Life to the Full

Do you remember the story about Peter and Jesus in the boat?  Jesus had been speaking to people along the shoreline. After he was done, he sent the disciples on ahead out in the boat while he dismissed the people who had gathered. Later that night, Jesus walks out to the boat, but he didn’t simply WALK to the boat, He walked ON WATER to the boat. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus immediately comforted them and told them, “Take courage. It is I.” (Mark 12:27) Peter, with all his man courage, asked Jesus, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Of course, Jesus did exactly that.  Peter was scared and afraid; his man courage had left him.

It is at this point that Peter is being stretched. He is being stretched in his faith in Jesus. He is being stretched in his willingness to follow Jesus. Can you imagine what Peter would have thought if instead of Jesus replying with “Come”, he had simply said, “Oh never mind Peter, you cannot do it? Just stay there in your comfort Peter.”

I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t say “oh never mind” to me either! I’m so glad that God has led me to go on this upcoming trip to Cambodia.  I feel, for me personally, that this trip has stretched me from the start. From the beginning, I made plans for a mission trip, my plans. I planned to go here, God wanted me to go there. I wanted it to look like this; God wanted it to look like that. I wanted comfort; God wanted me to follow. I have leaned out, and He has leaned in.

I am so thankful for this season of stretching. Through this stretching, I have been taught to lay me down, and follow Jesus, even if that means to the other side of the world. I have been shown that this trip is NOTHING about me, and EVERYTHING about Him. He had been able to stretch my heart to hold more, and more is exactly what I need. More of Him, less of me. I need all this room in my heart for 33+ precious little jewels in Cambodia, and I just can’t wait to get my arms around them!!

The best days of school are always the field trips. It's even better when a field trip is during the first "official" week of school. Ok, so at the Rhoades house we don't actually have an "official" start to our school year, but you know same same...but different. We went on a little adventure to Huntsville, Alabama to visit the US Space & Rocket Center (NASA) and the Redstone Arsenal.

The boys with a view of the Saturn V Rocket (one of Nicolas' faves!)

Austin stands in front of the Red Bull Stratos

Rocket Park

Dwarfed by the Saturn V

Do you know where the International Space Station is at right this moment? These guys do!

Rocket test site at Redstone Arsenal

I love you to Cambodia and back!

In May 2011, my husband, Michael, went on a mission trip to Cambodia. During his trip he had the opportunity to meet two amazing young girls in a New Life Orphanage, and since then our lives have been woven together by our Savior. As a family we made the decision to financially support both the basic and educational needs of these two girls. Again in May 2012, Michael was able to set feet in Cambodia, and physically assure the girls that the Rhoades family indeed cared for them and loved them. Over the past two years many letters and pictures have been exchanged across the vast expanse of earth, but this November, with family in tow, we will be able to reach out and grab the same hands that wrote those letters. The idea that God would use our family to show His love to these two girls is humbling indeed. 

God Doesn't Need Facebook

As my hubs and I were chatting, it just rolled off my tongue, "God doesn't need Facebook.".

He smiled and gently laughed, "You are absolutely right! I like that.".

Let me back up for just a minute. The hubs and I are going on a mission trip to Cambodia in November. He just happens to be leading the team as well. Just a couple of weeks ago, as we were sharing lunch with his project manager for the trip, a conversation came up that led to the unexpected news that our boys were old enough to join us as we serve in Cambodia. Say What?!?! Of course this news led to great jubilation and a splurge of a BACON cheeseburger (that's a whole other blog post!) in the Rhoades home that night. 

So at first, I'm totally thrilled, excited, couldn't be happier. I'm not worried about this trip by any means...once we get to Cambodia. I must admit to being completely consumed by the measures to get there. I know a ton of people are praying us there, but my mind begins to tick off every dollar it's going to cost to get there. So, of course, the planner that I am, I have begun to brainstorm every possible way that we can earn some dough. I have ideas, and I'm sure that they will lead to more ideas...so about that Facebook quote.

One of the ideas, the hubs and I discussed was getting back on Facebook, logging in from our long since deactivated accounts, and asking our friends to donate to the cause. So, for the last couple of days I have prayed about this decision. It hasn't felt right. Not because I would be bugging my friends for their hard earned money, but because I didn't like who Facebook had made me become. 

I judged others, sometimes harshly. I was proud, Becky-glory not God-glory, proud. I envied others, because they seemed to have it all together. ( I know deep down that's not true, but it's a lie that I took to heart.) I coveted vacations, or get togethers our family couldn't be a part of for one reason or another. I wished, on days, that my life was different. I should have finished college, instead of being JUST a mom. I should do this, or that... I should have this, or that...I should be this, or that. I didn't like ME on Facebook, simply stated. I had no interest in going back. So I prayed.

It was a simple revelation, a quiet whisper, "I can get you there without Facebook.". And so I trust. I trust that the God who said He can, will. I trust that the God who said follow, will lead.

Sweet Sweet Summertime

An evening at the park...

Books, Books, and More Books

     I've been knee deep in a room full of new textbooks, study guides, lab manuals, test packets, and answer keys, preparing for this next school year, and I couldn't be happier. As we started this homeschool journey this past year,  I wasn't exactly sure where it was headed, but I did know what I wanted to accomplish.
     I desired for our youngest son to be confident, an independent thinker, and free to live life at his own pace. I felt like the past couple of years in public school were achieving nothing but breaking his spirit while trying to keep up with the break neck speed of a race we never signed up for.
     As our oldest son barreled towards high school, I wanted to see him excel in what he does best...academics. Let me be clear, it wasn't that I thought I could give him a better education or teach him in a better way, it's just that he's a self learner...enough said. Homeschooling can allow him to get his needed class work done in a short amount of time, and then off he goes to explore the world. Right now that happens to be space exploration and the means to get there. He spends hours bent over books studying ever single piece that goes into building and engineering a rocket into space, and then breaking it apart and figuring out what can make the next one better. It's way over my head, but he's seeked it out, on his own, an internship at Space X as soon as he's old enough to apply. I think we'll be okay!!
     I've seen so many changes in the boys over this last school year. We've spent so many hours together as a family digging into heart issues. I know without a doubt that we are on the right road. I'm seeing happy boys with content hearts, hearts seeking a big God, with big plans.

“I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” - Nehemiah 6:3 (NLT)

Boys of Summer

This post is just because... just because the sun has set on another day, just because the boys are another day older, just because I cherish these days...

Boredom leads to creativity, which usually leads to laughter in the Rhoades house. We decided to do an impromptu photo shoot today... just because. 

Oh sweet boy, with the long eyelashes and the heart as BIG as Texas, I can't wait to see where God takes ya. I feel like an observer more than a parent. Oh, I guide, and I teach, and I discipline. I dish out love in heaps. I hug and I kiss, for I know you'll be waving goodbye way before I'm ready to let go. I've also learned to listen, and to sit back and watch, for your hand in God's is way more inspiring to watch from the backseat, and I dare not interrupt.

Baby boy, the one that makes me laugh, I never thought you would outgrow my lap, oh but you did. I'm so proud of who you are. My sweet boy who sees the good in everyone. Life is but a party that's just waiting for you to show up. Smiles and hugs galore, you stop to ask for a hug, and I don't dare pass those by. I hold on a little longer. I know one day they will be so few and far between. God will move you out in to the world to share that smile with so many more, and I cherish these days.