Introductions

As we begin another season of adventure it seems only fitting to share a little about ourselves.

We meet at a friends apartment (thanks Kate!) in late 2008, and started dating just 3 weeks later. Eight months after we began dating we got engaged, and were married in April of 2010. Fast forward eight years and two kids later.

Heather is a writer and the voice behind most of the content we post and share. She is currently homeschooling our two daughters, Annie is (almost) 7 and Rosie is 4 1/2. Heather is passionate to see people find wholeness, truth and identity in Christ.  Heather is currently finishing up her first semester at INSTE (Institute of Theology by Extension) Bible College.

Jeff works full time as an electrician, and is currently studying for his Residential Wireman's License. He also works part time at our church in the area audio and video. Jeff has been working with various churches in many different ministry roles for almost 20 years now. He is passionate about helping people find truth in scripture and in Christ. Jeff is the voice of humor and joking behind much of what we do.

A little about our daughters:

Annie is 6, almost 7. Annie is in first grade, she is loving reading and art right now. She can usually be found doing crafts or playing dress up. She is the stylist and fashionista in the family, and has a distinct opinion about clothes and fashion.

Rosie is 4 1/2. She is technically in preschool but works hard daily to catch up with her sister. She loves to learn and is a very busy little girl. She can usually be found playing pretend games with her dolls and toys. She loves books, if anyone sits still too long she will bring them a book and ask them to read to her.

Together we are striving to follow God's voice alone in our lives and the life of our family. It is our goal to leave foot prints for God in all that we do. We recognize that we are imperfect people but work daily to follow Christ and be transformed into His likeness.

All photos by Ivy Wild Visuals

Devotional - The Disciples and The Storm

I felt lead to share this devotional from during our time in Belize. Actually, the more I felt lead to share this the more opposition I faced, leading up to a week long headache that evolved into a full migraine yesterday. This headache only reenforced to me the need to share this. Which, by the way, the devil is an idiot, but that's neither here nor there.

I was given the opportunity to share this as one of two devotional times I had the humbling privilege of leading during our time in Belize.

Luke 8:22-25 HCSB - 22One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.”  So they set out, 23and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. 24They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die! ” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith? ” They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him! ”

While reading this section of scripture I became intrigued by the disciples in this scene. Drawing upon a Bible study resource that my Grandpa shared with me years ago (found here and drawn from "An Outline History of the Twelve Apostles" in the NASB Open Bible Edition Nashville, TN 1975, 1978) I began to look at who the disciples were.

Andrew: A fisherman and brother of Peter the Apostle

Bartholomew: a missionary, thought to have been royalty, also known as Nathanael

James: fisherman, brother of John the Apostle

James, brother of Jude: may have also been brother of Matthew

John: fisherman and brother of James the Apostle

Judas: treasurer, possibly had previous experience handling money

Jude: also called Thaddeaus or Judas the Zealot, a fisherman

Matthew: tax collector

Simon Peter: fisherman and brother of Andrew the Apostle

Philip: fisherman and the first to share the gospel of Christ

Simon the Zealot: fisherman

Thomas Didymus: also known as doubting Thomas, his profession is unknown but he is thought to have been from Galilee

Only 7 of the 12 were fishermen or known to have been fishermen. This means that 5 of the 12 on the boat at this time had little to no experience on the water. In the instance of the storm it is highly probable that the first to freak out would be those who were in unfamiliar territory.

I suspect that it was those who were already uncomfortable that began the panic, and panic spreads like a contagious disease. I also believe that it was likely those that were in an unfamiliar place that were closest to Jesus and the ones waking Him up. The more experienced of the group would have been occupied with the sails and steering the ship.

This then becomes a Mary/Martha type moment on the ship. Those with experience would have been seeing to the ship. Those without were running to Jesus.

When we have experience in an area it is easy to get wrapped up in it and distracted by going through the check lists of what needs to be done. We then end up handling the problem the way we always have or have learned to do in the past. Those without experience in this moment turned from fighting the storm to Jesus. To have gone to Jesus to wake Him would have meant turning their backs on the storm.

Luke 8:26-30 follows immediately on the tail of this story of the storm. The first thing that happens when Jesus and the disciples land ashore is they are meet by the man possessed by the legion of demons.

Sometimes the storms we face are flung at us by the enemy to attempt to prevent our victory. 

When faced with storms in life there are 3 ways we can and often do attempt to fight the storms:

1- repeat what we have learned or always done

2- panic

3- turn to Jesus

Only one of these will always calm the storms, that is turning to Jesus.

Once awakened Jesus rebuked all of them. Perhaps it wasn't because they woke Him but instead because of how they handled the situation and how they treated each other?

As a team they should have helped each other. Those with experience in a situation can comfort and encourage those without experience. Those without experience can speak up and point the rest to Jesus.

Sometimes experience can keep us from seeing the need for Jesus in the moment of going through routine and checklists.

We are also each able to take our weaknesses and short comings to Jesus before the storm comes. When we bring our weaknesses to Jesus He is faithful to help us. Jesus helping us in our weaknesses actually brings glory to Him and increases our testimony. 

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 - Day 11 and Coming Home

Today was a full day of traveling home. We arrived at Punta Gorda airport around 8am to catch our flight there. I was able to sit by the window on that flight and get some pictures of Belize as we flew over the country.

This flight was followed by a layover in Belize City before we flew on to Houston. I had intended to read and study on the plane but couldn't keep my eyes open. I ended up sleeping for most of the flights home.

Our flight out of Houston was delayed due to what appeared to be short staffing of the fueling crews there. It was about 30 minutes of sitting on the plane waiting before the fueling crew was able to put fuel in the plane so that we could leave.

Typically I don't like flying and have trouble sleeping or relaxing on the airplane, so the fact that I slept either means that I was extremely tired or that I'm getting used to flying. For now I'm going with both.

We arrived at DIA around 9pm. It was bittersweet to be saying goodbye to the rest of the team, knowing that we wouldn't be waking up to do devotions together the next morning. We had all become good friends during our short time together and parting was not easy.

My parents and kids picked us up at the airport and the car ride home was filled with exchanging stories from our time apart. The kids had lots to tell of their time with their Grandparents and we had lots to share from our time in Belize.

Jeff was driving us all home and managed to miss our exit. We ended up driving clear around the city to get home. We arrived at our apartment a little after 10pm and all went straight to sleep.

Monday, November 6, 2017 - Day 10

We woke up extra early this morning for our free day in Placencia. We drove for almost 2 hours to Mango Creek and then took a boat from there to Placencia. Placencia is a resort peninsula north of Punta Gorda. Placencia is one of the more touristy spots in Belize.

When we arrived in Mango Creek the dive shop that was hosting our activities for the day had sent a boat to ferry us over to Placencia.

Boarding the boat

The team on the boat

Me sneaking a picture of everyone below

Natalie, Rachael, Me, and Jeff 

At the dive shop in Placencia everyone got fitted for snorkle gear for our day of exploring the reefs off the coast of Belize. If you are ever in Placencia I highly recommend Splash Dive Center.

Peter on the bow of the boat

Nicole and Dustin, ready for adventure always!

Natalie, Rachael, Me, Jeff, and Amber

While taking turns getting fitted for fins and masks everyone started spraying on sunscreen in preparation for a day on the boat and in the sun. We left from Splash Dive Center and boated about 45 minutes out to the island where we would be diving.

Joy

Kyle

Dan

Amber

Pastor Dan Cooper

I had a great time sitting on the bow of the boat with Dan, Dustin, and Jeff. At first I was terrified that I was going to fall off the boat but once I got comfortable I really enjoyed the unobstructed view. About 20 minutes out we discovered dolphins playing in the boats wake. The captain took the boat in a huge circle so we could watch the dolphins. One of the dolphins came to the bow and swam just under my feet. Everyone was laughing and cheering for the dolphins.

Hanging out on the bow

Watching the ocean and talking

My feet and a dolphin below

Playful dolphins

Our boat ride took us to the Silk Caye's, for snorkling around the small islands there. Our first dive was around this island. It was about 30 minutes to circumnavigate the island. I really enjoyed the dive but was fighting with my mask for parts of it as it kept fogging up.

The island that we snorkled around and had lunch on

Following our first dive was lunch on the island. While waiting for everyone to arrive back on the island for lunch we played with the hermit crabs that live on the island. I found a tiny baby one under one of the palm trees. It was interesting seeing how the island had changed shaped from the previous year due to the wind and waves moving the sand.

Splash brings local cooks out to the island to make lunch for their patrons. Last year I distinctly remember that the meal was so good and I ate so much that I was forced to skip the coffee that we got later on. This year I was intentional not to make that same mistake. When I had finished lunch I decided to play with the sandpipers on the island herding them about, watching how they would react to me. I also got to spend a few minutes visiting with Dustin.

Following lunch was our second dive for the day. We were given the option of either taking a long dive at the reef followed by a 15 minute dive with sharks and sea turtles, OR skipping the reef and spending the whole time diving with the sharks and sea turtles. Our group opted to spend the extra time with the sharks and sea turtles. The boat took us a few minutes away from the island to an area where fishermen clean their nets, tossing fish bits into the ocean.

There we were able to dive near the boats, watching nurse sharks and sea turtles catching a free meal from what the fishermen threw overboard. Sea turtles are my absolute favorite and I stayed in the water watching them as long as possible. I also got to see a beautiful queen parrot fish, which is another favorite of mine. I was probably the last person to get back in the boat from diving, I was enjoying myself so much!

Amber enjoying the boat ride

Having fun with Rachael

Shortly after I got back on the boat our time was over and we headed back to the dive center to return our gear. I found myself a spot on the top deck of the boat where I could look over the ocean for the ride back. I sat there in awe of all that God had created, just the thought of how vast the ocean is, and how many magnificent creatures live in the ocean astounds me. I was able to take the 45 minute boat ride back to Placencia to spend a large amount of that time with God. That time was incredibly refreshing and special.

As the boat was pulling into Placencia the thought occurred to me that this was all most people see of Belize when they come here. Most only see the tourist version of the country, the diving, the shopping, the restaurants; they miss out on truly seeing the country, its people, and the true beauty of Belize. They see a shallow, hallow, version, manufactured by people. They miss out on looking into the faces of the people, experiencing the depth of the cultures of Belize, and most of all, they miss out on truly seeing Belize as a whole. This realization made me truly sad for those people, it also made me realize that I don't want to see any of this amazing world through those same filters. I want to see the fullness of this world in all of it's entirety.

Photo Credit: Dustin

Back at the dive center we returned our gear, and took turns getting changed and ready for exploring Placencia. Splash ferried us by boat to a nearby dock so that we could explore the city by foot. As we started out on this portion of our day many on the team remarked that walking a city was the best way to see it and as American's we miss out on this due to the convenience of cars and buses.

Our first stop was a local coffee shop to get seaweed frappachinos. YUM! After that we walked to another local coffee shop to pick up coffee beans to bring home.

Me on the balcony of Above Grounds Coffee shop after buying coffee beans

After getting our souvenir coffee we walked to an ice cream shop for gelato. I got a scoop of mint and a scoop of dark chocolate.

We then divided into groups to do some souvenir shopping in the hour we had before dinner. I was able to pick up a few gifts to bring home for my parents. I also spent my birthday money buying myself some new earrings, my favorite souvenir when I go anywhere. Jeff got himself a djembe at a local shop. We caught up with the rest of the team at a local wood carving shop that was on everyone's list of places to visit.

Selfie with the beach off the boardwalk

From there we went to Tipsy's Tuna for dinner on the beach. Dinner was wonderful but I was so full from gelato and frappachinos to eat it all.

Selfie at Tipsy Tuna

The team at dinner, talking and visiting: 

Following dinner we walked together back to the dock in town to catch a ferry back to Mango Creek. While walking to the boat I had a great talk with Dan about his and Sarah's dreams for their future. On the boat ride back to Mango Creek I had fun looking for alligators in the water with Dustin.

In Mango Creek we got back on the bus for the long drive home. Surprisingly the bus was full of deep conversations, despite the long day.

This was our last night in Belize, we leave in the morning for a full day of traveling home. My bags are packed, and everything is organized, but my brain is still processing everything, and will probably continue to do so for quite a while.