A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs His Steps...

So, as I rode on the rear-end of the tandem bike a couple of weeks ago in Eagle Crest, Oregon, I had this spoken little moment with the Lord. He showed me Will's backside, shown below...and spoke to me about my need to, just as I had to keep my eyes on Will's front pedals or I'd totally veer us off into the ditch (happened many times, ask Will!), I had to keep just as in-stride with and my eyes on His steps. I don't need to see the full road ahead, as all I could really see with Will in front of me on the bike was his backside, and strange as it was to stare at it for so long, it was a real comfort, to "blindly" trust his guidance, to keep us on the correct path, and I even felt relieved and at peace to trust him with the crashes too, as I knew he'd get us right back up again. And P.S. I tried out the driver's seat for a few short strides and after 3 crash-downs, we decided to put me in the back again, I had no idea how to control that thing. Sound familiar?

So here's to the reminder to follow in our great Leader's strides, never looking to the right or left, questioning His ability to guide best! Enjoy the ride and the view as it passes by with me, take deep breaths, resting and trusting in each of His planted steps/strides, as you keep in line with His pre-ordained path. Release control and follow your best Guide.
A few verses I love to ponder on this "steps" matter...
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from Your way. (Psalm 44:18)
Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway. (Psalm 85:13)
My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. (Job 23:11) Thou hast enlargened my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. (Psalm 18:36) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way. (Psalm 37:23)

more pics to display the previous post notes!

Time with the Coulombe family!! We just love these guys, all 5 of them!! They're our get outta dodge and head north family!! It was also their church that we visited for kid's ministry ideas, it's a winner!

Our visit with the Petersens, we even got a WELCOME sign...Time with the Irwin Crew, gramma Susie above, W & K on a tandem bike, lil sis licking mom-in-law's face and the lil sis and her new beau at the bottom (not pictured, papa Irwin)...

Oh where oh where have the Irwin's been???

Well, we've been traveling around the state over the last week (pretty much covering it from the north end to the east end, back to the south end.) We started at the Leadership Summit conference in Portland (telecasted from it's Chicago homesite) and then stopped in for a couple of visits at family & friends up there (Thys and Kate and the Coulombe clan), did an observation at Grace Chapel in Wilsonville of their children's ministry programs on Sunday, then headed East to Eagle Crest to stay with Will's fam at their timeshare at the resort, had some great chatting times and tandem bike rides for a couple of days there, and then headed back west to the 'burg with a stop on the drive home at Crater Lake (holy toledo, what a grand beauty that place is!) On the drive home, we even had a little froggy stop in for a hop-a-long in the car. I got a little freaked out when it unashamedly (and unexpectedly) landed on my leg and about lost my brain as I squealed and tried to hop in the backseat (mind you, this is all on the windy rode home along the Umpqua River from Crater Lake). Will quickly pulled over (not by choice, but by threats from his crazed wife) and gave our little froggy a new home out by the river, rather than on my leg or hopping around making a new nest and family to come, in my car!

Stay tuned for more pics of the rest of the week, when I return home

(I'm hiding out in Will's office while he's in a staff meeting)...Dinner at the Cheesecake factory, after one of our Leadership Summit sessions!

Yummo, gotta love the cheesecakes!!

The bulk of the gang we went up there with L-R...Larry Whitaker, SFC Church Administrator; Suzy Halstead, SFC Church Secretary Extraordinare; Jim Halstead (behind Suzy) Head SFC Elder; Paul Glazner, SFC Teaching & Assimilation Pastor; Lynda Whitaker (left front), Larry's wife; Jan Glazner (right front) Paul's wife!! Not pictured...Ed & Robynne Wilgus (he's SFC's Lead Pastor) and the Irwin's. We had some awesome team bonding and development times!

Thanks for the gift of allowing us to attend SFC!

The Irwin Entry...

Here tis, Le Entre of the Irwin home! Just a few shots of the outside of the house. Figured it was time to continue on with phase 2 of the tour of our new abode. Please click on the album below and peruse the pictures & captions for the next leg of your guided tour. More to come on Irwin Tour Take 3...

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