My heart is more full now.

Today I was helping Finn put stickers on a piece of construction paper, and he did this thing--several times--that I am still marveling at.

A week or so ago we discovered that while Finn doesn't have much of an attention span for coloring yet, he really enjoys stickers.  So we bought a book of stickers and for the past few days, we've been peeling stickers out of that book and handing them to him (he can't get them off himself) so that he can stick them onto a piece of paper.

Today, while doing this with Finn, it occurred to me to let Finn choose which sticker he'd like next.  It took a minute for him to catch on to the idea, but then he discovered that he loved it.  And then he started doing this thing.  Every time he had successfully placed a sticker on the paper, he turned back to the sticker book and broke into this intense grin, making two tight fists with his hands in front of him, and shaking in glee for just a moment, before choosing a sticker.  It was sheer delight that I saw on his face every time he realized that he could once again choose any sticker he wanted, and I would give it to him.

After a while he realized that he could turn the pages of the sticker book, and find a different page that suited him better.  Our sticker activity transformed into a leisurely stroll through the pages of the sticker book.

So I was thinking tonight, about the joy Finn felt in that moment over the freedom to choose and receive.  I so often have that myself.  But so often I move past the moment without stopping to grin, make fists, and shake in delight.  So here's to savoring the moments.  And here are a few of the delightful moments I've shared with Finn lately!

Finn's first time hiking with us (not in a carrier).

He's REALLY  been enjoying his "YeYe Bible" that reads aloud Bible stories to him in his Ye Ye's voice.

Choosing a sticker!

Chocolate pudding dessert.  Yum!

Finn has LOVED this car the past few days since Aunt Dora brought it by for our yard sale.  We'll all be sad to see it go.  It'll be one of the first thing Finn gives up on his missionary kid journey.  

Making a call on his phone (an old flip phone of mine) in his favorite chair.

Playing guitar on his stage.  Just like Daddy.

You know, all of these moments and more have been a part of my life recently, but until I stop and think back on them, and see them like this in pictures, I didn't really appreciate them.  My heart is more full now, than when I began typing this blog post.

- Laura

What I Might have in Common with the Damsels of Medieval History.

Last night I watched the new release, Far From the Madding Crowd on DVD, and this morning as I went for a brisk walk around the neighborhood with Finn in the jogger, I kept thinking about it.  I really, really liked it, and I asked myself why.  It’s a definite chick flick (full disclosure there), and a appreciated that there were no premarital or extramarital affairs (a rare find in chick flicks these days), but it wasn’t a straight up fairy tale either.  In fact the heroine makes some pretty lousy decisions along the way.  She’s not all bad.  She does strive to be a good steward that which God brings her way in life (though God is not mentioned in the film), but when it comes to romance, she tends to defer too much to her emotions and passion.  This tendency is all too realistic today and is a common side effect in our society of the exaltation of romance and passion to the exclusion of wisdom.  

So I asked myself this morning, “why am I so taken with this film?”  I’m usually one of those people who prefers movies in which the hero or heroine is primarily virtuous, and so I can root for them, so to speak, in every respect (fanciful, I know).  But this movie was not like that.  The answer I came to, was twofold.  The first part being that which many will think is obvious—that the movie reflects the fallenness that exists in real life.  But the second part is that while the heroine is flawed, her enduring suitor is not - and this too reflects real life.  Real life in Christ, that is.  

OK, at this point if you think you might want to see the movie, you might not want to read further.  I won’t give away a lot of details, but if you’re one of those people that hates to know much of anything about how a film turns out before you see it, then you better stop reading now.

I warned you.  Now here’s what I REALLY loved about this movie. 

Early in the movie, Bathsheba (yes, a name you Bible scholars have heard before) receives her first proposal of marriage from the kind, hard working farmer next door, Gabriel, and while she doesn’t flat out refuse him at the start, she doesn’t feel for him what she wants to feel from a suitor.  She’s not weak in the knees over this man, and so though she has great respect and fondness for him, she determines that she has no need of a husband at the moment and will hold out for a more compelling offer.

Gabriel accepts this response with great dignity, but finds himself inclined to stick around and look out for her, so to speak.  He doesn’t pester her or make any further attempts at winning her over, but he quietly uses his skill in farming to help her succeed in life.  Over the course of time he watches her fall in “love” with a dashing young heart breaker, and still he sticks around.  

Throughout the movie there are various highs and lows for Bathsheba, and ironically she finds herself coming back to Gabriel for advice over and over again not only for farming matters but matters of the heart as well.  She slowly finds herself becoming more and more dependent on his help and moral support, and at last (no big surprise, really), comes to realize what a fool she has been all along to take him for granted and mask indifference to him.

According to early British literature’s rules on the art of courtly love,  The value of love is commensurate with its difficulty of attainment.  

What if Bathsheba had accepted Gabriel’s original offer of marriage?  Would she have come to value his love as greatly as she eventually did when he persisted despite her continual rejection and unworthiness?  What if Adam and Eve hadn’t eaten the fruit in the garden?  Would we value the great love of our Father as much without seeing the lengths to which it would take Him?  

Or perhaps like the damsels of medieval history, and like Bathsheba, we have to be persuaded.  

Perhaps only a long, bumpy ride of a story is the best way for us experience love at its finest. 


- Laura

Concert and Auction Tonight!

Music for Missions is Tonight!  Can't wait to see everyone there.  Come early to find parking as it'll be a little bit tight.  The online auction will be ending at 8:15 tonight too.  Anyone can participate in the auction as long as you can come pick up your winnings from us at some point (we won't be shipping).

- Laura Dougherty

Online Auction Begins Tonight!

Our Online Online Silent Auction begins tonight (@7PM) at www.32auctions.com/dougherty

We've had 30+ items completely donated so that all proceeds will go to help us get to Peru!  The auction has gift certificates, vacation stays, artwork, gift baskets, photo sessions, and even a home cooked meal!

Visit our auction site now to participate!

View our recent update letter to see more details on how the auction works.

- Derek and Laura Dougherty

God Sightings Today

I had several God-sightings today.  I didn’t recognize any of them as such when they occurred, but now, sitting down the reflect on my day at the close of it, I realize that He was right there with me, offering regular assistance as I went through the day - kind of like a parent would for their young beloved child.

1.  Finn came down with what seems to be a fever virus early this afternoon.  He woke up early from his nap screaming.  I got him up and saw that he had spit up a tiny bit on himself, and he was really really hot, so I started a lukewarm bath for him.  As soon as I put him in the bath he lost his lunch.  Thank you God for letting that happen AFTER he was in the bath!  What a sweet mercy that was!

2.  It just so happened that we had the exact amount of children’s tylenol that we needed when his fever spiked tonight.  We gave him what he needed, and Derek could pick up some more when he was out and about this evening.  Thank you God!

3.  Several days ago I noticed that lifeway.com had a REALLY good deal on their Read and Share Bible Story DVDs, and so I decided to order a couple of them for Finn.  This morning, just a few hours before the fever struck, they were delivered to our doorstep.  It turned out to be the perfect thing to help him rest and divert his attention from feeling uncomfortable.  Thank you God!

4.  Tonight I was talking with Derek about whether it would be a good evening to watch one of our Spanish subtitled movies from the library, and it occurred to me that I should probably check to see how many days we had before we need to return them.  I knew we had at least another day or two.  So I went on my library account online and low and behold, a couple of books that I COMPLETELY forgot we had checked out were due TODAY!  Thank you God for sending me to my account today!  Thank you God for the ability to renew library books online so that I don’t have to leave my sick baby to return them tonight!

Who knows how many other little things God did for me today while I took them granted.  What a tender loving Father I have!

What did God do for you today?

Another Reason We're Still Here

I feel like every single week, and sometimes daily, I have the thought, “maybe that is why God still has us here?” Sometimes it is after a great conversation where I am able to see God using me (or Derek) to encourage or motivate someone.  Sometimes it’s after God puts me in a situation that causes me to turn to Him and ultimately grow a little closer to Him.  Sometimes it’s after we meet someone new who becomes interested in helping the gospel go forth in Peru.  Sometimes it’s after connecting with someone from long ago who turns out to need some encouragement or prayer.  Every week I am noticing ways that God is using us and growing us here right now, and I wonder afterward whether that is the reason God hasn’t moved us to Peru yet? So that we could have that encounter? 

In truth, the answer is probably yes, yes, and yes.  There must be a million reasons, and all of them intertwined and connected; we serve a God who is infinite and thorough.  And tonight it occurred to me that this waiting is causing me to notice these significant “God-moments” more than before.  In looking to justify the wait, I’m seeing God’s hand at work.

The title of our website is inspired by this quote: 

“There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room to recognize him or not to recognize him. . . in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” - Frederick Buechner

I think that all moments could be key moments if we would recognize them as such.  The challenge is to see God in everything and accept His constant presence and orchestration.  In this seeing and accepting the yoke becomes light, and the struggle becomes purposeful.  Yet most moments pass without us noticing Him.  

Through this waiting season, however,  God is opening my eyes to a few more moments than before.  And THAT is significant.  I hope it doesn’t stop when we finally do get to Peru!

Summertime Fun with Finn

Here in Alabama, we're busy coming up with fun things to do INSIDE and out of the HEAT!

Mom was busy with the camera, so Finn took her place cooking next to dad.

Last week we pulled this fun Train Set (Thanks so much to the Vander Noots for this awesome hand-me-down!) out for Finn, and he has been absolutely enthralled with it.  It's the first thing he wants to do each morning.

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Dad (Rearranging his face a bit in the process).

                                      

Finn enjoyed his first popsicle in the bathtub!

Climbing on and off of chairs is a new hobby of Finn's.  Unfortunately the climbing on part usually requires assistance still.  

- Derek and Laura Dougherty