La Famille Armstrong

Today was great. Kids were fun, fellowship was neat and I got to hear some amazing stories about Christianity in Nepal. Bakta, who became a Christian in the 60's in Nepal, is here in America for his son's (Mohan's) graduation. Bakta is friends with Mukti, who helps run a church in Nepal that our church helps with. Still with me?? We had an authentic Nepali dinner that Mohan made and which we ate with our bare hands!!! It was actually not too messy and incredibly delicious!!! I was so full but now I'm wishing I would have had 2nds!!

Anyway, hearing Bakta's testimony was incredible. Just seeing how he sought out the truth, and in an isolated country, where no one around him had even heard of Christianity, he was given a bible and came to know God. He lived his whole life, making annual sacrifices to wooden gods to atone for his sin. Inside, he always wondered if that really was all there was to it. After reading about Jesus and how He willingly laid down his rights as God's son to atone for everyone's sin, Bakta realized that this was truly different from everything he had experienced. After all, an animal dying is only symbolic... it's just blood. But for a king to deny himself so others might experience God... what a demonstration of love!!

What impressed me most, was how Bakta had never heard the Gospel story, never heard of a "Christian" and had no clue what the bible was. He simply starting reading this "religious book" and God's Spirit opened his eyes and heart, making him humble enough to see that God is really it. Amazing. It's incredibly wild to see how 40 years ago God worked in his life and has been working in 100's of thousands of other Nepali's lives since. God is wilder than I can understand.

I had a great mother's day weekend! Strangely, Mark and I actually spent it apart. We were contemplating taking the whole family down but with all the stuff you have to bring with a baby, it's just a lot of work! We were trying to figure out what to do to make it easier and Mark suggested that I either go by myself or go with just 1 of the kids. At first, I felt really guilty about the idea of just taking Asher b/c I knew it would be loads of fun. He's easy with food, easy with naps and entertains himself really well... but after just a tiny bit of coercing, I went!!

I rode down with Tracy and her boyfriend Mark. Yes, she's dating a Mark!! Crazy huh?? We'll just call him Mark C (for Crocker, his last name) from here on out. Well, Mark C has a Honda Element, which you can basically hose out b/c of the type of material of the seats and flooring. I had jokingly said how great that was b/c you never know when a kid is going to throw up. Yep, it happened. On the way back home, just after we merged on I-5, Ash threw up. Poor guy!! I think it was just the combination of a full tummy, watching his iPhone and the curvy roads. Mark C was a hero!!! He actually did most of the cleaning!! While I cleaned and dressed Asher he was diligently working on the carseat. Not too much got on his car thankfully but the carseat really stunk and poor Tracy almost lost her lunch too. It was eventful to say the least... and Mark C really proved his worth!!! (As if he needed too!!).

The weekend was really fun tho. There was just good sister bonding time, relaxing time with Mom, great food and good memories with Asher too. He just LOVES Gma and Gpa. We got him to learn to say "Boatright" too which was just adorable. He went down the slide at Mingus Park about 50 times, swung a little bit and just wandered around looking at ducks. When we went to the beach on Sunday, he waltzed down the sand with both hands in his sweatshirt pockets and thoroughly enjoyed splashing in little streams and the edges of the waves.

Asher also experienced hand-held massagers... you know, the little ones with rollers on them. In fact, Tracy, Mark C and I were sitting watching TV while Asher (oblivious to us watching and laughing) proceeded to massage himself with one. He started on his shoulder, worked down to his tummy, then lifted his shirt up to make sure and get the skin on his tummy, went to get his back and put the massager down... looking like "Hmm, I'm not sure what the big deal is with this thing." It was so hilarious!! Asher also loved the kitties! Poor Buster and Missy... being chased by a toddler must be frightening! You could tell that the cats weren't sure if he was a person or an animal, but they still let Ash grab their tails and rub their bellies... they are such well behaved cats!

Here are a few photos from our adventures. We have a few more on other people's cameras that are great so I'll post those as I get ahold of them. Love you all!!

I feel like I am in this constant flux of trying to find something to do and feeling totally overwhelmed with what I am already doing. Can anyone relate? Sometimes, I have so much work to do that I cannot budge. Other times, I feel like I am looking for something to do that is more fulfilling. Raising children just doesn't always "feel" like I am "doing" much. I mean, there's the constant diaper changing, feeding, consoling, cleaning and of course, the never-ending piles of dirty and clean clothes that need to be washed and put away. How does a Christian woman remind herself of the main goal of all this?

I need to stay in the word more. I need to stay prayerful about my day more. I need to pray more for my husband and kids. I could post a thousand more "I need to" phrases and in my thoughtlessness, I could also post a bunch of "I need" phrases. I don't know how to operate in a way where I don't end up in this place! Does this even make sense? I need to edit photos, but the hard drive isn't working with the airport... wait, I just remembered, I unplugged it so I could plug in and use the printer!! Well, I'll add "I need to get a USB hub" to the list. I also need to list more jewelry for Apparent Jewelry on etsy... people have been wanting to order but I just haven't had much spare time to get on that. I also need to make them business cards and figure out how to keep track of orders for beauty shops wanting to display the jewelry.

I've found I don't start tasks mainly b/c I don't know if I will have the time to finish the task in one sitting... due to children :) But then, I just get behind and stress more until I am beyond able to focus or be kind - not actually beyond able, but just beyond it being natural or easy. I must find a better method for doing all this! Anyway, I just wanted to share my daily struggle a little bit. I really should be getting something done instead of this... guess I'll get to it. Feel free to share your wisdom or at least pray for me! I have a completely insurmountable list this week :) God is faithful tho, I just need to stick to it and rely on Him.