It is nearly 2am and we are 92% ready to depart. We have packed the RV and left some big things for last minute. Of course Russell (who did go to bed at about 12:30am is waking at 4am to finish what he needs to take care of with his Real Estate business (which he has an assistant helping while we are away). Many have asked, probably because they are wondering what on earth he does for a living that he can just pack up and go for a month. I tell them we are trust fund babies. Ha!
We love our Rv and are excited to begin our life and spiritual journey.
Tomorrow we are off to visit Grandma on the way to say good-bye and then to our brother and sister in law in Ojai! We will stay there the night to enjoy them and be closer to our Friday destination of Big Sur.
I have heard Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The song, "I think I'm gonna like it here." from the movie Anne comes to mind. However, my next thought is Tupac's "Get rich or die tryin" song.
Family Ali
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Bon Voyage! -The smiles and trails have already begun.
We are picking up the RV tomorrow! We are officially going.
We have had a couple of rough weeks (enough with the Dead End phase God!Oh, right it is all your timing). We had some things fall though and others not work out, we began to get discouraged. I was working every spare minute on the trip and things were right were we started in May. We considered not going, but knew we would not turn back. I began to think, "Who are we to go and do this?"
Then while I was at a stop light turned my head to see Charlotte! She was actively manning her magnificent and perfectly spun spider web. I looked at the web of wonder and a powerful thought clicked, "If God creates that spider with such an amazing gift, and he clearly cares more about humans than spiders, than can you imagine the gifts he has given us?" And much like, "Some Pig" in Charlotte's Web, that spider wrote, "Who are you not to?" on her web, or may as well have. Thanks Charlotte!
She was right! Who are we not to? Who are all of you not to?
I declared that week - "Big Faith Week." We followed up with a little bit of emailing and calling (but not out of desperation and fear like the past week). And we prayed together, we acted as if it all was going to work out some how, some way. We caught ourselves when we didn't. We got excited about researching some stops.
And as luck, I mean God, would have it, little miracles began to appear. We booked locations. Had pastors want to meet with us. Found some cool new churches. Had a pastor offer his retreat to us for a weekend while we are in town, and it is rrridiculous! It looks like heaven. Pics to follow when we get there:)
Just really cool stuff that stems from having the faith of a mustard seed, and boast boast, I think with our 'big faith week' we had the faith of a Pumpkin seed!
I said to myself, "Never doubt, it always works out!" It has a jingle to it and is so true. Then I woke up this morning with a pea size red lump on my breast. Back to fear. But already tonight it is 1/4 of the size and it could be related to the crazy bouts of Mastitis I have had in the last 6 mos. I have a Sonogram tomorrow. I already feel at ease, that it is benign and silly:)I will keep you posted.
When I felt the calling in my heart to go and do a trip of this nature, I was only present to the fun parts. It's a good thing, because I may not have decided to go if I knew how much work and preparation goes into it. And I know that, albeit this trip is smaller than we wanted or intended, we are going through the necessary growth we need. I keep reminding myself this is not supposed to all go my way, it is God's trip and he has a plan far greater than anything I could think up. What seems insignificant and small to me, is not in the big picture.
Good night.
We have had a couple of rough weeks (enough with the Dead End phase God!Oh, right it is all your timing). We had some things fall though and others not work out, we began to get discouraged. I was working every spare minute on the trip and things were right were we started in May. We considered not going, but knew we would not turn back. I began to think, "Who are we to go and do this?"
Then while I was at a stop light turned my head to see Charlotte! She was actively manning her magnificent and perfectly spun spider web. I looked at the web of wonder and a powerful thought clicked, "If God creates that spider with such an amazing gift, and he clearly cares more about humans than spiders, than can you imagine the gifts he has given us?" And much like, "Some Pig" in Charlotte's Web, that spider wrote, "Who are you not to?" on her web, or may as well have. Thanks Charlotte!
She was right! Who are we not to? Who are all of you not to?
I declared that week - "Big Faith Week." We followed up with a little bit of emailing and calling (but not out of desperation and fear like the past week). And we prayed together, we acted as if it all was going to work out some how, some way. We caught ourselves when we didn't. We got excited about researching some stops.
And as luck, I mean God, would have it, little miracles began to appear. We booked locations. Had pastors want to meet with us. Found some cool new churches. Had a pastor offer his retreat to us for a weekend while we are in town, and it is rrridiculous! It looks like heaven. Pics to follow when we get there:)
Just really cool stuff that stems from having the faith of a mustard seed, and boast boast, I think with our 'big faith week' we had the faith of a Pumpkin seed!
I said to myself, "Never doubt, it always works out!" It has a jingle to it and is so true. Then I woke up this morning with a pea size red lump on my breast. Back to fear. But already tonight it is 1/4 of the size and it could be related to the crazy bouts of Mastitis I have had in the last 6 mos. I have a Sonogram tomorrow. I already feel at ease, that it is benign and silly:)I will keep you posted.
When I felt the calling in my heart to go and do a trip of this nature, I was only present to the fun parts. It's a good thing, because I may not have decided to go if I knew how much work and preparation goes into it. And I know that, albeit this trip is smaller than we wanted or intended, we are going through the necessary growth we need. I keep reminding myself this is not supposed to all go my way, it is God's trip and he has a plan far greater than anything I could think up. What seems insignificant and small to me, is not in the big picture.
Good night.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Getting Geared Up
Okay so we have been trying to figure out all of the ins and outs of technology and linking/informing people. This is tough without support...so we are seeking support of someone who would give us a path to follow so we can move past this hurdle on the board of Mission Life.
I just spent 35 minutes getting a list of people inputted into a system from our Peace Plan web page and "poof" system error and nothing...Help...I have to go fix dinner!
I just spent 35 minutes getting a list of people inputted into a system from our Peace Plan web page and "poof" system error and nothing...Help...I have to go fix dinner!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Faith filled action
God is good. I only doubted for a hot second before I turned worry into worship. Russell and I took faith filled action. Our whole trip was up in the air - not like the movie, but it was this rock solid decision with all of these ethereal details. The details are floating in thin air - but lingering around my head like a pesty gnat. I felt like I needed an RV to pin down a departure date. Or at least the possibility of getting one. I really felt like we shouldn't take a 35' giant RV up the coast after talking to people and doing more research: safety, gas $, my potential driving, etc. So we said no to that offer, our only offer in 3 months. That's when I got scared. The "what if's" crept in. I reminded myself that we are following God's plan and if He brings you to it - He will bring you through it. (there are a lot of gems in this little entry, I don't want to use up all of my wisdom in one entry:)). Correction - not my wisdom, Rick Warren's really. Which, then, credit goes to Christ.
And brought me through it he did! We have options! Who doesn't love options? Now have to make a simple choice - 26' - great gas mileage, easy shopping center entrance, poor sleeping set up for kids. Or 29'- not great gas mileage - better sleeping quarters. No wrong choice here.
We have tenatively moved our departure date for our Rhythm of Love - couples workshop tour to Sept 29th ish...can I get a woop woop? (My Jay-Z tribute)
Janae
And brought me through it he did! We have options! Who doesn't love options? Now have to make a simple choice - 26' - great gas mileage, easy shopping center entrance, poor sleeping set up for kids. Or 29'- not great gas mileage - better sleeping quarters. No wrong choice here.
We have tenatively moved our departure date for our Rhythm of Love - couples workshop tour to Sept 29th ish...can I get a woop woop? (My Jay-Z tribute)
Janae
Friday, August 27, 2010
Prayer Makes a Difference
I begin my week on Thursday...for no other reason than I spiritually am lifted and supported by my 4 person Bible fellowship group who meet at an office in the middle of the day to revive our spirits. So you could say that I wake up on Thursdays. Yes I watch Church online or attend but it is in the small groups where I am face to face with my peers each a piece of the body of Christ. So I am face to face with the diverse face of the Holy Spirit. Okay I think I have hammered the point. So as I was saying, I wake up on Thursdays! Last week I was mentally struggling everywhere. At work, with Rohan, with Janae and unwilling to take the time to have a quiet time with God. So when I reached last Thursday I was ready to make the following week one filled with times of purposeful prayer and a daily quiet time. Now I use the term "quiet time" very loosely since Rohan is 2.5 years old and we share the mornings together which can be anything but quiet. So I fit in my Bible reading and prayer in between his breakfast and morning PBS shows. One of the many things I love about Rohan is that he can recognize when I am reading the Bible or praying...because he will ask me, "Are your reading the Bible Poppa."Anyhow back to last week and my big turn around. I learned many things last week reading about being in expectation of blessing, speaking the blessing to people around me and getting that I am to teach Rohan and Royce how to control themselves and not me controlling them. Some of these actions not unknown to me but last week through prayer and my submitting my day to God caused me to actually read some of the articles that Janae gave to me a week ago and receptive to try some of the suggestions and bam...my week transformed, my love grew and my headaches where lifted. In my stubbornness I know prayer and quiet time makes a difference; my task at hand is to shorten the time I fight the Holy Spirit's tug to get into God's word. I am a much better Poppa and Hubby and wouldn't you know it...I actually had some time to write this entry. God Bless and let me know how I can support you in having your daily quiet time. - Russell
Do you have a vision that you have ignored?
Do you have a vision that you have ignored? One that sometimes keeps you up at night with dreams of acting on it?
A vision like... careening in a can (RV) for 30 days with a husband that drives an Rv like a Porche (ahh)- can, you know, once in a while be a little snappy - but a wonderful man; a two year old who speaks 3 languages - English, Sign, and Whine, and is let's say - like that little pink bunny that never stops - but he is super fun; and an infant ('nuff said)!Well our vision is not just RVing and adventuring our beautiful countryside but to lead workshops for couples and families. When I can't sleep at night I am more thinking of the people we will meet and influence, the amazing memories we will have on our expedition.
Well - the courageous Russell and I have decided to say yes to this knock at our hearts! We know God is leading us out there and all we have to do is be willing to choose yes!
Which is not easy and we have many fears and excuses not to. Some of which are proving true. But we are excited to see God work in this journey. What vision have you ignored?
Janae
A vision like... careening in a can (RV) for 30 days with a husband that drives an Rv like a Porche (ahh)- can, you know, once in a while be a little snappy - but a wonderful man; a two year old who speaks 3 languages - English, Sign, and Whine, and is let's say - like that little pink bunny that never stops - but he is super fun; and an infant ('nuff said)!Well our vision is not just RVing and adventuring our beautiful countryside but to lead workshops for couples and families. When I can't sleep at night I am more thinking of the people we will meet and influence, the amazing memories we will have on our expedition.
Well - the courageous Russell and I have decided to say yes to this knock at our hearts! We know God is leading us out there and all we have to do is be willing to choose yes!
Which is not easy and we have many fears and excuses not to. Some of which are proving true. But we are excited to see God work in this journey. What vision have you ignored?
Janae
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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