her leap of faith...

She is more than half-way through her latest and greatest adventure...

We counted down the months, then weeks, and before it hardly seemed possible, she was commissioned in our church to serve with the Lutheran Young Adult Corps. In August she flew to St. Louis, with excitement in her heart, for two weeks of training before she finally made it to Boston, her city of service. A ten month commitment.

With her new roommates {and I imagine, lifelong friends!} she has explored the city, and embraced her new lifestyle. Hearing the joy in her voice brings tears to my eyes... she is really living. Thriving! It thrills me.

Last month there was an article in Lutherans Engage about what these amazing young women are doing in Boston. Between the two Lutheran churches in the city, they are building a college ministry and serving in an after-school preschool program. They take time to work with New England Seafarers Mission and the homeless. But they are not just serving... they are growing in faith as they stretch themselves and their hearts. {Read the article here!}

I know May will come too quickly for her... and that she will forever cherish this season in her life. My prayer is that there will be an open door for her somewhere at the end of this... that this journey will help her find the next. I know God hears every prayer, and I'm excited to see just how He answers it.

she lives in my everyday...

Last night she was in my dream. I think she was dancing.  I just remember seeing her, and turning and telling Christine I see her!  There's Ann!  It was a gift. 

At home I expect to see her... I have notes from her tucked on my desk, in my bookshelf.  When I see her beautiful handwriting or my eyes pass over our photo perched on the piano, I smile, and thank God for our friendship, her love.  It has been a year since her words popped up in a text message, since I saw her face smiling or felt her arms around me.  But these pieces keep her close... and they remind me of how much she taught me along her path Home. 

While we were away this summer, at the youth gathering, God caught me off-guard.  Twice.  He showed me a glimpse of her face, of her heart.  Both times my eyes flooded with tears that shook my soul... thankful and sad and filled with joy.  {I think only God can mix this recipe!}  The first came with laughter... smack dab in the middle of the Skit Guys performance.  Eddie was portraying a high school student, and Tommy, his mother.  He started in finger wagging and say Now Skippy, Oh Skippy, you listen to me Skippy...  Oh he sounded just like Ann!  She was always, always gracious and kind, but everyone has their someone who gets under their skin!   The second time God showed Ann to me, Bob Lenz was talking about his Mom and her battle with cancer.  I was already thinking about my sweet friend, when he got to part of the story just after his Mom passed.  After she took her last breath, Bob's father raised his arms over his head and cheered... because cancer didn't win.  And oh I have to believe that with my whole heart... that God beats cancer every time He scoops our loved ones into heaven and heals them in His arms. 

But it broke me.  There I sat, my youth in front of me, my husband to my right... and my heart broke open and the tears cried ugly.  My body shook, and all I could do was cover my face and let it happen.  And still, I praise His name, and thank Him for breaking open heaven and letting me see the face and heart of my sweet Ann...

and I think to myself, it's a wonderful world...

his favorite part...

We saw him fill five tall canvases over five days.  Paint splattered and smeared, sometimes scooped and splashed.  Once in a while a brush drew a delicate line, a small detail bringing life.  Wonder and anticipation filled us, eyes trained on the creation... waiting for the moment when we could see.

 
It was Camden's favorite part of the National Youth Gathering... watching the Jesus Painter create on the stage, waiting with suspense.  The face of Jesus. His outstretched hand. The art of love and grace. I loved sitting beside my son as he watched it all.  Cam had the chance to meet Mike Lewis, and shake his paint stained hand.  The Jesus Painter also signed the print Camden bought.  I think about this piece of art... what it speaks, and where it will go.  I think this is a forever piece... one that will always be part of Cam's home, and heart.  
 

Jesus is the artist, We are the brush. Art is is our gift, our ministry and the medium by which we impact the Kingdom for God’s greater glory. Art is our way of bringing faith to life in living color. 

Our relationship with God is personal.... Our Struggles are personal. Our worship is personal.
When we see our relationship with Christ played out on a canvas, we realize just how personal
our faith really is; just how much we have truly been given.

While we can only attain an incomplete picture of God’s glory, we are dedicated to painting
the most powerful portrait we can find this side of eternity. Our mission is to bring people into
an intimate worship experience where the relationship with our Savior becomes personal.
And our hope is that when we come face to face with the greatest love the world has ever known,
we will respond as King David, saying - “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”  -Jesus Painter Ministries

the process...ing

Sunday our Youth is presenting to the church... a recap about our trip to San Antonio.  I think I have to write the program... but I am still trying to find it all in my head and heart.  Some people work best under pressure.  And some only work under pressure... that would be me.  But this is one of those times when I am just not ready.  I need to soak myself in the information and the memories, and let them juice around.  The church is going to want to know more than we ate Tex-Mex food eight meals in a row, but at the moment I'm hungry and my head can't get past a grand craving for tamales....

When I flip back through the photos, I see what I need... and know that God has not hidden what I need to know.  It is all there, in almost-living color...

...I just need to sort through my hundreds {and hundreds} of photos. 
If only I still had access to this thinking cap I borrowed from some {mortified} teen boy...

That is MY kind of sombrero!!!!