Giving Thanks..

We had such a blessed day with our family.. Jesus was on our lips continually and the unseen guest at this lavish occasion.We spent the day with our family members in McMinnville, OR. It was so special to visit with everyone, especially our aunt who has a doctorite in missiology. She and I spoke for such a long time about mission work and it was a blessing! They were missionaries to Thailand for 20 years and have many exciting stories about the country. It was also so special to give testimony of how the Lord met us in Belize.. of how He provided and ministered to us and others.. how the Kingdom of God was preached by us and our special friends and visitors.. truly I am so blessed that the Lord calls the simple, the weak and the imperfect (too) to serve him! He is so worthy of our whole lives.. of our service to him. We can trust Him for all things and for this, our family is grateful! We are also grateful that not all of us need to be professional missionaries. We only need to be his disciple in order to be qualified to be sent out.

 

 The last grapes of the year

Our boys were the ones with the camera.. I had hoped for more grown-up shots

 but these are great too! Good job boys! :)

The girls say hi to cousin Dana

Aunt Molly shares an amazing story with Gracie

 

 

Grandpa checks out his camera

The banquet table just moments before the folding chair which Laura was seated in folded up on her, which sent the Lenox Christmas China plate flying.. full of food of course.. and crashing to the floor. Poor baby had practiced being really good all week and felt terrible about such an incident. She re-told the traumatic story all night, to all who would listen.. :)

 

It was a bit overwhelming to be around so much luxury. We only could think of the last dinner in Succotz Village.. of us eating a feast made by Abolouse.. while they sat and watched us. Without any food. Lord, encourage the hungry today. Reveal yourself to them through your servants and by your spirit.. fill them with spiritual food as well as physical food.. Lord, will you send a revival in this country? A revival of your people... who read your word and are propelled to do more!?

 

http://goodmeasure.org/files/3413/4195/3942/A_Little_More_booklet.pdf

Fall Fellowship

This past Sunday was a particularly warm Washington day.. crisp and beautiful! We had a wonderful day of fellowship. After the official meeting, the children had such a fun time raking up the leaves and jumping into the piles! At one point it turned into an all-out leaf fight! I just had to post some of these pics.. to remember this fun day of warm autumn fellowship with friends..

 

The leaf princess

 

 

"I'm gonna get you daddy!"

 

"Oh no you aren't!"

 

What is Ryan up to?

A sneak surprise.. little did dad know Ryan's coat was FILLED with leaves!

 

There goes Ash!

A special sister in Christ

Beautiful and Blustery Beach Trip

Recently, Ashley, Amanda, Ryan the little girls and I were able to accompany Nana to the beach for a few days. (Grant got to stay behind with Daddy.. which he LOVED!) Nana had reserved for us a three bedroom three bathroom condo right on the beach! An amazing view.. hot tub.. three stories.. and a view of the rocky jetty in Ocean Shores.. we were spoiled indeed! We had planned on rainy and windy weather but to our joy and surprise, we had one full day of moderate weather and clear, sunny skies.Nana and I had so much fun in the apartment; visiting and caring for the little girls. Our oldest three precious children spent most of the day exploring tide pools on the jetty. They had such a wonderful time together.. as I watched them from the windows of the room I felt so filled with joy.. that our children are truly one another's best friends. They are always provoking one another to love and good works.. encouraging the others to persue the Lord with thier whole hearts.. to stay on the narrow way, ready to lovingly admonish the other. I praise the Lord that we are such a close family. As we continue to diligently seek the Lord and as we grow closer to him, we also grow closer to one another. We definitely have our good days and our not-so-good days, depending on how surrendered we remain in the Lord. Currently on our fridge hangs this handwritten question and reminders:

AM I SURRENDERED TODAY?
Yield Youself To God (Romans 6:13)
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Present Youself a Living Sacrifice to Him (Romans 12:1)
I beesech you therefore, bretheren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable sacrifice

Abide in Christ (John 15:4)
'Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it's own, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Walk in the Light (1 John 1:7)
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one anohter, the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from all sin.

may we, the McDonald family and you, the reader also, continue to seek to know Christ and to live a life abiding in his love and obeying the commandments of him, our King.

 

Try as we might, we were unable to get the kites up in the air!~

 

The girls with Nana

 

 

A view of the condos from the beach

 

 

 

 

 

'He that would be my disciple must take up his cross daily and follow me'

There were pelicans everywhere! Maybe migrating?

 

 

More Pelicans

The Gorgeous Washington Coast

Precious Ashley, Age 21

Darling Mandy, age 18

 

Beloved Ryan, age 14

Winsome Gracie, age 4

 

 

 

Adorable Laura, age 2