everyday willmer

God is rising up an army of mighty warriors and may he find some of his beloved battle ready young men this weekend.

Happy 20th birthday Emma 🎉 Emma came & rocked our world-independent, strong willed, & full of life. Your favorite words and phrases used to be, “Read it” “I want meat” “I do it” and “No.” You have the most boisterous laugh and welcoming spirit. You brighten every room you enter. You’re conscientious and sensitive, yet whimsical and a wee bit wild (in a good way ☺️). You make dinner entertaining 😂. You are a learner. I’m thankful you drive me when you visit home, even though your driving scares me 🫣. You sing loudly in the car with me, even if it’s September and Frosty the Snowman plays in my shuffle mode. You like long talks, good walks, purchasing swimsuits, are allergic to using razors, and you have the most gorgeous golden hair (even if I have to use peanut butter to get out the occasional dread lock). You are a brilliant instigator, leave the sweetest notes on my pillow, and you’ll do the dishes, no matter how late at night. You’re the queen of “did she really just do that?” moments. Emma, you have spent 20 years making us proud. We will never cease or tire from bringing you to the feet of Jesus in our prayers. We think you are fabulous. Praying, in your 20’s, you settle into who GOD has created you to be and what He wants you to do. Praying you forward, daily, in grace and assurance. Praying you are shrouded in peace. We love you immensely ❤️. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjPS4AyuqIP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy 18th Birthday 🥳, ADDIE! You came into this world ready to join the Willmer adventure… you celebrate others well, a quick decision maker, you easily make plain things more beautiful, but not your car (🫣). You are the quickest Willmer to get ready, not a fan of hiking, politically astute, and you are a fan of fun hair and sweet dresses, yet the queen of low maintenance. Wise & silly all wrapped into one. You are a words of affirmation girl. A true & loyal friend. A devoted & thoughtful sister. A precious daughter. You always want the best for others and easily put others before yourself. You see the best and truest parts of people. You are simple and just want good. I know you are learning plenty, but what I see you grasping the most is, you are learning dignity, friendship, crumbs vs the banquet table, and what Gods “enough” means. You live out your life verse wonderfully, “You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 I love you deeply ❤️. Now, my political science major, you can go vote 🇺🇸. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci_JzYXvOAM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Titus loves football. He has loved it since he was learning to walk/run and busted into the APU end zone, mid-game, while his dad was trying to keep an opposing offense out of it. He has spent countless hours, football season after football season, at his dad’s shoulder breaking down game film. He has been the ball boy and he’s been several QB’s favorite post practice wide receiver. Last year he played his first year of tackle and his dad got to be the assistant coach (which he loved ☺️), but this year he gets to play with a team he’s invested in, full of his classmates, friends, and pride of his school. He is having the time of his life. This week he was awarded a spot on the varsity team and he even got to start! Wednesday the FR/SO team came away with a big win and last night the varsity team did too. Titus finished with 2 PBU’s (passes broken up) in the end zone and several nice tackles. I don’t post about him a ton on Instagram, because he is not a huge fan of attention, but football brings out a passionate/outgoing side of him, and we love to see it in this household 🙌🏼. So, I’ll sneak him in some posts this way ☺️. Titus, you have waited a long time to put on a helmet, and snap on some pads. You have spent a good amount of time learning the game and watching a football field. Now it’s your turn to be on the field-wreaking havoc. Keep having fun, son. Enjoy your team-the pre-game dinners, the bus rides, the locker room, the stops on 4th and short, and the battles on the field ❤️. We love you all the time. ••• #titusischill https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci5xHGGP3Oo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Titus loves football. He has loved it since he was learning to walk/run and busted into the APU end zone, mid-game, while his dad was trying to keep an opposing offense out of it. He has spent countless hours, football season after football season, at his dad’s shoulder breaking down game film. He has been the ball boy and he’s been several QB’s favorite post practice wide receiver. Last year he played his first year of tackle and his dad got to be the assistant coach (which he loved ☺️), but this year he gets to play with a team he’s invested in, full of his classmates, friends, and pride of his school. He is having the time of his life. This week he was awarded a spot on the varsity team and he even got to start! Wednesday the FR/SO team came away with a big win and last night the varsity team did too. Titus finished with 2 PBU’s (passes broken up) in the end zone and several nice tackles. I don’t post about him a ton on Instagram, because he is not a huge fan of attention, but football brings out a passionate/outgoing side of him, and we love to see it in this household 🙌🏼. So, I’ll sneak in some posts this way ☺️. Titus, you have waited a long time to put on a helmet, and snap on some pads. You have spent a lot of time learning the game and watching a football field. Now it’s your turn to be on the field-wreaking havoc. Keep having fun, son. Enjoy your team-the pre-game dinners, the bus rides, the locker room, the stops on 4th and short, and the battles on the field. ❤️ We love you all the time. ••• #titusischill https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci5vqyZvnNw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We had a lot of football this past week!! Titus got to play varsity 🙌🏼. He had a deflection in the end zone (defensive). And a few nice blocks. His grandpa came to cheer him on for the FR/SO game and bought everyone Chipotle after the game. For the FR/SO game: He made a couple of first downs. He scored his first touchdown. And to top it all off, his team won both games. My favorite part is watching him come over to his dad at the fence, as soon as he can after the game, to give him a hug and debrief his favorite or least favorite plays. The exchange is sweet and important. My second favorite part is how much he likes being on this team and playing this sport. He’s played a lot of sports in his meager 14 years, but this is the one he’s been chomping at the bit, waiting to play ❤️. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiyckqApqC3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Today I was at the post office mailing my mom a birthday package 📦 🎉 . The post office always feels drab to me, slow, poorly lit, well worn (like a donut shop), and lacking oomph. I’m ready to go with my package, until a random post office worker began convincing me on the Priority Mail envelope. I couldn’t grasp where she came from because I was standing in the dull line minding my business, and then there she was with an envelope. I agreed to the envelope. Moments later, the next available employee said, “Next ready person in line!” I said, “Thats me (with a 😀).” Then coming in quick again was the envelope pusher, “She’s not ready, next person in line.” Um, waiting at the post office is never fun or quick, so I was like 😮. She brought me away from the line, to a table where I could fill in the address. Enter a gazillion more people into the post office while I take 15 seconds to address my new envelope 😩. Take two. I make it to the counter, again, and it’s going pretty smoothly, when out of nowhere Snoop Dog starts to blare through the Post Office intercom/radio. I looked over at the guy next to me, and said smiling, “Is this for real?“ He laughed & started to dance a little. The post office just got A LOT better. It was unexpected & awesome. I thought maybe it was an accident or a prank, and for the music to suddenly stop, but the post office workers stayed true to form. They didn’t bat and eye and kept right on weighing packages and selling stamps through “One, two, three and to the four. Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at the door.” I recommend every post office play good music, loudly. ••• Mom, when you get your package, know it came from a post office who likes rap as much as your daughter does 😉. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cid1pJ6pF3v/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Your looking at Biola’s new …. Director of First Impressions! I can’t imagine a better smile to see when you are visiting the Welcome Center on campus 💁🏻‍♀️. ••• #littlebearaddie https://www.instagram.com/p/CibNQABPVhS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

7th grader Nehemiah! My lone homeschooler, hence the barefeet & boardies. Nehemiah praying you get even more intelligent this year & continue to ask me the most intriguing questions. I love how you view life & the world around you. You are smart, confident, unbelievably social, and you simply love the ocean, church, & you really care about your friends. You don’t like saying goodbye, so I’m glad we don’t have to everyday. See you in the kitchen with your history book in 10 minutes. God’s got plans for you ❤️ #nehemiahthebiz https://www.instagram.com/p/CiS4z4sJeqr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Gwenyth is starting 7th grade this year and she’ll also be at Calvary. Girl! I’m so excited for you! Homeschool was good and a precious chapter, but you are a school girl through and through. May the school day’s schedule, your locker, the friendships, the syllabi, the endless girl chatter, and spirit days give you an abundance of joy and peace. You are a straight shooter, and love to belong. Praying you find your peeps. God will be ever before you and closing in from behind you-never missing a beat. You are loved beyond measure ❤️. #gwenyththefabulous https://www.instagram.com/p/CiQtfGmPIO9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My high school Freshman 📚 Titus, you and your polos are going to rock high school. I love how ready you are for this next chapter. You are a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14). I know you carry that truth proudly. I can’t wait to know high school through your experience. Praying you forward & through each day. God is in your midst and He’s not going to leave you unused. Eyes up and ears open ❤️🦁. #titusischill https://www.instagram.com/p/CiQtWJ0v-1L/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My Addie is making her first home away from home. It took one trip up the stairs to the third floor, along with the help from 4 tennis players, & all of her belongings were in her new space. The girl travels light 😊. We helped her unpack her clothes and books. We helped her hang up her artwork and photos, made her bed for her, & did all the mom and dad things we could do for her - one last time. Her new home is so, so lovely 💖. These are the days you don’t think about when you get married. Sure, you dream of their first day of kindergarten, graduations, proms, homecomings weddings, & grandchildren, but dropping your children off at college together sort of gets forgotten in the shuffle of memorable moments. But it has a very significant place in our hearts. As we got her settled & fed off her excitement, tucking away the lumps in our throats, I found myself thankful. I’m so blessed to do this with Brian. A culmination of our work, love, tears, creativity, & prayers being launched into the world. What a day! What a memory ❤️. We got to worship with our Addie one last time at Biola & we held her tight with our arms and our hearts, as we sang. We took communion together and we, along with thousands of other parents, let our kiddo go. Addie, your presence is deeply missed. But I am determined to pray you forward, yet again. You are right where God wants you to be. We know these are the plans He has for you in this moment. This year, I’m praying you will know God as a loving God, who gives you good, good gifts. I pray His goodness showers down around you. I pray that you will feel lighthearted & free. I will pray God gives you true & lifelong friends, who will joy in your joys & sorrow when you sorrow. I pray you take everything you have learned & walk forward in dignity, grace & an abundance of joy. Your are the workmanship of the King. ••••• Sidenote: Now that Addie had moved out of our place & into her new home, we did what Brian called, “The Great Cleansing” last weekend. And now have more glasses, forks, & plates than I know what to do with. Her room is probably 10lbs lighter with its loss of my glassware & silverware 😂. #littlebearaddie https://www.instagram.com/p/CiJOfapvXBb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This morning we all prayed launching prayers over our @addiewillmer & we all cried a little together too🥹😭. We have vulnerable, but excited hearts. Brian and I are once again learning how to gracefully & intentionally launch (not let go of ☺️) one of our girls ❤️. The last thing he said to her after we had given her our last hugs and she was turning to walk away was, “Fly, girl, fly.” And then I cried. Watching her head disappear into the sea of freshman students looking for their orientation leader and away from us was good and hard, deep hard. I love her. I love. her. home. …and I will learn to love her far. She is planting new roots. She’s ready. I know God, who authored her life from the very beginning, will not put His sovereign pen down now. She is in good, good hands. Perfect hands. Addie, do what your dad said and fly!We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way (probably still loud and obnoxiously when we can 😉). I love you big ❤️. #littlebearaddie https://www.instagram.com/p/ChtArecpGg8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Titus suited up for his first high school game last night. He had his heart set on # 42, but he ended up with # 6 (freshmen life). I was on the field taking photos and Brian was up in the stands with the twins-still a new place for him and still an uncomfortable one in August. Addie doesn’t leave for college until next week, so she came out in force too. It felt new, but so good. It was a varsity game, he played in the varsity scrimmage last week, but he wasn’t expected to play last night. But when the players took the field for kickoff, # 6 jogged onto the field. I immediately looked up in the stands and I got a 😁 & a 👍 from @coachwillmer . He was giddy for his son and the opportunity he was getting to play. Calvary won the game and Titus got to play on special teams and one series of defense. He got in the car on cloud 9, thankful to put on a helmet and pads, thankful for the bus ride over to the game, and thankful for the locker room. Football is back in the Willmer household and we have a new favorite number to cheer for. #titusischill https://www.instagram.com/p/Chfg40SPDIY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I told everyone to pose. We normally crush these types of photos 💁🏻‍♀️. And this is what they gave me. #ohdear #gottauptheirgame #imawesome #willmerselftimer https://www.instagram.com/p/ChYZb2JpnMK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We made a trip up to our old stomping grounds today. Brian was given the opportunity to lead a chapel for the UCLA football team and we also connected with Brian’s former teammate and brother in Christ Kevin Jordan. Nehemiah was his sidekick for the chapel and I toured the campus while the men gathered together for a word of truth. We took a classic photo by the Bruin bear, drove by all 3 different apartments I lived in, showed Nehemiah the steps where I rejected Brian’s attempt at a first kiss🙅🏻‍♀️, and ended the LA day with Tito’s Tacos (where we had our first date). It felt good to be back for an afternoon and we are both so thankful for old friendships that bring us back to where we first became Christians - who also happened to be athletes 😊. (at UCLA) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChQz4SNL08Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Written on November 27, 2017, but I thought it was a good way to start Monday August 8, 2022 ❤️: ••• “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…Galatians 2:20” .......... On my morning walk today, God and I talked. I cried, as usual, not out of sadness, but out of the overwhelming intimacy that time talking to him and hearing him brings me. I am so alone, but He is with me. Ahhhh! The best! Today He lead me to Galatians 2:20. My mind and heart tug of war in a thousand different ways, as I walk. For a moment, I landed on the words “crucified with Christ.” If everything in my life is about Christ, for Christ, because of Christ, I must settle my heart on this and not be led to live my life about the world, for the world, or because of the world. Despite anything and everything, my life should be bathed, soaked and lived out crucified with Him.” …not following my own ideas or whims, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus.” This is so hard to do. We want to explain our lives to others, offer up excuses or reasonings, clarify our lives and sugar coat them to protect our pride. I heard God say, “Walk it out.” “I am the only thing that matters.” “Just keep walking it out. Each day walk in it [a life crucified to Him].” Oswald Chambers breaks it down so well, “These words (Galatians 2:20) mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ….” In brokenness I go. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChASu4XplhpV1rZf8UgGOZ2hwK2zWZ1UfQutWE0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=