NYC in the fall

We just spent 7 days and 6 nights in the city. If you want details, you will have to check out Timm's blog at mustard seed distributed because he is the techie guy who brought the laptop and posted blogs frequently. I, however, chose to take a break from technology and have a vacation. So, I am back. Yesterday I had 103 emails on home account, almost as many on my work account (church), and had to check the forum we use to communicate Communitas stuff, and had to do some checking up on facebook. UGH! I haven't even taken the time yet to read the other blogs I enjoy keeping up on. Amazing how technology can be so consuming!
But, I will say that we had an amazing trip. Wasn't sure how I was going to juggle it with the girls and school. We ended up just taking a complete vacation from school. So, I guess we will make it up over Christmas break or something. I LOVE THIS FLEXIBILITY WITH HOME SCHOOLING! Don't know how I will ever go back. But, that is something I am holding lossely because we are just really trying to NOT get ahead of ourselves, but focus on what God has called us to do NOW. And I am certain that NOW this is the BEST thing for us.
Some highlights of our trip (without rambling for 10 days, which I could) include, going to the park with Sarah almost every day, visiting with all of our dear friends and laughing till we cried and our guts ached, walking and walking and walking, Meg cooking for us, eating on the rooftop in the gorgeous weather, dinner at Kallen's and talking with them till way late, seeing everyone's apartment, visitng Queens and Brooklyn, showing snippets of love to homeless, wondering if Liv is narcoleptic as she fell asleep several times just slumped over where she sat because we were going non stop, looking at apartments with friends, visiting a public school and seeing that it was really neato and not scary, discovering serval neighborhoods in "the village" that felt like home for us and looking at apartments there, visiting a couple of street fairs on a saturday afternoon in those neighborhoods and, again, feeling totally at home, wathcing Alli and Liv look at these tiny apartments and be TOTALLY pumped and excited about moving, instead of freaked out about the small space (what a blessing), going to many parks and playgrounds, doing the circle line boat tour of the island and seeing staue of liberty and ellis island close up (breathtaking), getting to know Chris even better with our chats and time together, the girls laughing and playing with Caleb and making forts in the closet, and of course our first church gathering on Sunday evening where everyone came together and our hearts longed to be an active part of what is happening with this ministry in the city(and then realizing we are an active part of this ministry, but it just looks a little different for us at this time), oh yah, can't forget the enjoyment of NY slices of pizza! OK, I am not going to be able to keep listing. It will bore you all to death.
I am amazed that we feel so at home in the city. Not so much for Timm and I, but the girls. That was my prayer from the beginning of this journey. That God would give the girls amazing peace and call them to the city as well if this is really His plan for our family. And He has done that! Why am I so surprized? I don't know. It's just an amazing answer to my deepest prayers! And it is really a gift to see other young people like Caleb and Megan thriving in the city environment. But, it isn't all pretty. Megan and her friends are having such intense spiritual battles, it is scary. Everyone is, really. They are having to be so strong and bold and realizing that this sparkling city by day is a very dark place by night. We enjoyed our visit as tourists, but we do not underestimate the lure of the dark side of this city. That may sound strange, but it is so real, you can feel it in all of your senses. It will take total dependence on God's power to go into a place that is so infiltrated by evil and wordly lusts and idols and remain pure and be a light. It scares to pants off of me to imagine that my girls will have that task before them! But, I trust that if God is calling our family to be a light in a dark place, then that is exactly what we will do! By HIS strength and power, and not our own. We are not worthy or strong enough or wise enough. But, we are learning to abide in HIM daily and walk in his path. To lean on him COMPLETELY. He WILL call us out of our comfort and security and force us to rely on HIM. If we are relying on our own strength and skills and abilities, then we aren't really getting the point. So, as much as we enjoyed this vacation and appreciated God's confirmation at so many times that this is HIS call for us, we do not go into this with anticipation of only good times and fun and happily ever after. We consider it entering the battlefield and being the warriors on the front lines, armed with LOVE, TRUTH, HOPE, LIGHT, and His power.
Here am I, send me. . . . .