Posted in Family on 28. Jul, 2010
After today I will call my Wednesday posts “Wordless Wednesday”, but today I’m going to explain it a little. Destiny said I should call it “Wordy Wednesday” just for today, and I totally agree. I would hate to mislead anyone.
I’ve been wanting to do Wordless Wednesdays for a long time but always seem to forget until late on Wednesday Thursday Friday night. I really love pictures that speak for themselves, so now I will (hopefully) be looking for a photo all week to use.
The whole idea of Wordless Wednesday is not to use words. I totally get that, but I do want to say one more thing that might seem unrelated but really isn’t: I am so very very grateful that my laptop is back in my hands after being in the repair shop for a week. I have a Macbook Air (which I LOVE) and the hinge has been gradually breaking over the last several months. Well, my wonderful husband researched it and found out that I’m not the only one with hinge problems on my version of Air. Therefore, they fixed it better than ever and totally free of charge even though it was past the one-year warranty period! I LOVE Apple!
Ok…..now for my Wordless Wednesday….

American Fourth of July in Belgium
Posted in Family on 20. Jun, 2010
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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Posted in Family on 08. May, 2010
“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…)
When I left the house this morning, I had no idea how life-changing this day would be for me. It sounds simple. I was going to help six ladies (ages 19 to 50) hand out plastic, chocolate-filled Easter eggs to the women in the windows in the red light district of a large city in Belgium. (I’m not posting the name of the city until I clear it with the leader. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the safety of the girls in the windows.) Not too difficult, huh?! Pretty tame mission, right?! Wow. Was I wrong. (more…)
Last night twenty-five of us gathered in our dining room to remember how God miraculously delivered us out of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His son, Yeshua. We recounted the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt, and received fresh revelation of Yeshua being our sacrifice lamb. He was crucified, buried, and resurrected….all during Passover week. The Passover was pre-planned and pre-determined by God with the sacrifice of Messiah in mind. The Passover set the stage for the great act of Messiah’s death and resurrection. The plan of God through the ages was to reveal His extravagant love to His children through His Son. What love! (more…)