Whisperings of Autumn~

The cottonwood leaves are already beginning their Autumn descent ... this crunching of leaves underfoot is a sobering reminder of how quickly the seasons change and that 2015 is on it's way to 2016 ...

Change:
verb. to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of something, different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.

It is guaranteed. Good changes, not-so-good changes. Happy changes, sad changes.
When I was a little girl, I strongly disliked change. sometimes, I would be so shaken by it {or even the thought of it}, I would just cry. but then, I would end-up being fine with whatever it was that had changed - I guess the tears were my way of processing things. ;P

In this ever-changing scene of life, I am so comforted by the truth that I am a daughter of The Unchanging God - He is sure, steadfast, and faithful.

Here are some 2014/2015 changes that I am so grateful for~

 ANDREW & EMMA ARE ENGAGED!

These kids are growing up fast and, man, they say the funniest things. ;)

EVIN 

almost 4

 SCOTTY

almost 2

 TIM & EVY HAD THEIR THIRD CHILD IN JUNE!!

~RANSOM ALAN PORTER~

My little bro went to Southeast Asia at the end of May and came home at the end of June.

 ERIK AND HEIDI

LIV & JORDAN HAD THEIR FIRST CHILD IN DECEMBER '14!!

~LAURA EILEEN WEBSTER~

[pc: evangeline renee]

LAURA EILEEN:
~our smiley baby-girl~

Here I stand, so, so richly blessed beyond measure ... and the changes that lie ahead?... I want to be eager to embrace them with the mind and heart of Christ, as He leads me into them.

Fondly,

Phia

//The Time Has Come//

I'm back!

Hello dear Blogdom...

It has been tragically much, much too long {this, I accept full responsibility for.} It's not at all that I've forgotten about you {t'the contr'y, you've been on my mind almost weekly!} 

I'm afraid I allow myself to be far too particular. You see, every time I would consider sending a post to you {which was rather a good amount}, I would almost instantly have to dismiss the idea, because of having convinced myself, "I don't have time." Oh you know how it is...there are a 100 and 1 things you hope to accomplish in a day; multiply this by the seven days in your week; x the 52 weeks in your year ... now, correct my math if it's in error, but that's a staggering 36,765 'things' that are vying for a vacancy in your brain! {and that's on a day of average thinking...just imagine what the numeral is on the days of brain storms!}

But this is all in the past. I am not going to take up an entire post, excusing the beastly way I've treated you. I could have at least dropped you a note, once or twice... 

Sincerely penitent and hopeful for the future,

~Sophia 

Well folks. there it is. I'm back. :) No longer will the excuse {because that's exactly what it is} of, "I don't have time", be given the time of day in my life ... because, as I've been learning just recently, if something genuinely matters to you, you will make time to do it. And this? this matters to me. 

So, it's 2015! How about that. man, Time feels as though it's perpetually speeding up. 

*shakes-head-in-wonderment* 

I love January - the first month of a freshly begun year! What hopes, anticipations, dreams, and delicious unknowns they hold ... and with our Guide who goes before us, and will hold us by the hand ... there's no need to fear! and every reason to launch out in Faith and wonder at - anticipating with JOY - what He is going to do in our lives! 

Happy New Year, my friends!!

Fondly, 

Phia

He's Holding My Hand~

{Happy 2014! I deeply apologize for the lack of posting. :/ But, even if I had posted, I'm not certain if you would've had the time to read it; because, you were most likely just as busy as me and my family have been over Christmas and New Years! ;) I'm back now ... for a little while. So, this is an interruption from the sibling series, because some huge things are happening and I thought I'd try to be a responsible blogger and let y'all know the scoop. ;)}

"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles."

~Isaiah 42:6

It overwhelms my soul with unutterable peace to know and rest in the truth that my God goes before, behind and alongside of me in every pursuit He leads me. <3

::George: "There she blows. You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?

Uncle Billy: "Uh huh. 'Breakfast is served; lunch is served; dinner ...'"

George: "No, no, no, no. 'Anchor chains, plane motors and train whistles.'"::

~It's a Wonderful Life

//"When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen." //

~A.A.Milne~

Friends, my India rubber boots are on, and,

An Adventure is about to take place...

I look forward to telling you all about it next month!

{I realize that's terrible and perfectly unfeeling to make you wait so long - I wish I could tell you now! I really do; but, I'm afraid that's the way things have to be for now. :/ However, I would earnestly desire your prayers for safety and that the Lord Jesus would be greatly glorified in this Adventure He's leading me on!}

For now, I remain incredibly grateful for your friendship and prayers. <3

Cheerio!

Phia

{A rather large Post Script - in the unusual event that you don't already know: JORDAN AND OLIVIA GOT ENGAGED TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!! Now you know. ;) We are positively exuding with joy and gratefulness for how our sovereign Lord has brought them together and if you want to see some photographs, Evy and Tim got some immensely sweet and beautiful captures!}

[Double Post Script: Photo creds go to my bro, Djoops (aka 'Andrew'). He literally froze in the knee-high white fluffiness, wearing jeans and tennis shoes, to take some pics for me with his camera; because, sadness, Evy wasn't in town to do them. He's the BBBE = Best Big Brother Ever. <3]

::My Sisters and I::

::My Sisters and I::

Part One

An Introduction

It's incredible that I'm actually writing this out ... I've toyed with the idea for the better part of this year; but up to this point, it hadn't gone beyond the Realm of Good Intentions. ;) So, YAY, I'm finally doing it! 

Also, I have no idea how many posts this will end up being; however, for the sake of saving your eyesight, I have decided to break it up. :) It'll come in two different series; the first will be about my sisters and the second regarding my brothers. 

[Okie-doke, here's some introduction to the introduction. ;) 

For those of you who don't know my family, there are eight of us. My parents met while working for a ministry and five years later they were married. Dad continued to work for the ministry, and for the first 11 years of their marriage they lived in a town about five minutes away. For the past 13 1/2 years we've lived on campus as a family and have really loved it! 

I have five siblings; three sisters and two brothers. Evangeline (Evy, 23) is the oldest; Olivia (22) is second; Andrew (20) is third; I'm fourth (Sophia, 19); Erik (17) is fifth; and Heidi (13) is our baby. :)

All of us siblings are very close, and I consider each one of them my best friends. <3]

Now, on to the main introduction. ;)
So, basically I'm typing this out for those of you who have experienced or who are going to experience the beginning-relationship-phase/engagement-phase/marriage-phase and parenthood-phase of a sibling (be it sister or brother.) Because, while, for the most part, these phases are a large majority of smiles, roses, fun and chocolates (Reese's pieces for those of us who are allergic to chocolate ;), there will come points when toes will get {accidentally} stepped on, feelings will be {unintentionally}ignored and our relationships will have the potential to be strengthened or weakened. God has taught me so much through several of my siblings relationships (refer to previously mentioned phases), and He put it on my heart to share some of those lessons. It's my desire and prayer that you will be blessed and edified!

And thus begins the blog series of ...

::My Siblings and I::

I am tremendously excited to share with y'all and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do {also, we can hope that having stated my goal to have this as a series, my blogging frequency will recover ;}!

Cheerio!

Phia

P.S. As a note, if there is anything you would like to add or share about the topic of the posts, please feel welcome to share in a comment - I feel like it would be good and beneficial for this to be an interactive discussion, instead of just a monologue from yours truly! ;P I would love to hear thoughts from you and things that God has taught you through your family's and friend's relationships. :]

{This post needed a picture ... so here's a Merry Christmas of cuteness!}

New Post {original, I know ;}

Oh the feeling of excitement and return of memories that came to me as my mouse hovered over the 'new post' button. I have missed this - blogging. And not simply writing on my blog, but visiting y'all on your blogs! *exhale* I'm glad to be back. 

A very lot has happened this year ... So many changes and learnings that He has been bringing me through. Sometimes I feel like, "Oofda, I don't know how I'm going to live a 'normal' life after this!" but, then, ever so sweetly, He's there. And, really, He hasn't ever left me - I just forget that He's there, so often. Then I hear from Him in His Word {because, that's where I should have gone in the first place, instead of letting panic be in the limelight} ... and He gives me strength to keep going on; breath for one day at a time. And I am reminded that He does, and always will know what is best for me.

"Unerring wisdom ordained your lot and selected for you the safest and best condition. Remember this: If any other condition had been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances, and if you could choose your lot, you would soon cry, 'Lord, choose my heritage for me, for by my self-will I am pierced through with many sorrows.' Be content with the things you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good. Take up your own daily cross; it is the burden best suited for your shoulder and will prove most effective to make you perfect in every good word and work to the glory of God."

~C. H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening

I look forward to telling you more about what's been going on; but, I purposed I would seize today {before it's gone} and get reacquainted with blogdom before I sit y'all in front of the fire and unload my year's happenings on you! *admonishes self* "Baby-steps, Sophia, baby-steps." ;] 

Oh! and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Cheerio!

Phia

Recent-ish

Well, since the last time I posted, the Fred's have welcomed a new member into the family!! 

He's a jolly wee addition, that's for sure. We haven't known him for very long and he has already made a hugely favorable impression on all of us! I do believe we'll keep him. ;) 

Scottlan James Porter was born, August 14th, to Tim, Evy and Big Brother Evin!! :D

       {photo credit: Evangeline Renee}

He's already a month old...! Fortunately for them, his dad and mum understand the necessity of appeasing Northern Relations; and, thus, he spent a whole glorious 19 days with us and will soon be making another appearance! ;)

Here are some stored memories from their visit~

Evin has certainly not lost much of his spotlight. ;) He continues to bring us smiles and help us all build character with his delightful two year old antics! 

I now have an " initial buddy"! No longer the only 'S'. :) He is such the perfect little bundle to hold and cuddle with! <3

          We love our Scotty-boy!! <3

Cheerio!

Phia

Catch-up! Installment No.2

Happy July to one and all! =D

So, after intending to post for the past two weeks (while I've been home), today it finally happened! ;P

Because, I'm going to be leaving yet again... =D I look forward to sharing about that later!

But, for now, here is the continuation of my most recent post. =]

I will try to let the photos speak for themselves {there's such an awful lot of them and I am in the midst of packing my luggages!}... ;)

{March, 2013}

{March, 2013}

{March, 2013}

{March, 2013}

{MOOSE}

{March, 2013}

{March, 2013}

{March, 2013}

{March, 2013}

{OATMEAL}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{DICKENS}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{RAINY DAY}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{PRE-EMBASSY}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{SAILOR}

{ALERT}

{PYRAMID}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{'STACHES}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

{LION}

{LION & DAVID LIVINGSTON}

{April, 2013}

{April, 2013}

Well, that's all for now folks! ;)

Cheerio!

Phia