Amy's Oasis

A few minutes ago I looked in the mirror on my way to 1) the computer and 2) bed.  Everything about the way I look and feel right now has a story to tell about my life.  My oversized t-shirt, which happens to be my dad's Camp Tamarack 2004 t-shirt that I stole before I left. (I love (& miss) my dad . . . my family.)  The fact that it isn't washed.  (I'm too busy to do laundry. :P)  The washable marker stains adorning not one, but both of my arms.  (The masterpieces of two very busy and precious tots.) The tender spots on my face where Hendrick whacked a very hard tiger against it. (To get me to laugh and make funny faces, don't worry. :)) My sore shoulder muscles. (From hanging on for dear life on a tube on Saturday.) My sunburnt face. (From hanging out at the beach on the weekend and at the park today.)  The dry, rubbed skin on my nose where I have been blowing my nose for a very long time.  (My body's decided to do a spring cleaning on the dead cells hanging around.) The sparkle in my eye. (Which apparently tells the world that a certain special someone is never very far from my mind.)

My warmed heart, which speaks of a life full to overflowing with all the rich and fulfilling things that bring God glory and man happiness.

Red roads

Leading to Somewhere doing Nothing

Or else to Nowhere doing Something

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

I am in Anne's country - and enjoying it immensely.  I have tried in vain to post pictures with our very slow dial-up connection, and I am sorry to say you may not see pictures of us for a while . . . (go to Steve's blog if you want those).  I think that this is just what my family has needed.  We are living in a white renovated farmhouse which is very cute, both inside and out.  There are fields of red dirt all around us, and just across one is a very large tidal river.  We can go canoeing in it, swimming in it (although it has been too cold so far), walking beside it.  What I have enjoyed most so far, however, is just the peace and relaxed atmosphere.  People here leave their doors open and tell you to just walk in anytime, even when they are gone.  They invite you to everything, and you feel as if you have just entered one big family.

Some things I have learned from my family so far:

1)  To be engaged means to do battle with the enemy, according to the dictionary. 

2) You are not a true Islander until your bellybutton is stained red with the dirt and rocks of the Island. (Don't ask.)

3) Five girls are DEFINITELY louder than five boys. Definitely.

4) Karissa loves me "Way too much" and "Much more than you love me".

5)  The Princess and the Pea story can come true with marbles in tents.  (Again, don't ask.)

6) Biting sarcasm is indeed a way to show love.

7) Living is more important than thinking deeply about life.

8) You have to be mature when you are engaged.  At least, that is what you have to tell engaged people in order to get them to stop sassing you.  (This one doesn't work, by the way.)

9) Dirty looks are also a way to show love.

10) When a chair that was first broken and glued together by your fiancee breaks under you, that is a time to consider dieting.  (I wouldn't ask about this one either.)

That is just a few helpful hints that I thought I'd pass along - some family wisdom and experience. Hope you benefit.

Yeah.

This is Steve.

 . . . and everybody's reaction to him.

 . . . . All but me (who just happens to be a very patient person).  I said Yes!!  We are getting married and are so thankful for the gracious love of our precious Redeemer and Lord in all that He has done for us! 

(Comic provided by the very illustrious Benjamin S.)

I am done.  I am done.  I am done school. So hard to believe!

Why is it that I feel more incompetent then when I started and so much more aware that there is nothing that I can do to benefit the human race or the God who created and sustains me?  Hmm . . . methinks that is just where said God wants me. :)

So, you can officially come to me with your problems now. ;P I don't feel like I can help you, but I know God can!   

In the course of the next couple days, I will be packing all my earthly goods, saying goodbye to my friends, and saying hello to boyfriend, family, and Prince Edward Island!!!!!!!  So incredibly excited.  Why is it that God gives us this much joy while still on this earth?

My family leaves for P.E.I. this morning! Pray that they would have safe & God-glorifying travels, that they would be a blessing to the church that they serve over the summer, that they would be a blessing to them, and that they would actually rest and be refreshed for further ministry.

Life is the equivalent of a whirlwind right now. I think the last time I actually saw the Bradfords (the people I live with) was briefly on tuesday night - and the time before that was on Sunday.  I forgot my keys last night and had to ring the doorbell, so I guess I did see Geoff briefly as he opened the door for me, and I actually saw sweet little Clay this morning as he opened the door for me on the way out and said, "Bye!  Bye - have a good day!  Bye you do-do!"

School is crazy, but in a good way.  I am definitely being stretched to my limit and learning what it is to both schedule my life and rely on God and on His power.  It has been amazing to me how much I have been able to absorb, even when I'm not feeling good, even when I feel discouraged, even when I am doing a lot of other classes at the same time.  The things I am learning are truly life-changing and an incredible blessing.  Psalms 23 and 16 have meant a lot to me lately . . .

 Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, 

for in You I put my trust.  

O my soul, you have said to the Lord,

"My goodness is nothing apart from You.

As for the saints who are on the earth,

They are the excellent ones, 

in whom is all my delight."

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;

Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,

Nor take up their names on my lips.

O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

I have set the LORD always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad,

and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

I believe the dance between spring, winter, and fall may at long last be over. Winter seems to finally be soloing on the floor, and has almost convinced most of the pansies to rest until the real spring. The daffodils, however, are extremely confused, as is the snow. Both have decided that the time for some degree of boldness and leadership has come. As a result, Philadelphia has a lot of half-drooped pansies, half-grown daffodils, and . . . IT IS SNOWING OUTSIDE!! Granted, the flakes are miniscule and refuse to accumulate, but nevertheless . . . I begin to have hope for a winter with conviction.

Hey, if we're going to have winter, we may as well have winter. Winter means cold. Cold means snow. Snow means a break for the flowers.

At least, that's what I remember . . . from back in the day . . .

How can one be satisfied and yet have deep longings, be convicted that one is a profound sinner and yet completely loved and accepted, be joyful and yet sad in the exact consecutive moment?

Only through love.

Only through Christ.

I'm back. It is good to be back . . . in a way. I am very excited for my next classes, convinced that they will continue to change and bless me beyond anything I could ever have thought possible. I miss the ones I love more than ever before. Yet another opportunity for God's grace to shine through.

"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:24-26

Yes, I made it . . . It's back to the cold and dial-up internet and my lovely family and friends. :)  It is so good to be home, to see everyone again, to be reminded of just how blessed I am.  It's good to be in the wide-open spaces and to be able to walk outside at night.  It's good to be able to just call up my friends to go shopping and have Steve only 1 1/2 hours away.  As much as I love Philadelphia and school . . . all I can say is, it's good to be home.

The place where you have to trust God and let your heart and mind flow out on paper - and pray.

One down, two more to go . . . and my reliable and experienced friend Arlene tells me that I have just completed the second-hardest exam of the entire counseling genre of classes.  Good to know . . . after the fact.

It was wonderful, though - no cold, sweaty hands, no shivering, no headaches/migraines, only one brain blank (which I was able to work around), and a calm and peaceful assurance . . . all I can say is, God is good! I definitely feel upheld in prayer!

Steve and I are reading 2 Corinthians right now, and I have just found this beautiful book to be such a blessing to me.  I just wanted to share some verses with you tonight from the 3rd Chapter:

"You are an epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God.  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (Verses 2-6) 

I could go on and on about this . . . but it speaks for itself.  What a blessing to be written on God's heart in the  indelible Spirit of God, which will never pass away! What a blessing to have a heart that is softened by grace - to be written on & carry the message to those around us! What a blessing to also be able to write on other's hearts by the Spirit of the living God.  

 Karise.

Grace is sufficient.