Can a picture really talk?

Ever had one of those pictures where it truly DOES say a thousand words???  One that freezes time so well and seems to tell a story that begs to be spoken.  Yet, beckons you to stare and think!

A week ago a friend of mine (my Lani Sunshine) was kind enough to provide us with an area and surroundings for our friends and family to come together and pray for us.  I was all for it UNTIL the day of... the actual DAY I began to think, what are we doing? This is nuts? I can't see all of these people in one room and hold it together? I really just wanted to call it off, pack our things and leave TOMORROW.  

We didn't.

We went.

I'm so very glad we did because God spoke loudly to us both, not just that these people love and support us but that this gathering was as much for THEM as it was for us. Ya see, it's not about US!  Shocking right?!  So many times, things happen and my immediate reaction is "I can't" or "I'm not strong enough".  NOT ABOUT ME!!!! It's a constant minute by minute fight to remind ourselves 

NO WE CAN'T! 

HE CAN!

He can give you a passion and a calling!

He can give you the strength to say yes!

He can walk with you through EVERYTHING it takes to get there!

HE CAN!

He can calm the shaky body from crying all night.

He can soothe the deep hurt.

He can breathe new life into your bones!

HE CAN!!!!

We can't!!!!

Yes, I've allowed myself to cry, grieve and deeply feel this process. This is His calling for us and we are

ALL IN!!!!

THANK YOU so much to all who came out and took the time to love on us, we feel it in so many ways!!!!  The Uhaul is scheduled for January 2nd. We plan to pull out of the drive on January 3rd.

Adventures Await!!!!!!  

Thank you so much to Brooks for capturing this moment in time!!!!!!!  

Blessings!!!!!

Moving (literally) Forward!!!!

November, 2018! Really??? Did I just type that... AND it's almost over!!!! 

WOW WOW WOW!!!!!  I know I can't be the only one just in shock at how fast this year has flown by!!!!  This year has been so full! January of this year we started out on a journey that we knew would be challenging... we knew there were lots of unknowns. We were right :) 

Jeff and I decided to go work full time with ITEC (https://www.itecusa.org/) in Ocala, Florida. We set a goal of 6 months to a year. 6 months quickly showed us that it would be more like a year. This allowed me some time to train a new photographer and wrap up some things at work (https://spoiledrottenphotography.com/) and also allowed Jeff some time to switch over his responsibilities at work as well. We had the goal to try and get the boys situated, wherever that might be. It's gone back and forth... sometimes daily, from "the boys are going with us" to "the boys are staying". "We are selling the house" just kidding "we are keeping the house", to everything in between.  We've had deaths, births, ups, downs.

Now, here it is... time to pack. We have been slowly going through things. It looks as though the boys are staying here and renting our house, but... ya never know, just stay tuned :) We knew it would be a challenge to raise support in this short amount of time and that has proven to be true as well. We are still trusting God in this area (if you're feeling called to help let us know... just think about it as buying us a meal per month $30. OR virtual coffee because I would LOVE to have coffee with each of you!!!!!) So many of our friends have given (and will give) sacrificially and it is extremely humbling to be on this side of things. We've spent 25+ years on the other side of giving and to be honest... I'm more comfortable with that side. This side is hard. Very hard! We've read all the things, know all of the scripture... etc. It's still hard :)  BUT we move forward! We are ALL IN!  There's a song, I've played over and over through every valley that seems to almost make us say "ok, just kidding... we change our mind". 
Matthew West - All In
Go here to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RwDpnKIvUI

We've prayed for perspective during this process! God has shown us so many things about who He is and who we are IN Him!  There were a few times when tears would form in my eyes and I would think "God, it's like a death... this time in our family is dying. Things will never be the same. Are we helping or hurting the boys with this decision?"  Then like a loving God that He is, He sent this message to remind us. In order to live, something must die.  We live because Christ died. Scripture says a grain of wheat must DIE in order to LIVE! John 12:24

We watched this message by David Platt https://www.mcleanbible.org/sermons/order-live-you-have-die
It was the perspective we needed.  Yes, maybe this is a death (in a sense) but out of it WILL spring forth LIFE! Even if it means we die for the cause of Christ... WE LIVE!!!!!  Our boys LIVE!!!!!  Yes, there will be goodbyes and see ya laters. There will be tears (I'm only human). There will be chocolate... lots of chocolate! But know this.... there will be life ONLY after something dies. This has given me a HUGE new perspective on things. I was trying of my own power to focus on the positive and not think of all that we were leaving... blah blah blah. That wasn't working, I was tiring of the battle quite often. Here's where my hope is - die to live!

Thank you for riding this amazing roller coaster with us!!!  We are super excited about this next chapter. God has given us renewed strength and purpose. It's not supposed to feel good to die haha but... it's worth it <3  God is so faithful!!!! 

Blessings to each of you during this holiday season!!!!!! 

 

"Soul food, just not YOUR soul"

We found a new favorite show, Somebody Feed Phil. Phil was the producer of Everybody Loves Raymond. He travels the world - eating food! What a job, right?!  I think what we love is the connection he has with the people!  He was with this guy and the guy says "what's this place?"  Phil says "Soul food, just not your soul".  Haha  Phil has Jewish heritage so his comfort food was quite different than the gentleman who was with him.

Last night, Team Thomas (ALL FOUR OF US!!!!! did a momma's heart so good!!!!) sat down to a table full of "soul food".  What our family calls comfort food! You know the type where your fork is halfway to your mouth by the time you hear the word "Amen"?  We had 2 Peruvian dishes - Papa A La Huancaina and Arroz Con Pollo. Here's where the miracle comes in.  At one point during the meal a man-child proclaims "mom, I think you did it!!!!" 

Ya see... for 20 yrs I've tried to master Arroz con pollo. I'm not exaggerating! My sweet mother-in-love just throws it all in a pot and POOF - YUMMINESS!!!!!  Somehow my rice would be extremely mushy OR crunchy. There was no in between.  You can imagine my delight with that first bite; it was not crunchy OR mushy... JUST RIGHT!!!!   Now, I may never get it right again but we sure enjoyed this pot haha

Like most things in life, this just made me think.  Ya know how this food speaks to our soul??? We connect with it on a deep level! It brings the people and culture to the forefront of our mind and makes us smile!!!!!

That's how we should feel with God! His word, thinking about Him, remembering His love... we should connect on a deep level, we should EAT IT UP!!!!!!!  Soul food!!!!!!!!  Savoring every character trait He reveals to us!!!!

That is the kind of food all God's chill'ns have in common!!!!  It feeds our souls!!!!!! 

Then there's coffee......... but I digress because apparently there are SOME people who don't like coffee, I just don't get it...... :) 

Memember when...

For some reason, a season of change or reaching a big milestone brings about remembering - or as my boys used to say "memembuurrr".  I can go back as far as graduating high school, at that point we gathered pictures and went over all the school years with almost all fondness :)  Then engagement, marriage, kids, moving, kids birthdays, kids graduations.....  each change comes with its own set of remembering.

This new adventure we are on has proven to be the same. How in the world did we get here???  I mean, not in a bad way at all. Just simply, wow! we are here... look at all that transpired to get - HERE.  Depends on which version of the Bible you have but it's safe to say the Bible mentions the word/concept "remember" over 150 times.

Remembering the past is a funny thing, it can be the chains that hold you tightly in one spot, full of fear OR it can be the freedom that catapults you to the very person God intends you to be. 

Today, we were blessed to visit a place full of memories! We went back to the church building my family attending WAY back in the 70s. Wow! Just saying that out loud reassures me... I'm getting old. That's ok... I mean, look at the memories and stories!!! It's fantastic!!!!  My family attending Shiloh Baptist Church on Virginia Boulevard here in Huntsville Alabama. We also lived just down the street.  One thing I've noticed about childhood memories - things always seemed BIGGER. I walked into this church and thought "wow, I sure do remember this being bigger".  HAHA  This sweet little church has a community of believers meeting there on a regular basis.  It was such a blessing!!!! 
Sang my first solo there - The crayon song
Fell and bit my tongue in two on that playground
Remember hearing my first missionary come speak

And now... here we are, YEARS later.
Memembering.
These memories serve as a sweet reminder, God is writing our story! He pens every chapter. He artistically draws every illustrated picture.  I'm SO EXCITED!!!!! 

This next chapter is going to be EPIC!!!!!!!!!

The Journey Continues...

Hey Friends!!!! It's been a while...

We have some EXCITING news to share!!!!!  Jeff and I are moving to Ocala, Florida to work full time with ITEC!!!!!!

https://www.itecusa.org/

There, I did it! I said it!  Ya know how long I've had all these ways of sharing this in my head???  It's like giving a birth announcement. You think of all of these creative, fun ways and then you finally just
GO WITH IT! Get it out there!!!!!

The truth is... God has worked in SO MANY WAYS I feel the need/urge to share them all but I'm reminded that um.... not everyone wants to read my rants SO, let me just get to the bottom line.

1. We are shooting to be working full time with ITEC around January 2019
2. We are in full support raising mode!  https://give.cornerstone.cc/ITEC  

A little tip for the site - where it says “designation”, select “other designation”

In the memo field enter “Jeff and Joy Thomas”

3. PLEASE pray!!! If God is urging you to come alongside us financially and prayerfully please let us know!!!!
4. Is there a platform (small group, church, family...) you would like us to come share our mission/vision???
5. We are humbly and boldly asking for your help!!!!!

What will we be doing???
Good question, glad you asked...
Jeff will be doing what he does so well - IT
God has given him over 20 yrs of experience in technology and communications that we will now be able to use in full time Kingdom work!!!!  He will also be going as team lead on training trips around the world. (He will get to use his Spanish speaking abilities a lot more!!!)
Joy (me) will be working with the media team using my ever learning photography skills :)  I'm also VERY excited to go on training trips as needed. My rolls are not set in stone but they may range from administrative to counseling to photography to SERVING COFFEE!!!! :)

Our family will be going through major changes and it's easy to focus on what we are leaving behind but God graciously reminds us in light of eternity... we are pushing towards the promise that is ahead.

We do not wage as the world does ~ 2 Cor 10:3-5
Be self-controlled. Resist the Devil. Stand Firm ~ 1 Peter 5:8,9
We fight not against flesh and blood ~ Eph. 6: 11-17
Be strong and courageous ~ Joshua 1:9
Rest in the shadow of the almighty ~ Ps 91:1-4
The battle is NOT ours, it's God's ~ 2 Chron 20:15

Love to you all!!!!!!!!!