[throwback to our Aussie days!]
What's the next step in this journey we are on? Where do you want us to go from here, God? What is your will for our little family? And that's when I stumbled across this verse. ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 There it was in just three little verses, the answer to my heart's questions! The remedy to my endless dilemma. What is God’s will? Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks. Always, continually and in all circumstances. Pretty straightforward, lest I attempt to overanalyze the instructions. No matter where God leads us, what we are doing or how our well-constructed plans may turn out, the command remains the same. Always find a reason to rejoice. Be in constant communication with our God no matter what we're facing. And last, but not least, be thankful- regardless of the current condition of life. I figure the only way one can truly attempt to carry through with these directives is through trust. Being confident in who God is and the things He has promised us. I know He has plans for me- prosperous plans of hope and a future [Jeremiah 29:11]. I know He will work all things together for good [Romans 8:28]. And I know He will guide and direct me, 'Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 And that's all I need to know. My part is to trust and obey, taking life one step at a time.
[Derek captured this butterfly that loves our lavender plant!]
We had another rainy week and the moisture is definitely taking the island to a new shade of green! There certainly is a glorious amount of beauty in this place!! We were a litte worried that we would face mammoth sized weeds when we headed to the land this week, but we were pleasantly surprised to find their growth insignificant. The coffee trees are doing well; there's not much to report at this point in the growing season. We're still selling our coffee from last harvest and, with hopes to start selling a bit larger quantities, we recently sent a sample to a local chain of tourist shops!
Derek and I have discovered some ways to embrace the torrential down pours we've been experiencing. One afternoon last week I found my husband outside playing basketball. Not one to let boys have all the fun, I could only observe for so long before joining in. Soaked to the bone, with not a care in the world, we were just shooting hoops and playing in the rain with our pup, Kai! Solid way to spend some time :)
We've also taken on the challenge of mastering 'latte art' and somehow this is especially fun on rainy evenings. Fine coffee connoisseurs that we are, it was only a matter of time till we invested in our very own espresso maker. This contraption has taken our beverages to a new level! We've been experimenting with the classic 'rosetta' as well as hearts, flowers, tigers or whatever image we manage to conjur up in our mugs :) I'm still steering clear of caffeine but Derek decaffeinated a batch of our beans, allowing me to indulge in the occasional latte.
Baby Pearl weighs four and a half pounds now and is 17-19 inches long! Apparently we should be able to make size comparisons with a honeydew?! He closes his eyes when he sleeps and opens them when he's awake. His latest accomplishment is the development of his immune system- one step closer to living life outside the womb! We can not WAIT to meet this little man. Battling what I call 'restless leg syndrome' at night has me eagerly anticipating the day I will be able to ditch some of these wackier pregnancy hormones and side effects. One thing I will definitely miss, however, is the movements. Although the flips and twists continue to increase in intensity, I love how active our baby is and know I need to cherish every moment of the remaining weeks.
[love watching this guy surf!]
God continues to provide work for Derek and we are incredibly grateful! This weekend came complete with a graduation party for a friend, our first mangoes of the season and a swell for my husband's surfing privileges. We are so blessed and so excited for all that God is teaching us and doing in our lives. We may not know what all the future holds, or even what this new week has in store. But we go into it with rejoicing, thankful to be in this place at this time. And we continue to go to Jesus with every single detail, listening for His direction and obeying- one step at a time.
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