Productivity...Our Week in Pictures

Whew! I don't know about you but this week has flown by for me. I'm just now sitting down to recap all that we accomplished/did this week and all I can say is that we certainly took on the motto "get er' done"!

The week started like any other...heading off to church. But this week was a little different as I delivered a promo DVD I've been working on for their Ladies Retreat. It turned out really good if I do say so myself and like I told them...they can use it for at least the next few years...or until the clothes go out of style!

The next day we went on a date day to a nearby town called Penrith...such a quaint little town with really neat shops. My heart did overtime when we spotted this famous British print from the 1950's called Mother's Pride. And score...got it at a charity shop for only £3 ($5)! You can just imagine the two ladies gossiping while hanging their laundry and the little boy wanting some attention. This is a very common scene even today in our neighborhood!

Then came our normal doctor visits...this week they took what seemed like a pint of blood! And then we had to hand deliver it ourselves within 1 hour's time to the local lab. We felt like we were in a movie where the heros rush to deliver the life saving blood to the person in need. Yeah...we're cool like that...you have to make light of a heavy situation somehow! :)

Next stop was our town's grand opening of the new garden center...yes this is a big deal. We enjoyed the free wifi and sipped a fab caramel latte...and of course people watched!

Also bought this fab sign for only £5! Love it! Think it will look really good in our future hallway!

Also have enjoyed going for walks this week in the beautiful sunshine. Yes...it is this beautiful here!

Then my hubby invited me to the new google plus (like facebook but you can do video chats more easily). He has been using that more than me...while I have been getting addicted to...

Oh yes...Pinterest! Warning...once you are on it you will spend HOURS researching. Within 2 days I've started 13 boards and have 89 pins! The idea is that it is like a virtual cork board that you pin ideas on...like menu ideas, decorating ideas, etc.

You have to be invited to both of these so let me know if you are interested. Super fun! Check out the funny "truth" about Pinterest above! :)

Then my passport came back! Yeah! I had to send it off to the US embassy in London to get extra visa pages as I only had 2 left. Supposedly you can be denied entry to the US if you only have 2 pages. Wouldn't that be something if J got in and I didn't! But all is sorted now!

It was also time for us to update our newsletter and website. Something that has been on our to do list for a while. We got the newsletter out...hope you enjoyed it...and are almost finished with updating the website...we think you will like it too! Let us know if you are not signed up...and we'll sort it out.

Here is the link:

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=26ca2b03fd15b8067f189790c&id=2c78f1f149&e=[UNIQID]

Then my hubby was called to save the day when his crew (who are at an event in Germany) called to say that they had forgotten a very important part of a specific camera...called the Jib (the tall thing that pans over a crowd). Anyhoo...he was able to help sort out getting it and shipping it to them just in time! Yes...he is a hero in many ways!

Then it was off to our neighbors for dinner and darts night! We had such a great time...really going to miss them. I loved playing darts again...something my brother taught me many years ago. Guess I still have "it"...I won 2 out of the 3 games! J managed to split a dart with a second one...throwing it directly on the dart itself...that is not common! He has good aim! We have decided to buy a dart board when we move to the States. Anyone up for a game?

Then we ended our week doing a little grocery shopping. My honey spotted this new pen and bought it for me! It is called the Stabilo pen and it is designed to allow you to have better hand writing...something I desperately need! Also is easier to use...especially when you have arthritis in your hands. I highly recommend it! Of course he bought me the pink one!

Over all it was a great week...productive...fun...and gorgeous weather to boot. How was your week?

Sweet Words...

Have you ever noticed how God is the ultimate sweet talker? He gives you just what you need...just when you need it. Every word that flows from His mouth to your heart is like stepping into a bakery shop and smelling that sweet aroma of all the goodies. Can't you just smell it?

This past week in particular...God certainly gave me some "goodies" while we were in Holland saying our goodbyes to family and our home church. It was such a unique time to have both our parents and extended families together on the same continent!

We had the privilege of sharing with the church about God's leading us to the States. We also took the time to acknowledge and thank our home front committee on stage.

It was an emotional time...and once our team leader started the tears rolling...I don't think we saw one dry eye in that church. It was just a real precious time.

As we stood there...reviewing our life in missions like a flash of a movie reel in our minds...we both felt so heavy...so sad...but also so excited because we know that God has a good plan for us in the States. There were many mixed emotions we were struggling to understand fully.

Just when it was too much to take...the Elder came up to pray over us. Before praying he handed me a small note that said "voor Jacco en Mary Oldenkamp" (for Jacco and Mary O). Then he began to read what was written on that note.

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.

-Numbers 6:24-26

Now you may say...well that's a nice verse and stop there. But let me tell you...that was the PERFECT verse...one that God knew would touch my heart! Why you may ask? Well...that very verse...was the same one that God gave me when I first went into missions.

We felt it was very appropriate...no PERFECT...that He would give us that same verse as we are leaving this mission and heading to our next.

God is so cool like that...the Dutch word that describes it is "Prima"...excellent. He uses His sweet words...the Bible... to speak over us...to give us peace....to allow us to know that He cares. It just so blessed us.

I now have the note on a special place on our mantle...to remind me of the intimate relationship we have together. I know that no matter what is going on in my life...I can trust Him...He is reminding me by His sweet words!

Application:

You may be in a similar situation...where your world seems upside down. Maybe you have had something unexpected to come into your life and are wondering if God has forgotten you down here. Take heart...remember that God is always watching and taking care of you. There is not one thing He doesn't know about...and there is no situation that He can't handle. TRUST in Him...get into your Bible and ask Him to reveal to you what you need to hear. And then wait for those "sweet words" to coming flooding over you. They will!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Hello friends! So glad to be with you on this glorious day. As I write this I am reminded of a few of my favorite things...one of which is photography. Just this past year we were blessed with a fabulous deal on a VERY nice camera...which developed into a new hobby for me...of capturing "LIFE".

Every chance I get I am taking pictures of people...in their natural surroundings...doing the things they love...and being around the people that are most dear to them. Below are examples of my passion. Take a peak with me through my lens and see the world as I do...

Falling in Love

Intrigued...

Belly Love...

Reading...

Pondering...

Standing out...

Heading somewhere...

Take on the World...

Father and Son...

If this bench could talk...

Cottage life...

A day out...

Little feet...

All the kids...

A winter's walk...

Lonely...

I hear you...

Ride in Style...

Daddy love...

Walk a mile...

Family life...

Pink...

Soft Beauty...

His presence...

British pride...

A day in the park...

Mommy love...

Fireballs...

And I end with this picture...as sometimes...as in life...you just have to laugh!

The ROYAL Wedding

Photo curtesy of devrese.com

Being in England at such a historic time to be able to witness the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is so exciting to say the least. Everywhere you go you find shop windows adoring pictures of the couple and the Union Jack is flying high on just about every street corner. With one week away the excitement is building!

Photo curtesy realradio-scotland.co.uk

The people of the UK are welcoming this sweet couple's union with cheers of joy...and being that the public will be given a "bank holiday" (national holiday) every year from here on out on April 29th to commemorate the special event...that is just icing on the cake!

People are encouraged to have street parties, as is custom here when a Royal is wed. Almost every grociery store has the Union Jack adorning just about everything from lawn chairs to paper plates! You can't help but become patriotic!

Photo curtesy theroyalweddingwilliamkate.com

Photo curtesy aroundtownwales.co.uk

For us, we will be joining the all the crowds in the city centre to watch the couple tie the knot on the huge jumbo screen. Also we have heard there will be a Beatles tribute band to entertain us. Needless to say I can't wait!

Photo Curtesy apps.detnews.com

But I can't help but think of "THE WEDDING"...the reunion one day I will have with the Bridegroom, Jesus. He is coming...and we are going to have the biggest feast you will ever see...the tables will be adorned with the most beautiful things you could ever imagine!

Photo curtesy tolucantimes.com

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. -John 14:2-3

Thought to ponder...Do we anticipate Christ's return in our hearts with joy...adorning the shop windows of our hearts with excitement? Or do we simply acknowledge He is to come... but have made our choice to stay away from the crowds of "joy"...too wrapped up in our own little world to realize the excitement of what is to come?

Too Late to Turn Back Now...

You've heard the phrase "If you told me I would be doing _____ five years ago...I wouldn't have believed you!". I'm sure you could fill in the blank with many things such as..."met the person I was going to marry"...or "working in this job"...or "living in this country". For me personally...I would have never guessed I would be married and living in a foreign country. I certainly wouldn't be able to predict that I would have been living with an incurable illness...that one still continues to shock me, but with the grace of God, I am learning to live with it.

When you think about the future it can do one of two things. It can excite you or it can scare you. When you get into the thicket of life, when electronics tend to break, marriages go through struggles, children get sick, or even your own securities of a home and finances are stripped away you can tend to want to turn back. But for those of us who know Christ Jesus as our Lord, we must continue on the road He has paved for us...always trusting in Him, despite our circumstances. It is a CHOICE to BELIEVE that God has a good plan. Now that does not mean a bed of roses all the time, but it will still be good because He is good and He has a purpose for us (Romans 8:28).

I can so feel Peter's heartfelt words when he is asked if he too would walk away from Jesus. Can't you just imagine big ole Peter with tears welling up in his eyes saying...

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God." (Read below John 6:66-69 (Amplified Bible)

When we are going through struggles in our life...are we going to turn back and go our own way or are we going to continue on BELIEVING...that God has a good plan for us...TRUSTING...that even though we can't see where we are going...He is guiding?

I personally can learn a lot from this scripture and it is a great reminder that I've come too far to turn back now! I am trusting in Him to take me the rest of the way...and in 5 years from now...I pray that I will say "Father if you told me that I would be doing _______ I DID believe that!

After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me? Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God. -John 6:66-69 (Amplified Bible)