Taking time, to spend some time.

"You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God."

This past week, the Lord offered some incredible opportunities to bond with both my immediate family as well as my church family, which was so encouraging and uplifting that it must be shared. At my home church, Community of the Word, I was able to host a DIY day (Do It Yourself) and asked that all the ladies of the church who were interested in joining to bring pieces of fabrics, cloth, and/or accessories that they weren't using anymore to take apart and put back together. My hope was to be able to show them what I do in my business and teach them some ways to recycle old, unused items into something new. At the same time I was very excited to be able to spend time with these sisters of mine and build our relationship through a fun and funky type of fellowship.

Armed with one sewing machine, a few different sewing kits, and quite a few enthusiastic participants the day was a success and I was able to show a little love to my sisters in Christ through an avenue of love and creativity the Lord has given to me. It was certainly an enjoyable way to "Pay it Forward".

I praise God for the opportunity to share a little bit of myself with these ladies and, more than that, get the chance to learn a little bit more about them. Seeing them express themselves creatively was an insight into how beautifully unique the Lord has made each and every one of us.

Lord willing, we will be able to do many more events like this at CW and of course at other churches. If anyone out there, oh lovely readers, is interested in having a DIY day hosted either at a church or at some other venue, let me know! I would be more than happy to see what I could do for you.

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But that, of course, wasn't the only blessing to come out of this week. One outing, on a more personal level, was a day out with my boys to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. Homeschooling all three of our boys affords us the opportunity to make every special outing a learning experience. Like a field trip, but more inclusive since we get to learn right along with them.

Watching your children nteract with the world is an underrated and under-appreciated blessing in this world. Having three boys with very different personalities gives both Ray and I a glimpse into who they are and the kind of men they will become. The decision to have them home schooled continues to be reiterated to me as a good choice and I praise God for the blessing of patience, endurance, and the ability to see the things I may have never noticed if we had put them in school.

Their curiosity is something that I hope never fades. Their ability to stay engaged in the world and to learn from every experience that God allows them is my hope and prayer for their future. And more than that I hope that we continue to have the opportunity to be an active part of their education.






The world is changing and growing just as our boys are and I cherish these days when we can spend time together and grow stronger as a family. I will never get tired of these moments and I hope that I never lose sight of just how fleeting they really are.

Thank you, Lord for blessing me with the chance to strengthen the relationships in my family both biological and spiritual. You really are a God of providence who is more gracious than I deserve. Here's to many more weeks like this.

-Ciel

Merry Christmas!

With the holidays fast approaching, I just want to take a moment to step back and truly praise God for the blessings He has provided this year. With everything going on and with how busy life can get, it's easy for the the true meaning of Christmas to be covered by all the "extra wrapping".

So, as the old song goes,

"Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

This year has been full of changes, but each and every one has been a reminder of God's sovereignty over our lives. 

The boys continue to grow both physically and spiritually, which in it of itself is such a joy to watch. And having them home, watching them discover the world through their homeschooling, helps me to appreciate the way the Lord has built them, each different and yet still in His image.

More than that, having them exposed to ministry life and having them see what both my husband and I strive to accomplish within our church family and ministry community keeps me accountable to the responsibility we have been privileged with to both our children and to God's Kingdom.

Lastly, on a personal note, I praise God for His continuing gift of endurance and strength. Starting your own business is never easy, but CIEL has been such a huge undertaking as well as an enormous blessing that I cannot wait to see what else the Lord has in store for this coming New Year.

So, there you have it, so many changes, so many blessings, so much to thank the Lord for. How about you? I would love to hear about the blessings in your life.

When Disaster Hits

And tough has definitely been on the island of the Philippines!  At least 10,000 and counting lost their lives through a tremendous natural disaster the world has ever seen.  But I am reminded today,

Psalm 46: 1-3 

"God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride."

 Recently, I've been getting news from a friend of mine whose family has been greatly affected.  It is devastating to hear details how people, children and old, struggled to survive the Typhoon.  That is why my family and I have been praying for a way to send help.  We know we don't have the luxury to fly out their ourselves.  We also know that there are those who are sent there and responds to the need of being there physically to help. So we have found other ways to help in a way we can.  If you are on the same boat as we are we hope this blog finds its way to give you an idea how to also help.  Follow the links we recommend to support financially.  It will continue to build as we go.  But it's all up to you to be directed.  We know ultimately God will use all the resources He has given us to show His faithfulness to the people in the Philippines.

Samaritan's Purse

International Mission Board

Shop and Swap Boutique

This event is already coming next Saturday. The days are going too fast. Don't miss it! I have a list of New things to display and share!