Rancho Oso here we come!

This is a quick picture made on the first day of our stay at Rancho Oso. The buildings behind the kids are western style cabins -pretty simpl:, a full bed, bunk beds, a small fridge, table, chair, and a fan. The ranch lies in the San Ynez river valley in the heart of the Los Padres National Forest in a place called Paradise. And it is aptly named. This is an amazingly beautiful place. There is very little rainfall and the "river" is really more of a dried up, rocky riverbed. But the mountains rise up from the valley like sentennels, straight and imposing...majestic. Despite the lack of moisture, there are many trees and,according to the local people, plenty of bobcat and mountain lion in the forests. The horses grazing in the Rancho Oso pastures make a vivid picture against this backdrop. I long to just sit back under a tree and enjoy the view.
But the kids have other plans (of course!). the first thing they want to do is try out the swimming pool. Later we explore the ranch. That night we drive out to the Paradise Store(a local hangout) for some BBQ. But when we get there, Marks goes inside and discovers that the Hells Angels are kicking back for some fun. We decide it may not be family friendly, so we go back to the Ranch and heat up the brai for dinner. Later that night after a hot game of UNO, with the kiddos all tucked into bed, Mark and I sat outside under the stars sipping our hot chocolate (oh, for some MILO!). Our conversation soon turns to Zambia...wishing Daren and Shawna, Micah, Meredith and Peyton were here to share this night with us...look at the sky, black and brilliant...if we are very still we can almost imagine it is Africa...ok, we make ourselves stop imagining and go to bed.
The next couple of days are a fun, exhausting mix of breathtaking horseback rides (the scenery!), hikes (the kids were disappointed that the waterfall they hiked to see was so small -we forgot that their idea of a waterfall is VICTORIA FALLS!), more swimming, and yes, finally a chance to sit back and enjoy the scenery while the kids climb the trees and play in the covered wagons. Our neighbors in the cabin next door are complaining about the flies! We dont mind. And I've decided I really like this type of "camping" - refrigerators, electricity, BEDS -even a nice restroom/shower a few yards away. Wow! Beats a tent...Our last night includes a marshmallow roast and a JIM THE GIANT story (thanks to Dad) by the fire.
Then the kids are in bed and we are alone, but this time Mark and I spend time reflecting on where we are and where we are going, our hopes and dreams for now and the future. We are thankful for this time together, having so recently been apart...it makes it sweeter to us, I think. I have noticed how Mark spends every minute with the kids as if its his last one. He leaves nothing undone, nothing unsaid...We have eight more precious months. But the time has wings and will be gone before we know it. So we just embrace this opportunity. Like Mark says, every day we are making memories to sustain us when we have to be apart again.

The next day, we are all a little sad to leave. We get a reprieve from our disappointment however, in a frantic search for Mark's wallet. Which, of course, happens to be in the dirty clothes in the very back of the car carrier on top of the van (which is already packed and locked). After we locate the wallet and find that we have missed out on the fresh baked cinnamon rolls at the chuck wagon, we head out the gate - only to discover that we forgot to turn in the cabin key! So we drive back to the cabin and I run in to get the key. Lo and Behold what do I see hanging on a nail but Marks' key ring with all of his work keys on it! I hand them over with a grin. He is mortified. And we go turn in our cabin key.
Then, finally, back down the mountains we head, along the coast, and then - HOME SWEET HOME!

...that I may know Him

This morning I was listening to my favorite bible teacher on the internet (aaah the wonders of broadband!) and followed her lead to look up Philippians 3:10 in the amplified version. It begins like this...
"For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly...".
And then the teacher said this: "We can live with all manner of tribulation, pain, and suffering. But we cannot live without purpose...We were created by God to be a people of purpose...without it we suffer from discontent." She went on to add: "When we become totally focused on the one thing of knowing Christ - in whatever we go through and whatever we do -then our purpose in life becomes effective."
This truth was really driven home to me recently.
Two of the young women I disciple met with me a couple of weeks ago to complete the last chapter of our study through Pastor Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life". As we closed the book, one of the gals commented on how her life had changed since she came to know Christ. She went on to say that she is now getting an understanding that God has a special plan for her. And then she asked this question "What made you do it...send out that email to all the officer's wives inviting us to bible study? Were you disappointed when only two of us showed up that first night?". I smiled at that because it NEVER crossed my mind to be disappointed in the turnout..."Well," I began "it all started in Zambia...." then I went on to explain how God began to call Mark and me away from our work in Zambia to come back into the military. And how,at first, I did NOT want to do it. But God is very persuasive. And after a while I relented because I knew He was in it. And so then I began to pray very earnestly that since He was SET on MArk being a Chaplain, then there must be some wives I could minister to. So before we even left Zambia I began to pray for them. And I clearly recalled my friend Dorothy praying with me also. She prayed specifically for the women He might allow me to share the Gospel with and disciple. So then after we got here I just kept on praying. But I knew I needed to wait for His timing. After our husbands all left on deployment my sister was here visiting, and she began to pray with me. And we were specifically praying for these two ladies -Melissa and Stefani. One day another wife casually asked me if I'd thought of teaching a bible study. This was my cue. So I sent an invitation to all the wives in our wardroom (about 10 people I think). And on the first night two of them came -Stefani and Melissa. So was I disappointed? No way! I was thrilled. And I was even more excited when they gave their hearts to Christ that very same night.
I went on to answer Melissa's question by explaining that God's purpose for me, no matter where I am, is to tell others about Christ and teach them to follow Him. Even as the words were coming out of my mouth, I felt encouraged by them...it was true, and it was a powerful truth! How often I am guilty of forgetting! In the midst of dirty dishes, piles of laundry, math work to grade...I forget...I lose sight of my purpose...I feel alone, unimportant, discouraged...
And then He prompts a simple question to remind me.
Hearing myself speak about God's purpose was like kindling the fire inside of me. And it did something for them too. Their eyes lit up. They began to talk excitely about sharing their faith with others...where would our next duty stations take us?...one of us could be in Hawaii sharing Christ, another in Italy, another in Newport Beach...we tell others and teach them and then they tell others and on and on....
I think I will always remember that moment, sitting at the base restaurant in a back booth sipping our coffee and feeling the joy together of knowing Christ...my determined purpose...
Thank You, Lord, for reminding me.