A Valuable Curse

So this story goes way, way back.  Perhaps a whole decade.  When I was in High School I remember coming across Genesis 3 where God lays the 'curse' before Eve.  He tells her "I will greatly increase your pain in child birth."  I was both terrified and intrigued by this response from God.  He could have cursed Eve with anything, but He chose to curse her experience in bringing life into His world.  The ONE thing she was 'called' to do, "be fruitful and multiply."  I have always wanted to embrace this curse with her.  Knowing that there must be something in it to learn or gain from in my relationship with the Lord.  The One who had reason to put it on me.  He must have had a plan in it, God doesn't do ANYTHING without a plan.  So I determined to do it from that moment on.  

A few months ago as Troy and I were preparing for our home birth he asked me if I was sure I wanted to have this baby at home and what value does it hold.  In response I said "I'm not sure if there is any value in it, but if there is I most certainly don't want to miss it."  He said, "fair enough I will stand behind you and beside you through it all."    

To make a long story short, little Kaleah was 3 weeks late and therefore my 'home birth' plan was looking like it was not going to become a reality yet again.  So, on Feb 18th Troy and I headed for the hospital to be induced.  After 16 hours of labor and in the middle of the night I found myself mulling over The Curse.  With every contraction that seemed to take my breath away and threaten breaking my body, I thought 'O God what a curse, this will be my death." then I heard it, the promise, 2 Tim 2:15 says, "but women will be saved through child bearing-- if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety."  It was like God said to me "yes, this will be your death, but I have saved you; you Michelle have faith in Me, and in you, Michelle, dwells My love. You will see My Holiness overcome you as you trust in Me, I will save you."  So I pressed forward through the pain and the fear. This is the value I found...that at the point of no return it happened, my body...laid there cursed, but suddenly life lay there before me.  I have never seen with my eyes the perfect picture of grace until that moment.  My God, who laid the curse on me, was there to replace it with life.  So we welcomed little Kaleah Pearl Pitney with a benediction for her middle name.  Pearls; they come at great cost and with unfathomable pain, but they are so worth it.  There is always value in pain.

Fortress "Tower"

If you look up Fortress in the dictionary it will tell you 'Fortress' means a place that has been strengthened against attack.
I have to admit I'm growing a little fearful of baby #3 coming.  There are moments of my day that I find myself fully engaged with Khoen; teaching or instructing, at the same time Fletcher might need a word of discipline and countless minutes of follow through.  The thought races to my mind 'how will I ever manage a third?'  This morning as I was praying through this the Lord gave me a picture of Himself as my 'Fortress'.  He became a Tower for me to run into.  You might be thinking "oh yes, I know this song."  But today was the first time for me that I found things inside that 'tower' just for me.  I know your dying to find out what I found in that tower...  
I found safety from the wind of chaos
More ammo to fight the enemy who lies to me
More grace to respond to my kids and the other demands on me
More energy to stand on the foundation of Truth
More creativity to lead my kids with
More encouragement to pick me up

and silence to meet with my King...
Oh it was a good morning in the Fortress of my King who then lead me to the passage in Psalm 18:

'I love you, Lord;  you are my Strength.  Lord you are my rock, my Fortress and my Savior.'



This tower behind us is strong, it has been standing for 1100 years.
But my God is stronger, and He will stand forever!

Khoen the English sheep

So we live in a tiny village of maybe 400 people, and there are 2 churches. Of course. The catholic and the evangelical. We go to the sweet evangelical and are immensely enjoying it. It is the smallest church I've ever seen, and we don't understand more then a few words:) Anyway, khoen was invited to be in the Christmas play as a sheep. Truthfully I didn't know how he would do, he's never done anything like this before. We kept telling him he was going to be a sheep and that week we spent our "school" time talking about sheep and shepherds looking up various scriptures and telling him over and over that we are sheep and Jesus is our Shepherd. Well, when your american and move into a very small village your the talk of the town, unfortunately. So the week after the play after church a women came up to us and said, how wonderful khoen was and that everyone in town is talking about the "English sheep" we think its hilarious and odd, but I think they are starting to really embrace us into their family, which means so much to us. Now khoen goes around the house hooking Fletcher or daddy around the neck l Ike a shepherd and says " follow me". It's really sweet

Arriving in Mosbach

Wow!  Gods grace sometimes feels like a velvet blanket!  We KNEW people were praying for us!  our sweet little boys slept the entire 10 hour flight!  We were so excited!  Too excited to sleep ourselves;)
We had quite the day as we made our way to the Mill.  Getting luggage, renting a car, and toting our bags all over the air port.  But once we arrived here it was a breath of fresh air.  Helena and Nicole had made a beautiful picnic with chili and corn bread, which we ate right outside our flat in the grassy area where there is a lovely sand box and swing/slide!  it was lovely!
we will post more soon!

The Lord: my Rock and my Redeemer

 You never know what the day is going to hold at that first hour.  But then again there are days that the day unfolds before you open your eyes.... these was one of those days.  I sent Troy off for a farwell surfing weekend with his friends.  I always miss him when he is gone, he is my rock and can often be a place I find stregth.  The times he leaves are bitter sweet because I find myself missing hm but relying on the Lord in new ways. ( which I always like) !! this morning however was one I was not expecting.  There have been at least 12 transitions out little family has been going through these last few weeks and I do believe they are catching up with all of us.  But mainly my kids. The hour begins in tears and ends in tears and a little bit of soap in one of my kids' mouths (you can probably guess).  The next hour is the same but this time all three of us in tears.  We are all three praying multiple times throughout each hour.  Why is it so hard, why is there no immediate change.....Then I am led to John 15 "I am the Vine and My Father is the Gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." We are fruitbearers, we live surrendered lives, we want to be fruitful.  Cut away my Lord, my Gardener, cut away.