A Year Has Past

Today I find myself reflecting on the events of March 2010. My family was torn at the seams when my brother passed away suddenly. Yet, his passing made us closer than we have ever been.

After several years of being disconnected with each other, we were slowly patching things up. My brother and I had always stayed in touch. He shared with me how his family was growing and everything he was up to. But he was the only connection I had with my immediate family. Mom and Dad had made their choice about their relationship with me, and so had I about them. It was too painful to be in the middle of family misunderstandings - both sides. I had to heal and find my place in my own life.

Our time apart, to me, was not wasted. I was stronger and better for it. I was also grateful for the monthly emails from my brother, or the occasional calls. Keeping track of when someone may have had health problems or life celebrations. He was always my go-between, no matter the circumstance, as children and as adults.

I had spent time in the months preceding his death, writting my Mom. Sharing my life with her. We were connecting again. I even surprised my parents with a visit during a business trip to Florida. To me, part of a barrier was broken when I saw them.

But, we were suddenly faced with losing the one person in our small family of four, that kept us all together. Dad and I were thrust back into each others lives, to support and love each other as we tried to remain strong for my ailing mother. We put aside grievances and then became a winning team.

The year that followed the painful loss was filled with great triumphs for my Dad and I. We had to come together again to take care of my mother. Again, we were a team. There for each other. It is so heartwarming to know that the time we spent apart, I believe, allowed us to spend such a hard time together and make it through.

So, the year has past. The anniversary is here. I miss my brother. Always will.

I go back and read old emails he sent. I look at photos, that will soon be old. He is still larger than life to me.

The sadness will always be there, I know. So will the memories. There is great joy and thankfulness that he was MY brother. I am blessed.

A New Year

While most people take some time to look back at the year just past and write of its history, mostly recording accomplishments and great events. I however want to take a huge leap back into my past. Landing in a time and place where I remember the laughter and good times. I look at the time I was 5 years old, swimming in our backyard pool in Dallas, Texas. I can hear myself yelling from the slide, "Watch this!" over and over until mom or dad would watch me again, and again repeat the same trick my brother taught me. Face first down the water slide! I loved it when my dad would wait at the bottom of the slide and catch me as I hit the pool. He would quickly pull me under the water, then shoot me straight up to the sky! I always felt like I was flying for a moment before I came splashing down!

Why would this come to mind instead of  cheering in the new year? Well, as the ball began to drop, everyone started to count down. 10, 9, 8.... For months prior to this moment I thought of how sweet it is going to be to be able to say "good bye" to 2010 with a great cheer. But my thoughts drifted to the memories of having to say good bye to my brother and my mother instead. My heart ached once again at the thought of not having any more chances to say "Happy New Year" to them. Once again I wished they were here. I realized that I miss them even more now.

I would like to dedicate this new year to them. I pray that relief from this grief will come soon. I have hope that it will. So for now I will continue to look back into my past and find only those happy memories of our times of laughter and adventures. I am ever so thankful that I have my father in my life and pray that our relationship continues to build and gain strength.

Blessings to you all. I pray you too find those wonderful family memories to bring you great joy in the new year.

Vancouver Christmas Project

December 4th & 5th

6:00pm

Evergreen High School Performing Arts

14300 NE 18th Street

Vancouver, WA 

Join us for an evening of music and drama

Celebrating the story of Christmas

For more information, call 360.892.1060

In lieu of admission, we will be accepting new shoes & socks for Northwest Children's Outreach

All the information on this is from the website for the Vancouver Christmas Project:

Welcome to the Vancouver Christmas Project! We are organizing a Christmas event for Clark County and through this event we want to be able to support those who are in need among us. The current state of the economy has left many wondering where their next meal will come from, how they will keep a roof over their heads and if they have enough gas to get to work.

The organizations that already exist to help those in need are also finding themselves short on money and in turn, short on their ability to help those who need it the most.

It is from this need that the Vancouver Christmas Project arose. We will be doing a Christmas Concert the first weekend of December. It will be a free event, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. At the event we will be accepting donations of new shoes and socks, and cash donations. Everything that is brought in will go right back out to the community!

A big part of the Vancouver Christmas Project is the Community Choir. We will have people joining the choir from all over Clark County.

New Information:
The Vancouver Christmas Project is pleased to announce that we will be partnering with Northwest children’s outreach. We will give you more information in the future about how you can make a difference in the life of a child, but for now, here’s a little bit about Northwest children’s Outreach.


Northwest Children’s Outreach is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to helping families in the Portland area and surrounding communities. We help fill the needs of these families, providing clothing, infant care products, diapers, formula and many of the other necessities parents need for their children.

If you would like to learn more about how you can help us reach out to families in need, please click on the links on the right side of this page. Donations of time and/or money are always appreciated. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run, so all donations go straight to the families who need them.

Northwest Children’s outreach Website: http://northwestchildrensoutreach.org/

Northwest Children’s Outreach on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NorthwestChildrensOutreach



East Coast Extravaganza



Photography by Paige Pruitt-Haase

 After a week of settling in from the mission, I was headed to the East Coast with Doug. This trip included a 12-step plan to get to camping with my sister-in-law and my three nephews. My sister-in-law is not a fan of camping, and this was to be the real deal. A canvas tent, sleeping bags, no showers and eco friendly toilets. Oh yeah, on an island in the Belgrade Lakes of Maine. Doug & I loved the idea. We have missed being able to camp for a few seasons. So this was going to be a real treat.

We arrived in Newark and then headed straight to the coast. Mantaloking is such a great place to just kick back and enjoy the days. Family and friends were there too. We were treated to great food and tons of water fun!

Two days later we were back in the car, there were 6 of us. Three adults and three kids, pumped up to get on the road and to our next destination. Not to camping yet, to a B&B in Kinnebunkport! So now we have moved away from the comfort and confines of a family beach home, to the adorable little haven of a beach B&B. We roughed it a bit by canoeing and riding bikes. But for the most part, the down mattress pads and fluffy pillows were going to soon be lost to our memories, well my sister-in-law's memories and dreams. I knew it was coming. I tried to think of ways to make the transition comfortable. She was doing well in the first two steps.

After two nights, we set out again. This time, headed to cousins vacation home on Sebago Lake. It was so beautiful there. But we were to be there just for lunch, then head to catch the boat to camp. The kids swam, fed ducks, visited cousins. Lunch was served! We had a great time visiting and laughing, telling stories about family gatherings. It was good to hear about Gregory's time with them all!

As we packed up the kids, it was decided that there should be a last hoorah! Ice cream! I began to think that my sister-in-law was dragging her feet at this point. But, we decided to meet everyone for ice cream. Ok, it really wasn't hard to do this! It was warm and they were not ready to say good-bye.

Finally, we hugged and said our farewells. We were back on the road. Before we knew it, we passed through the gates of Pine Island Camp. I was so anxious at this point. My brother passed through those gates as a teen to enjoy 6 weeks of "guy fun", in two summers.

It took me back to that time. I was in 5th and 6th grade. We lived in Greenville, SC. His first summer away, was the first I can remember being separated for such a long time. I did not like it at all. The house was quiet. I know I did stuff with friends, tennis and swimming. But at home I was kind of lonely. Of course I never would admit that to him!

When he came home, I remember his stories of sailing, wars and campfires. Gregory had a way of telling a story, always compelling. Also more interesting than anything that I might have done that summer.

So here we were, with his young sons. Unpacking the car with our gear, hauling it to the dock. We were greated by Ben Swan, the director of the camp. He was there when Gregory was a camper too.

I could only imagine my brother hopping into the boat with his gear, excitement building as he approached the dock on the island. Wondering what the summer had in store for him. I wondered if he thought about home while he was here. I would easily forgive him if he hadn't. The scenery was beautiful.

We docked and were approached by the warmest most welcoming smile of Emily Swan, Ben's wife. From here, the camping experience began! This place is awesome! Secluded, clean, safe, friendly.

To be continued.....

Follow the Team in Nicaragua

I was unable to blog while in Nicaragua. Time and internet connections are hard to come by....

If you are interested in reading our Pastor's Blog and seeing video that was sent back to our church, go to:
http://www.gatewayweb.org/

Click on the "Media" tab. From there it will prompt you to either read blogs or see video.

Bendecidos!

The Eve of Departure

Photography by Paige Pruitt-Haase

The packing is done and our suitcases have been weighed. I believe we are ready to go. This weekend at church we prayed with the congregation. We shared last minute needs and what is planned for the trip. They got to meet us, again. Only this time we were together as a team. A family in Christ preparing to go and share His love to the people of Nicaragua.

We still needed 50 small tubes of toothpaste and asked the congregation if they could supply it. By the end of our service on Sunday, our prayer was answered! What a great community we have! Praise God!

In Philippians 2, I find comfort in the words as to our preparedness:

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,[a] he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges[b]; He took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form,[d] 8 He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

So I leave with you all a request. As our team goes and share these things with others, do the same in your communities. Love one another. Remember Jesus' sacrifice for us. Humble yourself as a servant to others with the love of Christ in your hearts.

I love you all, praise God for you all. I pray the next two weeks you make yourself a living sacrifice and you have some great stories to tell me when I return. I will too!

Bendecidos!

Countdown - Five Days to Go...

Photography by Paige Pruitt-Haase

The excitement is starting to set in! Or could it be anxiety? I have a few things I would like to pick up for the trip, then I will start to actually pack into a suitcase. Aside from this, my journal study is really leading me so much closer to God. I always feel so protected from the evil one when I completely give my mind to the Good News!

Last night, Doug & I decided to go to The White Eagle, a McMenamins Pub, while we waited to pick up Coral and Morgan after the Justin Bieber Concert. Yes, that sentence is so loaded with so many things that humans struggle with in the flesh! Even though I got to listen to two Bluegrass Bands, my favorite type of music, I found myself looking at the faces of all the people walking by, standing at the bar or even dancing. Everyone looks happy and like they are having fun, but, is it because of the music, atmosphere, drink, friends? Then I question - Do they know Christ? Would they want to know? Would they be interested in learning about Him? Go on a mission trip?

I think a lot of the people would do mission work, but would it be to glorify God? Geez, how did Paul do it?! How did he or even Jesus for that matter, just walk into a town and start sharing the Good News? Without fear of persecution even! I think I would have a harder time sharing this with this crowd than I do in Nicaragua. Like I said, as the time gets closer to depart, I find myself relying totally on God for strength, patience and comfort. He gives all this to me by guiding me to where He needs me, and it all falls into place! Of course, it's not all that easy - I have to be dedicated to this time with Him or I always fall to the wayside, the fleshly struggle when I try to do it all on my own.

In my journal today, Christ is Supreme! Colossians 1:15-23 supreme! God is the beginning and the end. Why should I think that I could handle anything on my own? In Nicaragua, the people I work side by side with know I am there because of God. Here, they have no idea unless I say something. What do I say to start the conversation? It seems God always puts that into place, He also gives me the words, too. But sometimes there is no conversation when I feel there should have been, that's fleshly thinking. Obviously God has already planned for someone else to talk with them or show them the way.

Now is my time to share Christ's love with the people of Nicaragua. I have to use that experience to share with family and friends upon my return. Maybe one day as I sit at a pub listening to music, not only would I meet another Believer, but maybe talk to someone who wants to believe. You just never know, you don't need to, God is in control of that!

So today I would like to share this...

...Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God's servant to proclaim it. Col.1:23

In Christ -

Paige