The Not-So-Photogenic Duo

I just found this series of ridiculous photos.

It was an attempt to capture a pic of me and Selah to send to Scott. 

 

Needless to say, it didn't work out. 

Selah's Diary: A Perfect Saturday Morning.

I had the perfect Saturday morning. It was SNOWING! First off, I woke Mom & Dad up and we all watched Home Alone 2 together. It my favorite movie next to The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Then we all went outside to play. 

Ok, so maybe I go a little nuts when I see snow on the ground.

But who can blame me? Come on, I'm a sled dog.

In the middle of my snow escapade, Mom made me stop to take pictures. 

Doesn't she realize it's hard for a dog like me to take a break to snap a pic?

I was not very happy.

But, any day is a GREAT day when there is snow on the ground!

Smell you scrounges later.

 Scampering in the Snow,

Selah

  

Reminiscing About Our Faithful God

The other day, I was reading through some old entries in our family prayer journal. I was reminded of the faithfulness of Christ and how He has not only provided, but blessed us tremendously in the journey from Texas to Chicago.

Our entry from October 30, 2009: (Almost a year before we moved)

• Praying our house will sell that we can move to Chicago from Denton to plant His church.

• That God will provide us with jobs that we enjoy as well as have opportunities to meet many people in the community.

• That God will provide us with an apartment in Wicker Park that has 1) enough room for us to be hospitable to others 2) affordable rent 3) that we could use it to love on people 4) comfortable/safe environment

• That God would reveal to us a certain place in the world that as a church, we will invest our time, energy, and resources.

How He answered:

• The Lord did not answer our prayer in our time table or how we expected (go figure). Yet, His timing was absolutely perfect! We were able to spend a year living close to our family as we all adjusted to the idea of Scott and I moving away. It definitely helped better prepare my heart and our families for the big move. Also, Scott had an amazing opportunity to be mentored by pastors, some from all over the world, which in turn has completely shaped the vision & DNA of our church. Lastly, we were unexpectedly stretched financially by complications in selling our house, which led us to become even more depended on Christ and increased our faith. Thank you Lord for your perfect timing.

• Within two weeks of moving, God provided me a job at Childtime Learning Center working with precious two-year-olds! Not only did he provide a job, but one that I really enjoy doing as I invest in children and families! He also provided Scott with many opportunities to get involved in our community through the dog park, Wicker Park Advisory Council, the garden club, and volunteering at Prizker school. Thank you Lord for giving us a vision for our lives here. 

• We drove from Texas to Chicago without ever stepping foot into the apartment we would call our home. When we walked in, we knew it was more than we could ever ask for. It is a great place for hosting large crowds (we get to have our Wednesday night Village here & other activities). I am also so thankful that I feel very safe & comfortable when I am alone and Scott is traveling. Thank you Lord for providing us with a place to live that is everything we asked for and more!

• The Lord did reveal a place for us to invest in as a church: Palestine. God has already provided a way for Scott to go once, and we are now making plans to go back as a group. Thank you Lord for showing us where you want us to invest! 

As I think back over the course of this year, I am so incredible thankful. Christ is the great provider and promises to provide for all of his followers. Yet, I feel like Christ has not only provided but truly blessed us! 

"If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him."                    Matthew 7:11

I'm just a Bahama Mama

I scrolled across some old pics and videos on my phone today. 

They took me back to my favorite vacation spot ever.

I can't believe we have had the opportunity to visit The Bahamas twice!

It holds such a special place in our hearts. 

Friday's Favorite

The Christmas season is finally here! My husband is no longer banning me from playing the Christmas tunes! It is such a beautiful time of the year as we celebrate God becoming man. My Friday's favorite is my favorite Christmas song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel. We are rejoicing as we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us! It is so very humbling to dwell on the fact that Christ left a perfect place to come to earth as a man in order to make a way for us to have life through Him and a relationship with Him. I am so thankful for his great & perfect love. 

Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appears

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel!

Oh come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer

Thy people with Thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel!

Oh come, Thou rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'ver the grave

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel!

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, Oh Israel! 

Thankfulness Catch Up! :)

I am thankful for

Girl's Nights

Books

The Sweet Kiddos at KidzClub

New Dessert Recipes 

Community Events in Wicker Park

Winning 10 free Chipotle Burritos!

Chicago's First Snow Fall

I am thankful to live in a place where it snows. Today was Chicago's first snow fall. There were only a few flurries, but it was beautiful! Chicagoans think I am crazy, but I hope we get lots of snow this winter!

Thankful Day 4

Photo Source

Today I am thankful for a warm bed. Since moving to Chicago the reality of homelessness is all around me. Not a day goes by where I do not see one or multiple people who live on the streets, some right outside of my doors. Many times as I lay down in my bed visions of these people start to fill up my mind. It is so easy to take for granted blessings such as a bed. Thank you Lord for a bed, and I ask that you provide everyone with a warm, safe place to sleep.

The Ellen Show

I am thankful for days when I am home to watch Ellen. 

Adoption

Today I am thankful for this beautiful family's story of adoption:

http://vimeo.com/31232831

It is such a beautiful picture of the gospel. That while we were against God he still loved us and choose us to be his children.

"How great the love the Father has lavished on us, that we might be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

God's Provision

Today I am thankful for God's provision for a meeting place for Mosaic Church. Since June we have been meeting at the Wicker Park Field House. It has been awesome. It was a great central location for all in the community and the Lord opened the doors for us to be there at a really cheap rate. Last month we found out that the field house closes during the winter months because of a lack of traffic in the community, so Scott and Aaron began searching for a new location. As a church we began asking Christ to provide a place for us. The two things we were searching for was to stay in Wicker Park and to have wheel chair access. The Lord answered both of those requests and also took care of the financial aspects of renting the room. It has been such an exciting journey of not knowing our future, but trusting in the Lord and watching him provide. Thank you Lord for taking care of your church!

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18

November Thanksgiving Challenge!

This month I am going to participate in a November Thanksgiving challenge that I have seen on another blog I follow. Basically, I will write a new blogpost of something I am thankful for during the month of November. Through reading this blog and conversations with a sweet friend of mine, Christ has been teaching me the importance of practicing thanksgiving. I want to take this month to dwell on the goodness of the Lord. 

Today I am thankful for new friendships. These two have only been in our lives for a short time, but have already blessed us with a lot of joy, laughter, and love. I am still can't believe they live right down the street! Thank you, Lord! 

Nehemiah 9:6

"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Chicago Favorite: Skydeck at the Willis (Sears) Tower

Up 103 floors and 1,353 feet stands the Willis Tower Skydeck. After visiting both the Hancock Building and the Willis Tower, the Skydeck experience definitely wins out.  It was very informational, had lots of interesting facts, and offered the skyledge experience which is a great photo op, especially for this guy:

The only draw back was being stuffed into the elevator like a can of sardines and the thought of the elevator breaking down made you want to kill yourself:

I would definitely recommend this to visitors!

Chicago Favorites: Architectural Boat Cruise

For our annual Birthday Week, my two best friends came to visit Chicago for the first time! We had a blast! (We can have a blast anywhere) It was fun to get to explore more of Chicago with them. We bought a Chicago Go Card which allows you access to 28 different attractions for one price. Being the cheapos we are, we packed our day from morning to night with as many activities as we could get in. By far my very favorite tourist attraction was the architectural boat cruise at sunset. It was absolutely beautiful cruising down the Chicago River seeing the beautiful buildings as the sunset and then seeing the buildings light up at night. It was also very interesting to hear the inspiration and vision behind many of the designs of the buildings and even get to see where Al Capone once lived. I highly recommend it to visitors though it is pretty steep in price if you do not get the go-card. Also, definitely go at sunset!

Friday's Favorite

A Slice of Home

Scott surprised me last week and took me on a date to a restaurant in the suburbs. Driving up, I knew that this wasn't just any restaurant as I saw the beautiful, glorious Texas flag hanging in the window. The owner of Austin BBQ lived in Austin to learn how to make Texas style BBQ and then brought it back to the Chicagoland area. BBQ is cool and all, but the best part of this place lays in two words: Blue Bell. Yes, they serve authentic Blue Bell ice cream. As some of you know, Blue Bell is sold in only 20 states and Illinois is not one of them. And as anyone knows who has tasted delicious Blue Bell ice cream all other brands pales in comparison- it is in a league of its own. So, obviously Blue Bell has been greatly missed in the life of the Venables, but at least we found a little slice of home semi-close by to us. 

Have yourself a Blue Bell Country Day.

Did I mention they also serve Dublin Dr.Pepper?

You are to be Praised

One thing that I love about Christ is that He is so constant and faithful when everything/everyone in this world is constantly changing. He is a constant presence and source of strength. He has promised to be my guide and provide for all of my needs as He tells me to depend solely on Him. He is so trustworthy, so mighty & powerful, and so loving. I am thankful for an almighty Father.

I have been grateful for God's provision in our lives again lately:

This past semester has been a very busy and stretching one. I felt like my time was devoted to many things and I was stretched as I tried to listen daily to the Lord's voice, asking him to guide me on how to use my time. (many times I failed) Scott and I began praying this summer about me working part-time so I could devote more energy to the needs of our community in Wicker Park. We felt that the Lord was leading me to cut back on some of my hours which  left our budget extremely tight. (about a dollar off every month) Yet, we both felt that it needed to be done.

So today, I was called into my manager's office and told that I would be getting a raise. After doing the math, I figured out that I will be getting paid the exact same amount that I was while working full time. The Lord provided right down to the very last penny. He is so good and so personal. It is definitely not coincidence that it ended up being the very same amount and He wanted Scott and I to know that.

Another special blessing this week is that we have two new co-laborers for Mosaic Church. Aaron & Ashley Cauble have stepped out in faith moving from Texas to Chicago to follow Christ as He is moving in Wicker Park. Tonight, after our crazy youth/kids night, Scott and I were talking and I realized that they could not have come at more perfect timing. The Lord provided for our need of help engage the community, reminding me that He does not only provide financial but in ALL things. There is such a comfort and peace in following Christ, knowing that there will be difficult times but that He will never stray from us and holds us in the palm of His hand.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Mosaic Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TKj9u7yC-w

Here is a video of part of what Mosaic has been up to this summer! 

Mosaic Update

Here is an article that the local online newspaper wrote about Mosaic Church:

http://oururbantimes.com/business-news/youth-wicker-park-and-bucktown-assault-businesses-and-schools-offers-help

Our prayer is that through our the body of Christ, Wicker Park & Chicago will feel Christ's immense love, come to know the character of God, and see Christ in us. 

Friday's Favorite

Horchata.

Tonight I had my first encounter with horchata and I think I will be hooked. 

My New Do

I just got my hair done & I feel like a brand new woman. 

Feeling Sexy,

Selah

Selah's Diary

My encounter with this thing they call Corbin.

My first encounter with Corbin was when we were both just little guys. He trapped me in my own cage and continually tried to rub his head on me. I wasn't too fond of him at first. 

This past week Mom & Dad let him visit again! I'm not sure if I am supposed to play with this thing or run from it. I just know I don't like Veggie Tales.

Stirred up,

Selah

Corbin Wayne

In less than 48 hours, I will get to spend a week with this oh-too-cute, awesome, lovable, hilarious little boy. I can't wait to hang out with him in the big city! I love being an aunt- especially since my nephews are extremely cool.

Children's Carnival

Today our church had the opportunity to volunteer at the Wicker Park Children's Carnival. Our church along with others and many organizations offered this event free of charge to the community! There were numerous games, face paintings, puppet shows, and other activities. We served popcorn & snocones as well as provided a bouncy house! It was a lot of fun- we enjoyed meeting new people in our neighborhood and having the opportunity to tell them about our Sunday gathering!

Sidewalk chalk advertisement! 

Autumn supervising the bounce house.

Amber was a snocone making machine!

Jason & Natalie making popcorn!

Ashley already working hard straight from the airport!

Scott helping serve popcorn.

Children's Carnival 2011