"I Do" 20 years later

Twenty years ago today I married the man of my dreams.  He is simply amazing and most definitely an answer to my prayers.  

Jim and I met at church in the singles group at a local church.  I was a single mom and my prayer to God was to send me a godly man that would not only love me but that would love my little blonde haired daughter too.  The Lord had the perfect man for the “job”.  

We dated four months.  I knew he was the one.  He proposed to me with a rock on the rocks at Myrtle Beach.  Two months later, on September 14, 1990 we were married.  

Since that day Jim has loved me like crazy.   I know that I am second to no one except Jesus and I am thankful for this fact.   Twenty years has gone fast but at times it seems like we have been married forever.  

We have both rocked some crazy hair styles and had our fair share of adventures (yes, even a few disagreements along the way). 

We have shared in plenty and in lack.  Health and sickness.  Joy and heart break.  Peace and chaos.  Thick and thin (I'm not talking waistlines).   

 Life has taken us places we never dreamed we would go, but through it all we have fixed our eyes on Jesus and He has carried us through it all.  

 What is our special secret to our twenty years of bliss?

Looking back I would answer that question with three keys: (1) making The Lord our main focus-- individually and together, (2) prayer (and lots of it!) and (3) intentional daily communication about any and EVERYthing. 

I can say I don’t love Jim like I did twenty years ago.  I love him more.  I love him deeper.  I will love him as long as I have breath.   

He is my best friend.  My BFF.

I want to grow old with him.  

Here's to 20 more!!!!

Happy Anniversary Jim.  I love you.  I'm yours!

I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3

Back To School Blues

For the past thirteen years, this time of year has found me writing lesson plans, getting our “class room” ready, preparing Beck’s café’ menu and praying desperately for The Lord’s help for another upcoming home school year.

This year the back to school routine is no more.  (insert loud sigh)   Since Jordyn’s recent homeschool high school graduation I have been thinking and praying about this new season of my life and what the future holds for me. I have been desperately asking The Lord guide me according to His will for me. 

  A few weeks ago I was given a ‘lead’ for a part time job.  I was very interested and a bit excited.  Being a stay at home/home schooling mom the past thirteen years has left my resume a bit dusty.  Did I say dusty? Hmm…how about non-existent.    

Thinking about writing a resume left me baffled.   How do you summarize motherhood in a one page job description and include references?   ( I humored myself with the thought that I could list my children as my references but I have no guarantees that they would give me rave reviews unless I bribed them.)

Ready to write my resume, I opened a new Word document and started searching  “How To Write A Resume”.  

Here is one tip that I found very interesting:

The point of a resume is not to get the job, it's to get the interview. 

Thinking about a potential interview made me immediately think about the possible need for a new outfit (of course new shoes too).  My thoughts of a new outfit led me to chase rabbits looking online at the latest fall fashion trends.  Needless to say, I never typed my resume.

Tonight I found out the part time job opportunity did not work out.  Bummer.  Now I have no excuse to go buy a pencil skirt and heels.  In all seriousness I truly accepted this as a closed door from The Lord.

In my reading tonight I stumbled across Ephesians 2:10

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

The words I read encouraged me and lifted my spirits.  I especially liked Francis Chan’s take on the verse:

 “He designed me for a specific work!”

Looks like I have a job after all.  Work that He created just for ME to do.  Work just for HIM!  He is my Boss. No resume needed, no interview required.  I am already hired!  He hired me before I was born!  And, come on, what company can beat HIS benefit package?

I pray that as I continue to seek Him for direction during this new season of my life that I will always look to His work as my primary work and any other work as my “second” job.  

It's my party and I'll cry if I want too......

This past weekend The Burton Fam put on our best "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes and went to our friend's wedding.  Amanda and my brother were both in the wedding and my man officiated.   Like many women, I love, love, love weddings.  They always make me cry.  After this weekend, I believe my grand-daughter shares my wedding emotions too.

During the wedding, I was left on "grandma" duty to take care of baby Jaelynn during the ceremony.  After 2 months of having a baby in the house, I have finally figured out that Jaelynn's fussy time starts at 6:30 pm. on the dot!  Guess what time the wedding began?  yep!  6:30 pm--on the dot!!  The wedding was a beautiful, outside ceremony but how would I know that?  I missed the entire ceremony as I was running to a far off spot in the near-by woods for Miss Fussy Pants to scream!  

Here she is as happy as can be at 6:25pm

Here she is planning her scheme of disruption at 6:28

Luckily, we took some pre-ceremony pictures:

Mimi, Jaelynn and Aunt Holly

Jaelynn and her mommy

Lady J.J. sporting her pink pumps and posing with her daddy

Jordyn captured this funny picture (below) in which she titled "Where's The Cake?"  I was a tad "frazzled" (to say the least) and in desperate need of a piece of wedding cake.  check out Jaelynn in the back of the picture.  She was crashed--but what do you expect after 3 hours of crying?  

And, yes, I did get a piece of cake.  Here is the "after cake" picture!  

Amen and amen

We've got work to do! (and vacay pics)

Our family just came back from a wonderful week of vacation at the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  We had a BLAST!  Lot of food and fun in the sun.  My parents are so gracious each year to invite us to go on vacation with them.  This year my brother's fiancee, Holly,  went with us.  Amanda and Baby Jaelynn spent some time at the beach with us too!!   It was a blessed time to say the least.  

I always have a hard time leaving the beach to come home.  I normally shed a tear or two when we leave.  This year was no exception.  During my mini-meltdown,  my precious husband gave me a big hug as we were leaving  and he said, "It's okay Beck.  God has work for us to do."   His words dried my tears.  He was right.  God has work He wants me to do.  God has work He wants YOU to do too. 

While I was at the beach I read an amazing book, Crazy Love by Franis Chan.  The book was simply amazing.  One of the things that author Francis Chan said really struck me last week.  He said, "We have a God Who is a Creator, not a duplicator".  In other words we are all one of a kind creations!  There is only one Becky Burton in the world, one Francis Chan,  and only one YOU!  Each an original made for Him, for His Glory and for His specific purposes.  

Tonight I was reading and ran across this from John Ortberg (The Me I Want To Be) 

"Every day, everyone you know faces life with eternity on the line, and life has a way of beating people down. Every life needs a cheering section. Every life needs a shoulder to lean on once in a while. Every life needs a prayer to lift them up to God. Every life needs a hugger to wrap arms around them sometimes. Every life needs to hear a voice saying, "Don't give up."

-John Ortberg

This paragraph made me think about the work God had for me to do.  We live in a fallen world where people are hurting.  People need Jesus and they need to see His love demonstrated through us (God's children).  I read the quote and wondered,  "What life I needed to "cheer on".  What life do I need to give a "shoulder to lean on".   What life do I need to "lift up in prayer".  What life do I need to hug?  What life do I need to tell, "Don't give up"."


What work does He have specifically for you?  Think about it.  Pray about it.  If you don't know, ask The Lord and He will show you.  






I'll leave you with a few pics from our vacation:

Beach Bum

Jordyn and Jim's colossal sand castle

Our vacation sponsors--a.k.a. mom and dad 

Jim surprised me and shaved his beard while at the beach.  :)

If you are an Elf fan, you are thinking it...the part when Buddy the Elf gets hit by a snowball---"son of a nutcracker"!

To the pier and beyond!!!!!!!!!! 

One of many ice cream places I visited.  We LOVE Fatboyz!

My girls

And lastly, in case my "work" for today is to make you laugh, here it goes:

So--my mom brought a wig to the beach by accident. She thought it was a pair of shoes in a box.  It was the hit of vacation---playing with "the wig".  (we are simple, simple people).  We were flipping through the music channels and saw this "group" on the TV.  I first noticed they had on pink Snuggies...then quickly remembered I had my Snuggie with me.  Of course--I had to run throw on the wig and my Snuggie and pose with the group.  Folks---I am not a drinker---please note this is the result of waaaay too much ice cream. 

The Power of Love

"Every moment is an opportunity to practice a gesture of love. "  

John Ortberg

(yes, I do believe sharing the remote control counts as a gesture of love)

Please pray for Wrenn and her family

Please keep Baby Wrenn and her family in your prayers.  I went to high school with Nicole (Wrenn's mommy).  Thanks to Facebook, I was recently reunited with Nicole and even more recently learned of her baby's story.  Baby Wrenn was born a few days after our little grand-daughter, Jaelynn.   Here is their story:

http://www.fortheloveofwrenn.blogspot.com/

Summer Adventures at Mimi's house

My Mimi has been really busy the past two weeks.  Me and my mommy are staying with Mimi for the summer. Poor Mimi has not had a chance to update her blog since I arrived.  She keeps telling me she has a brand new appreciation and love for mommies with little ones and that she needs to show more mercy and grace to them---whatever that means!   We are having loads of fun so far and here are some pics from our summer adventures:  

Mimi loves to put my bathing suits on me, take my picture and then whisk me off to Nanny Pat's pool.

(my feet are not really that big...bad camera angle Mimi!)

I spent the 4th of July weekend with Mimi, Gunk and JoJo while my mommy was at the beach.  I LOVED the fireworks.    I didn't cry until they were over---then I screamed all the way home.  I wanted to see more!

(Mimi was laughing because she said I had firework in my pants).

(Mimi and Nanny Pat doing their holiday "show".  So silly)

(I really wanted some of Mimi's milkshake---but she said no.  Maybe next year.  I'll have to stick with my Similac until then.)

I love these people too!  My JoJo and Gunky

(I LOVE Zuzu!  I think she is a big stuffed animal.  She loves me too)

Here is Mimi and her "babies".   

Psalms 91:11

Please pray for our son-in-law, Josh.  He was deployed today. 

Here is a picture Amanda sent me today of Josh and Jaelynn a few hours before he left.  (Pray for Amanda and Jaelynn too.  They will be coming home for the summer but as delighted as I am to have them here, I know Amanda's heart is deeply sad right now and she will miss her man like crazy!!  Of course, Miss Jaelynn will miss her daddy bunches too!!!)

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. 

Psalms 91:11 (Amplifed Version)

17 Kids and counting--- The Fick Version

When we think of a mother having  17 children, most would automatically think of the popular TV Family, The Duggars.   I personally am a fan of the Duggar Family and admire, respect and appreciate what they stand for as Christians.  Not long ago I asked my dad to watch The Duggar Show, to which he laughingly replied: 

 “My mother had 17 children and she didn’t have a TV show!!”.  

 I couldn’t help but to chuckle at Pop’s disinterest in the TV show.   Though I am fascinated with a large family and how they manage from day to day, my dad is not so fascinated.  He knows first hand how large families function because he lived it.   My Pop is the youngest boy of 17 children.   His stories fascinate me.  You know the proverbial, “ We woke up at 5:00 am and had to milk the cow and feed the chickens with a foot snow on the ground before we went school,” or “we use to walk uphill to school with no shoes” or “at Christmas we were thrilled to receive an orange and apple as a gift”.  

 One of my favorite memories my dad shares is the one where he recounts the fact that they grew-up with out TV, internet or computer games.  They regularly passed time by moving all the furniture around in the den, putting on some music and “cutting the rug” for hours.  (And boy—you should see those Ficks dance!!!  )

This past weekend we had the pleasure to attend our Fick family reunion.   It has been many years since we had this opportunity but what a blessing it was.  We were reunited with family from all over the country and I  “met” (yes, MET) family I never knew I had.

Jordyn, Jim, Me, Mom (in front), Pop, Ryan (my brother) and Holly 

  My dad and his family have always exhibited a very close bond.  They have a tie that no one can break and most can not even understand.  They are some of the most giving, loving, servant-hearted, comical people I have ever met.  Through the years the Fick brothers and sisters (most are in their 70’s or older) have remained a very close family.  Though I personally have vague memories of my Grandma and Grandaddy Fick I have heard accounts of  my grandmother’s commitment to The Lord and to prayer.    As I think of the legacy my grandparents  left,  Psalms 127  comes to my mind: 

  ³Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

  ⁴As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.

    ⁵Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate.  (Ampliphied Version)

When studying this verse this morning my Life Application Bible commentary lends a MUCH needed reminder to our society:

"Too often children are seen as liabilities rather than assets.  But the bible calls children “a heritage from the Lord”, a reward.  We can learn valuable lessons from their inquisitive minds and trusting spirits.  Those who view children as a distraction or nuisance should instead see them as an opportunity to shape the future.  We dare not treat children as an inconvience when God values them so highly”

Thank you to Grandma and Granddaddy Fick for the legacy and example you have left behind through your lives and your children.

Grandma and Grand-daddy Fick

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

 

A Few Pictures from The Fick Family Reunion 2010

Help Support orphans in Peru

Jim and I met with Sam today.  She is a wonderful, Godly young  woman .  I have known Sam since she was a youth in a local youth group.  (Amanda and Sam went to Mexico on a mission trip about 8 years ago.)

Sam lives in Peru now.  She has recently spent two years of her life volunteering at an orphanage in Peru.  She basically took a leap of faith, depleted her savings account, sold her car and moved to help this Christian orphanage.   She is home for a few weeks and is getting ready to return to Peru.  She is not going back to the orphanage to serve but she is waiting on The Lord to show her the next “season” of her life.   

Sam blessed my heart today as she is trying to get the word out about “Hogar De Esperanga” (Home of Hope).    One of the things that impressed me most is that since she is not returning to the orphanage she is not in any way trying to raise personal support.  She is only motivated by the deep love she has for the children and her desire to see  the work at the orphanage continue.  She wants to help spread the word to as many as will listen.  

I sat as she told story after story (with pictures) about the orphans that are in the home.   It is hard to fathom the stories behind the precious faces.  Heart wrenching. 

As Sam talked to us, I noticed her necklace.  It continued to catch my eye during our meeting.  I finally asked her about it (it reminded me of Skittles).   She explained that the orphans make the necklaces out of seeds (and paint them).  Then they sell them for $10.   The money is divided.  Half goes to support the work of the orphanage and the other half goes to an account for the orphan to use when they turn 18 and have to live on their own.

I knew immediately I wanted a necklace.  Sam did not have them with her but she went home and brought back several for me to choose from.

Here is the one that caught my eye:

The tag names the little boy who made the necklace.

I noticed some beautiful purple “seeds” in one of the bags.  She told me they were bracelets.  I decided I “needed” a purple bracelet too! (to match my purple pinky).  I randomly picked a purple bracelet :

And the name tag was this:

God wink?  ABSOLUTELY???    Anyone want to go to Peru with me to meet Fernando and help out??

If you are interested in buying a necklace or bracelet let me know.  I can “hook you up!!”.   If you are in my area and want to hear Sam share her story (and the stories of the orphans),  she will be speaking at our church (www.ccfnet1.org)  on Sunday, July 11^th.  She will have the bracelets and necklaces available to purchase that day as well.

Here are some more link in case you are lead to do anything for this ministry:

www.perukids.com  (orphanage site)

http://www.samtravels08.blogspot.com/  (Sam's site)

Please pray for them!!