Day 29

January 29th

When you get a message saying "Bekah is getting baptized and You are on the invite list"  You Go!  

What a day of celebration as we got to watch Bekah let the world know She Loves Jesus and She said Yes!

We followed our time at the Barberton Grace Campus with time at the Table with his Parents at Panera.  How I wish I would have taken a photo!  Our last meal together before they return to Africa! 

Life is constantly moving and changing!

 

Day 28

January 28

The last Hardee's party with Doug and Jacquie for at least 7 more months.  They return to Africa in a few days.  What a blessing to have them home for so long!  But we know our blessing here was someone in Africa's longing.  

For Christmas Luke and I love to give gifts that involve time and favorites.  So, today Luke and spent a couple hours making prune periogi's.  A tradition from my Grandma O.  How fitting that we made them at our table in her kitchen.  Like I had done so many times with my Grandma when I was a kid. The funniest was Brianna eating 8 perogis.  She has found a new favorite!  

We purchased tickets to go see the Chinese Acrobats at the Civic...and we were in for a treat!  It was mesmerizing!   

Day #24

January 24

Grilled Chicken, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato for dinner.  Everything but the sweet potato tasted like fish.  No good!  Here is hoping for a better dinner tomorrow!

Day 22

January 22

When you are sitting in a room full of other potential life group leaders talking about how people in your life group will become your family.  The people you count on for care, love, support, and encouragement...and a couple from your old life group texts you and says "Want to come over for dinner and play cards?"  You have to smile and say "yes, we will join you at the table and we will bring the pizza!"

I am a big fan of time at the table.  Time to refresh one another after a long week of hardships and trials.  Time to encourage as we head into something scary and unknown.  Time to share about Jesus! Every table looks a little different, tonight we were around a coffee table eating pizza.  (A coffee table that was made by another member of our old life group.)  As we converse about how life is changing as they enter their last week as just the two of them.  In a week they will be welcoming their first child.  As exciting as it is, it can be stressful, and sometimes a hug, sometimes a smile, sometimes a scripture, and always your presence can help to ease that stress.  We are not alone in this Journey!

Day 20

January 20th

Today a big package was shipped to the door.  A big package of change.  Our lives are all about change and learning to embrace change.  The only thing that is constant in our lives is Jesus and the fact that He is unchanging and the Rock of our Foundation.  Everything else, it changes!
The weather- who would have thunk it would be 60 degrees in January
Cars- The truck ends, the new Honda begins
My Hair color- One day it is grey and then the next it is brown again  ;-)

Luke and I knew going into 2017 that our lives would be full of change in 2017.   Embracing Change is the only way to go, we can fight it, and try to stay where we are at...but we lose out on being challenged, on growing, and seeing everything in a new and fresh way!  As much as we enjoy life now, we know that what God has in store is that much more exciting and inviting!

Day 15

January 15

Luke arranged for some guys to come over and help Moses and Joanna work on their basement.  Moses was completely surprised when after Luke arrived more people starting arriving...1st  Greg, and then Jim, and then Mike... The guys had a lot of fun, got a lot of work done, and were the shining example of community. Something about community that gets me every time.  This is Family!

Joanna and I got to spend some restful time chatting and doing some last minute baby shopping as she has 2 weeks before Baby Chacko arrives.


1st pic:They have not mastered the easy load caulk gun...as far as unloading it!
2nd pic:The 2nd part of Luke's birthday present...a Connor McGregor mug!

DAY 12

The Trifecta 

Luke, Jacquie and Grandpa's Birthday!  179 is sublime!  

Let the celebration begin!  

One of the things I love about my husband is his heart.  He is so easily able to express through writing how he feels.  He is a great writer because he allows himself to feel...He wrote a letter to his Grandpa to let him know how he has impacted those around him, by being the Godly man that he is, and this his job here on earth after 85 years is not finished yet, he is meant to impact many more!!    

Day 11

Over the years, I have come to accept that I am a pretty good cook, but I missed the family gene on baking skills.  My Grandma Kerrigan's family owned a bakery/Ice cream shop...I inherited no skills from the Mounts side. 

I have tried making a few of Luke's favorite desserts over the years from scratch...and well, most of the time it could have gone better.  

My Devotional today was about making Cake and not having it come out quite right...

All the moments we wish we could change or take back...they don’t define us. Not one single bit. And knowing that is the key to learning how not to sweat it in this life we’re living. If you and I are valued simply for the cake we bring to the table, then we’ll wear ourselves out, striving for a little bit of recognition from whomever we’ve deemed the recognition gods. But when we recognize our worth is really determined by the God who made us, our focus shifts from performing for those imaginary gods to simply being loved by God.

“You Made Cake!!!”

No one is perfect, and each of us will have our fair share of cakes cemented to the pan. In all of this, however, the most spectacular thing of all is understanding, even when you bake a cake and it fuses itself to the pan, it’s not just that your friends and family don’t think twice about it. The most spectacular thing is knowing the Creator of Everything looks at that cake stuck in the pan, then wraps you in an embrace and shouts with delight, “You made cake!!!”

THIS is how much you are loved by God, just because you are here. And knowing THAT is the first step to learning not to sweat it and instead, grab a fork, pull up to the table, and dig in!

                                           Whitey's is the Table Investment tonight!

This little girl  :-)

Day 10

JANUARY 10TH

Today is Luke's Celebration Day!  We Celebrated the day with dear friends and his requested dinner, Gionnio's extra cheese pizza, canned mountain dew, and apple crisp with ice cream.

But More importantly we celebrated by sharing some of our funniest moments with Luke and just how influential he has been in our lives!  From helping us to do hard things, to being there for some of our difficult moments and then some of our most joyous moments.  Life with a community of people who deeply love you is everything.  We wrapped up the evening with an interesting discussion about what draws each of us closer to God.

We spent the whole night at the Table!
A C.S. Lewis quote in honor of Luke and his Birthday:
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." 

Here is to year # 33 a year of Change 

Day 8

January 8
Winter Good Company Concert.  Had a good time with family and listening to my Uncle sing.  Followed by time at The Table.  We went to Aladdin's and had some great Lebanese!

Day 4

January 4th

Sad day in the Jensen household.  We decided last year we would not put anymore money into the truck.  We would drive it till it died. 
Luke took it for e-check and it failed.  Apparently the check engine light bulb was burned out.  And there are 4 errors with it...So it will find its way to junkyard heaven.  RIP you were a good truck!

Day 3

January 3

Some days are better then others...Today is definitely an other day...but in the midst of the chaos...I am reminded that it is the beginning of a new year, and a new chance to have a positive impact on my co-workers!