We have been going NON-STOP!!!!

Since the last time I blogged, Nana (Rick's mom) and PawPaw (my dad) both visited here together for Abigail's birthday.  We went to Chuck E. Cheese,

Disneyland,

and we bought a hamster named Hammy.

While they were here, we also had our CD release party.

We had a lot of fun with our family whom we love so dear.  Thanks, Nana and PawPaw for an awesome week!

Then, after that, I left for our long-awaited Women's Retreat in Pali Mountain.  It was a beautiful location.  The whole weekend was amazing.  God seriously showed up and did some transforming work in people's lives.  It was really cool to be a part of it.  And I believe that almost all 30 women came home feeling empowered and changed.

Amie Fisher came in to speak, and she brought one of our dear friends with her, Tosha Britton.  It was great to catch up, laugh, share, eat lots of sushi, and just seek out God together.  Love you guys, and I already miss you!

The day after the women's retreat, Rick, myself, and our Elders (Coltons and Perskys) went to a Leadership Advance at Bethel Church in Redding, CA.  ...........  Wow.  That's all I know to say.  As leaders, we had an opportunity to just spend hours bathing in the glory of God's Holy Spirit.  I hate to use such "Christianese", but it is what it is.  It was like being in an awakening.  We all came home changed from that even more than the Women's Retreat (especially the men, haha).  While we were there, God grew my little clubfoot leg too!  Seriously!  He did.  You can email me if you want to know more.

The day after we returned from that, Rick left for Texas (where he is still at).  I'll fill you in on that adventure when he gets home.

The coolest thing for me, now that I am home at least, is how the longing for more of God's presence has increased in me.  While I want to be a disciplined person and seek my God consistently out of sheer will and obedience when I need to, it is sure nice to just want more of God without working for the want.  The flip side, too, is in wanting more of Him, I want others to have more of Him as well.  I think I just needed to refuel.  There was a time at the Leadership Advance where I totally went weak at the knees and laid down on the bench (after almost knocking Rick over).  While I was lying there, I saw this beautiful picture in my head of the Cross wearing angel wings and standing on a golden road.  In that picture I felt like He said to me, "I am enough.  I am enough to guard you, watch over you, protect you, love you, care for you.  I am enough.  My child, know that...really know that, and your path will be full of unimaginable blessing."  We serve just a really good God, you know.

...Then there are Burma and China.  All the highs of spiritual renewal are intoxicating, but when you come home to hear of enormous disaster and lost life, it's easy to pop the bubble.  My heart literally pains for those there.  I'm praying so hard for an intense move of God among the survivors.  One so great, that the media will cover the good that is happening even MORE than the bad.  While I don't believe God sent these catastrophes, I do believe that He can redeem them.

Food for thought, and much more to come,

Melissa