Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5
The Lord has done many wondrous works in my life and I know I can't name them all, I don't even know them all, but I do want to praise Him!
JANUARY 2012
I thank the Lord for another year He gave. We got to spend a little holiday with my family at Wollongong Beach (The Gong as the locals call it). This place is one of my favourite places in the world, this place brings me so much good memories. I thank the Lord for every day that I get to spend time with my family!
February 2012
My sisters and I got the priviledge to decorate our church's Sweetheart banquet. Now, that I'm 9,000 miles away from them, I cherish the times we spent together working and laughing together in the ministry. My sister, Rebekah, is the best designer I know. I'm continually amazed by what she comes up with :)
This month, Jacob started his solid food too! This is always a big event in our family, everyone watches the baby's first taste of 'real' food!
March 2012
This month was busy! We found out that I got my visa for US and we had to prepare to pack, store and get rid of things! What a blessing when we found out that I got my Visa. It was a long and tedious task to fill out all the paperwork and to go through interviews and wait! We thought our plans to go to the US this year would be impossible but with God nothing is impossible.
We had a man visit us from Oregon this month, I love it when people come to visit! Not only do we get to fellowship, but we can show what goes on in the mission field that pictures or videos can't portray. Plus, whenever somebody visits we get to do all the 'touristy' things in the city.
The city of Sydney
Jacob's first ferry ride
April 2012
This was our last month in Australia. It was a bittersweet moment to leave my home. I was very very sad to leave my sisters (my best friends in the world), my daddy (my biggest hero) and also the work started in Australia. I saw how it has grown through the years and I have made some very close friends there. I have many 'aunts' and 'uncles' there not by blood but by the blood the Lord Jesus Christ shed on Calvary. It is amazing to experience the bond that binds the children of God. Oh! What a Saviour! Even though I was sad, I was also excited for this new chapter of our lives. I love my church home in Australia but also my church home in US. I'm so blessed to call two place 'home'. The Lord blessed our flights to US, we got to spend a little time in Fiji (where Jason gave me a beautiful Pandora bracelet). He is so sweet, he wanted to give me a souvenir from Fiji! When we arrived in L.A., we went to Jolibee, Max's Chicken and Goldilocks (all Filipino restaurants that serve 'authentic' Filipino food). I'm so spoiled by my husband! Just thinking about it now makes my mouth water! While in L.A., we also got to visit Santa Monica Pier and this wonderful Jewish museum called the 'Skirball Cultural Center'. They had an amazing Noah's ark play centre. The kids really enjoyed it!
Jolibee
Skirball Cultural Center
Santa Monica Pier
May 2012
Our first month in Tennessee. It was so great to see everyone again, to catch up with people I haven't seen in years. The church is so good to let us stay in the Mission's house and when we got there, they had bought us a truckload of groceries! What a wonderful surprise, especially for Jason because he hasn't had these American goodies in a long time! He was even excited about the peanut butter, he insists it's not the same in Australia.
June 2012
We haven't spent much time with Jason's daddy, so this month we got to do that. The Lord provided us a place to stay at a church in Crossville, Tn. They had a really nice prophet's chamber where we got to spend a week at. The kids were so excited to be with 'Pa-Paw'.
July 2012
Jacob Tyler's first birthday! We have had huge parties for Abigail and Jeremy's first birthday (due to some filipino tradition) but for Jacob we had a small party with some friends. I'm so blessed to have my little Jakey-Bake!
August 2012
All my children were due on August, Jacob was early so his birthday fell on July. Abigail and Jeremy's birthday this month! Seeing my children grow and learn is such a blessing to me. There are times when I want to rip my hair out and scream (potty training, when I have folded 5 loads of washing and was in their room putting the clothes in their drawers and I come back to a mountain of unfolded clothes because the kids decided it was fun to trample and throw clothes at each other and many more!!). But these children are my greatest blessings! I often call them 'my little blessings'. Those moments are easily forgotten when they give me a snotty kiss, a choking hug, a food-covered smile, a enthusiastic thank you and a meaningful 'I love you momma'.
September 2012
We bought our first house! We spent this month (and the following months) to fix it up! I'm so thankful to the Lord for providing us this place! We really wanted God's will on the matter. The Lord gave Jason an answer in His word and He also gave me confirmation in my personal Bible-reading! My God is a personal God, he is interested in our daily lives and is willing to talk to us intimately if we let Him! The Lord told me that He was going to build us a house. I'm a little bit of an 'over-thinker' and was talking to Jason and telling him the Lord said he would build us a house, He didn't say buy us a house. Jason believed this was the house for us so I just trusted him. Looking back now, we almost built this house, we just didn't buy it. We gutted the whole thing, we planned the house setup, we fixed it so it would be structurally sound. Jason had to build alot of it with his hands. It's funny how God's promise comes to pass. Here's me trying to argue semantics, while God fulfills His plan of 'building' us a house!
October 2012
We attended our first Fall festival as a family in our church and we had a blast!
I also got to go to Texas for the first time! We were in a Mission's conference for a week and got visited two other churches there! What a blessing to be among God's people in a different state! It continues to amaze me how our family are strangers to these people, but when we meet it's like family we've never met! Jacob also took his first steps in Texas!
November 2012
I'm thankful for the 5 years I got to spend with the love of my life! I haven't left the state I lived in (New South Wales) except for one time when we went to South Australia. Our family mainly spent our vacation in NSW, it was cheaper that way! Since I've been married to Jason, I haven been to the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, New York, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and the beautiful Hawaii! Hopefully, this time I get to go to Alaska! We have had a wonderful 5 years and hopefully another 60 more!
December 2012
December is always busy but to me it's always a time of reflection. My mum has been with the Lord now for 7 years. She passed away the day after Christmas 2005. I always imagine what life would be with her here with me and my family. My family is extremely close and that's because of how my parents have trained me and my sisters. My mum was also one of my best friends. She loved the Lord and had a true walk with God but she was also witty and funny, talented and opinionated! I would imagine what she would say if she were here. I know she would be esctaticly happy that I married Jason (she always told me to marry a tall handsome man, because she didn't want ugly grandkids). Looking at my kids, my nieces and nephew, she got her wish! On the spiritual side, I know for a fact that she prayed fervently that my sisters and I would marry preachers (against my wishes) :) The Lord answered her prayer (I guess her prayers were more powerful than mine) ;). I married a missionary preacher and my brother-in-law was called to preach last year. Two down, one to go! I don't doubt my littlest sister will also marry a preacher. :) When I think of my parents, I think about their daily walk with God, because I witnessed it every day. They always set a time when they would meet with God in word and prayer. This song reminds me of that. I truly believe it was my Papa and Mama's prayers that kept me safe from harm!
BEDSIDE PRAYERS
BY GARY DUTY
LOOKING BACK ON MY CHILDHOOD
THOUGH THE MEMORIES ARE SO GOOD
THERE WERE DAYS FILLED WITH DANGERS AND SNARES
BUT THE DEVIL THAT MADE THEM
FOUND I WOULD EVADE THEM
ALL BECAUSE OF MAMA’S BEDSIDE PRAYERS
I REMEMBER THE VOICES
THE ADVICE AND THE CHOICES
THE RIGHT ONES AND EACH FOOLISH DARE
BUT THE OLD WRAGS I ONCE WORE
WERE TRADED ONE NIGHT FOR
A WHITE ROBE AND A BEDSIDE PRAYER
THEY HAVE POWER TO CHANGE THINGS
HOW THEY REARRANGE THINGS
AND LIFT SO MANY BURDENS AND CARES
HOW COULD I EVER DOUBT THEM
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT THEM
THOSE OLD PRECIOUS BEDSIDE PRAYERS
NOW WITH THOSE FINAL DAYS NEAR
I FEEL SO OUT OF PLACE HERE
IN THIS SIN THIRSTY WORLD THAT WE SHARE
OH BUT THERE FROM MY BEDROOM
I’M SOON IN THE THRONE ROOM
WITH MY FATHER AND A BEDSIDE PRAYER
HOW COULD I EVER DOUBT THEM
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT THEM
THOSE OLD PRECIOUS BEDSIDE PRAYERS
