Life at the Lambdins: the latest in our God inspired new adventure!

We are….

…eleven weeks out from the fateful day that dramatically changed our lives with the receipt of a single letter

…blessed to have an abundant amount of people who are interested in our lives and who love, care and are concerned about us!

…overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness of so many who have poured into our lives financially, emotionally and spiritually

…daily receiving input, encouragement and inquiries into how life at the Lambdins is going

I decided that I should write out a post giving answers to the most often asked questions and for those who don’t follow our daily happenings on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, a little update as well.  But before I answer those questions….let me assure you that much in “Life at the Lambdins” is the same as it has always been:

We are still enjoying the seasons of life, carrying on with family traditions that give us stability, security and joy in times of transition and change, and celebrating life in its fullness.  After all Jesus came that we might have life…and have it abundantly!  We are living an abundant life!

We love the fall…with all the wonderful warm colors, cooler weather (sometimes!) and yummy delights…and of course pumpkin spice latte’s! It is almost Apple Hill time.

We are still homeschooling our pre-high school children and loving every minute of it! (as we have since the fall of 1997…16 years of homeschooling completed and beginning our 17th year!)  Our Cornerstone Co-op is in full swing for our 9th year and we have 22 wonderful families participating.

We have our first field trip today…to where else but the beach! (of course…because some things will never change)

We are still celebrating birthdays with three of them falling in September – I turned 51 on the 1st, Michelle turned 24 on the 7th and Rebekah had her big 18th birthday on the 18th. Michelle surprised us with a visit to California over the weekend of my birthday, which was the best gift I could have received!  We are thankful for another year of life and look forward to the God inspired adventure, in store for each of us, this coming year.

We are still doting over this “baby girl” the Lord blessed us with four years ago.  She is truly the center of much of our lives and garners a lions share of attention in our household. I tell her everyday the BIG things that God has in store for her life.  And yes, as always, Dan is still the primary hair stylist! (which I might add is no small thing for this beautiful child)

We are still worshipping the Lord every Sunday at Lakeview Assembly.  In fact this month I celebrated my 30th anniversary as a member of this church. (formerly known as Lincoln Neighborhood Church before re-locating to its current property in 1985) Three decades in the same church…now there is something that remains the same.

And as always….we are loving life, loving one another and loving the Lord!  That will never change.

And now on to answering some of the questions many are asking or wondering about what is happening with  life at the Lambdins:

How is the job/ministry position search going for Dan?

The simple answer is:

Dan does not currently have a new career, job, or paid ministry position nor does anything any thing appear on the horizon at this moment. (we do know that can change in a blink of an eye)

The more complex answer is:

Dan has not found a job or ministry position to apply for that is within his experience, gifting, strengths and skill set. At this point he has not pursued any non ministry positions but is open to that option should the Lord lead him in that direction.

Dan is praying, trusting and waiting on the Lord for a clear direction. For type A, driven, “gotta have a plan” or “let’s make it happen” people (hmmm…like me), this sounds good in theory but in reality we think it is a bit crazy. Shouldn’t he be “doing” something? Come on…”God helps those who help themselves, right? (by the way that oft quoted thought is from Ben Franklin not the Bible) or “How long can he wait before his family is destitute?”  The world….and sadly many believers rely on this type of logic and wisdom.  But God has lots to say about not following our own ways or the wisdom of this world.  I won’t share all the verses on seeking God’s wisdom or not relying on our own or the worlds ….I’ll just give you one: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.” 1 Corinthians 3:19

Most likely Dan is doing exactly what God wants us all to do before hurling head long into something that may or may not be His plan – pray, trust and wait for the Lord to show you His ways.  Sounds like godly wisdom to me…albeit hard to do at times…although Dan is doing just that with grace, faith, hope and peace in abundance. Once again I am blessed to observe first hand and be impressed by his faithfulness and attitude. (yes mam…. I did get a “sweet deal” in this godly man as my husband, almost 27 years ago!)

And you may be wondering… just exactly what is he doing with all his “free time” this job loss has given him…besides praying and reading the Word? Let me tell you!  He is getting a bit of extra daddy time with his precious children including assisting in home schooling (they may actually learn math this year!) as well as completing some long overdue “G” jobs (guy stuff) in and around the house. He also has an abundance of non paid ministry opportunities including:

• counseling and coffee appointments several times a week
• mentoring our CASA kids
• helping friends and family with car repairs, moving, yard sales, lawn care, loading & unloading objects & whatever else he is asked to do
• pre-marital counseling & performing the subsequent wedding
• motivating SAGU soccer players on game days through a text group he created
• taking in seven year old twins for 10 days while their mama secures a job and housing
• brainstorming ministry plans with a local pastor
• and even continuing to minister to students who call, text and email wanting help, encouragement, wisdom and advice!

Yes…the ministry opportunities are still there in abundance and are a “full time job”!

How are the girls adjusting to their new school?

Rebekah and Grace have been attending Capital Christian High School in Sacramento for about six weeks now and they are slowly adjusting and adapting to the many changes, unique culture and new faces.  Rebekah with her vivacious personality has jumped in and has a growing number of friends. She recently attended the homecoming formal and had a nice evening. She also has been taking advantage of some new opportunities that she didn’t have at her previous school by taking choir and weight training.  Of course she is missing her dear friends from JECHS, several of them went out of their way to help celebrate her 18th birthday, even showing up at CCHS to bring her lunch on her special day.  It was such a blessing to us all. While she has her melancholy moments thinking about what her senior year “might have been”, overall she is doing well. I anticipate by the years end she will have had the most amazing year and have memories that will last a lifetime!

Grace is doing well in her classes and likes her teachers.  As an introvert she is not making friends as easily as Rebekah. She is being a trooper and maintaining a good attitude in the midst of it all although the pain is apparent. We remind her often that perhaps her being at CCHS and not JECHS may have nothing at all to do with her happiness or experience but that perhaps God has someone there that she is to impact or influence this year. God has many ways that He works in and through us and we need to embrace His plan.

The commute is likely going to be the greatest challenge for both the girls but God has miraculously blessed them even in that.  During the first week of school, we received a call that an anonymous donor had purchased us a 2007 Honda Hybrid for the girls to use in their daily 104 mile round trip drive to Sacramento! Not only is it the nicest car the Lambdins have ever owned…it gets great gas mileage and hybrids do not have to get a smog check! We are still blown away by this gift every time we get in the car. Rebekah is becoming a confident freeway and commuter driver and Mom & Dad are becoming prayer warriors for the girls safety! The other miraculous blessing is our sister-in-love, who lives just minutes from the school, graciously opened up her home to the girls to spend the night or come over in the afternoon before evening activities.  It has already been a “life saver” on several occasions.  God is truly in all the details…both big and small.

Of course we can’t talk about the girls school experience without telling you about the tuition provision! The Lord has been doing amazing things for these girls all along the away. After providing the money to get them enrolled, on the very day that they needed to pay for their textbooks to the tune of almost $1,000, a check arrived in the mail to cover their books as they were sitting and looking at the computer with their order in the shopping cart.  Rebekah’s Bible teacher, whom she had not even met, called to say he had heard a little about her situation and that he wanted to pay for her senior class retreat! Wow!  The girls have both been working hard – house cleaning, babysitting, serving at weddings and picking up any job they can to help contribute towards their school expenses.  One weekend Rebekah literally worked almost every waking hour. It has been refreshing to watch the tenacity and effort put towards working and fund raising.  When they began this endeavor just eight weeks ago they knew they needed to raise $16,000+ ….a daunting amount to most of us.  Yet Rebekah plunged forward with faith, hope and a commitment to hard work and just put one foot in front of the other. She even made the sacrificial decision to take responsibility for her younger sisters tuition as well…something that warmed our hearts and surely must have pleased the Lord.  As of today they are almost 75% funded…only needing $4,500 more to pay off the entire year! Almost unbelievable….but God!

This weekend these girls are holding a two day “Will Work for Tuition” Yard Sale hoping to perhaps to make a serious dent in that remaining balance. If you are local and want to contribute things to sell or come over and purchase something, that would be great.  If you would like to make a donation towards their tuition goal….we have dear friends & former JECHS students who have set up an online site where people can donate. You can click here to contribute: http://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/love-on-the-lambdins-/76233

We continue to stand in humble awe watching the Lord and His people work on our behalf. We are so often at a loss for words….

Is Beth looking for a job? (or that all new fabulous network marketing opportunity?)

It appears that many think that I am, or perhaps should be, looking for a job or income opportunity. While, we are very open to whatever God has for us…we decided over 18 years ago after the birth of our fourth child that our priority would be for me to be primarily in the home both raising and schooling our children. (although all of you who are my former Brookside students…you know first hand I always had my kids “in tow” even during my work outside of the home season of life) While I have brought in additional income to supplement Dan’s ministry salary over the years through various opportunities and a home based business…I felt in recent years that my “free time” (ha!) needed to be invested in ministry opportunities with or without producing income. I began a non profit – Inspire Ministries – and have been slowly developing this concept.

Since Creative Memories declared bankruptcy this summer …I have had no less than two dozen people approach me with wonderful ways to make money through network marketing. I am honored and humbled by everyone’s belief in my abilities, strength and success in network marketing!  And while I believe wholeheartedly in this industry and the financial freedom, independence and fulfillment it can provide (not too mention great travel opportunities, gifts, recognition & rewards…I love it!), I also believe that personally I am not suppose to be using my specific gifts and talents for anything other than ministry at this time in my life. Several months prior to Dan’s termination, I was seriously considering joining a new upstart network marketing company but after much prayer and consideration I truly felt like the Lord was telling me He was closing that door of any network marketing opportunity for me, regardless of how fabulous it might be.  I do not believe that just because my husbands circumstances have changed…that God has changed his mind on this since we “need” money now.

So I will continue to be a stay at home mommy to my children (that “job” won’t end until 2027), homeschooling them as well as using my gifts and talents to minister to others and inspire us all to live a life of passion, purpose & praise!

Are you making it financially?

God is faithful and He is taking care of all of our needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.  We are not worrying about tomorrow or how we will eat or what we will wear or where we will live. We are in perfect peace living one day at a time.  I can’t explain it…but it is definitely a “God thing”.

How are you doing?

We are doing well…..really well.  We have peace in our hearts, praise on our lips and are resting very comfortably in the shelter of the Almighty.

By saying that however…we are not inferring that there is not pain or sadness in our hearts at times…only that the Lord is bigger and stronger and He enables us to able to both feel deeply the pain that comes with a loss and yet still walk in His peace, joy and love each day. (another “God thing” I am sure)

Yes, our human hearts do still ache for JECHS.  How could they not?  In a sense you could liken it to a human relationship. You do not end a 16 year long commitment without some angst, pain and regret.  Or perhaps better yet it parallels the hardship on a parent who still loves their child even though he or she rejects that love and turns away from the family relationship. Life goes on…but one never stops loving or praying.  We do pray for the school, staff, students & families often and we have a prayer of blessing posted in our home to remind us to continue to pray.

We are also still basking in the afterglow of the amazing evening  held on September 2nd to honor Dan for his 25 years of service in Christian education. We were truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, kindness, compassion and generosity we were shown. Over three hundred people were in attendance that night and we continue to get cards, letters and messages of appreciation from others who were unable to be there to celebrate.  It was a wonderful reunion and coming together of multiple generations and friends from every era and part of our lives, to glorify God for what he has done in and through Dan Lambdin. My favorite remark after the evening was: “This just inspired me to be a better person and serve the Lord and others even more!”

We will never forget it!  If you want to see the photos you can view them on my facebook page by clicking here.  The evening was also video taped if you would like to watch any or all of the happenings (except the amazing worship led by Jason McEachron which was majestic!) –

Truly a beautiful display of the extravagant love of God towards His people.  We all experienced a taste of heaven that night!

Well, if you made it this far…not only do you have tenacity and perseverance…you are now caught up with Life at the Lambdins! Please continue to pray for us and our future.

We love you all!