Packing!

Guess what today is?

The day before tomorrow!

And guess what tomorrow is?

The day I leave for New York!

Can this really be happening to me? Yes, I think it is!

I've actually been packed for weeks ;) & just can't wait to lug this heavy thing to the airport at 6 in the morning!

Too much stuff?

Anyway, please say a prayer!

Gotta go!

-Amber

A Lovely Woman - Biblical Womanhood

Hello!

I wanted to share a few thoughts that have been flowing in & out of my mind today!

Not that I know much about this topic on biblical womanhood, but boy am I so facsinated with it. I desire it greatly.

But how many can agree with me that is is hard?

Especially with the world we live in--it's tough to be a true woman of God.

One thing that I love is that Jesus calls us His children...& because He is a King (!) we are His daughters & sons, His princes & princesses. (But in the case, I'm talking to the princesses)

There's something oh so special to me about being called a Princess.

For years, to me, it meant a being a diva/girly girl/brat type princess.

 But now, I want to recognize it as an inner beauty, deep inside your soul, lovely, honorable princess.

This is sorta what I mean...

"A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape;

But a woman of strength looks deep inside to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything;

But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her;

But a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future;

But a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure foodetly;

But a woman of strength knows when to ask for help.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face;

But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey;

But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong."

-Unknown-

I love being a woman! I thank the Lord that I am one, & I want to find out more how I can be a pleasing & lovely one to Him.

There are some verses that stick out to me:

"If a woman has long hair, it is her glory." ~1 Cor. 11:15~

Now, to me, this makes me think about femininity. That's a beautiful thing, I think. But I know biblical womanhood goes deeper than out word beauty.

Oh, how I long to be a woman of strength. But to be honest here, I feel like the strong woman.

I guess I have no business "preaching" to you about this stuff because I am still learning about it.

But these were my thoughts & longings thus far in my journey.

I see a woman of strength who's gentle, kind, loving. Beautiful on the inside which makes her radiate on the outside. Reliant on God & a beautiful reflection of Him!

I see her there, I picture this certain place in Israel on a mountain where there was an abundance of yellow wildflowers, and there she is sitting by that rock with water in the holes. And the breeze is blowing and it's quiet. And she's wearing a smile as she's washing her feet and she's gentle and meek and beautiful.

And it's the woman I want to be.

<3

The Lord is good! The Lord is good! The Lord is good!

Let me say is again!
THE LORD IS GOOD!
He has been providing the funds for my trip left and right!

Not only has He been provding my strength & joy at work, but with the funds for my expensive missions trip. And people have been so generous.

Thank you for your prayers!

This is me right now!



Planting In The Garden

Sweet day :)

Israel - Part 1! (part 2 is on the bottom)

Hello my friends!
I'm very glad to be back, although I miss that land so much! They're right when they say you feel at home over there ;)
I thought I'd show you some pictures & share some stories of this adventure. There are tons of them, so I'll have to do them in parts.
Enjoy!
*None of these are edited (there are too many!) so I know they aren't as "good" as they could be*

Tel Aviv

The looong plane ride had a "GPS" & here in this picture shows that we are almost there!

My first glimpse of Israel!

I seriously wasn't expecting any part of Israel to be city-ish, but I forgot this isn't the biblical days!

The Mediterranean Sea was just seconds from our hotel. My sister & I walked there at night!

A cool building

Our weird smiles ;)

During the middle of the night, we woke up to yelling Hebrew men outside our hotel! It was crazy! It's not as dangerous as that sounds, but we were a little freaked out. It was about 2 am, & my sister (Ash) & I ended up staying awake, eating chocolate & oranges ;) Then our noise woke up our Gramma, so we all stayed up praying & talking & singing & laughing until the break of day.

Caserea

 We had our first breakfast in Israel that morning, & the room we sat in overlooked the ocean!

Here are the ruins of Herod The Great's palace. Here is also where he built a harbor. It's also a place where Paul came.

Our guide gave us a few minutes to explore & off to the ocean me & Ash went! I walked the shore & picked up some shells. 

Galilee

My favorite place in Israel! This was the quieter part of The Holy Land.

Oh, the wildflowers!

Armageddon behind us!

The Burning Place (Elijah)

I loved our hotel in Galilee. There was a place where you could walk all the way to the Sea of Galilee & I did that one morning during sunrise.

I snuck away to this little forest & journaled away while the birds just sang & sang. As I walked back (barefoot!) a girl one the way said, "Shalom!" and out of habit, I let out a squeaky "Hi!" But eventually I got into the habit of saying Shalom to people.

The old boat museum held this 2,000 year old boat!

Then off for a ride on the sea! The boat was called "Sailing on Faith" & the guy who owned it was very funny & very godly. He sang for us w/ his band & you could just feel the Holy Spirit.

I loved sailing on the water where Jesus walked!

We had a fresh fish lunch at a restuarant & the fish came whole! Head, tail & all!

Everywhere you turned in Galilee was covered in green hills & flowers. It's literally the most beautiful place I've ever been to.

We went to see a church & it was raining! My sister & I were aheaad of the group while Gramma was in the back. All of a sudden, I hear people gasping. When I turn around, I see my grandmas two feet up in the air! I was so scared that she slipped on the stone, so we ran to her. But of course, she was all smiles.
Later on the bus, everyone was just laughing about it. One of the woman was all, "Bessie, did you read the plaque that had a verse next to where you fell? It said, "Blessed are the meek: They shall inherit the earth!" And from then on, the whole group couldn't get enough!




"...Who fills the sky with clouds,


preparing rain for the earth,

Then turning the mountains green with grass,

feeding both cattle and crows."
Part of Psalm 147

For those descendants to come...

Oh, so much to share.

 My mind is much more messier than my room, just so ya know ;)

But even though it's filled with worry & fear about the future, my mind is abundantly filled with

beauty &

love &

expectation for the future.

You know, my Mama is so imperfect.

But I realized that she is perfect for me.

And that...that is perfect.

When I see my Mama loving on her children, I can't help but smile & think of my own someday ;) That brings me more joy than I can say! (Oh, let the tears just fall, Amber.)

Tears. Oh, to wipe a child's tears away, and snuggle them upon my breast.

I wanna be a Mama more than anything.

Today at our home school conference, our speaker talked about Jonathan Edwards.

He & his wife home schooled their children, and after about 100 years, "they" did a research thing where they found out what their decedents became. Just out of that couple, came doctors, and lawyers and pastors and missionaries.

(I may of got some facts wrong :)

And it got me thinking! ("I see those wheels turning!" my mom says when she sees my head in the clouds.)

I wonder what my decedents will be!

I wish with all my heart that I could see the bigger picture. I wish I could just take a peak at what they'll look like. Will they look like me?!

And with that thought it mind, it made me wonder, of course, about my decisions & actions & plans.

 Oh, I desire with all my heart to be a wife & a Mama. More than anything! I think I would turn down college & traveling & archaeology just to raise a family.

My desire to travel & become other things is great, but to me, there is no greater "job" than raising a family. That in itself is a ministry I believe. Because leaders are born in the home!

Check this quote out:

"We may never see the impact of our witness this side of heaven. But rest assured, we plant more seeds in our day-to-day conversations, debates, and examples than we think we do." (Unknown)

Like my little KaleyBear "planting those seeds". (ok, so she's "replanting" a branch)

"She who makes a good home, where others are encouraged and strengthened, she is ready to speak a kind and encouraging words to those in need; she who keeps a humble and quiet everyday service to God is glorifying Him just as much as those who go on special missions."

~Unknown~

Just some thoughts I've been thinkin'. Thanks for reading ;)

Enjoy these few pictures that just make me smile!

The pottery is here!

Well, that pottery class I told you about has sadly come to an end (for now).

I finally have most of the stuff I made & thought I'd show you!

I know my bowls need a little work, but I really love them ;)