Thirty Years of Wedded Bliss

At 5:00 pm tonight Texas time thirty years ago, I married my best friend. I married the man of my dreams. I married a man who would love me through thick and thin…lean times and abundant times…pretty times and ugly times.  I married a man who would be the father of my five children and the grandfather of my seven precious grandbabies.  (I can’t ever talk about my grandchildren without using the word “precious”!)  I married a man who loves Yeshua with all of his being and is not satisfied with anything less than giving his life to search out the mysteries of God.  I married a man who would show me what it means to love God’s people unconditionally, even through offenses.  I married a man who would show me what it means to be fiercely loyal no matter what storms might come.  I married a man who would show me what humility looks like. I married a man who believes the best in everyone and does what it takes to make them successful.  I married a man who would give his life for his family and love them with a fierce love. I married a man who would do anything and go anywhere to be in the will of God. Our life in Israel and Belgium is proof of that.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. I am beyond blessed to be his best friend and wife.  Thank you, honey, for thirty wonderful years. I’m eternally grateful.

29th anniversary on the patio of our apt in Israel last year

Gary standing inside the Eastern Gate on the Temple Mount

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Real Fathers

On this cold and rainy Father’s Day in Belgium I have been thinking a lot about fathers.  I am reminded that a man isn’t a true father just because he has a child.  True fathers are not very common.  A true father puts his wife and children first in all that they do. He takes the responsibility of training his children very seriously.  He knows that his actions and words today will be reaped for generations to come.  He loves and seeks God with all his heart and wants his children to far exceed him in their love and pursuit.  He lives unselfishly and will be there at the drop of a hat when his children need him.  A true father is a gift from heaven.

I have the privilege of having many true fathers in my life. I’m grateful for my father. He loves Yeshua with all his heart and has taught me the importance of prayer and an inner communion with the ultimate Father. My dad imparted to me a love for Israel and the Jewish people.  He loves the Land almost as much as I do.  (He probably thinks he loves it more, but that’s not possible!)  He is such a hard worker and tirelessly gives of himself for others.  He loves the outdoors and is always ready for adventure. I love you, Dad!

He looks like he knows a secret that he isn't telling.

This is his favorite activity....preaching!

The picture below was taken last summer when they visited Gary, Preston, and I in Israel.  This is Dad, Mom, and Tracey Kingham at the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea in Israel

I have other real fathers in my life as well.  My precious husband is at the top of the list.  His love for his children is something that continually blesses me.  His love for Yeshua inspires me every day of my life.  His love for ME brings security and comfort. Our family is truly blessed and privileged to have him in our lives. I love you, sweetie!

He loves his daughters!

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Living With Six Little People

I have a special privilege that many grandparents in the world do not have. I live with six of my seven beautiful grandchildren. Every day is so much fun.  Seriously, it is.  After being without them in Israel for a whole year, I am enjoying every single second. They are so funny and sincere, and, I must say, very obedient. That makes living with them that much better. Of course each one has moments where he is testing his boundaries, but those are few and far between.  We are all working on establishing a house of prayer here in Brussels, and it’s so much fun to see the kids participate. Ashlyn loves to bring her Bible in almost every morning and take part in the worship and prayer.  The younger ones take part, too, and it’s always in the form of dancing and singing. We try to have special times when they can have their own watch. That way they can be as loud as they want! You’ve never seen a group a kids love to sing more than my group! It is amazing.

Ashlyn (7) in her dancing dress

Lyric (3) and Madysen (6) with their strollers and dress-up clothes

Kadyn (4) in dress-up clothes

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Beautiful Brugge

The last few days have been a blur to say the least.  We have been involved in an Antioch Network (Belgium) Pastors Conference and also a large worship event for young people.  And we have four hundred ninety-two people staying in our house. Well, we don’t really have four hundred ninety-two people living in our house, but close to it.  Josh and Marian Briscoe, Zach, Liz, and Titus Lowrie, Daniel Svoboda, Kacy Bruton, and the rest of our clan are all in the house. (I think that’s somewhere around twenty people.)  Josh and Marian actually left this morning to go back to Texas, but we have two more young people coming in this week. We are loving every minute of it.  Josh Briscoe spoke at a youth meeting in one of the local churches last Wednesday. Gary spoke at the Pastors Conference Thursday morning.  Nathan (our son-in-love) spoke at the Explosion youth event Friday night. And we all were on the worship team Saturday morning for the conclusion of the conference. The pastors were definitely stirred and challenged as to their views and beliefs about Israel and the glory of God. So good!

Yesterday after the conference was over, we decided to drive about an hour outside of Brussels to a quaint little town called Brugge (broozsh).  We were in 2 vans and a car. I have decided that Brugge is one of the more beautiful cities in Belgium.

This is where Gary, Arni Klein (our good friend from Israel), and I originally parked before we realized we were more than three kilometers from where the other two vans had parked.  Isn’t this a beautiful scene?  I took this with my ancient Kodak EasyShare camera. It’s old, but it still takes great pictures.  The bridge is how you get to the center of the town.

Every town here has a large open square at the center.  This is the life of the city.

Here is another view with Madysen posing in the center.

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My Walking Heart

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

Several years ago I read this quote inside a baby shower gift card.  It has stuck with me ever since.  I can’t think of anything that depicts motherhood any better than this. My heart is walking around in five different people right now. Actually my heart is walking around in nine different people right now. The spouses of my children are just as much my children as the ones I actually gave birth to. Words can’t explain how much I love them. When your heart is outside of your body, it is the ultimate in vulnerability and risk. The pain is greater when your heart is stepped on, but the indescribable joy of seeing your children grow up into adults who have a deep love for Jesus far outweigh any pain.  I love love LOVE my children!

Today I want to honor some special moms in my life.

Mom at an outside cafe in Jerusalem (Sept. '09)

This is my mother, and she is so special to me. One important thing that Mom imparted to me while I was growing up was a love for community.  We always had people living with us. Everyone felt welcomed in our home. It’s hard to remember a time when we DIDN’T have someone living with us!  I appreciate her modeling that Godly character for me. It prepared me well for a life with extended family as a pastor’s wife and now as a missionary.

Mom is such a positive person. When I was a little girl, I remember many times that she would get us all through a difficult situation by choosing to laugh. Her laughter is so contagious!  Also when my five kids were growing up, she was always a phone call away.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and always wanted to babysit.  That was such a help! I love you, Mom, and pray you have a wonderful Mother’s Day, even though half of your family is now on the other side of the Atlantic. We love you!

The day Gary, Preston, and I moved to Israel. (April 2009)

I also want to tell my grandmother how very much I love her.  Momo, there has never been or ever will be a better grandmother than you. (more…)