Fall, Lovely Fall

Well, it's about time that I updated and delivered on my promise of pictures. I was just thinking yesterday that I wished I had a camera with me when I was out driving. I always think to take pictures when I go somewhere unique, but sometimes I forgot to take pictures of the everyday things around me. I really can't remember a prettier Oregon fall than we've had this year - the trees are colors are so vibrant and stunning and the sun has been out every day. It was strange talking to Stephanie in Alaska the other day and hearing that it is in the 20s and snowing there! Sorry Steph, you just need to come visit. :)

Alrighty, back to the trip...

So the day after we arrived in Chicago, we went to the lovely town of Wheaton and visited two museums on the Wheaton College campus. One of them was called the Wade Center, and it was a "mini museum" with a collection of items about C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and a few other writers. This oak wardrobe was handmade by C.S. Lewis's grandfather, and resided in Lewis's childhood home. His brother said that it was the inspiration for the wardrobe in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Though as my brother-in-law wisely pointed out, Lucy would have had to crawl into this wardrobe!

Just absolutely loved this painting of Aslan.

The campus of Wheaton. My only complaint was that because we were in a rush after visiting the museums, we had to eat in their cafeteria. Quite honestly it brought back some very painful memories for me of days when I couldn't find anything to eat in my school's cafeteria but tortilla chips and carrots and a handful of shredded cheese. I think subsisted on that stuff for four years! Thankfully, their food was better than Corban's.

The group of ladies I went with. They were so much fun. I joked before the trip that it was like going on a trip with seven mothers, but really it was more like going with seven great friends. I'm so blessed to work with them all and to learn from their wisdom!

Here's our group with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, whose ministry for women, Revive Our Hearts, put on the conference. She was a dear! And of course, she was as amazing in person as she was on stage sharing from her heart.

We got to try frozen custard from Culver's, which we had heard raving reviews about. I greatly enjoyed it, since ice cream in most forms is a close friend of mine, but it still didn't compare to Tillamook's Udderly Chocolate ice cream... which was waiting for me at home.

And speaking of home... it was really good to be back. Hope you've enjoyed the pictures... I would love to hear how you all are doing!

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:10

Stephanie

A Weekend to Remember

Well, I am back in the lovely land of the Pacific NW after my jaunt to Chicago to attend the True Woman 08 Conference. It's really hard to know how to sum up 4 really amazing days in a blog post short enough that anyone would actually read it, so I'll just hit the highlights. I think one of my co-workers put it so well when she said, "I was so empty before I left, and now I feel so full."

First of all, the conference was amazing, and it was HUGE. As in 6,300 women in one room. I think Dan's exact words when I told him that were, "That's WAY too many women"!

While it's true that the amount of estrogen in the conference center was off the chart, there was nothing fluffy or wimpy about this conference. Every speaker has something very profound to say - including John Piper, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Janet Parshall, and Joni Eareckson Tada.

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite thoughts and quotes that I was privileged to hear.

“In every situation God is always doing a thousand different things you cannot see and do not know.” - John Piper.

"Stop listening to yourself; talk to yourself." - Karen Loritts

"Can you accept His will for your life, even if it's not what you want?" - Janet Parshall

"I want to be a jewel that does not cringe when God chooses to give me a good scrubbing every now and then. My soul can stand a good scrubbing." - Joni Eareckson Tada

"Don't waste your suffering." - Joni Eareckson Tada

"Don't judge the outcome of the battle by the way things look right now." - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

My "touchstone" moment was definitely Friday night when they showed the video message from Joni Eareckson Tada (if you don't know much about Joni, you have to read her books. She is an amazing woman of God.) Joni is a quadriplegic, but she has been experiencing some very difficult pain in her bones and wasn't able to be there in person. Her message was so very, very powerful - about how the Lord uses suffering in our lives. If you have the time, I'd very much recommend listening to her message on audio.
Next time I will share some pictures from the trip!

Because of His grace,
S.