ty, jonna, emma, lilli bean, joshua

2009-02-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

PSALM 119:25-32
"I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your ways. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."

2009-01-26T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hey Peoples.....look who remembers how to type!! I know I know it has been way too long. So our lives have been about the same as always except one tiny new addition to our family, and his name is Hunter or as the kids say Hunter Bear. He is our one and only dog and we really love only having one animal!!! So far Hunter has been very impressive with his quiet nature. The best however was watching him last night discover the laughing santa that my brother gave the kids for christmas. It is just a stuffed santa that laughs and laughs when you touch him. Hunter was pouncing on him and barking as santa laughed and we got a pretty big kick out of watching him. I could probably talk longer about things but I do have to sign off for now, but I will try to update before next year......but no promises.

2008-05-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

2008-05-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, well here are a few vacation pictures. I will post more later, but this gives you a pretty good idea for things. We had a blast.....the girls said several times "this is the most fun I have had in my whole life." I love the mountains and it was so fun to be able to share that with my family. We stayed in a little cabin and we had just an overall great family experience. The mountains were beautiful of course, and I can't help think the God is good!!! This is a train in Sante Fe.

2008-04-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

This is a picture from Joshua's 2nd birthday party. It fell on the weekend of Easter this year so we had an egg hunt and Joshua's cousins and sisters all had a great time. It was a good day with family... This is after the hunt going through the eggs, and my pictures are all out of order!!!

It is hard to get good pictures when everybody's head is down and backs are towards you, so Emma slowed down looked up for two seconds and waved to the camera as she ran by....

Joshua turns 2!! I can't believe my baby boy is 2!!
We had an Easter egg hunt for Joshua's birthday and this is the line up before the big hunt.
And they're OFF!!!!

2008-04-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

This is the kids on Easter Sunday. It was a good day!!

2008-04-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

This is Joshua going to mow with Daddy in the clothes he insisted on wearing. His PJ pants and chaps, vest, and a canteen full of water and tinkerbell sunglasses on his head. So funny!!

This is my little cowboy on Easter Sunday. Isn't he handsom?

2008-04-13T13:32:00.001-07:00

2007-10-24T08:37:00.001-07:00

Psalm 67

I have been reading perspectives and although I have read a good portion of it before it is making alot more sense these days. I have been reading Psalm 67 and really thinking through that passage the last few days. One thing that strikes me about this passage is that is seems to summarize the whole theme of the Bible in this one chapter. I realize that is a rather bold statement, but read it and really think about it. God's heart is a missionary heart. I realize in the church today in America this can sometimes be a statement that divides christians. People say "I don't have a heart for missions." This statement is one that my own mouth has muttered a time or two. For me making this statement is more about Fear than anything. I look at places like China, India, or even Mexico and I think yuck I don't want to go to those places. The really interesting thing is that none of that matters!!! If we align ourselves with God, and really humbly focus in on him nothing else matters. Suddenly our hearts simply want what he wants. He wants to be glorified through out the earth. His name should be lifted above all else. How amazing the picture that John gives us in Revelation 7.
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every
nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were
wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud
voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.
I don't know about you but that picture is so exciting and that is what is going to happen!! Picture every tribe, nation, people and language worshipping our God. We have to align ourselves with this purpose as believers. It doesn't matter where in this world we are or where he has called us but this is our central vision. To see him worshiped. John Piper states it well in "Let the Nations be Glad," he says "Missions is not the goal of the church, Worship is." I think the reason sometimes missions becomes a dividing point in the church is because most of the time the focus is not on God. It is on missions. The reason I always turned away from missions was because my thoughts were only on myself, and what that might mean for me....I was selfish, I was prideful. I will also admit that there have been times when I wanted to be a missionary and if I am honest have to admit it was for the adoration of fellow christians. How screwed up is that? Humility is central here, and understanding why we worship is key. We worship because he is worthy and because he deserves it, and our own will has to go out the window when we are really focusing on him. So it doesn't matter if you are scared, or uninterested in missions. Simply align yourself with God's heart. I DARE YOU!! 'See what happens. I promise as you draw near to him, you realize that the goal is not missions but for God to be worshiped by all of us!! It is for HIS GLORY, and that is far more awesome! Raging awesome some might say!

Lately I have been feeling so anxious to do something for God!! As I draw nearer to him though that focus changes, and the passion is even greater to see our communities, nation, and all nations fall to their faces in worship. If this becomes my passion it changes everything about the way I live and it doesn't matter what country he has me in it stays the same. I just want to see him glorified throughout the earth!! So on that note I am changing my blog up a bit. I want to have resources that I have found helpful on my blog for you all to read and think about with me. I think I have been very convicted that I need to shutup and pray pray pray! I want to pray for God's will to be done on this earth... let's all join in as believers, let's all worship him together, and let's pray for his will. Watch what will happen!!
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you,
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.

Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God will bless us.
God will bless us
and all the ends of the earth will fear
him. Psalm 67

2007-10-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

These are some new pics of our little family. We went away this weekend to Galveston and sailed. We had a really fun weekend. What gifts of beauty the Father provides to delight His children!! That is the thought I had running through my head as I looked out across the water. Honestly as I stand and look at across the ocean it kinda freaks me out to think about how BIG our God is and how amazing his creations. "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 That pretty much sums up my feelings about everything right now.

This is the boardwalk in Kemah where we sailed. Totally Fun!!!

Three Generations.....

2007-06-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pics. I just love these kiddos!! I think it is so cool how you don't just love your own kids, you really like who they are. I remember Mom always telling me "I don't just love you, I like you a whole lot too." I always thought that was silly but now I really get it, and I really do like Emma, Lilli, and Joshua!!

2007-06-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

These are the pictures from our Mothers Day camping trip. We didn't get to stay long, but we had fun, and it was nice to be outside. I love nature, and what it says about God. I really don't know how you can look at it all and not know there is a God. To me it just screams out his holy name. Being out made me remember camping and backpacking when I was younger. I used to think I was going to live in the North West somewhere and work at a little camping store with my kayak on top of 4 Runner. Life didn't turn out quite like I imagined back then. There are things I could have never imagined about my life. I have met some of the coolest people, and best friends. I have a job that allows me to make my own schedule with my family, and that I LOVE too. I have a three awesome kids who keep me smiling everyday, and a marriage that has been an absolute miracle from God. When I think of how far we have come, and what God has done it really humbles me. God is good even when life isn't so much.

I am really thankful for where God has brought the Akin family, or the Akin Frogs as some of you know us. This mothers day was a good time to hang out and see God's creativity, and just enjoy being a family. God really is so good. It is said that "Life is what happens when you are making other plans," and for me that has been true so far.
I Love this picture of Lilli Bean.
This was our campsite early Sunday morning. Happy Mothers Day, from God!!

2007-06-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Okay I am going to try and get caught up on the blogging. Our biggest event recently was the girls recital. They did such a good job and we had so much fun. I actually am going to be taking some ballet pictures next year for the school so I can cut back on the weddings a little. I am very excited about that. I actually had alot of fun doing these pictures. So much FUN!!

2006-11-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Me and the girls had a fun girl morning this rainy day. We painted finger nails and did our hair, and then the girls posed for pictures. They thought the poses would make cute pictures in their own words, and I think they were right.

Lilli has a serious side and a little bit goofy side and I have proof.

2006-11-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

Joshua, loves all the attention he gets when he is in his lion costume. Everyone laughs, and so he laughs too. He is our cute little baby lion.

This is from Halloween. We have the lion (not cowardly however), we have Dorthy, and Glenda Goodwitch, or Good Princess as Lilli prefers to call her. They had fun giving out candy with Nana, Papa, and their cousins Dylan and Ethan.

2006-11-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hi!

This is my first post, and between you me and who ever else is out there on the internet I am a little intimidated. I thought maybe this would be a nice way to keep up with everyone who is out of state and country and even those of you in the great state of Texas.

Things are moving along here. Busy Busy Busy. Joshua is growing. He is still a big boy, and he still loves to sleep. Honestly I can't imagine an easier baby. He is clawling around the house if you want to call it that. He does the inchworm crawl and it seems like a lot of work to me. He loves talking on the phone (literally), and he loves his big sisters. They love watching the Backyardigans, and for those of you who aren't in the loop, they are cute characters who do alot of singing and dancing. Ty and I actually enjoy them as well. The girls have to dance and the songs down, and Joshua loves watching them.

The girls are growing up fast too. Emma is a country girl. Mom and Dad just moved out on some land and getting Emma to leave the horse, donkeys, and cows is a trick. She told me yesterday "Momma, can we live in the country too someday." I think it is in her blood. She has been riding horses since she was two. She is also doing ballet, and awanas. That is like girl scouts for church. She memorizes bible versus and has assignments to complete in order to earn badges. She loves that too. She just walks into her classes and waves me on. Not shy like her mother was that is for sure.

Lilli Bean keeps us laughing around here. She has got quite a sense of humor. She also loves to use plays on words. The other day at sonic I said "what do you want to eat." She said "I want a girl cheese, not a boy cheese." Then she just laughed. She is a little goof ball, and her an Emma are quite a team.

I guess that is about all for now. I will see how this blogging goes.