7 Quick Takes Friday #12

#1

I have been pathetically absent from the bloggy world this summer, so I decided I was going to do a Quick Takes post today if it killed me :)

We arrived in the US on June 24, and have been in Chicago, Kansas, Colorado and now Minnesota. We're here for another week and then we head south, to Miami and then Brazil to visit my Dad and his wife.

As always, furlough is a mixture of great moments with people we love and miss, and those moments when we'd do almost anything to sit on our own couch and sleep in our own beds.

#2

Meaghan got glasses. It took her a little while to get used to the idea, but she settled into them just fine.

#3

Nic, as usual, has approached this summer with unbridled enthusiasm. He has gone tubing, driven the speed boat, gone fishing and all number of other things. Often at the end of the day, he says "This was the best day EVER." Here he is with his first (and only) fish.

#4

My hard drive crashed the day before we left Colorado. Thankfully it was still under warranty at Best Buy, so I now have a new hard drive. I was impressed with the service I got from both Dell and the Geek Squad. I always forget the difference in customer service between Spain and the U.S.

#5

My stepsister Raquel got married in Brazil this past Saturday. She was a beautiful bride, and we're looking forward to meeting her new husband when we arrive in Brazil. I would show you a photo but Facebook has been crazy sluggish since the whole denial of service thing yesterday. Apparently Firefox does not like my new hard drive or something. Annoying!

#6

We have been enjoying an exceptionally cool summer. Everywhere we have been it has been bearable and often cool and rainy. Nice.

#7

One of the highlights of the summer so far was arranging for our friends Jonathan & Taryn to show up in Colorado at our Christian Associates conference. Troy and the kids didn't know about it, and their reactions were priceless. When they post the video of it, I'll have to put it on here.

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Click on the photo at the top to visit Jenn at Conversion Diary and read other Quick Takes.
Happy Friday!

He Who Began a Good Work

This morning I was walking to work, listening to my MP3 player. I felt a bit unsettled and was berating myself a bit for letting my hubby down.

Just as I rounded a corner, the Lord lifted my gaze. Most Mondays and Tuesdays since October, I have been walking by a house that has been under construction. Today, it was done. Not only was it done, but the construction fence had been taken down, and the flower bed in front of the house was planted with roses and shrubs.

Into my heart, He spoke.

"There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." Philippians 1:6

I am so grateful that He will one day complete the good work He has started in me. I've got a long way to go!

Divine Appointments

A few weeks ago, Nic said to me, "Do you know who I really miss? Miss Julie. I wish I could see her again."

Miss Julie was Nic's speech and language therapist for more than a year, but this past year he didn't see her at all.

Last night, as our service ended, I came down the stairs in the building where we are meeting, after locking up the area we use for the kids. There was a woman standing by the elevators, and I offered her an offhand "Hola."

"Hi!" she said.

When I looked at her properly, lo and behold, it was Miss Julie!!

I went into the service, where Nic was standing on his chair so he could see the screen and sing along.

I said, "Come with me, buddy, I have a surprise for you. There is someone here you really wanted to see."

I opened the door. He took one look, and threw his arms around her. "I've missed you so much!"

How can you ignore a God who listens to the dreams of a 9-year-old boy, and reveals Himself so clearly?