Eliana and Zane were anxious to get back out in the white stuff.

Yesterday the snow was simply too powdery to pack so the snowman had to wait until today.

The snowman turned out small and kinda puny but the kids enjoyed working on him anyway. Their patience began wearing out pretty quickly.

Eliana and I are trying to put on our scary pirate faces. Mmm… I don’t think that worked out too well either.

We just had to bring Karys out for a short bit. She was pitiful yesterday standing in the window and watching us play outside.

Here’s my beautiful family.

We definitely got some snow this time around.

Poor Karys. She still had a fever this morning so we didn’t let her go outside.

She did NOT want me to go out but Zane and Eliana insisted so… the bigger kids won.

Zane tried to pelt me from the deck. He thought he was safe on higher ground as long as he stayed with Carmi.

Hard as I tried, I couldn’t coax him onto the battlefield.

So I drug him off the deck and into the backyard.

Eliana tried to cover Zane’s back.

So I took care of her too.

No mercy from dear old dad.

Then we called a truce and headed for the hill.

1. In preparation for a haircut this morning, I fixed my hair like I used to wear it in the 80s which is very different from the way I wear it now. At breakfast with the 3 kiddos, Karys said, “Dad, why is your hair like that? It looks awful.”

2. In preparation for the big snow that was forecast for today, I went to Target to pick up some grocery items. I think half the town was there. Glad I wasn’t at Wal-Mart.

3. Yes… I bought milk. But we really did need some.

4. It snowed!

5. I told Zane he was going to get a snowball down his pants tomorrow.

6. I registered the ‘missionsuniversity.com’ domain name in conjunction with yesterday’s post.

7. Karys just wasn’t her normal self today. She started complaining with a sore throat yesterday. At dinner, she had a temperature of almost 103.

8. Eliana started complaining with a sore throat at bed time.

9. I can’t get a sore throat. Joyful Hearts has a concert Sunday night.

10. I’m more exhausted after a day at home than I am a day at work.

Most families have calendars… or children’s drawings… or family photos… on the refrigerator.

We have chipmunks.

At least it’s not the Jonas Brothers.

Look at this cute little cat I found at preschool today…

This is a little long so stick with me.

I tend to be fairly flippant and lighthearted on our blog most of the time. But for a moment, I’d like to shift gears and share something from my heart.

For some time now, I’ve had an obsession.

I’m not talking about LOST (which, by the way, premieres next Tuesday night!).

I’m certainly not talking about Facebook. I’m about over Facebook.

I’m not even talking about a new coffee from Starbucks.

No… I am obsessed with finding my Kingdom purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 is a verse that I’ve read in passing many, many times. But I rediscovered this verse back in December when God began dealing with me. This passage of Scripture literally jumped off the pages of my Bible:

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)

That’s some awesome Word right there. Especially for an ordinary guy who seriously lacks in the self-confidence department.

I. am. God’s. masterpiece.

And God has… a particular purpose for my life… a unique “contribution” that only I can make… a specific mission created and given to me to fulfill for Him on this earth.

No pressure.

So I began to pray and ponder. Hard.

What do I like to do that leaves me with an incredible feeling of joy and excitement? What gives me great satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment? What is my passion?

I’ve been able to identify 4 activities and these are in no particular order:

1. web development

I heart me some html and css and jquery. How could this benefit the Kingdom? Maybe working with churches and/or missionaries (see #2 below)?

2. missions

Carmi and I went on our first missions trip in 1997 and were hooked. Between 1997 and 2006, we participated in 5 international trips and 4 trips in North America. Eliana went with us a couple of times when she was very young and managed really well. It would be hard to take a family of 5 so we haven’t participated since Karys and Zane came home. Not that we won’t ever go again, but since I haven’t been going, my thoughts have turned to equipping those who can go.

I’ve had an idea dancing around in the back of my mind for some time about creating a curriculum based on the book of Acts and calling it Missions University. I could take MU into interested churches and provide a series of 1-hour sessions on topics related to the who, what, where, how and why of missions.

3. prayer

My idea for missions has been bumping into another idea I’ve had for prayer.

It’s one thing to know that someone has been praying for you. But it’s entirely different when you are in a person’s presence and hear that person praying for you. Right? I still remember hearing my 90-year-old grandmother call my name and pray for me as she knelt beside her bed. What an impact that made on my life.

I’ve pondered the concept of a live stream on the web where I take prayer requests that people send me and pray for them live. That could literally reach people on the other side of the world.

4. music

And then there’s music which is what led to this post in the first place. If I did have to rank my passions (but I’m not), music would occupy the number one slot.

I don’t play an instrument (which tears me up) but I sing. I’ve been singing for 28 years.

I’ve been in several groups over those 28 years and have many fond memories. I’ve sung for 20 and I’ve sung for 4000. But here’s the catch…

For most of those 28 years, I’ve sung about God. Did you notice that little 5-letter word in italics?

In this season of my life, I sense God desiring me to sing to Him. Do you see the difference?

I was sitting in my office yesterday (Wednesday) morning and thoughts of adoption were swirling… especially ideas for funding another possible adoption.

From out of nowhere, the words “record a solo cd” filled my mind. That thought didn’t walk in nonchalantly. Oh no. As I told Carmi yesterday, it’s like I was smacked upside the head.

“Yes Sir”, was my almost immediate response. And I literally spoke it. Out loud.

Then God gave a couple of details.

At least one of the songs would be a song that I write myself… expressing MY own love and adoration for God from MY heart.

And the music was to be simple… mainly acoustically-driven as opposed to huge orchestrated tracks. In other words, people need to be able to hear and focus on the words. And those words are to be worshipful.

This is only the second time in my life (that I recall) that God has spoken so clearly. The first time dealt with missions and maybe I can tell you about that another time.

So…

If you pray, would you please pray for me and this process? And don’t just pray once. Put my name on a list somewhere and pray for me every chance you get.

Oh, and by the way…

I had another impression… that this project would help to fund another adoption. And that I would have opportunities to share with other churches. And that my family could go with me. And that we would be able to advocate for orphans.

Heavy stuff. And yet very exciting.

Have you found your Kingdom purpose?

Nothing breaks up a work day like enjoying an extended lunch with the children.

After finishing our meal at McDonalds, Eliana and Karys wanted to go to the the play area for a bit.

Zane had to finish his fries outside because he was eating s-o-o-o-o-o s-l-o-o-o-o-o-w-l-y. On purpose, I’m sure. Stinker.

The girls didn’t get to play too long because the poor guy was about to freeze. Even with long sleeves. Our spicy girl from Hunan, of course, had on short sleeves and was plenty comfortable.