I am. Finally entering into the blog world. Kinda scary. Kinda fun. I look forward to making new friends and renewing old ones. I guess that means I need to let my friends and family know that I'm here...