Mar 06 2010
Many of you have been asking about the construction progress and been talking a lot about doing another Jackson Video..
Well, we didn’t want to disappoint you… Click HERE for some pictures from the construction and below is a video from Jackson.
Enjoy:
Dec 08 2009
About a month ago, I bought some Old Spice Aftershave. I needed to feel the burn! It had been a very long time since I have had any. Years and years in fact. When I bought it, Kryssy was not too terribly keen on the idea. She said I’d smell like her dad (no offense Wayne, I think you smell good, ahem!) But I bought it.
This morning after shaving, I put some on and “bam!” Yes, the good old burn. Made me feel a bit more like a man. Isn’t that funny? But, this post is not about the masculine journey as much as love.
A memory came back to me. I was instantly transporter back to my father’s arms when I was a child. Remembering the way he hugged me. It was an awesome, emotional and humbling experience. I had forgotten the way it felt. How safe and how good! I just dwelt there for a few minutes. Then Jackson burst through the door and saw me weepy. He said, “Are you ok Dada?” I got to scoop him up and hug him close! Jack patted me on the back and said, “It’s ok Dada!”
Thanks dad! I miss you and love you more than ever! I praise God for engerneering that experience!
Sep 23 2009
On Labor Day, Kryssy and I were on our way to meet our friends Ben and Julie from Ohio. They were in NC looking at the possibility of moving to Raleigh/jobs etc… We had a wonderful visit with them. On the way to see them I got a quick call from Walter, one of NWA’s board members and a good friend. He asked me to pray for the family, that they were taking Kieran (his grandson) to the hospital. He had some kind of injury to his leg after being taken out of his car seat. We had no clue what would ensue. Take a look at the video here!
So, that initial prayer for Kieran’s health and healing turned into a prayer about restoration and justice for him and his sister Aubrie. NWA went to bat. You went to bat for this family. Praying against the enemy’s work of division, deceit, lies and intimidation. Pray for health, life and liberty. All of this is occurring right before and while I was in Texas. A lot happened during this time. Both kids were taken into foster care, the Arnold’s got a great lawyer and God began to really bring an awesome team together to get these kids back and to clear them of the trumped up abuse charge that was ridiculous. So many inconsistencies for sure.
So, just prior to going into court, Walter Arnold showed us this scripture from Romans that God had led him to that morning:
Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”
Tuesday the 22 of Sept, Barry Strickland and I went to the court hearing in Dallas TX. We went to pray in the room and over the family. There were several other people there as well praying and all of you. Click here to see the video below for that report!
Praise God.. Justice prevailed. Scripture is good because God is good!
The family was resolute that God was going to come through in this case. Their faith was awesome!
This was a very tough situation and there are still some things that have to be resolved, but it is awesome to see how God came through for this family and to see the power of prayer.
Here in NC, and around the US, we all know how tough a job the CPS (child protective services) worker has. It seems it is feast or famine with them. In NC we have a 2 year old who was killed because it seemed they didn’t do enough. And now, as we see with our friends in Lancaster TX, they go overboard. Too much. It’s a tough job and line to walk. Would you join me in praying for the Arnold family as this continues and against abuse of any type and praying for healing, socially, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically for those children and for anyone around you that God prompts you to pray for. Pray also that this event in TX is a catalyst for everyone involved to see the love and provision of God in their lives. It certainly has effected me greatly and made me look inwardly at God’s care and protection and prompted me to be more mindful of my own children and their wellbeing!
Jul 06 2009
This is the proverbial: “your children teaching you about God moment. ”
The other night, Kryssy, Jackson and I, as well as our friend Cortney and my brother went to the Kings Mountain Fireworks. They were awesome and we had a great time. However, while we were there Cortney began to have a tummy ache and the next few days, I also felt bad.
The night of the 4th, after the fireworks, while we were putting Jackson to bed, he said he wanted to pray for Ms. Cortney. He said, “I thank you Lord for Ms Cortney to feel better!” Then he said, “we better call her. We better check and see mommy!”
Of course we thought it was cute and we put him to bed and all agreed we wanted Ms. Cortney to feel better. The next day I felt a little sick on my tummy and then this morning my shoulder and tummy were hurting again. Kryssy told Jackson and he really wanted to pray for me. So he crawled up in my lap and rubbed my shoulder and prayed: “I thank you Lord for my Da Da to feel better. For his shoulder and tummy to feel better.” Then he looked at me and said with all expectancy, “do you feel better Da Da?” I said how proud I was of him etc, but he keep insisting, “do you feel better Da Da?”
God brought Micah 7:7 to mind:
I will watch expectantly for the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation
My God will hear me.
At our home we pray with faith and expectancy. Our hope is in the Lord and Jackson knows that. His faith and expectancy really challenged me to do the same when I go before God. God says to, in Hebrews 4:16:
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jackson is bold and expectant. I was challenged to see the proof in the pudding with today’s questions being: “Does Da Da feel better?”
YES
Jun 13 2009
For 30 years I have wondered about my birth family. Well, I finally got to meet most of them. It was a blessing. We took a trip to Wisconsin to meet the rest of my birth family, after meeting my birth mom in January, (Here to read that story). It was truly a grand adventure from the Lord. A journey of the heart!
Birth Father Rodney, Me and Birth Mother Mary
Mary, Her Brother David and Sister in-Law Cheryl, Me and Jackson and Grandma Olsen
Grandma and Grandpa Udelhoven, 2 Half Sisters (Kelly with husband Dan and Carie with children Cole and Haley) Me and Jackson and BD Rodney
This was a little overwhelming, but a lot of fun, and really good for my heart overall. I am excited to see what God is going to do in these relationships in the future. As I said in our June Newsletter, God has used this time to teach me more about Him. Who He is and what HE wants for me. Most of all, He has taught me that I am loved, worthy, and accepted. Even though I knew these things, He has used this time to make it more deep and true in my heart. I trust that God is also using this time of healing in my heart to minister to others and prepare me in new ways to help lead others to more freedom in CHRIST! I pray that you too deeply know how God feels about you and that you seek Him at all cost!
I am, once again, so very thankful for my parents who have raised me and supported and loved me over the years, and will always be mom and dad and part of my life.
May 12 2009
I am continuing my guest series with Seth Barnes. He is the author of several books and the Director of Adventures in Missions and a friend. AIM and its subsidiary ministries are amazing and reaching people for Christ around the world as well as giving people the opportunity to journey into short time missions around the world. It’s a really cool mission. He has chose to share a very important time in his life with his dad. It’s a great journey. I hope you all enjoy this and be sure to go by AIM and Seth’s blog. I enjoy it daily.
Dad’s need to take their sons off on a one-week father-son adventure to mark the transition from adolescence to adulthood and to help them bond as peers. My Dad took me on a number of hiking adventures when I was younger, but it was the trip to Costa Rica in 1989 when I was 31 that meant the most to me. Here’s my journal from the trip.
It’s been a hard year for me. I’m feeling low and Dad’s invitation to join him on this trip comes at a perfect time – I need the break. I keep the following journal:
April 7
On the eve of our great sea kayak adventure. Here Dad and I are packing and
unpacking these green rubber bags. It’s kind of comical. Only nine others, plus four trip staff it in our group. It’ll be interesting to see how group dynamics work. We’re spending the night at a refuge camp inhabited by begging iguanas, parrots, and monkeys.
April 8
Laying here half-dead in our tent after paddling 24 km. All the juice has been drained
from my flashlight batteries.
The river has gradually widened until it rivals the Mississippi in width. However, mostThe big attraction today was the crocodiles lining the mud flats. It’s a pretty dry area. of it is sea water from a high tide.
Dad has been real jovial. It’s a pleasure to see him joking around and having such a good time. At home Karen must be picking up her mom about now. She could use an experience like this. We just have to make it through the next couple of years.
April 9
Stayed another night at the river camp. Took a little side trip down an estuary.. A couple of highlights: as we were lazily paddling our kayaks.along, up ahead we saw a large iguana high in a tree. As we watched, he moved uncertainly along a branch, lost his balance and fell about three stories into the river below. It was rather comical. After night had fallen, we heard something close to the camp. When we 
investigated, we saw an anteater!
April 10
Got up at the crack of dawn as has become my habit and on my walk I at last made the acquaintance of a coatamundi – a strange kind of cross between a fox and a raccoon. It barked at me, both intimidated and curious.
We paddled to the ferry and then were shuttled to the hotel near our launching point for the sea portion of our adventure.
April 11
As we sit here in the early morning awaiting our coffe and another day’s adventures, the small sounds of life nip at the edges of a general quietness. Most annoying is Jacques harrumphing and hacking, followed by the flies buzzing. But there are also bird chirps, the rustle of the wind, the sounds of breakfast in process, and the strains of local radio. In the distance, roadwork commences.
We’ll be leaving it all for the purer silence of secluded beaches in an hour or so. Meanwhile Jacques paces around the pool, sound for all the world like a sick horse.
April 12
We paddled to a beautiful bay on an island. No snorkeling due to the ashes from the burning hillsides. Dad and I have been getting along like old friends.
April 13
We’re at a beautiful white beach which it seems only an army of hermit crabs have discovered. The nearby refuge seemed an idyllic though remote place – a good spot to write.
April 14
It sure is beautiful here. As I sit writing, a howler monkey looses his lonely, haunting howl. Tonight is our last night. Next we rendezvous with Wroughton, Iglesias, and Damon. We’ll fly to the secluded white beaches of Manuel Antonio and we’ll go rafting down the Reventezon River.
What a blessing it is to have a father who cares enough to spend time with me and to be a friend. This time has been the best time we’ve ever had together. We saw incredible sights, enjoyed the wild life and the beauty together, and we laughed a lot. How wonderful it is to have a Dad who loves me. I needed this time more than I realized!
