Perfect Peace

Hard Things

Note:
~This post was supposed to go before the last one, but somehow blogger published it after~

As I'm sitting here waiting for pictures to upload for a post about our summer trip, I realized, "I've been posting about what I'm doing this summer, how I'm having fun, and endless pictures." Fun posts and pictures are by no means bad or wrong at all, but I figured I should really post about something worthwhile.

I just started the book Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris. After reading Do Hard Things last year, I knew I couldn't miss this book! Only a few chapters into the book, I have been so encouraged that God does have hard things for us to do right where we are. Some may be big-- like raising money for a new well on the other side of the world. Some may be "small"-- helping an elderly person scrape snow of their car or befriending a stranger. The main thing is learning to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit wherever you are. God has jobs for us, we just need to learn how to listen and obey.

I started the book last night and since then my mind has been swirling with hard things that I can do for the Lord, some big and some not-s0-big. My siblings and I have a nursing home ministry that we've been doing for a while now. We usually go to a certain facility once a month and play for the residents, and recently I've felt that God would like me to add another place that we go. I found somewhere that we've been before and my mom also thought it would be a good place to call, but talking to people I don't know is not something I love to do. I really felt like God wanted me to do it, but I really didn't want to. My mom offered to do it for me, but I decided that this was a hard thing I needed to do, besides, it will get easier every time, right? :) So I called, and it ended up being a lot easier than I thought. I don't know what they'll decide, but it's up to God now, and I did a hard thing for Him!

My point being: pick a hard thing and do it! Don't wait. Make a list of steps you need to do leading up to your final goal. Ask for God's blessing and plunge in!

Soli Deo Gloria-- always!!!

Marissa

There and back again... more summer

And now for a fun post--with pictures. :) Andi and I (mostly Andi) took so many pictures on this trip, and this is just a few of them. I had trouble weeding them out!

Last weekend we went up north with our very good friends and enjoyed getting to see them again! We've been going up almost every year since Andrea was born, so it's always something we look forward to.

Ian with our God-sister Talitha. This is the first time we've seen her when she's actually really talking- a lot! She is so sweet!

She and the boys got along so well!

Saturday we went to Lake Michigan and swam, ran on the sand dunes, and looked for Petoskey stones. I found this really neat one right on top of the sand!

~Discovery Center~
Someone managed to catch a picture of Andrea smiling. :) I'm not sure she enjoyed this part as much as the rest of us.

The challenge was to stack these magnets up to the paper. It was a little harder than we thought, but we did it! Teamwork! Mom couldn't get any closer with the camera because apparently the magnetic pull is so strong that it ruins electronics.

Gecko

More swimming in the lake.

Sisters

Sailing

Andi and I with our God-brother Luke.

Awww

Right before leaving for home. We went to a different part of Lake Michigan a few hours before we got in the car for the 3+ hour drive home. Unfortunately our family aren't very good travelers, so 3 hours to us seems like a long time. :)

Now that fair and going to the cottage are over for the summer, we're not very busy and are just enjoying the last few days of the summer! God's faithfulness has been evident all year and I'm looking forward to seeing what He's going to do this fall/winter. It's hard to trust sometimes, but I know that God has the perfect plans for my life always. I've been wrestling with doubting and trusting the last few days... and it's good to know that God's always in control of our lives.

What's been keeping you busy this summer?

In Christ,
Marissa

Fair week 2010!

I had so much fun last week! Getting projects done and getting the animals ready this summer has been a blast! Now fair has come and gone! Here are some pictures:

Working in the kitchen :)

Photography judging

Our little 5-8 year old showing his rabbit. Isn't he adorable?

He got a little nervous up there... but he was still cute! :) haha

My sister!

Showing

Decoupage

Cross-stitch

Glass painting

Andrea's photography

Small animal auction

She had the best smile up there. :)

I can't wait to start working on fair projects for next year! And to get our animals. :)

Blessings!
Marissa