Jorts & Sworts...oh my

About a month ago my friend Stephanie wrote a post about her and her husband's hatred for "jorts".  If you are like me you are saying to yourself, "What in the world are jorts?"  Jorts= Jean Shorts.  My friend and her husband believe jorts to be despicable and even refused to wear them for a family photo. Stubborn little boogers.  I do respect how they stand up for their beliefs no matter how much peer pressure they receive!

I will admit it....I participate in jort wearing!  I myself have not only one, but two pair of jorts!  I wear them unashamedly.   Steve, on the other hand, does not own any jorts.  I do think jorts are acceptable for women, but not so much for men. 

Steve has taken things a step further....as usual.

Recently, Steve and I were in Old Navy and came across something we had never seen before.  What we found has revolutionized Steve's life!! 

We found....

SWORTS!! 

Sworts= sweat shorts

These are so perfect for Steve that I can't believe he didn't  invent them himself.   They are perfect for him to wear in the summer when outside it is at least 100 degrees, but inside it is about 60.  So, if you ever see some sworts....buy them!! But do NOT wear them out in public!

Dedicated to Stephanie Cannon

Family Updates

I get to spend every single day with my kids. Love it! I am so blessed to do this! One thing that I absolutely LOVE about being a stay at home mom is that I truly know my kids! I know what makes them tick, laugh, cry.  I know a lot about their personality. I know what they enjoy doing if they have free play in their rooms or what tv show on pbs kids they would most likely want to watch. Steve was gone today....ALL day!  Days like these can be so tiring because you know there is no relief, but today was awesome.  All I could think about towards the end of the day is what I love so much about my kids. I just love the way God made them.  They are really great kiddos and people compliment us a lot because of how well behaved they are. Most of the time we have to tell people that we feel we can't take credit...we believe God just made them this way!

So, I thought it would be fun to just write some updates on what are kids are up to these days. Many of you probably don't care, but I know our families do and it will be so fun for me to look back on and read one day! :)

Noah:
-He really do just say the craziest things. Like tonight we were reading a book about love.  The last page asked, "What are some things that you love?"  So, I ask this question to Noah thinking I am going to get some sweet gushy answer...like, I love you mommy!  But, I was way off.  He says, "I love cows. And dinosaur bones. Mmm Hmm."  I wanted to bust a gut laughing so hard!  He is hilarious!!  He says things that just come out of left field...and I love it!
-He is all boy!  He loves dinosaurs, trucks, airplanes, monster trucks, animals, trains, any kind of sport. On Sunday afternoon he handed me the remote and told me he wanted to watch a baseball game.  His daddy loves this!
-He has the most tender heart ever!  He is super sensitive.  If he and Paige are being really loud and I have to raise my voice just so they can hear me he gets so upset. 
-He loves having company over at our house.
-He want to snuggle with mommy every night at bedtime.
-He has the greatest imagination!
-He really wants a pet. A dog, river otter, sheep, tortoise, bunnies....these are all at the top of his list.
-Favorite PBS shows are Curious George and Dinosaur Train
-Loves to go to places and do things...he loves aquariums
-getting cuter and cuter by the day!


Paige:
-snuggly, kissy, charming
-STRONG-WILLED!
-thinks she is four years old instead of one. She thinks she is ready to potty train....I beg to differ.  She loves her new twin size bed...I loathe it. 
-She is super smart....pretty certain she is gifted like her momma. ;)
-She is starting to talk so much more.  She is saying new words everyday it seems.  Just in the last month she has started saying new words everyday.
-She is going to be a great mommy someday.  She makes anything into a baby, covers it with a blanket, pats it on the back as she shushes it and rocks it to sleep. Too funny.  She has used several things in place of a baby doll....piece of clothing on a hanger, monster trucks, pillows, remote controls, etc. Another great imagination! 
-She is a nurturer. She hurts when others hurt. Anytime Noah cries or another toddler she is around she is always rubbing their backs and saying, "It's Otay."
-She's beautiful!  Gorgeous smile, cute tiny body, blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes and that sweet little voice!
-Her favorite songs that SHE can sing include: All in All, Joshua 1:9, Jesus Loves Me, ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Deep & Wide
-she isn't into watching tv
-i am pretty sure her love language is quality time....we shall see. She just loves to play and she wants someone to play with her most of the time.

If you can't tell.....I'm in love! :)

a mother's love rooted in Christ

I got a card in the mail the other day from my sweet mother.  I was so excited! My mom writes super sweet notes. Sometimes they are funny. Almost every time she writes a one liner that is a tear jerker and I end up in tears.  And this time she did just that once again.

Here was her one liner that got me all shook up:

"Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or sisters, wife or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time and in the age to come, eternal life."  -Luke 19:29-30

She told me GOD gave her this verse to share with me.

WOW!  This is a very big deal to me.

My mom and Steve are my best friends.  My mom is super sad that we are going to be in Romania for an entire year and she knows there is a good possibility that it will end up being longer for us.  It hurts us to be away from all of our family for this long for so many reasons. 

The verse my mom shared with me is one that God has given me several times over the last 14 months.  But, for my MOM to share it with me and believe it!  She gives such blessing and understand that I am so grateful for!  She is the one who most understands God leading us to go to Romania and she is honestly so excited for us! She is excited for our children!!  She trusts that this is what GOD has for us and she knows we are going for HIM.  She wants the nations to know Jesus!
She truly beleives that when we have to leave houses, parents and siblings for the sake of the KINGDOM that we are actually all going to receive MORE than we could ever imagine or desire...in this life and in our forever Home with Christ!  She believes that!  I do too!

My mom's love for me and my family is rooted firmly in Christ!  I just hope I can repay the favor to my own children when they grow up and hopefully follow God wherever HE leads them.  I hope my love will be rooted in Christ and that I will not show distrust, selfishness or shame towards them.  I hope to love like my mom is loving me right now...with the love from the Lord! 

THanks Mom, it means so much!

Psalm 40

This isn't the entire Psalm, but a lot of it.  So much of it spoke to my heart.  This is what GOD gave me last night.  He's so good.

I waited patiently for the Lord;
and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction,
out of the miry clay,
and He set my feet upon a rock
making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
and will trust in the Lord.
How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
and has not turned to the proud,
not to those who laspse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord, are the wonders which YOU have done,
and Your thoughts towards us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
they would be numerous to count.
Sacrifice and meal offering You
have not desired;
My ears YOU have opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering
You have not required.
Then I said, 'Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do YOUR will, O my
God:
Your law is within my heart."
I have proclaimed glad tidings of
righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord You know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness
within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness
and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your
lovingkindness and Your truth
from the great congregation.
You O Lord, will not withhold
Your compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and Your
Truth will continually preserve me.
For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me,
so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
and my heart has failed me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver
me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me.

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in YOU;
Let those who love Your salvation
say continually,
:THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED!"
Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.

(ok, only verse 15 and 16 are omitted)

I LOVE this Psalm!  Enough said!

time to slow down

So much has happened in our lives over the last month. It's been an extremely busy season for us. Even though we just went on a relaxing and fun vacation, it was still a lot of late nights, driving and definitely threw our kids off their normal schedule. All of this is fine, but then you add on that we have moved out of their familiar surroundings and getting used to a new home, sleeping in new beds....this produces children who are not sleeping well and are cranky and emotional. Paige still isn't sleeping that great and Noah has been pretty emotional. He will cry and can't really tell us why...he just says he doesn't know why he is upset. This breaks my heart to see them have to adjust and to know that all of this will most likely happen again in 6 months, maybe even on a greater scale, when we move to Romania.

Through this season of adjusting, Steve and I still know that we are in the center of God's will for our lives. We are following Him where He is leading us. This gives such peace and comfort when things on the external may not look or feel so warm and fuzzy. We are so thankful for a perfect High Priest who desires to be in relationship with us, draws us nearer to Himself, speaks to His people, loves unconditionally and provides like no other...not only physical needs, but with every spiritual blessing we need in Him! Grace upon Grace....that's what my family is experiencing daily!

We had plans for the rest of the weekends in July to be away with our family. Having only 6 months left we want to be able to spend as much time with our families as possible. Well, a certain incident happened this morning at church that made Steve and I both realize that we need to slow down! Our kids need us to slow down! So, though we truly desire to see more of our families and that would be a great way to spend our time, we know even more that we have to do what is in the best interest of our children. And right now traveling around every weekend isn't the best way. They are very tired. We are very tired.

Right now, I think my kids need more time with mom and dad playing in the floor with them. They want more lightning bug hunts and ring-around-the-rosy. They want to make homemade popsicles and pop popcorn. They want to sit on the couch and read lots of books. They need mom and dad to be sure we are doing family devotions each day and praying together. They do not need more busy.

How are you and your family doing? This morning I just had a small meltdown and the Lord reassured me through His Word today that He loves me...flaws and all...the good, the bad, the ugly....the VERY ugly sin I sometimes keep hangin' on to. He told me that we need to slow down and just be. Just be with Him. Just be with our kids right now. I encourage you to do the same today. Examine how your home life is. Be content to stay at home with your children when given the chance. I sure want to be!

On a Romania note, we are selling Sonic Coupon cards for $5. All proceeds go to our trip to Romania. Thank you to those who have bought some already. Spread the word. We have a lot that we want to sell! We have some other fundraisers in the works, so please pray for details to be worked out.

Please pray for our family as we continue to adjust to our new place and that we all get some much needed rest. Thanks sweet friends.

Beach in RI

Here is a recent picture of our family while on vacation to see some of Steve's family in Rhode Island. We had a great time and it came right after our move into the mission house. It was a nice feeling to be done with house projects and not to have to worry about renting and moving for a week. I will have more pics to come later....too tired right now to add more.

We are sending out our first newsletter tomorrow!! We're so excited to keep those who are supporting us updated and involved, as they are on this journey with us! If you would like to receive monthly newsletters via e-mail, please send me your e-mail address to vanhornfam05@gmail.com and we will add you to the list! We would love to stay in touch with so many while we are gone and this is a great way to do that!!

We got a call from a church located in RI tonight. It was such a random call and it was very encouraging to us. It was a call from the man who leads their missions committee and we have never met or talked to him before. Steve talked to him minutes before he was meeting with the missions committee about partnering with and supporting us! We should hear back from him sometime soon! Please pray for God's favor to rest upon us. We know that if they do not support us prayerfully and financially, God will raise up others to do so. Either way, we were encouraged to hear from other churches who share an interest of the Gospel being spread all around the world!

Our hearts are being transformed through this journey! We are learning that we really do not need to worry about all the details! We pray for them, but God is such a faithful Provider! He is leaving us stunned and amazed at how HE works!

Glory to God Alone!

What do you want to see?

Tonight as Steve and I were doing our normal bedtime routine with Noah and Paige we had a really sweet moment. It was super late (due to a family cookout tonight) and so we all just went around and said a short prayer. It has been so fun teaching Noah that he can just talk to God and that prayers aren't something you just memorize and repeat. Paige (at 20 months) is also learning to prayer and it is precious! So we all go around and pray, thanking God for the many gifts of family, cozy beds, food, houses, frogs, horses, etc.

After we pray Noah says, "I really want to see Jesus!"

Wow! Pause in my heart and brain.

When is the last time I have truly wanted to see Jesus! Well, I have seen the Lord working so much in our life constantly over the last several years. I see evidence of Him and His hand at work.

But, this isn't what Noah was saying. He wanted to SEE JESUS HIMSELF!

I can tell you, with shame, that this morning I did not wake up and say to myself, I want to see Jesus today. And it isn't everyday that I am longing to be with Him and see Him. Yes, that is ultimately what I want, but most days I get caught up in myself....my selfishness, busyness, laziness, pride and my list could go on.

Tonight, I had a bit of a wake up call. What is my treasure? What do I want to see? Deep down I could say without batting an eye that I do want to see Jesus. "To live is Christ, but to die is gain!" Love it! But, I am not living like I love this and believe this every single day.

I am thankful for my children for a lot of reasons. But, man, I LOVE when the Lord uses them to let me see life as it should be. Sometimes his life is a window and helps me to look in and see simple faith, innocence... he has so much that I want. I never want him to lose this.

After Noah said this he added, "I am so sorry about those nails that went in Him. It is so sad what happened to Him!" So sweet and then Paige handed him the Bible and Noah turned right to the resurrection and told us of the empty tomb. So we could rejoice over what our Lord has done for us despite what we did to Him!

Noah wants to see Jesus! It's so contagious! I want to see Him too!

What do you want to see??