Romans 1:20

This week started with an amazing Mother's Day. I really have such an amazing family. I could not ask for a better husband. He's my best friend and I just really enjoy being around him. Just had to throw that all out there. :)

The day actually didn't start off too hot with Caleb complaining that they were making my breakfast first and declaring that he didn't like "Mother's Day" at all. After a time-out he came around though and we all headed to a resort in the mountains about 2 hours from here for lunch. The first hour, to Mt. Hagen was the typical drive around here: generally okay, but lots of pot holes. the second hour, however, was on a winding dirt road up the mountain with sketchy bridges, washed out road, and drop offs. I was definitely a little scared for my life. Although, I'm finding that pretty much everything you do around here has a little bit of "danger" involved. Judy was our driver though, and she did a fantastic job pointing out drop offs after we had passed them and powering over the "bridges." The resort was absolutely worth the drive. The views were breathtaking and the meal was FABULOUS! We took a little hike up to an orchid garden that was locked, but took some pretty pictures outside of the gate. :)

Being up there reminded me of the episode of

"The Little House on the Prarie" where Carolyn loses her baby boy. Charles climbs up to the top of a mountain in order to ask God "why." I know it's cheesy, but there is something about being up high on a mountain that really does give you the sensation of being closer to God and an overwhelming need to talk to Him. Our talk was about my family's future. I'm just absolutely thankful and amazed at how God has changed my feelings towards the subject.

When Ben first talked to me about coming back to PNG I said "no, period." I didn't want the trouble of taking two young kids and to be honest, it costs A LOT of money. I also NEED my zoo, fast food, cell-phone, and Wal-Mart! We actually had many discussions, but each one ended with me saying no and him saying yes. Ben doesn't pull the "head of the household card" much, but he really felt this trip would be important. I hate to admit it, but he was absolutely right. The farther away I got from our first experience, the more serving in another country seemed to be somebody else's job. When people asked us if we would serve on a foreign mission field I would say, "well, Ben wants to" but I would spend most of my time trying to convince Ben that we should just spend a few months each year on a mission field...definitely not full time. I have realized through this trip though, that if God's plan for us does include full time missions work overseas, then I am actually okay with that. I could even be...gasp...happy about it. In reality, if I treat everywhere we are as my mission field, then there isn't much difference. There really is no greater joy then sharing Christ's AMAZING love with someone...and no greater reward than seeing someone receive it! And as far as safety, a missionary from North Africa who recently came to our church said "wherever God has called me to be is the safest place for me." Anyway, I'm not saying I know God's plan for us, but I really do have a peace about it, whatever it may be.

I'll wrap this up with a funny story from the boys. This morning while I was sweeping I came upon a little gecko (at least I think that's what it was) and Caleb and Thane were both thrilled. Caleb declared the gecko as his friend and was petting him. (Side note: it is AMAZING how long those tails wiggle after they have been detatched. We are talking minutes!) Thane tried to pet him too and accidently killed him. Caleb however, was convinced that the gecko was just sleeping and insisted on taking his friend with us wherever we went. That morning we had been playing "jumping monkeys" which is a game of catapulting monkeys onto a tree. After returning from drying my hair in the bathroom I found, you guess it, Caleb catapulting his little "sleeping friend" across the living room. I need to find out from the other moms here if playing with dead animals is simply part of the mission experience or if my kids are just special.