Why we don't eat buggers

Not sure just how buggers came up in a recent car ride conversation, but it did. We were discussing picking your nose, etc and Hannah asked the kids why we don't eat buggers. There was a brief pause, Lily said something like she was not sure, so Hannah began to tell them that they were dirty and yucky etc, when Aidan piped up with confidence and said, "I know why we don't eat buggers, because they get stuck in your teeth!" Oh yes he did! Ahh! Hannah and I cracked up! He definitely had a past experience with a chewy nose nugget...

Thankful, but not worthy

When I think about all I have been given and blessed with, my heart burst with thanksgiving! Gratitude first and foremost to Jesus for saving me from death. Where would my life be without His grace. To my family, including but not limited to Hannah, the love of my life, Lily and Aidan, you have changed my life forever and I love you both for it. My parents, for leading me by example, not only in my childhood, but even today. The training and education you offered me provides for my family daily. My sisters (and their families), I am so excited that we all are better friends now than when we all lived together as kids! To my Yates family: I could never imagine having better in-laws or bro-sister in-laws than you guys! And of course to all my friends both here and abroad. You all have influenced my life, making me to the person I am today.

WOW, how blessed I am! But I am not worthy. I do not deserve my family or friends. I do not deserve God's grace... But I suppose if I did deserve them, all of the above would not be gifts, but rather things I worked for and earned. You see, that is the wonder of God. Unmatched gifts to unworthy people. So as I enjoy this thanksgiving and as we enter this Christmas season, let us not forget why we are thankful, why we love, why we give... Happy Thanksgiving all!

I don't know why. I do know God.

As most of you know, we came home from Belize with a new tiny life inside Hannah. Friday we discovered that this blessing was no longer alive. In my life I have experienced pain and sorrow, but none quite like this. This pain has brought up many questions, the one topping the list being WHY? I just don't understand. Why would this happen? Why be given life, just to have it disappear? Then my mind wanders to all of the other terrible things that have happened to friends and family I know and love.... Why pain? Why death? Why abuse? Why war? Why cancer? Why illness?

The plain fact is, I don't know why and I never will. As all this flowed through my head and heart, I heard God say very quietly: "you don't know why, but you do know me". I don't know why our sweet baby died, but I do know the overwhelming love of my Father God for me. I don't know why we are experiencing this pain, but I do know how much my Jesus cares for me, and how he hurts with me for the life lost. Although I still hurt, what comfort these words provide. There are so many things in life I don't know the "why's" for, but I do know God. So for those of you who have experienced pain and loss with many unanswered why's, my encouragement to you is get to know God and His promises, for it is those things your heart needs most.

Seasons of change

Change has been on my mind a lot lately. Probably due to the fact that so much has changed for us in the past month. Just 40 days ago we were in Central America sweating our hearts out, and now just 4 days ago we experienced 8 inches of snow (the most we have ever seen)!
Some people avoid change like the plague. Others can't get enough of it. I find myself somewhere in the middle. Regardless, one thing is true: change is inevitable. Like the seasons, our lives will change.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says:

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

As you see in these verses, God says there is a time for EVERYTHING. So the question in my mind is this: what is the purpose of this season in my life? Is this a time to plant or uproot? To be silent, or to speak?... I'll be honest, I am not sure. In part, this uncertainly is worrisome, but God reminds me of His unchanging nature: I Samuel 15: 29 says: "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind." So regardless of the season, or the change I am experiencing, God still has a transcending (way beyond surviving) purpose for me (and you).