FORE!!!

Today Hubs is in the land that I love...Minnesota! He has a clean, beautiful, quiet house to himself, a brand new Rav 4 as his chariot and, oh yeah, he's playing 54 holes of golf TODAY!






(My parents are on vacay in Canada, so Todd has their house and car at his disposal. He is there by himself, thus the quiet house. I am not sure he is enjoying the quiet, or the clean, as much as I would if I was there.)



In July, Todd was invited to participate in a golf tournament that helps raise money for missionaries and ministries. Since we are missionaries, that raise money for our ministry, he decided to give it a shot...well, many shots! The tournament includes playing 54 holes in a day.




Todd has been working on gathering sponsors over the last month. (It is not too late, if you want to sponsor Todd per hole, multiply it by 54 and send a tax deductible check, for the amount, made out to "YWAM" and mail it to 418 E. Franklin Street, Monroe, NC 28112. He has gotten sponsors for .75 -$10.00 per hole. Some people have sent in one time gifts as well.)




You may ask yourself, or me, why is Todd doing this? Why do the Hedgepeths "raise support"?



As missionaries, with Youth With A Mission, we do not receive a salary. Our family is responsible to raise all the funds needed to be in ministry and to do all that the Lord has called us to do. We recognize that there are many valid ways of financing ministry, as YWAMers we are called to practice personal support raising in the context of dependence on God for financial provision. We have seen the Lord provide for us, through the generosity of family, friends and churches for over 21 years. It is not just us out here, doing "what we do", it is a team of people who are being obedient to what God has called them to do.



We are grateful for the generosity of others. We are grateful for every gift that comes our way.



As we have seen added responsibility given to us, within our mission, we have had an added increase in expenses. So, Todd golfing, and getting sponsors, has helped to fund what we know God has called us to do.



A friend wrote on Sunday night, saying that we are living in financially fragile times, but God is not a fragile God! And He promises that "He will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."




I love that I get to be a part of this "tribe" called YWAM and I am totally stoked that Todd and I get to do this together...with each other and with our kiddos, and with the people He has surrounded us with.



Life is good...God is GREAT!

For Mom

This morning I received an email from my sweet mom. I love her so much. She and my dad are ThE GreAteSt PaReNTs ever. I am serious. There has never been a time in my life that I have not felt their love. They really live life. They are retired, and busier than ever...golfing, fishing, movies and dinners with friends, kayaking, time with grand kids. Their lives are full.

I recently was able to take the girls "home" to Minnesota for a wonderful getaway...enjoying family and nature in a BIG way (I will blog about that later...promise). Most of the summer is spent living at the cabin...except for the occassional trips to the city for a doctor's appointment or airport pick-ups. There is no cable tv at the cabin. The sun rises early (5:30 am) in Minnesota during the summers, and goes to bed late (10 pm).

So, you live outside and enjoy

LIFE!

...which brings me to my morning email (they do have internet and a cell phone, THANK THE LORD!) My sweet mom had gone to my blog and noticed that I had not posted since March! (Mom, not to be argumentative, but I did post a mini something in May...)

So, I thought this would be the perfect time to post this new fav commercial, which totally reminded me of my parents the first time I saw it! And for the record, I did introduce my mom to Facebook...years ago. And Mom, the lack of blogging is only due to the fact that I have been living like YOU...FULL LIFE. Good news, this sort of living has given me stock piles of writing material. I will be back on the blogging wagon soon...I cannot wait!

Love you Mom and Dad!

PLEASE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND TURN MY MUSIC OFF SO YOU CAN HEAR THE COMMERCIAL.

http://

"No matter how long the winter, spring comes."

I'm counting on it...

Dear Lord,

I am waiting on Spring...

I am waiting on YOU.

Busy. Glamorous. Life. Well, not always "Glamorous!"

Many days I think to myself, "When life slows down....(fill in the blank)." Well, guess what? Life is not slowing down!

My life is filled with many things...being a wife, a mom to a three kids who all have very different needs, a friend, a daughter, a sister, working with YWAM, being an advocate for my child, standing up for justice...here and abroad, travel, cleaning, laundry, the list is endless. Some days, I am just tired...plain and simple.

Recently, life has been quite daunting. I look for the bright spots here and there. This past September, while Jackson was in PICU for the first time, Todd and I were named, "Parent Advocates of the Year" for The Arc of Union County. This was such and honor, and HUGE surprise, for us. It was also an encouragement in the midst of some very dark days.

Just last month, The Arc had one of their main fundraisers for the year. Todd and I were invited to attend. It was one amazing night. I loved seeing all the friends, neighbors and community leaders come out to support Arc...really supporting Jackson and others like him. It was great to get out on a date of sorts.

So, here, Live from The Red Carpet!



Thank you Melinda and all the staff at The Arc of Union County. We appreciate the way you advocate for others. We are so happy to be linked with you guys!

one blog leads to another

So, after I poured my heart out regarding my current home life and my pondering over spoiling my family, (Well, I didn't pour OUT my heart, I gave just a "drit". Drit: a word used by my Swedish Grandma, meaning, just a little...ie: "Grandma, would you like some more coffee?" "Oh, yes please, but just a drit.")

I took some time to peruse a few favorite blogs. When I do this, it using leads to blog hopping...checking out my favorite blogs' favorite blogs. Somehow, I happened upon "the good news girl!"


With a name like that, I just had to check it out. Boy am I glad I did! This is what I saw...





How apropos! She may be speaking my language! Maybe we could be coffee buds.
Then I saw this...







Why stop there?

So, without delay, I went to Amazon and ordered myself some books! I've started on "Loving Your Man..."

I have never heard of Susie Davis. I am not familiar with her ministry. I can tell you that I certainly am enjoying her style and the content of her work. Her passion is to "help others develop God-centered relationships." I know that my family and I will enjoy the benefits of my reading.

Hubs probably would have enjoyed me starting with "Uncovered...revealing the secrets of a sexy marriage" Hhmmm. There is a time a season for everything!

I have spoiled them, I just know I have!

I have spoiled my family, I just know I have! When I say "spoiled", I mean this...

"To do harm to the character, nature, or attitude of by oversolicitude, overindulgence, or excessive praise."

I am so serious!

Why else would dirty clothes be left laying around, you know a pair of sock here or there. Shoes left where they have been kicked off, dirty dishes in the livingroom. A dirty pan left on the stove top.

It is as if it was all left for me to care for! Add to that, the responsibility of planning, and cooking, three meals a day. Being able to produce a gourmet snack at any moment.

Wait, there's more... four people asking for help from me, sometimes at the same time, on good days, one right after another. To all of this, I scream out to Hubs,

"Who do you think I am? Super Woman?"

He replies,

"Quite frankly, yes!"

As I have wallowed in self pity and the sadness of living with a family that does not know how great they have it (tongue in cheek), the conversation in my head goes something like this...

"Vickie, you love your family."

"Yes! That is true."

"You enjoy making gourmet meals, and snacks, for your family."

"True."

"You seem to enjoy making your home a place of rest, refreshment and beauty, a place of refuge."

"True again. I am just tired."

"Guess what? Your family is tired too. Everyone is offering their best. All of you need to see it as that, an offering. And then, receive it from one another. You do have laughter in your home. Laughter is good medicine. It helps you to care for the one who is emotionally and behaviourally fragile. It gives strength to you. It alleviates the pressures, at least for a moment, and that moment is precious."

So, after thinking on that for a while...

"But, have I spoiled them?"

"Have a conversation. Make some changes. Be flexible. Be respectful."

We've had the conversation. Things are going pretty well. There is a happy medium, okay, not always happy. I realize that I am the one who may be a bit ruined...having to have things just so. When something crazy/hard/challenging happens, outside of my control, I need to be the one to make the adjustment. If I can do that, with the Lord's grace and direction, our home will continue to be one of rest, refreshment, beauty and refuge.

Disclaimer: Hubs knows about this posting. I asked him weeks ago, "Have I spoiled you all?" We had a conversation. Also, in our household we share many responsibilities, including laundry, taxi driving, therapies, etc. We did get off track. We are back on track.

snow. SNoW. sweet, lovely snow...falling...

The snow started falling at 9:45 pm on Christmas Day. We went to bed, not certain of what would come of it all. Did we dare hope, dream, of a beautiful snow fall? I know Ashley went to bed hoping and praying. I just went to bed exhausted.

This seemingly double life I have been living...taking care of a very fragile individual, Jackson, through the night, and then being fun and full of energy during the day, for the two beautiful daughters we have. It has been wearing me out. So, with this snow prediction...do I dare dream? If it comes, will I have the energy to play in it? With Jackson's situation, do I still dare to hope? The journey has been long...

When we were up at 2:00 am with Jackson, the snow had already fully blanketed the trees. It was beautiful. I cried. It was like mercy falling around me.

It was still coming down at 4:10. At 5:30, and at 8:05...when I finally went to bed for more than an hour. When I woke, with Gabi, at noon, we dressed for the snow. It was her very first snow. I could hardly pull her from the window to get her outside. She was filled with such wonder and amazement.

Ashley's prayers were answered, in abundance.

For me, do I still dare to hope, to have faith that the Lord would intervene?

In Relevant Magazine, Jan/Feb 2011 issue, Rachel Held Evans writes this...

"Faith isn't about being right or having all the answers or avoiding pain-it's about refusing to give up when it seems like you should."