Last night was sort of a fitful night because not only was Friday the last day of my classes at GIAL but also the day we needed to get our apartment cleaned and ready for the housing inspection. The cleaning wasn’t too much trouble but I was awake nonetheless thinking about how we were going to manage all of our belongings and two kids at DFW airport early Saturday morning. We had five suitcases packed and Emily was still trying to stuff them with the last few bits and pieces that kept coming out of the woodwork. I had gone to bed after Emily assured me she’d be able to cram it all in one way or another. Still, at 2:30 I found myself awake (like tonight) and unable to sleep (like tonight).

One thought that came to mind while lying in bed was of the first question of the Heidelberg catechism: What is your only comfort in life and in death? I love catechisms because they ask questions that really get you thinking before they provide at least one possible, well-thoughtout biblical answer. And I love the answer to the first question that Heidelberg asks. It’s the answer to the question that puts a ballast in your belly, as John Piper would say. If you can answer this question–your only comfort in life and in death–you will find yourself fully reoriented to face anything, whether that’s depression, anxiety, stress or a move to a foreign country with two kids. So, the answer. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but I belong to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.

Amen! And to report on how everything went yesterday with luggage and flying and kids, it really couldn’t have been smoother! Poppy and Henry both slept the duration of the flight from Dallas to Pittsburgh. We were immediately welcomed into the loving arms of Memaw and Papaw Maust. We drove to Bob Evans and were treated to delicious comfort food. Later in the evening, my brother Matt and family came to spend the night at my parents’. Poppy enjoyed terrorizing the house with her cousin Lily, who by the way gets more beautiful every time we see her! Thank God for family!

So, what does the rest of our year look like. We’re here in Greensburg, PA, until December 29 when we’ll leave for France to start French school. My first day of classes is January 3. Instant immersion! We’ll do a post when we’ve arrived.

In the next two weeks, we’re going to get ready for and celebrate Christmas probably much like yourself. It’s Henry’s first Christmas. He’ll be almost four months old on Christmas day. Poppy is really looking forward to opening presents. She’ll be exactly two and a half years old on Christmas day.

If we don’t see you over Christmas, know that we miss you and wish you God’s richest blessings on your family this year and next.

Merry Christmas!

Here are a few photos of the scenery and Drew on our drive to PA.

Breezewood - "An exit on crack" - Drew's quote, LOL!

Drew & hitchhiker

Salt barn

Drew made me take this. He has a thing about fish sandwiches. The sign says: "Yes this is the place with the big fish sandwich"

the only way to get through the mountains

Look at this mammoth itinerary we’ve got planned for the coming weeks.* With gas prices at an all-time low this is bound to be a treat! We’ll leave Wake Forest on June 28 and head to my parents’ in Pennsylvania where all sorts of delights await (Fourth of July at the Maust Cabin and the beach just to name two). Later in July we’ll set out for Dallas, stopping in Louisville to see the ever-awesome Chris & Rhea before arriving in Dallas via Little Rock on July 15. We are aware that Wake Forest to Dallas via PA and KY isn’t the most direct route; but there are warm-welcoming friends and family there who cause us to deviate gladly.

This works out to driving 1,684 miles in about 28 hours if Google Maps has any idea what it’s talking about, which I don’t think it does because there was no place to note that one passenger is pregnant and the other is two.

Of the states we’re traveling through the only one I’ve never visited is Arkansas. My parents claim it is the land of love. That is where they first met after all.

*Plans subject to change!

View more pictures from our trip.

As he always lived quite a ways from us, I only really remember meeting him once. I’m sure I met him other times, but there’s this one time at my grandparents house that has stuck with me over the years. I don’t remember how long ago it was or why we were all together or what the deal was, but I do remember that Great Uncle Martin was relaxing in my grandpa Pap’s recliner when a conversation about spiritual things came up. I wish I could recall what the conversation was about, but, as you can guess, I don’t. Anyways, Martin had been quiet during everyone else’s conversation and then all of a sudden sat up and said,

Well, Psalm 19 says that the heavens declare the glory of God.

That verse has been engraved on my mind since! I think I was most impressed that this elderly relative was simply able to recall Scripture like that, and it was only one verse. He didn’t quote the entire psalter, or even a string of verses–nope, just Psalm 19:1. Psalm 19:1a even.

Though Gone His Impact Remains

Last Thursday Great Uncle Martin left this world to behold the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. He now witnesses the glory of God being declared ever so more instensely than our observable heavens are able.

He never knew that he that day caused me too to memorize Psalm 19:1. Psalm 19:1a. Oh, let us commit the Scriptures to memory so that even in seemingly idle moments of repose we recall with ease the treasures that are to be found in God’s holy word! Let our speech be seasoned with grace, encouraging one another in the Lord. You never the impact it will have.

Philippians

I’m grateful that our pastor is so intent on instilling a love for God’s word in the hearts of his congregants. (See his gem of a booklet An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture). He and the elders are encouraging the church to memorize the book of Philippians by Easter Sunday with the help of the project Partnering to Remember. As I memorized verse three today (“I thank my God every time I remember you”) the recent passing of Great Uncle Martin came to mind. I thank God for him, and I only remember meeting him once. Still that meeting left a lasting impression on my little boy brain such that years later I remember him and thank God for the way he used Great Uncle Martin to plant within me a love for Scripture.

I want to be the sort of person whom people are led to thank God for every time they remember, don’t you? I think memorizing Scripture is a great plays to start in order to leave that legacy.

Wycliffe

It’s little events like this one with Great Uncle Martin sprinkled throughout life that shape us into who we are by God’s grace. Now that Emily and I have joined Wycliffe Bible Translators to serve as missionaries bringing God’s word to people in their own language for the first time, I have to stop and reflect on the many events that have given me a love for God’s word. I sent Martin our November Wycliffe newsletter to share with him what we’re getting ourselves into. Even so, I don’t think he knew the impact his knowing that one little half-verse of Scripture had on me. Soli deo gloria!