Growing Pains

David and I must be about to have a marital growth spurt! Like the growth spurts we experienced as teenagers, our marital growth spurt is being heralded by symptoms such as mood swings, awkwardness, and voice changes! As we begin to attempt to do some of our "missionary" stuff, we have realized that we have to work together much more closely than we have had to in the past. I mean we get to work together more. Now don't misunderstand me. We aren't headed for counseling. Yet. I still like David and he still likes me. I just don't understand why he always wants to do things the wrong way. I mean differently than I would do them. We seem to approach most decisions and tasks from completely opposite directions; yet, amazingly, we discover after rational conversations (sometimes disguised as heated arguments) that our desired outcomes are often exactly the same. So why is it, that if we both have the same destination in mind, we have such a hard time agreeing on the mode of transportation? By the grace of God, we have been able to maintain our sense of humor in this process. As we are preparing to speak at my parents' church for the first time in our role as "missionaries" the conversations go something like this:

David: Let's practice what we are going to say this weekend at Mt. Park Church.

Jenn: Okay.

David: Here is my two page outline complete with scripture references, statistics about France, and key facts about GEM. Jenn, why are your lips disappearing?

Jenn: (Un-pursing lips) What?

David: Your lips are disappearing, what's the problem?

Jenn: Oh nothing, I just thought we could kind of 'wing it.'

David: But I don't want to be unprepared. We need to honor these people by having a plan. Why are your lips disappearing?

Jenn: (Un-pursing lips again and thinking but not saying: Does boring them with facts and figures honor them?) I don't want to stifle you, David, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how our two styles are going to fit together.

David: (with pen in hand ready to make changes to his outline) Just tell me what you want to say, and I'll put it in.

Jenn: Well I don't really know exactly what I want to say, I just kind of want to tell our story.

David: So tell it. I'll take notes and change the outline.

Jenn: I wasn't really planning on working off of an outline.

David: Well then how will we know who is going to say what and when? And your lips are disappearing again.

Jenn: (un-pursing) Can we work on this tomorrow?

We have had an exchange similar to this almost every day since last Thursday. David has given up on bringing his outline to the discussions, and I am spending more time concentrating on my facial expression than really figuring out what I want to say. We still have five days. A lot of growth can happen in five days. But it probably wouldn't hurt if some of you started to pray.

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Flight of the Aviator

About 7 years ago, my amazing husband quit his stable (read: boring!) banking job, to follow his dream of becoming a pilot. Actually, his becoming a pilot was every bit as much a calling on his life as his becoming a missionary has been. As a manager of a flight school, he still loves to fly and wakes up every day grateful for the joy of responding to that call. So as it became more and more clear that the next phase of our life was going to be in France, and possibly take David away from flying, I asked him if he was afraid of losing his wings. He shook his head and said, "God gave them to me once, he can give them to me again." So true. Nevertheless, through a seemingly random (read: God-ordainded) set of meetings and circumstances, David has been in contact with a Fixed Base Operation just north of Paris where he may be able to recreationally pursue some flying opportunities. God is so good. There is a famous saying that goes "When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window." My experience has been "When God closes a door, He blows a hole in the other side of the house!"

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Want a slice?

This is the pie that I made yesterday afternoon. Isn't she lovely? It's a lattice-top apple. I could not have made a pie to save my life a year ago, but after being inspired by the pie-making genius of my friend Gail, I decided that learning the fine art of pie-making would be one of my goals for 2008. My family has loved every delicious moment of my endeavor, giving me their input and direction along the way, and happily eating even my greatest disasters. For years I have been perplexed by the expression "easy as pie" because I have never found pie making to be easy; however, thanks to more than a few helpful insights and shared recipes from Gail, pie has become my favorite thing to bake. Without a doubt, apple is the family favorite, but I have also made blueberry, blackberry, mixed berry, and one disastrous attempt at butterscotch meringue. I need pie weights.... Anyway, in learning to make pie, I have found a new passion, and there is something very life-giving about pursuing a new passion, even one as trifling as pie-making. When I look at that pie, I feel a sense of accomplishment. Satisfaction. Elation! And I'm already anxious to bake another, hopeful that the next one might be even better. It makes me wonder if this is how God feels when some aspect of my character that He has been shaping finally begins to bear fruit. Perhaps He even looks at me and says, "Isn't she lovely!"

Keep me as the apple of your eye...Psalm 17:8

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Basking in the Blessings

Swan Lake. Not the ballet, the place. This piece of property has been in the Williamson Family since David's great grandfather purchased it in 1934. Nestled in the mountains of northwest Montana, it is a place where fun comes first--that is to say, if dinner is ready at the exact moment that the lake calms for a perfect ski...dinner can wait! It is also a place where God's grace abounds in natural beauty, rejuvenated relationships, and pure relaxation. Here is just a glimpse of how we pass the time at the lake.

Hanging out on the water...

Reading a good book...

Skiing, skiing, skiing...

Casting a line...

Helping a brother...

Taking a dip...

Skipping rocks...

Driving the boat...

...loving life.

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White Water Williamsons

We just spent the weekend in Montana celebrating David's Dad's 70th birthday with a white water rafting trip in Glacier National Park. Without a doubt, this is EXACTLY how I hope to celebrate when I become a septuagenarian. Eleven Williamsons rode the waves, paddled vigorously, and conquered the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Our fearless guide, Jordan, led us confidently while sharing interesting bits of history and geology all along the way, making the adventure both thrilling and educational.

In my opinion, this was the birthday party to beat all birthday parties--Chuck E. Cheese eat your heart out! And it couldn't have been in honor of a better man. My father-in-law, Len, has a huge heart, a wealth of wisdom, and a generosity of spirit. He can be both deeply thoughtful and wildly daring all in the course of a single afternoon. He lives his life with integrity, but even more inspiring is his ever-growing joy in Jesus. Thanks, Len, for letting us celebrate with you! Can't wait to see what you do for your 80th. Bungee jumping anyone?

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WIPEOUT

I am not really much of a TV watcher. It either bores or offends me most of the time, so I just don't bother with it. (Of course I should mention we don't have cable, because if we did, I could watch HGTV 24/7) But last week David was out of town, and in lonesome desperation, the boys and I turned on the TV one evening. There was this show on ABC called Wipe Out where contestants compete in practically impossible obstacle courses to win $50,000. The show lives up to its name, as most participants seriously wipe out and end up covered in mud, suds, or water. Then of course there is the replay of all the wipe outs, complete with commentary by the funny and rarely inappropriate hosts of the show. Now to tell you the truth, I don't think that I would have liked the show had I been watching it alone, but watching it with two pre-teen boys was entirely entertaining. They were laughing so hard, that I caught myself being amused. I'm just waiting for one of them to start creating their own obstacle courses in the yard...perhaps I should increase my insurance policy!

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Letting Go!

Chandler calls this a "no-hander." I haven't mastered this trick. I can let go for a few seconds while coasting, but I always falter when I try to pedal without holding on to the handlebars. But Chandler can ride forever with no hands. The only complication is that he has little or no power to steer. As long as he is content to go wherever the road takes him, Chandler can ride for miles with his hands high in the air, the wind in his face, and his heart fully free!

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My bike isn't the only place that I have a hard time letting go. I am a recovering control freak who still struggles with not always being able to steer my own life. God in His wisdom is much more capable of determining the best path for me, yet when I feel like I am faltering, it is so hard to trust Him and resist the urge to grab the handlebars and take control. But I really do want to let go.

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I want to let go of my children...and trust that God will keep them.

I want to let go of my things...He knows whether or not I need them.

I want to let go of my dreams...believing God can redeem them.

I want to let go of my life, raise my hands, and know His freedom.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17

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