Berry Family Verse and Mission Statement

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. -- 1 Cor 10:31

Exhibit God’s purpose in our lives to others regarding life, country, and behavior through living out our family’s core values.

Core Values

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential, and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and not as a result of good works.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life and to perform good works.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
• All creation are living and active displays of God’s love.
• It is important to protect and maintain the Biblical principles the US was founded upon which provides freedom to all, including Christians.
• Our family is responsible and accountable for our children and family actions with the parents bearing ultimate responsibility.
• We exist to teach and display our Christian faith and understand other faith’s in relation to the Christian faith.
  

Underlying Strategies

• Raise our children to understand our core values.
• Educate others in understanding God’s plan for life and family.
• Actively increase our understanding for our lives of God’s plan.
• Intimately involve ourselves in each other’s lives.

Outcome
Individuals in the family and interacting with our family will have a strong understanding of God’s purpose in our lives in regard to life, country and behavior.

Personal Mission Statements (as they apply within the above):
Michael: Protect the founding principles of the United States from straying from the original Biblical values.
Kelle: Protect others from the effects of the devaluation of life through passing on God’s view of life.
Children: Discover their own mission statements through determining and developing their own faith and mind.

Established 6/3/00
Written 10/22/04
Updated 3/24/08

Letter to Michael before he left

Michael,
A long time ago, I began to wonder if God wanted me single so I could focus on pregnancy centers and His work there. During that time, as a friend, you supported me and cared about my passion - a best friend.

Then I followed my heart's desire thinking God's plan was to get exactly what I wanted. I remember very specifically you supporting me even though my pride was swollen. When I lost, I found your support and friendship even stronger. You didn't stop even though I had rushed and made plans for God.

In fact, you decided I was fit to be your wife. You came to me, believing you would be rejected, and shared with me your heart's desire: You desired me!

So then, I sent you to my mother and father and you went further on to support me. You showed courage and humility. Then you respectfully disagreed, however still supporting my conditions of physical purity (to imagine not even allowed a peck until engagement!). All the while, you began to teach me and support me and guide me.

One day, I shattered both our hearts. But you still supported me. You patiently supported me and loved me. Then you warmly called me and led me to our heart's desire.

Finally, we were united as one in Christ only to discover God has more for us. He has blessed us with amazing opportunities - pregnancy centers, three extraordinarily beautiful children, further education, careers, and to protect our nation.

My vision for us includes even more remarkable opportunities and I am anxious to experience them. However, at this moment, it is a special time.

Now it is the time to learn how much we love one another. It is time to discover how to rely upon the Lord for strength. It is time to be amazed by the blessings we find in ordinarily hard circumstances.

It is time to focus on others, to discover how fortunate we are and how grateful we should be. To help others in all ways all over. To show our children the meaning of sacrifice and giving. To show them needs all over the world and next door.

It is time to learn what freedom costs and its value in reality. To learn the importance of restoring our nation to its original purpose. To remember the need of our originial escape from a controlling land. To remember the true meaning of choice and personal decisions.

I believe this will be a time that God is going to open our minds to his plans. To really understand our family's mission.

I believe you will come back ready to fight harder than ever. I'm excited to show you what it means to show support the way you have demonstrated it to me.

I am so extremely proud of you:

I'm Proud to be Your Wife

Day by day you've been a warm and caring kind of husband, a man who freely shares himself with me.

Day by day you've worked to build the life we have together and make it everything that it could be.

Day by day you've been the kind of man who keeps his promises, who tries to make a difference with his life.

And day by day as years have flown and love has kept us ever close, I've been so very proud to be your wife.

I didn't write this poem (and I don't know who did) but it speaks for my heart. I love you and I am immensely proud of you.
Love,
Kelle

Scripture for Michael

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
--Psalm 119:19,54

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
--Exodus 33:15-17

You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
The Ascension
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
--Luke 24:48-53

I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path In the way where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
--Psalm 142:2-3

The first week's done

The hubby has now been gone a week. The first week has had its ups and downs. I'm less emotional now because I'm getting used to his absence. The first day was rough because I was used to a routine that he would be home at some point in the day and every time I realized he was not coming home I'd get teary. But now I'm used to the fact that he's not going to be home today. Now I'm getting used to the idea that he won't be home for months.

There are moments that I just don't believe that anyone does this. But then I think about the countless moms/wives that I know personally that have done it (sometimes more than once or twice and for longer!). I know I can do it, I just have to figure it all out.

I figured out before he left that self-pity would be my downfall, so I've been working hard to shoot that out of mind the moment I feel it creeping in. But then I've also realized that Michael is my voice of reason. He brings reality or perspective to my SAHM world.

When Michael's away I tend to overreact more often when the kids do something I don't like (especially more than once). I started pondering why this is and realized that often times Michael is around somewhere saying something like "remember he's just a kid" or "big picture Kelle, big picture". Or when he's been away on trainings or whatever he'll say something to me like "I would give anything just to see him even if she/he's misbehaving".

Then that brings it all home and I realize I'm the one who is blessed. I get to spend seven months bonding with my children during a hard time. It's self-centered to think "woe is me"! If I were the one in Afghanistan I'd be heartbroken to think that I couldn't see or hear my children for more than a few hours, much less for months.

Obviously, for those that are spiritual, you are probably saying "you should be relying upon the Holy Spirit most importantly". I agree, however, right now I'm claiming Romans 8:26-27:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

At the moment, it's just a little too hard for me to begin praying about anything related to Michael (besides some simple prayers with the kids). I don't like to be emotional and raw and that's where it takes me. However, I do believe and hope that by the time Michael comes home, my prayer life will be deeper and greater. Until then, I am depending upon the Spirit and am desperately grateful that he intercedes so perfectly for me and my family.

For now, I am brainstorming on ways to focus on others. I'm praying for:

• A single friend who is now in a new job and is hearing comments towards the pursuit of a Christian doctor/bachelor she works around. I remember those struggles and am grateful I'm not there any more, however I do know how to pray well for that situation.
• I'm also praying for my pregnant friend due in a few weeks (who already has three stair step children like mine) who broke her foot last week.
• Then there's my other pregnant friend who found out she has an ovarian cyst.
• Then there's the friend whose husband is also deployed and she is due to have the baby (the second) while her husband's away.
• Then there's another friend who is struggling with IBS and helps me to appreciate my physical health.

If you're reading this, I invite you to join in prayer for them!