Walking in the Shadows

It’s a cold, icy day here in Travelers Rest and my two boys are outside enjoying the ice as it gathers on the trampoline. As I sat and watched them play I thought “am I crazy for letting them play in this ice” then I thought maybe just letting them be was just what they needed. They are bundled up and won’t catch cold any more than they would if it were snowing, so why I allow myself the Mom guilt for being unorthodox I don’t know. Just as our home is full of noise and laughter it is full of hopes and dreams. As a Mother, it is my heart’s desire to see my children reach high with their dreams and I hope to instill in them that with God anything is possible. Today it may be playing in the ice when others think we are a little crazy, tomorrow it may mean my son believing he can be a missionary in a foreign land. You see, as much as I love my children at this stage in life, I am not raising them to be children; I am raising them to be men and women to serve the Lord. Ever...

Last weekend, Jason and I had the privilege to go and work with a missionary who is beginning a church plant in the states. He has been a missionary for many years and has planted five churches in five countries throughout his ministry. I made a late decision in the week to travel with Jason so I really began the trip by scurrying around to make sure I had all I needed packed. We took Miss Addison with us and if you have a little one you know there are always a million things you can’t forget! As we start our journey very early Saturday morning I ask (for at least the fifth time) where we are to meet the missionary. My husband replies (for at the least the fifth time) “I don’t know honey, he said he would tell us when we get closer.” I smile and try not to stress, as I am planner and when a trip is involved I have it ALL planned weeks before! True to his word, about 30 minutes before our arrival we get a phone call with directions on where to meet. Now, we are heading his way and af...