13 years of love...

Proverbs 5:18-19

...rejoice in the wife of your youth... be intoxicated always in her love.

Yes, it is true... I am deeply and madly in love with my wife.

I know that there are many out there who will have stopped reading after that first sentence but that's ok... I am a romantic and that's just the way it is. But, for those of you who care (and have read this far) on the 22nd of this month Britany and I celebrated 13 years of marriage (good thing I don't believe in luck) to our best friends... each other in case you hadn't guessed. I won't lie to you... it hasn't always been easy... nor has it always been full of passion... but it has been love. Real love. The kind that weathers storms. The kind that carries you when you are hurting. That bears burdens. That changes you... on the inside.

Recently I wrote a Mothers Day poem for my bride while she was away at a womens retreat. It seems to fit well here as I celebrate the bride of my youth and 13 amazing years of marriage.

...this is for you babe.

For my wife…

For my wife, my lover and my friend this little poem I pen
to let you know how much you mean to me, to us and then
to bless you as you are away on this latest mothers day
I think you’ll find the five of us have a lot to say!

First let me say how much your missed by this time I am sure
There is so much your hugs and cuddles can only truly cure
Oh there’s dishes, diapers (and cereal) round every little bend
But truly it is only you whose love our hearts can mend

Your mother’s hand, your careful touch is very quickly missed
But we will make due through the days until our cheeks are kissed
By your beautiful lips and wondrous eyes and smile (that’s all my own)
And soon you’ll be here back with us together in our home

We bless you mum for all you do and all you say and pray
We bless you for the heart you bring the kind words you always say
We bless you love for believing things that are deep and wide and true
We bless you for the way you stand and always see us through

So from Duncan, Celtin, McKenzie Grace and Hallie Taylor too
We offer up our deep hearts love and say that we love you!

timothy mark mcdonald

roots

Recently my wife wrote a note to a friend of ours and she included a little experience that recently happed with our son Duncan.

The kids are struggling right now to understand why we have to move, mostly Duncan. He asked me the other day as we were talking about moving, why his heart didn't tell him the same thing mine and Daddy's told us. So last night he prayed that God would tell his heart that it was time to move. WOW that was a hard and wonderful mummy moment all wrapped into one…

Someone just described what is before all of us as "Us pulling out the roots that are so bedded into where we are" and that was big for me because it feels just like that. Some are easy to pull and others feel like if we pull them, we might never get them to root again. Funny how simple things make sense to us…

This is the reality of a move away from what we have called our home these past five years. The reality of making roots.

Give us strength Lord… give us strength.

Happy Anniversary to ME!

Happy anniversary to me! Why you ask?

No, its not my wedding anniversary... I think. (Just kidding honey)

No, today makes five years of living in Glasgow.

Wow, where has the time gone?

tough training

Hebrews 12:10-13

...he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

I have been on a bit of a Hebrews kick as of late... man, what a great book. It is a bit complicated in sections BUT if you can wade your way through the Melchizidek/High priest conversation (which has incredible ramifications) you will find some amazing fruit.

Hebrews 12 is an especially fantastic chapter of the Bible that I have been reading with greater detail in the past few months. In the midst of it lay this powerful passage dealing with the nature of a Jesus followers life. The mysterious author tells us that discipline is a normal part of a parent and child relationship... and that, just like our earthy parents, God disciplines His children to mature them into the kind of followers He desires. The author even states the obvious so that we will not over spiritualize this truth - "discipline seems painful rather than pleasant" (the way WE wish it was). AND it IS a type of training... to become something more than what we currently are... tough training.

But THEN, the author changes the perspective.

No longer talking about what God is doing in the discipline... the author challenges us in how WE are to respond under the discipline. I was struck by this idea of strengthening myself so that "that which is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." - suggesting that I have a part to play in this discipline process.

I don't know about you, but often I find it so much easier to simply sit in the pain (or shame) of my (or somebody else's) sin than rather deal with it. OR, to sulk in the discipline and consequences of the actions for so long that my hurt moves from "lameness" to "out of jointness"... instead of doing everything I can (ie. lift my drooping hands, strengthen my weak knees, and make straight paths for my feet) to get to the place of healing. Hmm...

stuff

We have been pretty busy as of late what with Britany's medical tests, moving AND doing a little demolition at RE:hope... here is Brit's latest update!

Hey friends,

What an amazing God we serve! This day was a God given day from the moment we woke up to the Dr "unofficially" closed my case... to the peace Tim and I are feeling - It has been a God given day.

Do we understand any more about the journey God has had us on (from spots on the brain to holes in my heart)?

No, but we are filled with a renewed hope and trust in our Savior.

What now for the McDonald clan? We move forward with the saying of goodbyes and the moving of our belongings... June 4th is the day we will officially leave Glasgow! We will do our furlough (and fundraising) in Canada and Portland and then we will (God willing) settle our clan in San Diego and stop... and see how I feel after that. We have learned so much it is hard to even express it all. Though I still have the symptoms, it feels like we at least have a little closure.

We are so thankful for all your prayers... please keep praying! We still need to raise a lot of funds AND get this little herd into a new life in one peace. New position. New country. New home. New culture... so much will be new! Thank you again.

blessings on you all,
Britany and the clan

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