The White House Garden's & Grounds

Spring 2009 White House Garden's and Grounds...

Benjamin and Toni were able to visit DC this weekend. It was a brief, but sweet time. We were able to visit the White House Garden's- a tradition which First Lady Pat Nixon began. 

It was very endearing to see the magnolia trees planted by late President Andrew Jackson in honor of his wife, and also the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. It was an honor to walk the property of our nation's leader. Such a beautiful place. 

The neatest part of the grounds is the children's garden, created by Lady Bird Johnson. The small stones which wind through the smaller proportioned garden have hand and feet prints of the children and grandchildren of the presidents. I can only imagine what it would have been like growing up as a child in the White House.

The part of the tour which I received a large grin out of was the tennis courts. First of all, I don't know how often, if ever, they are used. Secondly, there is a huge sign on the entrance gate of the courts which reads "white soled shoes only." Can you imagine if the president or guest of the president arrived with shoes otherwise!? Who would stop them from playing? The secret service!? "Excuse me Mr. President, I'm going to have to ask you to change your tennies?"

=) right.

Oh the joys... 

Thank you Paul and Jodi for providing us with the fun tour, and Ben & Toni for coming down. 

Bow chick a wow wow...

Interesting article... click on the link.
Bow chick a wow wow

Another article...very sad- Article

On a lighter note...

Congratulations Ben on passing your exams/orals for your PhD!
Way to be accomplished!?!?!? I'm proud...

When Ben is not studying...he likes to pretend he is from Saudi.

I think your height might give you away... what's with the other two guys? I hope they are not your body guards. YIKES! =) oh man.

A golden nugget of scripture...

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 

Love one another with brotherly affection. 

Outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

Good Morning!

Happy Birthday to Momma McLaren!

Love you!

Becoming mainstream?

I've been keeping my eye on this for the past year. I find this extremely interesting, slightly disturbing, and all together very fascinating.
The article references the Chinese farmer who was attacked by a bear and received one of the first deemed 'successful' face transplants. What it does not mention is that he failed to take his several anti-rejection medications and is now dead.

Interesting...

BBC article

Really a success?

Did the undertones of this blog sound cynical?
Perhaps because I am.

Must Read...

Different perspective on the continual Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Very convicting and eye-opening.

After reading this book my heart was once again grieved about the tiny bits of history and humanity that I truly understand. 

It's when I finish books like this, or speak with others with different perspectives on life than I, that I become overwhelmed with 'littleness.' Sometimes I even think -perhaps it is better if I don't know.

But this is where the great mystery of life lies...in books, people and relationships. 

I am so thankful that the Lord has given me opportunities to meet the people I have met and travel to the places I have seen. What a true honor to meet and hopefully serve/enjoy fellow mankind. So many times I want to hug the disgruntled man/woman walking down the street(there are many in DC). I want them to understand their worth. (And for my tabloid/lack of good news, so read the horrible news junkies- I think The First Lady's sweet shoulder embrace to the Queen mum was fantastic! Way to go woman.) 

Now I'm rambling- anyways... I am reminded of what Packer writes on living with an eternal perspective in mind- 

The everlastingness of this life was spelled out in the vividest possible way by the anonymous benefactor who appended to John Newton's "Amazing Grace" this extra verse:

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun, 

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we first begun.

I have been writing with enthusiasm, for this everlasting life is something to which I look forward. Why? Not because I am out of love with life here- just the reverse! My life is full of joy, from four sources- knowing God, and people, and the good and pleasant things that God and men under God have created, and doing things which are worthwhile for God or others, or for myself as God's man. But my reach exceeds my grasp. My relationships with God and others are never as rich and full as I want them to be, and I am always finding more than I thought was there in great music, great verse, great books, great lives, and the great kaleidoscope of the natural order. 

As I get older, I find that I appreciate God, and people, and good and lovely and noble things, more and more intensely; so it is pure delight to think that this enjoyment will continue and increase in some form (what form, God knows, and I am content to wait and see), literally forever. Christians inherit in fact the destiny which fairy tales envisage in fancy: we(yes, you and I, the silly saved sinners) live, and live happily, and by God's endless mercy will live happily ever after. 

We cannot visualize heaven's life, and the wise man will not try.  Instead, he will dwell on the doctrine of heaven, which is that there the redeemed find all their heart's desire: joy with their Lord, joy with his people, and joy in the ending of all frustration and distress and supply of all wants.  What was said to the child- "If you want sweets and hamsters in heaven, they'll be there"- was not an evasion, but a witness to the truth that in heaven no felt needs or longings go unsatisfied.  What our wants will actually be, however, we hardly know, save that the first and foremost we shall want to be "always...with the Lord" -1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Often now we say in moments of great enjoyment, "I don't want this ever to stop"- but it does.  Heaven, however, is different.  May heaven's joys be yours, and mine. 

What a writer. Beautifully coined. 

Interesting Book Review...

Thank you Dr. Jen Prior...
(and of course BBB) =)

Interesting article that makes me smile and also feel proud about my education.

Surprised by Love...

enjoy!

The Nations

Probably a month ago now I sat under a man who was teaching on Colossians 1:9-14.  He discussed how Paul's prayer life was essential in his ministry & pleasing to the Lord- and how we also need to follow in the example given to us by Paul in the same way.  He was very compelling on the urgency and importance of our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ; Specifically those among the nations.  He openly asked the attendees of this small group if they were actively praying for the nations and if so, how? A few people gave their methods of prayers to the group. One person shared how they pick a nation each time they are praying- and pray specifically for the Christians living there. Another person suggested to the group that you could use a method of prayer...starting with the broad and narrowing to personal specifics.  In that sense nothing would be left out of his/her prayers at a global level to the most intimate personal level. 

These were just two thoughts- I am sure there were more, I cannot remember exactly now what the others were.

At the time of this discussion- I was living close to Massachusetts Avenue where many of the Embassy's stand. I have biked this road a dozen times and many times have felt an inclination to pray for these beautiful homes...or I should say the people who inhabit them and in a deeper sense...the people they are here representing. It has been one of the neatest experiences of truly praying for the nations.  As I pass by each nation- often represented by its national emblem/flag I am burdened in my heart to pray for this specific group of people. I find it curiously interesting how the Lord will lay certain people/places on our hearts for specific purposes- all to do with His ultimate glory and plan...especially when we have no idea why? and thus have to hold tight to our faith in grace and trust in his sovereignty of all things.

Greg Gilbert, the leader/teacher of the evening quoted a few lines from John Stott's book Basic Chritianity. 

"The Christian life is not just our own private affair.  If we have been born again into God's family, not only has he become our Father but every other Christian believer in the world, whatever his nation or denomination, has become our brother or sister in Christ."

So good- and so very true. I sometimes get overwhelmed thinking about praying for Toni (&Ben of course) and Judson- wow. Talk about a load of prayers that must/should be offered up. I guess that is why scripture commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing!

I write this all now- because I received this email today from Samaritan's Purse and have enclosed the link to update you on what is happening in Sudan (I am sure many of you are already aware).  It is by God's grace alone that SP has been able to keep staff- and volunteers there at this time. Pray, however, specifically for the citizens of Sudan who know Jesus Christ- that they would be bold and strong and filled with the Spirit of truth to lead one another in truth & grace- and that they would be filled with an overwhelming peace that their God is still truly in control. 

Darfur- SP link

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

James 5:16

I literally live in the backyard

of our nations capitol.

I was walking home tonight and I couldn't even believe the scenery that was behind me.

As I turned around to shed a glance at the monuments behind me I could not help but to smile with joy at my present circumstances.

Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be open unto you...

I have moved in with a group of young ladies from a good church. It is so refreshing to come home to people whom I know know the truth & seek it. As I am writing here tonight- I am also filled with a smile of joy because the past 2 hours have been filled with wedding planning.

What a fun time of life for Laura Beth... weddings truly are something to be hopeful for. =)

I have actually found my favorite wedding dress- Vera Wang (which might just make my dad say 'very wong' hahahaha). Looking forward to wearing it someday... I have enclosed the link of course. Vera Wang and the 'Divine Obsession' please watch this. =)

On the flip side of rose petals and engagement rings...

The Ugandan boys have passed the physical testing of their trying hearts. Both boys are doing splendid and are eagerly anxious to return to Uganda. I am looking forward to next week- I will be meeting up with the disassembled group from Memphis, New York and Indianapolis to re-unite Allan and Daniel with their fellow heart pals. =) A major blessing that all has gone well.

I am looking forward to these little ones being back home with their families and praying as they go that their hearts would be softened/opened to the gospel from this trip forward.

Quick update...

Thankful for you and your prayers over my life.

Growing

Always growing, always learning...

So thankful for the people in my life and the dear friends the Lord has blessed me with.

This week I have really been meditating on the different ways the Lord reveals himself to us. Creation is the most beautiful revelation of his glory (to the eyes that is...).  Out of all his creations PEOPLE are the most beautiful to me- especially, growing people.  I love the way the Lord brings people into our lives to reveal himself and his graces to us. Last night I read through a really good essay by Archibald Alexander on Growth in Grace. 

Read it my friends. =) Encouraging and edifying. 

Personally I found a single paragraph to be very convicting and challenging.

"Another powerful cause of hindrance in the growth of the life of God in the soul is that we make general resolutions of improvement, but neglect to extend our efforts to particulars.  We promise ourselves that in the indefinite future we will do much in the way of reformation, but are found doing nothing each day in cultivating piety. We begin and end a day without aiming or expecting to make any particular advance on that day. Thus our best resolutions evaporate without effect. We merely run the round of prescribed duty, satisfied if we do nothing amiss and neglect no external service which we feel to be obligatory.  We resemble the man who purposes to go to a certain place and often resolves with earnestness that he will some day perform the journey, but never takes a step towards the place.  Is it at all strange that that person who on no day makes it his distinct object to advance in the divine life, at the end of months and years is found stationary? The natural body will grow without our thinking about it, even when we are asleep, but not he life of piety, which only increases by and through the exercises of the mind, aiming at higher measures of grace.  And as every day we should do something in the good work, so we should direct our attention to the growth of particular graces, especially of those in which we know ourselves to be defective. Are we weak in faith? Let us give attention to the proper means of strengthening our faith and, above all, apply to the Lord to increase our faith.  Is our love to God cold and hardly perceptible, and greatly interrupted by long intervals in which God and Christ are not in all our thoughts? let us have this for a daily lamentation at the throne of grace- let us resolve to meditate more on the excellency of the divine attributes, and especially on the love of God to us- let us be much in reading the account of Christ's sufferings and death, and be importunate in prayer, until we receive more copious effusions of the Holy Spirit; for the fruit of the Spirit is love, and the love of God is shed abroad in our hearty by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. And so we should directly aim at cultivating and increasing every grace; for the divine life, or 'new man', consists of these graces, and the whole cannot be in health and vigour while the constituent parts are feeble and in a state of decay. " 

Sincere thinking about personal growth...

I am thankful for the men/women in my life who encourage me daily, weekly, monthly or even at times yearly to "re-align" myself, if you would, in the written word of God and daily obedience to it. 

" Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."

Philippians 3:15-17

Metro...

Welcome to DC. wow. Today was my first, successful, smooth, and what I would consider "empowering" day riding the metro! Thank goodness it was only on day two that I gained such quick (self-proclaimed) competency. HA! I decided it was well worth my money & efforts to give the metro's maps/schedules at least 3o minutes of my precious scrutinizing time after yesterday's tragic incompetent riding episode. Turns out reading has brought about victory once again in the world of Kata.
DC is fantastic. The weather has been unbelievable since I arrived. Yesterday I was able to bike to the monuments and watch the sun set over the Potomac. I feel very blessed to have ended up in this city for this season. Living close to the National Cathedral and American University has been so great as well.
Tonight, as I was rummaging through graduate programs...looking into different areas of study, I realized that there are just too many things in life to experience. I can't even begin to fathom how people choose their area of study!?
Deep down I would love to be a writer- I would love to write vignettes about the people and places I see & visit. An "in the field reporter" would be a fantastic fit. =) However when I discussed this with the woman whose home I have been fortunate to be living in (she is an editor) she said some very thought intriguing things. She really emphasized that it does not take a masters or even doctorate in English literature to make an excellent writer- but it takes time, people & experience.
If you have read any of the previous posts on my blog- you would realize in my case it would take a little more than those three things. For instance, an EDITOR, spell checker, proof reader, how about a thesaurus to have a little variety in word usage, and most importantly- readers.

J.I. Packer never intended to be an writer- this statement speaks for itself.
(I am in no way trying to compare myself to Packer...just a little encouragement that God is gracious and always working- his purposes will prevail and he will be glorified- in whatever measure he chooses to use & refine us).

So, in the meantime- as I continue down the educational road in medicine/nursing/healthcare...blah blah blah- I can dream about one day ending up on the Washington Post!
Until then- I will continue riding the metro (which is a breeding ground for good literature), continue in my nursing, and continue on to wherever the next airbus 330 might take me.
Once again, welcome to DC- glad you could join me.