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Monday, November 26, 2012

Hello again

The rich, vibrant red leaves in front of our new home

Wow. It's hard to believe it has been two months since I last wrote.
So much has happened. So much.

... Excitement. Contentment. Busyness. Rest.
Good-byes. Hellos. Leaving old friends. Making new ones.
Family. Friends. Strangers.
Long car rides. Various campgrounds. 
Fun times. Easy times. Tough times.
Mountains. Desert. Prairie. Lakes.
Rain. Storms. Snow. Sunshine. 
14 states.
The expected. The unexpected.
Exceeding joy. Deep heartache.
Dying of dreams. Change in perspective. Renewed hope.
Looking back. Looking forward.
Strengthened relationships. Lessons in faith.
 
....

Thankful to YHVH He has brought us here...
and what He brought us through to bring us.
He is good. He is faithful. He is.
Baruch HaShem YHVH!

- Christina


 O יהוה, Your kindness is in the heavens, 
And Your trustworthiness reaches to the clouds.
Tehillim/Psalm 36:5

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Shabbat Shalom... from our home on wheels

Our Shabbat hinged, travel candle set with Jerusalem view

It's been a week (and a day) since we officially moved into our camper.
Our days have been full and it is such a blessing to enter into Shabbat.


May you find rest, replenishing and peace 
as you meet Him during this time.
Shabbat Shalom, Israel {His set-apart ones)!





- Christina

Saturday, September 8, 2012

A Blessing...


And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
“Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying, 

‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to them:
“יהוה bless you and guard you;
 יהוה make His face shine upon you, and show favour to you;
 יהוה lift up His face upon you, and give you peace.” ’ 
 “Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless them.” 

~ Numbers 6:22-17



- May you be blessed -

(scroll down & click pause in sidebar to stop background music)

YEVARECH'CHA ADONAI VI'YISHMERECHA
YA'ER ADONAI PANAIV ELEICHA VI'YCHUNEKA
YISA ADONAI PANAIV ELEICHA
V'YASEM LECHA SHALOM

YHVH BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
MAY YHVH SHINE HIS FACE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU
MAY YHVH LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU
AND MAY HE GIVE TO YOU HIS PEACE/SHALOM

YES, MAY HE GIVE TO ALL OF YOU HIS PEACE, HIS TRUTH, HIS JOY, HIS LIFE
MAY HE GRANT TO ALL OF YOU REVELATION OF MASHIACH
YES, MAY HE GRANT TO YOUR FAMILIES SHALOM
YES, MAY HE GRANT TO YOUR CHILDREN HIS PEACE AND HIS TRUTH
MAY HE GIVE YOU HIS SHALOM,
B'SHEM YAHSHUA


Shalom Aleichem!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Journaling Life...

Journals for the children

"Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us"
- Oscar Wilde

Though the above quote carries a degree of truth,
there are many advantages in keeping a written journal.
And this week we introduced our younger children to keeping one.


Once upon a time, I myself was a semi-faithful journaler.  
- a few old 'friends'

It always blessed me to re-visit my entries...
pondering on what I had learned...
gaining perspective of how I was growing 
in that season of my life...
visiting fond and not-so-fond memories alike...
taking note of my cries out to Yah...
praising Him, again, for praises I had recorded...
reminiscing how He was there....
guiding, teaching, loving, blessing...


I once read that it is believed that 
the "who" someone is writing to in journaling
is a mere personality of one's self...

I think it goes beyond that.
For me, journaling is my written thoughts and prayers...
sharing my life and heart...
with the Ruach {Spirit}that lives within me...
sharing with my Abba... the Lover of my soul...
... like having a casual or an intimate conversation...
with a friend...
... a Friend like no other.


As we enter into this transitional phase - season - in our lives,
I am praying our children are blessed 
as they record, share and think on all YHVH has done/is doing.


- Have you tried journaling?
 


Sunday, August 26, 2012

Going and Growing... His Way...


For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
neither are your ways My ways,” declares יהוה.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are My ways higher than your ways, 
and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9


Abba reminds me of the above often...
for which I am thankful.
 
His thoughts are not our thoughts...
our ways are not His ways...
His are higher... so much higher...
so far above and beyond our own.


He put before us, again, a tangible reminder...
... as we, once again, began to contemplate and plan retirement
and settling here in California, where He brought us two years ago...

... yet, in a series of events, He has called us elsewhere...
again...

... not our thoughts... not our ways...
but His
.


I reflect on how something just like this happened 
just a little over two years ago...
as we were just about to buy a house and retire
... and received orders to go to California.
There was so much He was teaching me...
so much He is teaching me still...
and as I look back on all He did and how He lead us,
I am humbled and overwhelmed 
by the love of my Abba...
and how He works all things for good
to those that love Him.
And my heart fills with love... and praise.
 
 
... so we begin taking steps...
steps on this path that He has us on...
this time leading back to the east coast...
to Virginia.
... because His thoughts are not our thoughts...
and our ways are not His ways...
because He is good... 
He's just SO good.


His leading us to California will forever remain
branded in my heart...
for it is here that He opened my eyes ...
here where He removed the veil...
here He wiped away the scales...
where He, in lovingkindness and in His perfect timing...
 
led me ... and restored me... to His Torah...
 


... and changed my life...
for ever


... I look ahead with hope...
and with thanksgiving...

Baruch HaShem YHVH!


"All the paths of יהוה are kindness and truth, 
To those who guard His covenant and His witnesses."
Psalm 25:10


Friday, August 24, 2012

Let the Hearts of Those Seeking Rejoice!

  
Give thanks to יהוה, call upon His Name, 
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him, Speak of all His wonders!
Boast in His set-apart Name, 
Let the hearts of those seeking יהוה rejoice!
Seek יהוה and His strength, Seek His face continually!
Remember His wonders which He has done, 
His signs and the right-rulings of His mouth,
O seed of Yisra’ĕl, His servant; O children of Yaʽaqoḇ, His chosen ones!
He is יהוה our Elohim, His right-rulings are in all the earth.
Remember His covenant forever
The Word He commanded for a thousand generations,
Which He made with Aḇraham, And His oath to Yitsḥaq,
And He established it to Yaʽaqoḇ for a law, 
To Yisra’ĕl as an everlasting covenant

1 Chronicles 16:8-17

HalleluYah!
 

Friday, August 17, 2012

An Intimate Love



 I have a love... a love like no other...
a love like I have never had... nor ever will have.
My Love is One who loves me with an everlasting love...
He holds me... carries me... saves me... consumes me... fills me
His thoughts for me cannot even be numbered.
He leads me... understand me... comforts me... heals me
He knows my thoughts... my deepest secrets... my very core...
and He favors me... cares for me... loves me beyond measure.


It is the most intimate kind of love...
ever


My Love has set aside time for me each week...
a very special appointed time...
a day that is different from the rest...

a special time...

and He invites me... every week...
to join Him in this special place of time...
to step away from the things that distract me...
to set aside those things that take away from intimate time with Him...

an intimate time...

to just sit in His presence... to soak Him in...
to talk with Him... to hear Him... to know Him...
to really know Him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Some times... oft times... I get wrapped up... in daily life... in other things.
But there are other times when it really hits me... really... and His love is truly overwhelming.

May we be overwhelmed by His love for us.
May we feel it... know it... understand it... treasure it... more.


I love that time each week. 
that appointed time - that intimate 'date' -
with my Creator... my Abba... my Redeemer... my Savior... 

the Lover of my soul. ♥ 
What a delight it is to honor Him and meet Him there! 

Shabbat Shalom, Israel {His set-apart people}!
May you find rest and peace in the intimacy of His presence!


 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Have you fallen into the greatest love... ever?
Do you know that He has a special time set aside for you?
... Just fall...
Oh, how He loves you. Oh, how He is waiting. ...
... Just fall... and be blessed...


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 



♪Intimate Lover, I'm taken with You
Lost in your beauty, Yah.
Intimate Lover, my comfort, my shelter,
my refuge, my shepherd You are.
Your love is deep and wide like a canyon...
Too long have I stood on the edge...

But now I've fallen... I've fallen...
in your beautiful intimate love.
I have fallen... I've fallen...forever in intimate love...
with You... my intimate Lover

I'm consumed by You, over my head in Your love
Intimate Lover, I'm learning to trust You
I've tasted and seen You are good.
Your love is deep and vast as the ocean
Too long have i stood on the shore

But now I've fallen... I've fallen...
in your beautiful intimate love.
I have fallen... I've fallen... forever in intimate love

How deep and wide, how long and high
Your beautiful, intimate love!
How deep and wide, how long and high
Your beautiful, intimate love!
I've fallen... I've fallen... in your beautiful, intimate love!

Yahshua, intimate Lover. Yahshua, intimate Lover.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

A Longing



The more I learn and walk in Abba's ways,
the more like a stranger I feel and become in this foreign land...
and the more I yearn... deeply yearn... for Home...

Strengthen us, Abba.
Strengthen Your people, Yisrael.
Restore and rebuild us soon...
and in our days, we pray.


"As the deer longs for the water streams,
So my being longs for You, O Elohim."
Tehillim 42:1


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Watercolored Rhythms

It has been that season, once again, when I take a step back
to evaluate my life, our homeschool, and how I spend my time.
... Often, a difficult season as I examine myself...
but a fruitful and necessary one, as well.

 There have been so many changes in our lives
these past couple of years, especially, 
and I am still learning how to reconcile 
the different aspects of our journey...

As I was researching various topics,
I came across an interesting idea that I was glad to try...
a little added fun, creativity, serenity and beauty 
to my plan-making process...

... watercoloring...

A schedule... routine... 
order of the rhythms of our days ...
needed to be planned...

and what a delightful way to do so!


idea borrowed from here
left to right: yearly calendar; weekly rhythms, and daily


Shalom!
~ Christina


"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time."
Colossians 4:5 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

For This Child I Prayed


"...Pour out your heart like water Before the face of יהוה. 
Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children...
- Lamentations 2:19 


Being a mother is a joy, a blessing, and a great responsibility.
Teaching, training, nurturing, and loving them are joyful responsibilities...
but the vital importance of praying for our children cannot be forgotten.
We can spend our time, efforts, energies, and lives
teaching and training (which we ought to do),
but without prayer, it is in vain.
We can fill our children's minds and lives with Yah's Word and principles,
but only HE can change their hearts.
Intercessory prayer is vital for us and our children.


I recently re-visited a 'prayer plan'
that I've had tucked away for quite some time and am sharing it here.
It is, by no means, an all inclusive list.
There are many things we can and should be praying,
but this could be a helpful place to begin, continue, or add...
tweaking for your individual children.

It is a privilege, a blessing, to pray over our children...
to speak and pray His word and promises over them...
to bless them in such a way


Things to Pray for Our Children 

1. That they will seek and know Yeshua early in life
(Psalm 63:1; 2 Timothy 3:15)

2. That they will fear (stand in awe) of YHVH and serve Him
(Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:12; 13:4)


3. That they will love YHVH and hate evil.
(Psalm 97:10; 34:14; 37:27-28)


4. That they will delight in His Torah and learn His ways
(Psalm 119:70, 71, 35, 16)


5. That they will accept responsibility for their wrong doings
and seek forgiveness and cleansing.
(Psalm 51:1-4,9,10; 32:5; 38:18)


6. That they will have quick, repentant hearts
(Psalm 51:1-3; 38:18)


7. That they will be teachable & able to take correction
(Isaiah 54:13; Proverbs 13:1; Jeremiah 42:3)


8. That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives:
spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, & physically
(John 17:15; 1 Thess.5:22-23; Matthew 6:13)


9. That they will have a responsible attitude and excellent spirit
 in all their ways & relationships
(Daniel 6:3; 5:12)


10. That their lives will bear the fruit of the Ruach {Spirit}
(Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 5:9)


11. That they will live by the Spirit and not gratify their flesh
(Galatians 5:16, 25; Romans 6:12)


12. That they will honor their parents so all will go well with them
(Ephesians 6:1-3; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16)


13. That they will respect those in authority over them
(Rom.13:1; Ex.20:12; 1 Thess.5:12-13; Eph.6:1-3,5-7)


14. That they will desire and have the right kind of friends
and be protected from the wrong friends and those who would corrupt them
(Proverbs 10,11,19)


15. That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one
(2 Corinthians 6:14-17; Deuteronomy 7:2-3)


16. That they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure until marriage
(1 Corinthians.6:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:4)


17. That they will learn to totally submit to Elohim
and actively resist the evil one in all circumstances
(James 4:7; Ephesians 4:27, 6:11; 1 Peter 5:9)


18. That they will trust in YHVH for direction in their lives
(Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalm 37:5)


19. That they will be wholly committed and set-apart to YHVH
(Romans 12:1-2; 6:13; Micah 6:8)


20. That they will be hedged by YHVH
so that they cannot find their way to wrong people
or wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them.
(Hosea 2:6, Psalm 91:4; 125:2; Zechariah 2:5)


May Abba hear and answer our prayers.
May He bless the future generations.

Shalom!
~ Christina



"I have no greater joy than to hear of my children walking in truth."
3 John 1:4 



(I did not compose this list nor  recall where I found it. My apologies for not being able to give credit where due.
*alterations made by me)

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Making Known His Wonders


I realized today that it has been almost 8 weeks since I last posted!
A lot has happened in that time...
and though much has slipped my mind, as it often does,
I wanted to just share a few of the wonderful things Abba has done!

To raise a voice of thanksgiving, And to declare all Your wonders.
Tehillim {Psalm} 26:7 

  • Our eldest daughter has returned home from college!
    • It has been such a blessing... SUCH a blessing... to have her home... to have all of our sheep in the fold. And Abba has been doing many things in her life. It is bittersweet to watch sometimes but fills my heart with joy and thanksgiving to see her grow closer to the Father and to be blessed to have her home with us... to be a part of her daily life. ♥

  •  Abba provided the opportunity and the means for me to visit with my parents!
    • At a time when both of my parents were in the hospital, YHVH blessed and provided an airplane ticket for me to fly to my parents' house for a week and a half! It was such a blessing that I cannot describe adequately enough. After much time away, it was a blessing to just be in their presence for a week and half. But Abba did much more than just let me go. The trip was filled with blessings and overwhelming joy! (shared below...)

  • My daddy...
    • After having a heart attack, in which Abba preserved his life, he received a stint and was put on a blood thinner... which, thus in combination with his other blood thinner, led to severe bleeding in his brain. He was taken off the blood thinners (which was very risky due to another health issue) but was left with the consequences of the severe bleeding on his brain... incoherent, loss of memory, speech, and many other functions. The prognosis was very grim, according to the doctors (which is what led to me taking the trip). - - The day after I arrived, my sister and I attended a family meeting at the hospital to discuss Daddy's situation and the options (Mama couldn't go because she had been admitted to another hospital - which I'll share next). The options were very few and none hopeful in themselves... so Daddy would be there indefinitely
    • I can't describe the feeling when they wheeled Daddy in, after not being able to speak to him for almost a month due to his inability to speak or listen without pain. He was greeted with a big hug, needless to say! 
    • After hugs and the family meeting, the first thing I wanted to do was take him outside... he had been cooped up for so long. His eyes were painfully sensitive and the light increased the pain in his head. I put my sunglasses on him and though he couldn't articulate the words, he let out a big sigh and sound of relief. :) We gladly wheeled outside.
    • In Abba's great mercy, He answered prayer... Daddy began speaking, again... remembering, again... regaining motor skills... It was amazing to see... through many joyous tears!
    • Every day, I visited Daddy... going to his therapies with him... wheeling him outside...talking, laughing, reminiscing, hugging, just enjoying being together...enjoying lunch in the cafeteria... singing songs with the guitar.
    • By the time I left for home, Daddy was almost entirely his old self, again! And, praise YHVH, he went home a few days after I left!

  • My mama...
    • Shortly after Daddy went into the hospital, Mama was admitted to a different hospital for some internal bleeding and was there a couple of weeks. 
    • It was a blessing to surprise Mama shortly after my sister picked me up at the airport. The three of us enjoyed hugs, coffee, conversation and laughs.
    • I was able to visit Mama every day - usually visiting Daddy in the mornings and Mama in the afternoons. She was there longer than she had expected but we spent many hours together every afternoon/evening. It was SUCH a blessing to spend so much time with my mama... who is, also, my very dear friend. ♥ 
    • Praise YHVH, her internal bleeding stopped and she was able to come home the day I flew home!

  •  My sister...
    • It was such a joy to see my sister's smiling face when she picked me up at the airport! And such a joy to spend the week with her... and her husband! We enjoyed spending some sister time together... meals, coffee, heart-to-hearts, laughter, singing... and kayaking! 
    • Then ... after already being overwhelmed by Abba's goodness... we got some news.... after 15 years ... and many prayers and tears... my sister and her husband were blessed with the gift of life... a baby! Tears of joy kept (keep) falling! Unspeakable joy! The news itself is so amazing... and that Abba blessed me, too, in allowing me to be there when it was revealed! Baruch HaShem YHVH!

There are so many other things He has done and is doing.
His goodness, compassion, lovingkindness, mercy and favor
are so overwhelming.

I praise You and thank You, Abba!

Blessed be Your esteemed Name, forever and ever!
 
O יהוה my Elohim, many are the wonders Which You have done, 
and Your purposes toward us; 
There is no one to compare with You; I declare and speak: 
They are too many to be numbered. 
Tehillim {Psalm} 40:5  


Shalom!
~ Christina

Friday, May 4, 2012

Learning Moment Memoirs

This week, as we learned at home...

 I was blessed to find our youngest,
who does not, yet, completely delight in reading -
and is still learning to do so -
sitting outside alone feeding from Yah's Word...


... something that delights a mama's heart beyond words.


In our learning of history this week,
we discussed early forms of writing,
like hieroglyphics and cuneiform.
The girls enjoyed attempting to write 
on their clay (a.k.a. silly putty) tablets...






"My name is Carolynne. I drank a smoothie today."
History in the making. ;)



We, also, discussed the process of mummifying,
looked at photos of a real mummy and the canopic jars
that I had taken from my trip to Michigan
when I went to the art museum.
We, also, had a volunteer for a mummy wrap... 
well, sort of...
He was voluntold...
but didn't object...






A teddy bear and an ace bandage...
not such a bad mummy.



We discussed the pyramids, as well,
and the girls produced some lovely illustrations...



Lest we look back and think otherwise,
we did do more than history lessons...



Math drills in skip counting online





Reading about the sun, moon, and Earth's rotation





Learning about earthquakes


We, also, enjoyed a video about Bach this week
and some of his compositions...
As well as miscellaneous seatwork,
daily counting of the Omer, Scripture readings, 
character discussions, daily life problem solving,
errand running, home keeping, and more.


I love being at home.
Thank You, Abba, for helping me this week.
Blessed be Your Name!

Shalom!
~ Christina

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

In the Kitchen


As we continue our walk in Torah,
Abba continues to reveal how a disciplined life is important
and is not merely limited to the spiritual... but the physical, as well.

That being said, I have been trying to develop
various disciplines in my physical life...
one, of which, being my eating habits.

So this past week, in addition to our regimen of smoothie drinking,
I tried to be a little more creative in the kitchen.

Here are a few of those things...








Raw-ish Veggicado Soup
- I experimentally mixed this with my Blendtec -
3 cups vegetable broth (or water with x-tra seasonings)
2 carrots, 1 celery stalk, 1 garlic clove,
2 sprigs of fresh parsley, 1 avocado, 1/2 tsp. sea salt



Taco rice lettuce leaf taco
- taco seasoned brown rice with pepper jack cheese
and diced tomato in romaine lettuce leaf



Good ol' fashioned burger... with a different fashio
- seasoned and cooked organic hamburger patti,
onions sauteed in coconut oil, sliced tomato,
pepper jack cheese, between romaine leaves



We've had some good eats this past week!
Thank You, Abba! 


Shalom!
~ Christina



Monday, April 30, 2012

Aquarium and Beach Trip

We enjoyed a change of pace last week
and took a trip to the aquarium
and then to the beach with lunch
and a desire to get our toes wet...
though many got more than only their toes wet. ;)

We've been here for two years
and hadn't, yet, made it to the aquarium
so we were glad to do it!


Tooth pics :)




see-sawing



bicycling to produce water flow in the fountain



Learning about fish and sea creatures



clown fish



pot-bellied seahorse hanging upside down



watching the seahorses





we don't remember what they are- lol 







jellyfish




a diver feeding the fish in the aquarium



watching the fish



sea worms (mom's name for them)





Reading about whales and listening to their calls




watching and petting - sea cucumbers and sea urchins



looking out at the ocean











Wetting their feet and more in the Pacific :)















Come, let us sing to {YHVH} יהוה! 
Let us raise a shout to the Rock of our deliverance.
Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; 
Let us raise a shout to Him in song.
For {YHVH}  יהוה is a great Ěl, 
And a great Sovereign above all mighty ones.
In whose hand are the depths of the earth; 
The mountain peaks are His also.
His is the sea, for He made it; 
And His hands formed the dry land.
Psalm 95:1-5


Shalom!
~ Christina