Long Time No See

It's been over two years since I posted anything on this blog.  I wasn't tired of praying for my kids, I was just burnt out on posting something on a daily basis.  I wish I had kept it up and hadn't dropped the ball.  I wish I had a record of God's faithfulness, and of life's big events, in the Redford household.  There has been so much:

• Our family marked 20 years being the pastors at our church. (July 2014)
• Lyssa got married. (August 2014)
• Ken and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. (August 2014)
• Kyle graduated from high school.  (June 2015) 
• Kyle received a scholarship to play baseball for Northwest Nazarene University, and finished his freshman year there, working on an engineering major.
• Lyssa, and her husband Jered, both graduated from George Fox University. (May 2016)
• And some hard milestones too: My mom was diagnosed with cancer shortly before Lyssa's wedding and Ken's brother passed away unexpectedly.

This last week, we took Kyle back to school and he has hit the ground running, facing his sophomore year of school head-on.  I'm not sure if it's because of the transition this last week, or because I'm stuck at home and can't drive (that's a whole other story) and have lots of time on my hands, or if it's God's prompting, but several times over the last week I have felt the urge to jump back on here and write a post praying for my kids. I don't know how often, I'll come back to post here, but I will always be praying for my kids even though they are all considered adults now! My heart will always long for God's best in their lives, and for their hearts to be fully devoted to Him.

So as I sat having my morning coffee and quiet time, God gave me a promise in His Word, that I'm going to hold onto for my sweet babies (cause they will always be my "babies"!).

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
    like poplar trees by flowing streams. 
Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’    and will take the name Israel. (Isaiah 44:3-5)

My greatest desire is that my children will say, "I belong to the Lord"! Or declare that they are "The Lord's!"

Oh, dear Jesus, may it be so! 


 

Thankful Thursday

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."  Psalm 13:5

 Kyle on third after hitting a triple (May 2014).

• Lyssa turned 20 on Monday! So hard to believe.

• In the last week Lyssa has also finished her sophomore year of college, moved into a new apartment and started a new job.  It's been a big, big week in my girl's world!

• Kyle ended his his Varsity baseball season last night.  He hit a triple this week (pictured above) and finished the season as the number one batter on the team.  YAHOO!

• Kyle took initiative and showed courage when he texted his coach about a concern he had.  

• Kyle worked on his truck this week and I was impressed by his attention to detail, patience, and effort to clean up after himself.  He seemed so grown up and responsible.  Maybe we taught him right.  Ha!

Lord, thank you for helping my children grow up into wonderful, responsible adults.  I'm amazed by your active presence in their lives, and how I can see you working, teaching and stretching my babies.  Thank you, precious Savior!
 
 

Happy Birthday, Daughter!

 Alyssa Maree entered the world (1994)!

One month old.

4-5 months old.

9 months old.

3 years old.

7 years old.

10 years old.

12 years old.

17 years  old.
 

February 2014

It's hard to believe my baby is 20 years old!  Happy Birthday, Lyssa-bean!  I pray that you know that I will always love you, I will continue to pray for you, and I'm proud of the woman you're becoming! 

I love you to the moon and back!

-----------------------------------------

10 Powerful Prayers to Help You Fight for the Heart of Your Daughter:
by Lysa TerKeurst (found here)

1. Give my daughter a deep desire to listen to You, Lord, and pray often, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” (Joshua 5:14b).

2. Let her learn early in life that to obey You, God, is the best way to the life her heart truly desires, (1 Samuel 15:22).

3. May she find comfort in Your ability, God, to reach her, hold her, and rescue her, (2 Samuel 22:17-18).

4. May she please You, Lord, by desiring, asking for, and utilizing a discerning heart full of wisdom, (1 Kings 3:9-12).

5. Let her find confidence in You, God, even when hard times come and she doesn’t know what to do, by keeping her eyes fixed on You, (2 Chronicles 20:12).

6. Give her a great desire to accept Your word, God, and store up Your commands within her so her ears will turn to Your wisdom, (Proverbs 2:1-2).

7. May she keep herself under control and not give full vent to people and situations that anger her, (Proverbs 29:11).

8. Give her the ability to rise above the traps of people pleasing so she can be kept safe by trusting You, Lord, (Proverbs 29:25).

9. Let her walk in the security of Your assigned worth to her. Give her a strong work ethic and health to accomplish all her tasks. Give her a heart that desires to extend her hand to those in need. Protect her for the right husband, a man of respect and godly honor. And let her be a woman of joy and laughter whose Christ-centered character is what makes her most beautiful, (Proverbs chapter 31).

10. And every time you, Jesus, whisper, “Follow me” she does so with great grace, (Matthew 4:19).

 

Thankful Thursday

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."  Hebrews 1:3

I'm so thankful that God sustains all things.  What promise and hope for parenting, busy lives, and unknown futures.   It reminds me of the song "Because He Lives"...

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives

Amen and Amen!!  So thankful!

Here's also a few things I'm grateful for on the home front...

• Kyle's continuing to get great grades even with the busyness of baseball starting.  His lowest grade is an 89% (pre-calculus).  Pretty good, I think!
• Lyssa facetimed me on Sunday.  She's been fighting not feeling well, but continues to press on in her last month of college classes.  I'll post a picture of her latest art project.  Beautiful in my humble opinion.  

• Kyle took me to hit balls at our local golf course.  He was a great (but unsuccessful) teacher at showing me how to use a golf club appropriately.  His lack of success had nothing to do with his teaching skills, but everything to do with my lack of skill.  I enjoyed our time together the most.

• Ken had the opportunity to make some extra money on Monday.  Every little extra "dough" we make is a blessing in paying for our children's upcoming summer adventures (wedding and baseball camps aren't cheap!).  God is so good!  And I'm thankful for a man who works hard and sacrificially!
• I'm heading to Women's Retreat today.  It's been a few months of planning and work to put it together but I have enjoyed watching God's pre-retreat work and can't wait to see what He'll do this weekend as we gather.
• And oh how I love that spring is here!  My trees are beautiful with pink and white blossoms.  I wish they would just stay that way for more than a week.  I guess that is what causes me to be more in awe today!

 Thank you, Lord, for sustaining all things, especially me!  And in that sustaining, I see blessings and signs that you are present in my life.  Thank you for the ways I see you growing up my babies and sustaining them as well.  I pray that we each always radiate your glory in our comings and goings, and in our thanksgiving and trust!  You are my God and I praise you!

 

Thankful Thursday

A few things I'm thankful to the Lord for this last week...

• Wedding dress shopping with my daughter.

 

• Time with family.

• Laughter, fun, food, and lots of running around with Lyssa and Jered.

•  Signs of spring.

•  Though I missed my boy's games while I was away, another mom sent me this picture. I got this after we had spent an evening watching videos of when our kids were small.  It amazes me to see my boys growth!  He's a young man for sure!

Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise..."  Psalm 48:1

 

Thankful Thursday

"If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection."  Psalm 63:5 (The Message)

Things I'm thankful for this week:

• Friday night was spent with both my boys, doing one of their favorite things...watching the high school state basketball semi-final games.   I didn't have to cook, and the three of us were together in one place.  Yeah!
• On Saturday, Ken and I enjoyed going to see the play "Fiddler on the Roof" at a nearby college, and watching one of the youth from our church perform.  It was a fun date, and we enjoyed singing the song "Do You Love Me" on the way home as we too, like Tevye and Golde, are soon celebrating 25 years of marriage

For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house
Given you children, milked the cow
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

 (I've done all but milk the cow...ha!)

• Kyle made the Varsity baseball team and had the first game of the season last night.  Let the baseball fun begin!  And God gave us beautiful weather for our first game. 
• Instead of giving Ken a team baseball hat for keeping score all season, the coach gave us a free season pass to get into the home games.  That's a big savings, I tell you!  God is good!
• Our Sunday night prayer time was precious and I'm blessed when I hear someone else pray for our kids.  We went into the prayer meeting just having heard a 17 year old, that Kyle has played with baseball with in years past, had died in a car accident, and the people in that room so lovingly prayed for Kyle's comfort.
• Tuesday night, Lyssa called in dire panic because she had stepped on a piece of glass.  My first thought was "She called me!" (Which just really may be what I'm thankful for!). We spent a good thirty minutes trying to keep her mind off the pain, and her threat to faint, by chatting with her about the weekend she spent with her future in-laws, while Jered tried to pull the glass out.  She did survive and she pulled the glass out all by herself.  Yeah Lyssa!

The list goes on and on!  I'm just thankful for the many ways I can see God living and active in my life, and in the life of my family.

Better is one day in your courts 

than a thousand elsewhere; 

I would rather be a doorkeeper

in the house of my God 

than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 

                      --Psalm 84:10

Lord, I have been in grateful reflection, and my heart wants to cry out to you in thanksgiving.  You are living and active in our lives, and I am overflowing with gratitude.  Thank you, Lord, for your blessing and provision.  Thank you for answering the prayers of this praying mom.  What joy it brings to see your presence and work effecting the lives of my children.  I love living in your courts, dear Jesus, and wouldn't wish to be any where else!  I love you!

 

Thankful Thursday!

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  John 14:21

I have felt loved, in so many ways, by my Heavenly Father this week!  He shows Himself in beautiful ways!

• Our daughter got engaged into a young man she's been dating for 5 1/2 years.  I loved her declaration that she was "beyond happy".  Though I find myself anxious about her age, God clearly has told me to trust Him.  I've also loved the abundance of texts and facetime calls with Lyss since her engagement, asking questions, making plans, and keeping her parents in the loop. 

• Kyle has been working hard at both school and baseball.  I love his discipline for sure!  One blessing is that he is going to a big baseball camp this summer and someone gifted us with a check to help in the cost of this big adventure.  Words cannot express our gratitude.

• Ken and Kyle had a great time at Man Camp, and I sensed God answering some of my prayers about men who will speak truth and blessing into my teenage son's life.  Our young men need to see grown men living out their faith, and not ashamed of following God.  

• Our dog Mac had a brief stint of crazy wheezing and was pretty lethargic for a day, which is really cause for alarm when the mutt lives on high energy most of the time.   I was thankful that we have a veterinary friend in our church and she was quick to respond and give us help.  It seems that our dog was suffering from allergies.  Oh great, we needed another allergy mess around here.

Thank you, Lord, for the ways I sense your love and care over our family!  I see you in beautiful ways and my heart is full of gratitude and awe.  

 

Thankful Thursday

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave."  Luke 1:46-47

• Our church leaders had a wonderful retreat last weekend.  God's presence was felt in big ways.

• I braved zip-lining, and enjoyed the laughter and encouragement of my church friends.
• Kyle stayed at home by himself...and the house is still standing and the dogs are still alive.  I loved coming home and finding things fairly clean, and the dishwasher empty.  Yeah.
• I've been on a ten week struggle with my eyes/contacts, and at the retreat I had a moment of pleading with God.  I just wanted to wear my contact long enough that I could see the faces of my church family as we talked about how we've seen God working in our church over the last year.  God answered, and I wore my contact for a good 5 hours before it "yelled" at me that it was done.  Another praise...I went in to complain one more time about how my new contact was doing, and the doctor agreed it wasn't working well.  Another contact is on order.  Hopefully it will be a good answer before I hit week #11.
• A skype chat with Lyss (2 in one week) made my day.  God is slowly answering prayers about her living situation.  Though it's still hard, and things have not improved much, I think SHE is handling things a bit better.  Hard to tell long distance, but I think her demeanor seemed more at peace.

• Kyle came home on Monday and announced that he got the top grade on a test in his calculus class...a 98%!
• I see little signs on Facebook that Lyss is enjoying her college classes.  I'll give God thanks for the joy she is finding as she seeks ways to use the gifts He has given her.

  
Lord, thank you for these precious little blessings in my life this week.  Your fingerprints are visible all over our lives.  My soul proclaims the greatness of you, Lord, and my spirit has rejoices in you, my Savior!  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle rejoice in you as well!

 

Thankful Thursday

"I will make them and the area around My hill a blessing: I will send down showers in their season — showers of blessing."  Ezekiel 34:26 HCSB

Photo taken by Lyssa

It's been a week full of God's showers!

• Lyssa reported that she had a "really fun" Leader's Retreat last weekend, which was an answer to prayer after she announced she was worried about going.  God was with her!
• Kyle went to a night of bowling with some area churches.  There's something wonderful about the fellowship with other believers.
• Kyle also got 100% on his CPR exam!  Now he maybe can save a life if needed!
• Our new puppy still brings us joy.  We found it hard to take him to the vet to get neutered this week.  Thankfully, we had "connections" through someone at church and had trusted care and a nice little discount.  God is good!  Mac was only slowed for one day.
• Lyssa had a bit of a tough day or two last week and so many stepped in to pray for her, send her encouragement, and her Auntie even took her to lunch and a coffee.  I love that parenting is not a lone "sport." 
• We've were showered with zucchini, cucumbers, raspberries, and donuts.  A wonderful combination.  Ha.  Every person so thoughtful though.
• There's just something I love about my boy coming to find me to say good-bye each morning.  It makes my day!

 Yes, God is so good! 

Lord, thank you for your activity all around us and in the lives of our children.  Alyssa and Kyle have had the privilege of your blessing in their lives this week, and I pray that they recognize the good things you've done for them.  Thank you for answering prayer, showering us with your provision, and making a difference in so many ways.  I give you thanks, dear Jesus, for so many blessings.
 
 

She's Growing Up!

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

 This is the book I always teased Lyssa with!  

She's known for her MESSY, MESSY room!

I had a proud mom moment this weekend.  Lyssa was setting up her college apartment and I was unable to be there to help her.  So, "early" Saturday morning (10:00 am is early for a teenager...ha!), I checked in with her via text to see how the moving in was going before her 3 new roommates arrived to move in too.  Not only was she up, but I got a "facetime" tour of her new dwelling place.  Yahoo!

As Lyssa gave us a tour of every nook and cranny, I found myself in awe of how she made it all homey.  I wish I had a picture to show you, but there were pictures on the wall, a coffee pot on the counter, some decorations on the living room coffee table, a made bed, a towel hung up nicely in the bathroom, and only one box left to unpack.  She was not only moved in but she was settled and at home.  My girl has grown up!

I had to laugh that one of Lyssa's struggles with her new roommates on move-in day (she got to arrive a day early by permission) was the mess they made and were leaving behind all over her newly set-up apartment.  Maybe my girl learned how to be neat and tidy after all (her room during the summer would not suggest this is true however), and to love the feeling of an organized and put together home.

Sure, it's not the most important "trait" I pray she learned from me.  I pray that Lyssa learned how to live out her faith, to face into hard things, to enjoy serving the church, to take care of her family, and to love having a relationship with Jesus.  There's been a lot that I've taught her over the last 19 years (Oh how I pray that I did well enough in the teaching!), and I pray that she learned it all well. Time will tell.  Parenting is hard work, man!

Tonight Lyssa asked me to send her a recipe.  Come to find out she made dinner for herself and 4 others, and my "spies" informed me that they even cleaned up and did the dishes afterward.  Will wonders never cease!

Tomorrow my girl begins her sophomore year in college!  I pray that she has a wonderful, wonderful year, and remembers the things I have taught her as she goes out and faces the world!


Lord, We've tried to parent well, but it's so easy to doubt that we've done all that I needed to do, now that our girl is out on her own.  I pray that she can hold onto the good things that we have taught her and remember the lessons well.  Mostly, I pray that she sticks close to you and lives her life in the way you want her to live.  Holding fast to you will bring her joy, peace, and strength as she faces the world.  Amen.


 

Thankful Thursday

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Since I haven't blogged in a while, its easy to think of many things to give God thanks for.  However, I'll stick to sharing a few things about this last week.  I'm so blessed by God's intimate presence in our every-day lives.  He is so good...ALL the time!

I'm thankful for a week-long vacation with my family.  We went to the zoo, took a skytram, visited a farmer's market, ate donuts, got majorly wet on a jet boat ride down the Willamette river. and ate clam chowder at the ocean.  We laughed, laughed, and laughed.  God provided fun family moments, safety despite a blown tire on the Portland freeways, and memories that we will hold onto for a long time to come.

 My precious family.

I'm thankful for extended family and God's healing hand.  Ken's mom was in the hospital for a couple of months recently following a stroke and infection.  She was just released to have visitors the day before we arrived for a short visit.  We enjoyed going through pictures, playing card games, and reminiscing family history.  Lyssa especially had some tender moments with Grandma (picture below).  It's hard living far a part so this time was extra special after the trials of the last months.

 Grandpa and Grandma

Grandma and Lyssa

 

While on vacation we found a used pickup.  I'd like to think that God cares about the things that bring us joy, and in the process can provide wisdom to make decision, and even blessing when it comes to finding a good deal.  Of course, our first added expense was four new tires after one of them blew out on the freeway.  I'm thankful for God protecting my boys (especially Kyle as the driver) and bringing them to a safe stop along a highly busy road.  

One added note of thanksgiving.  I haven't been driving for four weeks, due to some eye problems, and over and over again I've been blessed by my kids ability to take me where I needed to go.   Even on the long drives through Oregon Alyssa and Kyle did a great job driving!

 New truck

I'm thankful for the beginning of a new school year.  I have troubles believing that my daughter is beginning her sophomore year in college, and my son his junior year in high school.  Kyle's first day of school was this week and he looks so grown up!

First day of school

I'm also thankful for a mother-daughter day with Lyssa before she leaves for college.  We soaked our feet, went out to lunch, did a little shopping, and she bought me a coffee.  The gift of this time made saying good-bye just a little more bearable.

 Pedicures

Alyssa is not sad to leave home for her sophomore year of college (just sad to say goodbye to our dog).  The thing I like about that is that it shows she loves where she's going, she enjoys the people she knows there, and the classes are just the right thing for her.  How much more difficult it would be to send her off to a place she doesn't like or feel safe in.  Alyssa is confident, excited, and ready for whatever it is God has for her this school year.  You go, girl!

 Lyssa is college bound!

I was sad to see Lyssa drive out yesterday morning, on her grand adventure, but I am trusting God that He holds her and her future.

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."--Emerson

 AMEN!

 

Thankful Thursday

"Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed."  Deuteronomy 28:6

Our family has been blessed everywhere we went and in everything we did this week!  God deserves much praise and thanks!

• A baseball trip to Montana put many miles on our vehicle, but boy did we pass through some beautiful scenery.  Majestic mountains, peaceful and clear waters, mile after mile all declaring the glory of God!

• Grammy and Papa joined in the fun and it was a delight to share the weekend with them.  So thankful for family...MY family!

• Kyle had a great tournament, including a walk off double to bring in a run to end the game  Loved the grin on his face as he came off the field! Then he was chosen to be on the tournament's All-Star game (1 of 4 from our team). 

• Kyle accidentally left his new (and expensive) sunglasses at the ball field TWICE, each time leaving mom with an anxious pit in the bottom of her stomach....and twice God protected the loss of this frivolous "thing".  

 

• Lyssa unfortunately had to stay home and work, and while the cat is away, the mice will play.  She decided to surprise me and she painted and redecorated one of our bathrooms.  She actually did a great job and it looks beautiful!

Lord, thank you for the many blessings I could see this week.  This list seems quick and incomplete.  Still my heart wants to declare your praise.  You were with us in our coming and going, and in each experience I could sense your presence and feel your blessing on our family.  Thank you for loving us in such tangible ways this week!  Your majesty was seen in every mountain, through the sound and sight of beautiful water, and even in the smell of the forest.  You were everywhere!  My heart sings your praise!

 

Thankful Thursday

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!"  Revelation 19:7

 The view on our "date" Sunday night!

I have to say that though Hawaii had some beautiful sunsets, the show God puts on in Idaho will always top it!  I just revel in the majesty every time I see the sun rise and set.

Amazingly enough, He also does some mighty things in our lives as well!  His power, creativity, and love are written all over the pages of each day!  Oh how I wish that so often I didn't forget to stop and stand in awe of His presence.

Today, I am reminded to rejoice and give Him the glory!

• A date with my hubby!  I sure love my man!

• Youth Sunday was a reminder of the blessing it is to be a part of a church family for such a long time.  This week we come to the completion of 19 years as pastors of our church.  God is so good to us!

• Lyssa and Jered (her boyfriend) made us dinner one night while we sat out at a baseball game in 110 degree weather.  Words cannot describe the blessing it is when your kids start doing thoughtful things for you.

• Kyle helped me with the grocery shopping one day and I enjoyed our time together.  I'm thinking one day he'll make a pretty fine husband.

• Yesterday, our living room was full of ladies from my church, and as I looked around the room I reveled at the blessing they are in my life.  I love hearing them laugh and chit-chat, watching them encourage one another, and seeing how they speak God's love and truth into each other's lives.

• VBS planning has been a bit harried lately, but God made the rough places smooth.  I just marvel that when I am weak and weary, He is strong and faithful!

Lord, I rejoice in you and want to give you all the glory and praise.  Thank you for the many evidences of your protecting, guiding, providing, and love over my family.  You're an amazing God and I pray that our lives glorify you in all that we say and do.  You are growing up my babies and I see your mighty hand watching over them.  I pray that they know the power and joy of your resurrection, and the preciousness of your daily presence in their comings and goings.  Oh how I love you, my Savior and God.  You alone are all that we need!