Springing to Life...

Here is a copy of our most recent update (just click on it to enlarge).

A prayer from a missionary

Joshua first introduced me to this prayer years ago when he read "How the Irish Saved Civilization". Many know it as Patrick's Breastplate (I especially love the bolded phrase):


I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Little Valentine

Charis 1st Valentine

She has always been our happy girl

Our Valentine has grown!

First box of chocolates

(Don't worry I didn't let her eat all of them)

Our sweet girl

Full Steam Ahead

I updated our website today and thought that it might be good to share this here too:

As the new year begins, Joshua and I are ever more passionate to get to the mission field. Besides the usual prayer for new financial partners, please pray with us for the following upcoming events that need to take place to make it happen:

• Joshua presenting his ordination paper to our church elders (probably by the end of this month) followed by presenting his paper to an ordination committee.
  
• We are aiming to attend the final training required by TEAM in February.
  
• Wisdom about selling or renting our home and when we should put it on the market.

"In this world you will have trouble..."

This is something I wrote down on the back of a crumpled Starbucks bag as I was overwhelmed with some of the hardships people around me are facing mixed with things God has and is teaching me....

We all have troubles. None of us want them. Most of us don't pick what our encumbrances or struggles will be. Some of us couldn't have imagined what "it" would be - like for me, I never considered one of my afflictions would have been the unquenchable fire of infertility. And yet for some, "it" is their worst nightmares coming true. Since we will have troubles, the question is what I do with them. As exhaustion clouds our vision or bitter numbness begins to settle in at shattered dreams, there is a soft and gentle call "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...rest for your souls."

Time does not stand still...

Every time I write 2010, I can't believe it! It feels like I have gotten to this place in time too fast. This especially hit me when Joshua and I celebrated our 10th anniversary.

Yet I am excited about what 2010 holds! We hope this is the year we get to Italy. One prayer this year is that the Lord would order my days. While I have so much I need and want to get done daily, ultimately I want my focus to be what He would have it be. I want to walk in His freedom and not in the overwhelming shadow of "to do" lists. I don't want to be consumed by things that are trivial but have an eternal perspective on all aspects of life.

Since 2009 has come to a close, I would remember some of what God did: wonderful care for Charis while I worked full time, a pt time position from home so I can stay home with Charis, special gatherings with family from all sides, new financial partners, celebrating our 10th anniversary, and celebrating Charis 1st Birthday.

With that I will sign off with a couple pictures since I last blogged (I had planned on them being separate entries)...

We got to be all together as Flemings for Thanksgiving.

What a sweet unexpected treasure!

Charis 1st Birthday

Our 10th anniversary - A Special Day

(This was taken when we walked down to the chapel we got married - it was very COLD! )

Christmas Day

Charis turns 11 months!

I can hardly believe that Charis turned 11 months today! So much so that I didn't realize it until late this evening since we had a busy day running an errand for daddy. Fortunately since we were in the car most of the day, Charis was so excited to be home that I was able to catch a couple pictures of her before going to bed. I love my happy girl!