How we Celebrate

​One of the big things God put on our hearts coming to Cambodia was to be an example to people by doing family well. I believe how we celebrate says a lot about us as individuals, our family, and our culture. Do we go through the motions? Do we genuinely engage? Do we do what we do because of outside references? Do we intentionally invite the father into co-creating something meaningful? How does our engagement reflect our level of connection in community? These are the kinds questions that came to my mind a few weeks ago as I prepared for my birthday. Having moved across the world, things are obviously different here and I wanted to take the opportunity of things being different anyways to bring intentionality to my birthday. To rethink how I do my birthday and take some time to invite the father into the process. With Megan’s support I got away the day before my birthday and spent the day reflecting on the last year.
 
I journaled through the hardships and the blessings. I literally laughed and cried while I thought about everything that we have been through this last year. All the traveling, finally finishing and showing the film I produced over the last 7 years, working several jobs remotely, saying goodbye to friends and family, and finally moving our family with 12 checked bags to a developing nation on the opposite side of the world. Wild! We got to see so many friends and family we hadn’t seen in years. Thinking about the last time I saw many of you brought tears to my eyes. Remembering how much love and support we have in being here blessed me. Remembering the jobs I have worked in the last year made me really thankful for them and how well we have been taken care of by the Lord. Such an amazing year with so many ups and downs, but constantly filled with Gods presence and love from our community.
 
I also got to dream with God about this next year. As I feel myself coming out of chaos phase; a normal part of the emotional transition into a new culture where nothing seems normal; I find myself presented with a unique opportunity to bring intentionality into every part of my life. What I eat, how I sleep, how I engage Megan, Harper, Ember, scheduling, work, language learning, media, and ultimately how I pursue God and let God pursue me. I don’t know that I have any major revelations to share other than the way I engage and live out my days is already looking very different. My time is being spent differently, and my attitude is different. I am feeling strength through my day from the blessing of engaging with God about life.
 
On my birthday, Megan and the girls and I went to a swimming pool in the morning and enjoyed time together as we rested and played. Sunday night we went to dinner with friends. Making friends and getting to know people is fairly slow going here. However, we have such amazing community already with our HPC team. Everyone came to celebrate with me and it felt like family. Our team here showed me what it means to love well.
 
For me, celebrating well this year looked like making time to reflect on the last year, dreaming with God about the next year, spending time playing with family, and inviting community to celebrate what God has done and is going to do. My prayers are with Cambodia and I look forward to seeing God move through our family and how we celebrate in the years to come.