Snow Day(s)

Today is day two of snow day lock down in Dallas. Ice, snow and frigid temperatures make me so grateful for my warm house, warm clothes and warm cup of (decaf) coffee. The last two days I have watched the Lord alter our schedules and change our plans to spend more time with Him and with each other.

At 29 weeks pregnant, the countdown is on to Baby Jack's arrival but also the countdown to life-altering schedules, sleeplessness, lack of quiet, and other things I hear babies bring with them! While we literally can't wait for his arrival, this last extended peaceful and quiet spell has been lovely. It's amazing how God reveals himself to us when we are quiet and listening. He moves our priorities around, loosens our grip on how we feel our life should be, refreshes our souls and gives us strength.

I often wonder... ok worry, about how my business walk by faith will change once baby is here. Perhaps this blog will be renamed "baby by faith" or "business and baby by faith" as I do hope my contracts will remain intact in some way once I come up for air post-baby. I've watched the Lord move Jack higher and higher on my priority list. So what does that mean for me as the reality of being "mother" is setting in? How does the lofty ideal woman/wife in Proverbs 31 fit in? I suppose I'm still figuring that out and will keep you posted. BUT, this I know. God has provided for my every step, surely he will provide for my steps ahead.

Psalm 105:4-5 "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles and the judgments he pronounced,"

A joyous season

First let me say, if you are still checking in to this sad little blog - thank you! I've had so much to say that I get overwhelmed and don't know where to start! So let me first recap you on this road we've been on the last few months!

1. Got back safe and sound from Guatemala
2. Started full time contract work with Head Start of Greater Dallas - got an office and everything!
3. Started feeling a little funny around mid-August
4. Found out I was pregnant and due in April
5. Patrick got a new job
6. Found out we are having a boy right before THanksgiving
7. Here we are!

So I'm 23 and a half weeks pregnant and feeling great! We are having a baby BOY around April 11th and go in for our 24 week appointment to hear that beautiful heart beat on Monday before Christmas. We are so excited! Right after Guatemala I started feeling like my life needed some more adventure. The trip was incredible, so out of my element and the Lord walked me through it the whole way. As I was thinking, man life in the states can be so dull, WHAM - I'm pregnant and from what I hear boys might be the biggest adventure of them all!

During this joyous season, I am so thankful for my Savior, who left his throne to be a BABY, a dependent, tiny, helpless baby for me, for my son. I think about Mary, how hard it must've been to not be married, to have to trust God when there was no room in the inn. I just bought a new bed so I could sleep more comfortably... she gave birth in a stable. I listen to joyous sounds of CHristmas music and my son kicks me and tumbles around, her son is who we sing about. So this Christmas is extra special for us and having two weeks off to enjoy it is a special bonus in this business walk by faith.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, unto us a son is given...

It's time to talk Guatemala.

It has been over two weeks since I've been in Guatemala. Oh how I have relished my memories, treasured my stories and wrestled with how to tell you about them. In short - it was an amazing trip and yes, I would go again in a heart beat. Everyone should take the opportunity to "go" and simply be blessed by God for saying "yes" to Him. Go to another country, go to your church's refugee program, go to a person who is sick and take dinner, go, please GO and be blessed more than you could ever give. For information on short term mission trips, visit our church's web site at www.northwestbible.org or talk to someone about ways to get involved in God's work in your neighborhood.

I have so many stories I want to tell and I have three high points where I really saw God that I'll start with. So I'll start here with number 1.

1) The feeding of the 500. Sunday night before our "campamento" started, we invited the small village where we would be working to come and sing with us, eat dinner from the food kitchen and enjoy. Little did we know that the gate that was supposed to close at 6 didn't close until closer to 7 and the entire town had come to eat.

The feeding kitchen, pictured above, was started when Julio (the Northwest supported missionary who lives and works and hosts our group each year) noticed hungry children coming to his church. He didn't want to give free food so he employed their mothers. If the mothers want their children to eat, they must cook. This was women in the kitchen's first time to cook for more than the 75 children they feed each day. Did you hear that - 75 hungry kids are now eating, praise God.

But that night 500 hungry people came out. We didn't know how much food they had in the kitchen, how many drinks, how much more could they churn out? Those of us in the kitchen, at the front of the line that was growing longer and longer were praying and believing the Lord who fed the 5,000 would feed these people too. The food got more sparse, the drink cooler got lower and lower, the line so long. One line was adults and one was children. I stood at the front of the line of children and passed their food to them as it came out. They waited on each plate and I stood there, touched their heads and shoulders and prayed silently "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace." What a privilege to see the faces of God's children and pray for so many of them.

We had to leave before the line ended, we didn't know if they ate. My roommate prayed when we got back to our room that the Lord would feed them. Then we, ironically, went to eat our own dinner and wait to see what God would do. And God did - he fed each person in line and the 10 women cooks in the kitchen. They had just enough for all of the people. Since I'm big on organization and that night was chaos from where I stood, I immediately thought of ways the event could have prevented this from happening. But I realized, when life is so planned out, so set, when do you get to see things like that happen? When do you get to pray so hard and believe a miracle could happen? How often do you get to see the Lord go, "Watch me work, I take care of them just like I take care of you." ?

So when your life is topsy-turvy, your next move unknown, your life insecure, think of it as an opportunity to watch God really show off for you. He will really fight for you when you can't anymore, he will protect you when you feel weak and vulnerable and he will always see your face when you cry, pray, praise, sing to him because HE worked a miracle and you realized it.

The Lord taught me many things but these two stood out. 1) There is great need all around us, people who lack basic needs and 2) He provides for his children through his people. Like Julio, who saw these people through God's eyes, noticed the need and acted. Julio was another hero that night. He was watching the line grow too, knowing some people were in line twice, trying to get more food than they were supposed to and instead of being jaded from 12 years dealing with people who think his views are so controversial, he was compassionate and said to me, "They are here because they are hungry, they just want to eat, we can't turn them away." Praise God for the compassion of Pastor Julio. Did you know pastor in Spanish means shepherd? Do you know someone who needs you to act?

GO in obedience! ACT with compassion! EXPECT with humble hearts to be blessed!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-CHANGES!

Well, the past month has been a month of big changes in the Koenning house on Princess Lane so let me catch you up!

For the last two months, Patrick and I have been praying for a new work opportunity for him. In all seriousness, I was praying for a "rescue mission" from the Lord. In order for Patrick to leave his current job as an over-worked, under-appreciated assistant superintendent at McCarthy either a new job would have to come miraculously fall into his lap or a new job would have to miraculously fall into mine.

So we head to Florida and pray every day for Patrick's work, we read Jesus Calling and meditate on the beach, I knew something was going to happen on this trip. By Thursday of our trip I caught a glimpse of this person I used to know - my Patrick! It was like watching a child grow up, if you're around them everyday you don't notice it the changes, but like a little nudge I realized how much Patrick needed a new job because when he let go of all that stress, he was someone else, that light-hearted laughing guy I remembered but really didn't know was gone.

I sent Patrick this verse before we left on our trip, 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it." I knew the Lord would provide but I didn't know how.

Monday after vacation was brutal. Patrick called that morning and said "I'm thirsty, there's no water out here." I thought to myself THIS IS AMERICA, what is this?! That literally brought me to my knees and I shamelessly begged the Lord for a miracle. As it turns out, He stills passes those out because by 3 o'clock that afternoon Head Start called and offered me a full time position! The next day I accepted and by Thursday Patrick had turned in his two-weeks notice. He said as he was leaving his resignation meeting, an old security guard said, "'Bout time to go ain't it?" and Patrick said "Yep, it sure is." I sometimes wonder if anyone else saw that old man - to me he was an angel of confirmation.

Now it's been two weeks and his last day is tomorrow, I leave for Guatemala on Saturday and start as a full time contractor with Head Start after I return, on the 21st. My new job as a full time employee will hopefully be squared away by August! Ain't God grand?!

I'll keep you posted about Patrick's job situation. He's taking some time while I'm in Guatemala to go home, and to Shiner. Sometimes it's easier to hear the Lord when you've gone back to your roots, I hope he has a wonderful time and the Lord works just as much through him as I hope he will through me in Guatemala.

I would also like to say thank you to my mom especially and all of our family and friends who have been praying for us. That is the best gift you could ever give us and we have seen God work mightily through your prayers and encouragement. I'm so looking forward to being in Guatemala and being in a position to watch the Lord work and know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God promises to protect them, fight for them and bless them, and as I hope you see, those promises are still living and active for us. Deut 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you."

If you can't beat 'em... try it

I had a hard time deciding on the right title for this blog. Several of my options were "Him", "The hardest working man I know", "Vacation" were just a few. But when it came right down to it, this one made the cut.

So Patrick and I just got back from a week of wonderfulness in Florida. Time at the beach, splashing in the ocean, eating, riding bikes, fishing and eating some more! It was glorious. Because of his wild work schedule and my previous time out of steady work, we really hadn't had a vacation in about two years just us. This I discovered was probably a good thing because I will follow that boy anywhere and usually the places we go aren't my first choice.

This trip Patrick had me:
1. Bay fishing - which was super fun since the guide was baiting our hooks and I didn't have to touch! Afterwards we took the freshly filleted fish to a restaurant where they cooked them right up for us! I have decided this is part of the human experience and now I totally get fishing. The beautiful water, catching your dinner, cooking and eating it when it's so fresh. Such a great experience I would've never had on my own.

2. Watching thunderstorms at night on the beach - So the night of Patrick's birthday we left a concert early and decided to head to the beach. I am usually terrified to be near the ocean at night - what if a big shark comes up, bites me and drags me in???!!! But I went and off to the west (or something like that) was this giant thunderhead. We saw a lightening show that put the fourth of July fireworks to shame. It was so far away that we really couldn't hear too much thunder but were occasionally blinded... by the light! heehee We even found a big sand alligator some kids made and had a built in beach recliner! Another amazing experience.

3. The Ocean - my giant fear of the ocean probably has something to do with my complete fascination with Shark Week. I hate being too far out, I hate having anything swim past me and don't even think about telling me there's a fish near by - I'm out! But of course Patrick ventures way farther out into the water so off I go, bobbing along begging him to stop. Those waves would come and he'd pull me out of the way, lift me and occasionally FORGET and I'd get dunked! But it was great and that laugh and smile I'd get dunked everyday for! He even let me borrow his snorkeling mask when I felt brave enough to look under the water (big news here - no sharks!)

4. Dolphins and early mornings - no one told me the sun comes up at 5 am at the beach. If they did I forgot or blocked it out. But early bird Patrick was ready to get up and get to the water by 6:45 several mornings we were there. I'm so glad we went because it was beautiful and one morning four dolphins swam by just a 100 feet away! Such beautiful creatures!

I told Patrick at the beginning of our trip that is was cool that I love to admire God's creation but he loves to experience it. I suspect this had something to do with all of the new activities I had to be a part of but I'm so glad and grateful for all of it. We both felt such happiness to be with each other and in God's beautiful creation, to think he loves me, us was overwhelming.

Psalm 8:3-4
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

Class of 2018

Today Angel (front, center, two tier black skirt), my little sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, was recognized at an awards assembly (remember those??) at her elementary school in South Dallas - Joseph J. Rhoads. See all those little faces? (Disregard the awfulness of my camera from far away.) That's our future class of 2018, man I felt OLD. The ones who received a "commendable" on TAKS (aka - really good) also received a placard with their name, class year and current college choice. While Angel's said *cough cough* we're still working on her, there were quite a few TAMU mentions! It had something to do with the lady in the white shirt (far right) but I whooped none the less.

They bolted upright when the pledge of allegiance began without the 8 year old leading it telling anyone and even knew the one for Texas which they said right before a 2 minute memorization of a school motto ending with "I have aspirations for myself!" or something like that! So despite the bad rap kids get these days and the bad rap DISD gets, those teachers work hard and are good role models and help kids. One student (first on the left below) scored a PERFECT score on reading, writing and composition sections... again the unmentionable school of choice but whatever, she rocked that test!

I felt really uplifted when I left the program, a brilliant sunset painting of Angel's in my hands. Congrats class of 2018, as one teacher said, "I may not be here to see it, but somebody tell me when you get up there!" I just hope I can change her mind about colleges... there's still time.

Second Grade

Not many people can say that their second grade teacher is a missionary, has lived all over the world and named her fourth child after their mother, but I can. I got an email update from her the other day and it got me thinking. She has a busy life with four little ones and a husband in graduate school but she prays for everything and gives the Lord credit for everything. Her last email caught me when she said, "God helped her (speaking about her daughter) get 5th of 18 girls in the long jump!" I have to admit, I thought... did God really help her or is she just practicing really hard, naturally an athlete or some other reason. I have puzzled for days over - did God really help H place 5th?

So, I finally realized that either I wasn't asking/letting God help with tasks or I wasn't giving him credit for helping me even when I didn't ask. It's so easy to give yourself credit, no matter the size of the task, I have to remind myself to stop, pray, ask for help before I move forward. I believe God will work around you or through you, but you must be open to listening and acting and you will do a better job when you do not act in your own strength but His.

I have attached a photo of some of the Munoz's work with the Wycliff Bible Translators. While they are not pictured, this was a ceremony of a tribe receiving Bibles in their own language, a 22 year project for some of the missionaries involved.

Abraham turned to the crowd and yelled, "Listen! The Holy Word of God in our Gapapaiwa language has arrived!" And the crowd joined him in cheering, "Enosaire! Enosaire! Enosaire!" (Pronounced 'eh-no-SIGH-ray' which means both 'hurray' and 'welcome'.)

Something tells me they asked faithfully for God to help them.