May... where did you go?

This beautiful girl (after all her name is Bella) turned two this month! Wow! She is so much fun, full of life and a real joy to father! 

I had the joy of going on a field trip with Creed to the Dallas Heritage Museum. We stepped back in time and it was fun watching Creed learn what life 150 years ago was like. 

In MK news... 

We just completed the most successful Pool Opening we have ever had. We made almost twice as much money as we ever have before thanks to an incredibly generous donation. The MKs worked really hard and made it very smooth. I have such an amazing staff to work with and they worked tirelessly and made the whole event really fun!  

It was three years ago that I hurt my back terribly after this event and it has always been a cloud hanging over me, finally I feel like I can look forward to doing this event next year instead of dreading it! Our God is a faithful redeemer and I'm so grateful for this amazing group that was used to bring healing to me in this area of my heart! 

I've been so blessed and proud of our adult MKs! God has put it on my heart to be very active in serving those around me in the community. I can't do it alone and am so very grateful for those that come along side me. We just did a massive work day for a dear lady who works on the Dallas Center and it was incredible to see the love that poured out of the adult MK group for her. 

This month, we also celebrated our single Graduate... Thomas Larsen (on my left). We had a great meal with him and his friend Matt and a wonderful ceremony on Monday night. This is the first time we have only had one graduate in the Dallas MK group since I have been a part of it. 

Life goes on... it is busy, it is good, in the midst of it all it is good to remember Psalm 23. God is teaching me much about how he provides for all my needs and is showing me what my needs truly are... on an unrelated and yet very related note I started teaching my kids this Psalm.... then I was blown away at how God used this to teach me so much about His character. 

The Lord is my Shepherd I am never in need... 

I'm so very grateful for you and how you are a huge part of how God meets all my needs. Thanks for praying and supporting and loving me and my family as we chase this adventure that God is giving us to live. You are a great blessing! 

Now a heart warming story... 

I just recently finished teaching the MKs about unresolved grief. My last session ended with me sharing a story that got me pretty emotional (about my friend Andreas who took his own life). Afterwards we listened to a song and as I sat on the floor worshiping I felt arms around me. The precious MKs had noticed my tears and came to comfort me, they put their arms around me and sat on the floor with me during the song. It was such an amazing moment and one that I will never forget. I'm so grateful for this job, this ministry, and the joy of serving and loving such amazing kids!

Live this moment well and after awhile you will look back on a life full of well lived moments! 

Blessings, 

Caleb  

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and sign up for Chase Quickpay. You can then send your donation to HCLC - Caleb Robbins Ministry using my e-mail address caleb_robbins@sil.org. If you would like further instructions on setting that up please click on the link at the top right of the page called How to give. 

The other way to donate to my ministry is via check. If you write a check to "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" and put "Caleb Robbins Ministry" in the memo line it will get deposited into my ministry account.

The address is:

Holy Cross Lutheran Church 

4400 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, TX 76016

Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my precious children Creed 8, Asher 6, Liam 4, Echo already in heaven, Bella 2, and Serenity.

Happy Mothers May :)

Wow I'm blessed to have such an amazing family... enough said.

Life moves forward with amazing Serenity! I'm enjoying having another girl in the house and all the love that comes with that in the form of meals and visits and people wanting to hold her. Sleep is always a precious thing that you take for granted when you have more choice over when it happens. But, Diane, as you all know, is amazing and very strong and is taking fantastic care of this wonderful little gift. She is back at work already and both are doing very well! 

I've enjoyed getting out in my yard and getting some great projects done! I feel like the Spring push is over and I am enjoying being outside so much with my yard just coming to life and looking so good! It's nice to have honeysuckle in the air. 

Yesterday my amazing friend Joel loaned me his bike, and I went riding with my boys around the neighborhood! It was so cool getting out there with them. I really love being a dad! 

This period of my life seems full of opportunities to trust God with big things! My cousin got diagnosed with cancer and that has provided an opportunity to serve her and her family in any way possible. I'm trying to get over there at least once a week to help with anything that I can. It's so sad to see a loved one suffer but her attitude is spectacular! Seeing the community surround them and lift them up is so beautiful! I have enjoyed partnering with the incredible men in my life to help them! 

Malaysia continues to be a source of trust. Things are not coming together in my timing and I continuously remind myself that God's timing is better and I'm choosing to live in His peace that defies my understanding! I need more people to join me in this adventure but, I trust that God will bring them and I'm listening! 

MK is quickly coming to an end. We are studying unresolved grief here at the end of our program before summer. This coming Monday is graduation Monday and we will celebrate our single graduate Thomas Larsen. We will also say farewell to a dear family that has been here on and off for many years. It's an off time again and they will be missed. 

Here is a slideshow of our year that I put together for the group. 

I'm excited to have Bob Alber back to work. It's been a long time coming for him, but finally he was able to come into the office and get reinstated into his old position. It just feels right to have him here! I love that guy! 

Our summer program will kick off with a Healing group co-lead by my Mom and Michal! I'm very excited for it! I really enjoy the change of pace that summer MK brings! Later on in June I'll be taking the Advanced Trauma Healing class, I'm so thrilled that I get to continue that journey! 

God is good all the time! I'm so thankful for you, you show me constantly the goodness of God, and sometimes I feel like I need to be reminded of it more than others. Thank you for your support, your love and ultimately your friendship! I'm blessed by you and encouraged! 

God is bigger! 

Caleb 

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and sign up for Chase Quickpay. You can then send your donation to HCLC - Caleb Robbins Ministry using my e-mail address caleb_robbins@sil.org. If you would like further instructions on setting that up please click on the link at the top right of the page called How to give. 

The other way to donate to my ministry is via check. If you write a check to "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" and put "Caleb Robbins Ministry" in the memo line it will get deposited into my ministry account.

The address is:

Holy Cross Lutheran Church 

4400 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, TX 76016

Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my precious children Creed 8, Asher 6, Liam 4, Echo already in heaven, Bella 1, and Serenity.

Serenity is finally here!!!! Yay!!!

Coming in at 9 lbs and 2 oz with a height of 20.25 in, Serenity Robbins has exploded onto the scene and is capturing hearts every where!

Diane went into labor Friday evening, but was able to still get some... some... rest. The next morning things picked up quite a bit, and by 9 am the mid wives were at our house and we were helping Diane 'the Rock' Robbins through contractions, that were getting ever closer. By 11:26 am Serenity was on the scene, and she came faster than any of her other siblings! It was amazing, and Diane was so strong and has been spectacular ever since. She has energy and is doing so well and so is the baby. Bookend due date babies! 

My parents took the boys for most of the day Saturday, and dropped Bella off for a nap mid way through. Diane and I enjoyed a relaxed day taking care of our precious gift and enjoyed a truly restful Sunday altogether as one happy family. We had rain all day Sunday which was amazing and we have just relaxed and stared in wonder at our amazing gift!

We are so thankful for the community around us. My cousin brought us lunch on Saturday and one of my amazing MKs (Lydia!!! The Bomb!!!) started a Meal Train for us... we are so grateful! It is amazing how many likes babies get on Facebook :). 

Well that is the biggest news... clearly! But, I guess a lot of life has happened since I last wrote. You know it's so funny how you just don't know when to write the next blog... waiting for Easter... then for Creed's birthday... then for the baby to be born... well it's all happened now :).  

 So those pics are from Easter... and really Easter weekend was so packed... we went to the park and to Diane's work for their amazing Brunch adventure, and to Church and to the Circus... that could be a blog post all in itself... but, I'll let the pics do the talking... we had loads of fun and it was so cool taking the boys to their first circus! 

Also here is a bunch of pictures of the transformation that we did to our yard... yeah, I love that spring is here and we can put beautiful plants in your yard again...

Well... I just really like yard work! It's so fun getting outside with Diane and the kids and working together and then having fun enjoying smores and other such things while the weather is nice! 

In the midst of all the fun we went to Costco... of course... and here Asher made the most creative hot dog... this picture reminds me why I love having kids so much! 

They finally came and got the remnants of the mess we made when we cleaned up the neighbors yard. It felt so good to see the truck come and take all that stuff away! I love my MKs! They are so amazing and here are some pics of Guys night and game night! We have so much fun together and I'm so blessed to be able to minister to such amazing kids! 

Game Night! 

Guys Night!!! Roasting Meat, Watching 'Second Hand Lions', feats of strength and wielding epic weapons!

Another excellent thing that just went down was my cousins husbands birthday... It was great taking him out and celebrating him!

I'm an amazing photographer!

We take our mini golf seriously :)

I'm tired... and not just from writing all this... But, it's a good tired... a tired that comes from enjoying the fullness that God has brought to my life. Thank you for being a huge part of that fullness! I'm so grateful for you and your support and relationship and prayers! I feel so blessed to have Serenity here and to have such a great family, to have the MKs in my life and for the adventure I get to live and I'm so blessed to have you in my life! Thanks for making so much of this possible! 

Please be praying for Serenity and Diane to get the rest they need and to heal well! Praise God for how smooth everything has been so far! Having a baby at 11 am beats 4 am any day! 

Please be praying for my trip to Malaysia... I still need 2 Baby caregivers to complete my team and would really like to get my tickets soon. Please pray that we can get our team complete and tickets purchased by the end of this week... ha it sounds impossible... yeah well we have God on our side sooooo we get to ask for the impossible. 

Thanks again for your love and support! You are amazing! I love you! 

Blessings, 

Caleb 

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and sign up for Chase Quickpay. You can then send your donation to HCLC - Caleb Robbins Ministry using my e-mail address caleb_robbins@sil.org. If you would like further instructions on setting that up please click on the link at the top right of the page called How to give. 

The other way to donate to my ministry is via check. If you write a check to "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" and put "Caleb Robbins Ministry" in the memo line it will get deposited into my ministry account.

The address is:

Holy Cross Lutheran Church 

4400 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, TX 76016

Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my precious children Creed 8, Asher 6, Liam 4, Echo already in heaven, Bella 1, and Serenity 3 days old :).