Yours

I know I haven't written for a while...1. things have been crazy around here, 2. there have been so many changes my heart has been full and 3. I've been having a bit of a writer's block! You see, I don't want you to hear the day to day stuff, but through my transparency and the day to day stuff it is my heart that you experience God, Himself.

A couple of weeks ago our family had the privilege of attending a Rockies game. Yes privilege in spite that our team lost! See, it was Faith Day. What does that mean? Our church had 800 tickets available, and our family had five of those tickets. Those around us were people we worship with. In the rest of the stands were other worshippers from many other churches. The atmosphere was fun, enjoyable, clean and I could sense the Spirit was about ready to do something. After the game everyone is invited to come closer to the field and hear the testimonies of the Rockies players. Last year we heard from Matt Holiday and some others. This year Dave Dravecky, former San Francisco Giants pitcher (lost his pitching arm due to cancer, which changed his career) spoke, along with one of the Rockies player. The theme that flowed through their sharing was how God is in control of all circumstances from the challenges of staying in the major league with the threat of having to go back to the minor league to the challenge of being faced with cancer, ending a career. I also was reminded that our identity is not what we do but who we are in Christ. God holds each circumstance, but through these stories we heard that when we surrender it all to God, we realize He has a bigger plan and usually a new arena for us to be in that we never would imagine. After hearing these testimonies, the message went even deeper when we heard through song and sharing from Steven Curtis Chapman (a Christian Artist who just recently lost his youngest adopted daughter in a tragic accident). The pain, sorrow and grief he has was apparent, but as he pressed on I heard through his song and still hear today "it's all yours, God, yours Gods. Everything is yours...God we belong to you! We're all yours, God, yours God. Everything is yours". Let those words ring in your ears and absorb to the depth of your soul for they are true and today I remain so thankful. The thunderstorm we encountered that day still didn't douse the worshippers, and definitely not the Spirit of God...we all worshipped the one true and living God that day and we were touched. This was one of my favorite days.


School started one week and one day ago. Some parents rejoice, I have always been on the other side of the pendulum. I enjoy having the girls around, and enjoy not having the clock and calendar control me, and each year school starts with having to "let go". It is been our tradition that Duane stays home, makes his famous corn meal mush (the girls love! and I make homemade cinnamon rolls the day before - which they always remember when they smell greets them as they get out of bed as they approach their first day). Duane and I spend the day together without any interruption from the girls and he comforts me through any tears I experience that day (which I didn't have this this year until the next day!).

The new school year this year is a big deal, and a new mile stone in the Archibald's lives. Courtney is now in 5th grade. Fifth grade at the girls school brings a leadership class. They pray about a ministry to head up during the year, and bring the other grades along side them. What Courtney doesn't realize is that this year God is going to captivate her heart like she has never known before. And I'm praising Him for the work He is about to do not only her life, but the other 5th graders too. Good things are going to happen...and I'll keep you posted as they do. Fifth grade also brings an end to the elementary years. This is a big year for Courtney.


Katie is now in 6th grade. Those of you who may be out of touch with what that means...Katie has now started junior high (aka: middle school)! Duane and I both confess we have been a bit leery of the new arena this puts Katie in, only for the fact organization hasn't been who Katie is, and laziness does creep in and take control over her life. Not only have Duane and I been praying for her in this area, but Katie and I have too. Katie wants to start of with a bang...and end the same way. She has been determined to give her best and welcome the change. Oh, if we could all be like that! Katie has not only started off with a step in the right direction, she has started with that bang and it has continued each day. She has become the organized person she wanted to be, and is trying to achieve all that she wants to go after. Duane and I have been surprised to see the person she has become, and once again stand in awe of how God redeems us all and transforms our messes into His beauty. What I have learned through this 11 (soon to be 12) year old, is how she not only wanted the change, not only wanted to prove to her parents how she can handle this responsibility, or even prove to herself but she allowed, welcomed and expected God's change to complete her and make her whole in Him. I continue to praise God for the work He is doing in her, and how she is showing us that even the littlest things glorify and magnify how great our God is.


Lindsay is now in 9th grade - that puts her in High School. I question where the time has gone, I remember not only when Lindsay started kindergarten but when she was in 5th grade as Courtney is. It seems like yesterday, and I have wanted to hold onto those days, but find I have to face the present time. I know she is ready and I know she is more than capable. I have been concerned with the new arena of activities and demands that will try and rule our schedule but Duane, Lindsay and I are full aware of God's gifts in her and Lindsay has the passion and desire to enhance those things so she can glorify God even more with them. And this is going to be our filter and tell us when to say 'no' to things. She has always been an overachiever and once again has her goals set and is already going after them. High-school has brought cross-country into her life (she can accomplish a semester of her PE requirement so she can focus on her band classes for her full four years of high-school). I glanced over and saw Lindsay in chapel yesterday (I know I'm not suppose to) but I was captivated by a maturity in her that I never saw in her before. I saw a confidence she holds for her God, as well as a humbled spirit when she is before her Maker. This was her time with God and was she was able to push all that was around her away. She was honored to be in His presence. I want to be more like that!

I see how God is moving in the girls, and I know too that God creates mothers to help teach, nurture and mold the children that are His. But as every mother experiences, letting go is painful - but I rest in the joy that God is the center of all of our lives and the comfort He has provided for this mother's heart.


Our period of waiting for Elijah continue to weigh on us. However, we rest in the peace that surrounds us too. My heart is heavy with the continued burden of a man who continues to throw himself around to try and make himself bigger and better than everyone, a man who hasn't discovered his true identity - that he too is a child of a great King. So I continue to pray for him. The pastor in Liberia that has been in charge of the orphanage has stepped down, thus has caused some of the children to relocate. Tears were shed earlier this week as our son along with his friends, had to leave not only the familiar place they have known but some of the other children that have been their "sisters and brothers" through the years. But when they saw their new home (picture of it on the right) there were sounds of rejoicing for they have a yard to play in, running water, a washer and dryer...the best Liberia has to offer. We are thankful that we have the privilege to be part of this ministry and this boys life - even on the other side of the world. Praise God how He is even transforming lives in an orphanage in Liberia, how He is control and it is all His.

I am reminded of the song that continues to ring in my ears and the depth of my soul....It is all Yours, God, It is all Yours. Duane, Karen, Lindsay, Katie, Courtney and Elijah are Yours...We are all Yours!