the excellent husband

the husband to be

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

i love my husband so much.

m and h snoogle

m and h snoogle

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

we had a farewell sleepover with little h last night. we’ll be sad to see her go and ask the Father to be working furiously in her heart. we want her to know Jesus.

‘worthy of His altars’

from j.elliot, Shadow of the Almighty: 

‘Dearest Betty, I charge you in the name of our Unfailing Friend, do away with all waverings, bewilderment, and wonder. You have bargained for a cross. Overcome anything in the confidence of your union with him so that contemplating trial, enduring persecution or loneliness you may know the blessings of the ‘joy set before’. ‘We are the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.’ And what are the sheep doing going into the gate? What is their purpose inside those courts? To bleat melodies and enjoy the company of the flock? No. Those sheep were destined for the altar. Their pasture feeding had been for one purpose, to test them and fatten them for bloody sacrifice. Give Him thanks, then, that you have been counted worthy of His altars. Enter into the work with praise.’

weekend chatter

spent the weekend in one of my favorite places – i used to call it the ‘happiest place on earth’. mostly we just cooked, cleaned, and did some manual labor, trying to serve my grandparents after my grandma’s knee surgery. we got to wade in some cold deschutes water, wonder at the stark contrasts of oregon landscape, and sweat a bit in the late august sun. we decided we never want to live on a golf course and that matt probably wouldn’t really like to live in bend. we also picked up a few shirts for matt’s new work wardrobe.

 we couldn’t find matt’s wallet before he went to work this am, which was a bit of a stressor. not that losing things is anything unusual – we know about luke 15 joy on a very practical level.

baby girl

baby girl

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

she was almost two here. so beautiful! she is such a little person now, so talkative, sinful, sweet, loving. we pray for her eyes to be opened to the truth of the Gospel, that she would know and love Jesus above all else. it is comforting for me to know that Jesus loves her more than i. He’s pursuing her like he pursued me.

two months with praise

it has been two months now that we’ve been married. we can praise for many things, many changes, in our hearts and circumstantial. we’ve both gotten new jobs, our basement undergoes slow change (my kind husband finished the laundry room so that we now have clean laundry galore), but mostly we’ve seen our selfishness, our sin nature, our rough edges about daily. we praise you, Father, that you are faithful, have been, will continue to be. Your mercies are abundant, new every morning and we are so blessed to be Your children.

She’s family now

Well it’s official…our little Haley is now adopted.  After much ado, the judge was finally able to sign the paperwork and make her a goodstanding member of the family.  We welcome her with love.

beautiful creation

beautiful creation

Originally uploaded by victoria_mia.

we got to marvel a bit this weekend. we were blessed by the privilege of icy cold rivers and complete solitude.

weekend away

relaxingOriginally uploaded by victoria_mia.
we are refreshed after a day away. seeking the Lord in what seems like so many decisions. we pray we’ll be faithful in what he has put before us.

what is not love

from derek webb

“what looks like failure is success
and what looks like poverty is riches
when what is true looks more like a knife
it looks like you’re killing me
but you’re saving my life
chorus
but i give myself to what looks like love
and i sell myself for what feels like love
and i pay to get what is not love
and all just because i see things upside down

what looks like weakness can do anything
and what looks like foolishness is understanding
when what is powerful has not come to fight
it looks like you’re going to war
but you lay down your life

what looks like torture is a time to rejoice
what sounds like thunder is a comforting voice
when what is beautiful looks broken and crushed
and i say i don’t know you
but you say it’s finished
when what is beautiful looks broken and crushed
and i say i don’t know you
but you say it’s finished”

my favorite line: “when what is powerful has not come to fight, it looks like you’re going to war, but you lay down your life.” let us fix our eyes on Jesus…who for the joy set before.