Update on house

Thank you for your prayers in regards to the house. I talked to the owner today and they have someone actively looking for financing to buy it but if that falls through then they will contact us and let us know. Either way - I am praying for the Lord's will. I am trusting Him - He knows that what our needs are and He is faithful to provide!

Praying that just maybe.....

For quite sometime now, we have been praying for the opportunity to move to a bigger home. We truly have been blessed to be in the one we are in now but it is only a 1008 sq ft 3 br 1 ba home for a GROWING family of six!

The biggest issue by far has been the one bathroom - with the kids getting older, taking more time in the bathroom, it is time to have a two bath home. However - the living room has also been an issue as many times as we love to have company but when we have ANYONE with kids - it's just amazingly crowded.

So anyway - today came a possibility of a 3 Br 2 Ba 1774 Sq Ft home on five acres that we could possibly rent or even do a lease/option on. We don't know a lot of details yet as they were showing it to someonelse tonight - BUT hopefully we will know more tomorrow. This is different in the respect that I wasn't even looking for this - in fact the owners were asking for prayer to either rent or sell it. So - perhaps this one is the Lord's timing?

I am trying not to get my hopes up as we really don't know if we can even afford it but this has been a huge prayer request for me. Anyway - I will post more, when we know more!!!!

Two Year Anniversary!!!!

Today is a GREAT day for many reasons. First of all, it is another day that I can be alive, I have the freedom to praise the Lord openly, I have breath and life, I have a wonderful husband, four AWESOME kids, great family, wonderful friends....

However another reason it is great is that today marks two years since our family joined First Baptist Church in Bayfield in ministry!!! We have been SOOO blessed for the past two years. I can't tell you how many ways our church family has blessed us: They have taken us in and made us feel at home, they have brought food by, they have helped get us two much needed vehicles, they have embraced our children and helped us train them in the way of the Lord, they have encouraged us when it was hard and they have come along side us in ministry numerous times!

The past two years have taught us so much! We have seen what it is to TRULY be a part of a body of believers that prays together, works together, worships together, loves together, mourns together, and rejoices together... In ministry, often times those who are on staff feel that they give and give and don't receive much - First Baptist Bayfield has taught us the opposite! We have received as much if not more than we have given!!!!

Thank you to our WONDERFUL church family here in Bayfield! You truly have made ministry a joy once again for us! We love you more than words will ever say and pray that we will be here for MANY more years to serve alongside each of you as we reach our neighborhoods, our community, our town, our county, our state, our country and our world!!! You all truly are the BEST church family we could ever have come to!!!!

Joel, Ronnie, Hannah, Malachi, Kestra and Tyler!

A new school year....

A new school year has begun and so has the routine of fall. This is great in the respect that I have the opportunity to get caught up on many many things but also a little sad because the house is quiet!!! I know - I can hardly believe I typed that after wanting them to be in school....Ha ha ha

This year is a hallmark year for us in many ways as Hannah is playing sports for the first time, this is Malachi's last year in the elementary school, and both Tyler and Kestra will be undergoing some testing for different learning disabilities. Even though we are saddened because our "babies" are growing up, it is also exciting for us because we are entering a new chapter of life.

The Lord has really blessed me this week by giving me two women who have grown daughters that have offered to be there for me when the "adolescence" is just more than I can handle or when I need a shoulder to cry. Although there are many here that are more my age, they all have children much younger than mine and so it is hard for them to relate to what I am going through.... Thank you Lord for these ladies that are willing to be a support base!

What's on my mind and heart

I decided that I needed to get some things off my mind and so for lack of a better place to write - I am choosing to use my blog.

Tonight I am honestly in a "blah" mood! I am not exactly sure why although there are many things contributing to it but really not sure the root of it all.

First off - I feel as though some of my friendships here are changing in their dynamic and although change isn't always a bad thing, it isn't always a good thing either. I guess if I am really open and honest, I could tell you that having deep, intimate friendships has always been important to me but also hard. As a young child, I didn't really fit in and many would make fun of me. Then in HS things got a bit better but they were still rough. Fortunately, the Lord blessed me with 4 amazing friends throughout HS and so that was great.
In college - my Phi Chi sisters were the best as well as my VERY best friend to this day "Paney". Yet, life got a bit more complicated when we went into ministry full-time. I have discovered that it is hard for me to be open with those in the church (not that I shouldn't be) and in turn for whatever reason, it is hard for them to really connect on an intimate level with me. However- the Lord has always given me someone to relate to and be friends with - usually a minister's wife from another church or someone that went to another church.
Okay - all that rambling brings me to here. Please don't misunderstand - First Baptist Bayfield has been the MOST amazing church we have been in while being on staff. They are so wonderful, encouraging and just great. However - there are times when I just wish I had someone to go to lunch with and laugh with and honestly be real with. I thought I had this but for some reason - it has changed. Perhaps it is because life takes us in different directions, or because even though Joel and I are "young" in age - we are older in that we have kids much older than many our age which makes it hard for them to relate to what we are going through in life. Either way - things are just different and I am really missing having a close friend that I can just be open and honest with - that understands my crazy personality, etc.... Anyway - sure this will pass but tonight it is what's on my mind and heart

The second thing that is really bothering me tonight is how judgemental some people can be against those of us that God has told to have our kids in Public Schools!!! Seriously - why do we have to argue among ourselves as Christians about how we educate our kids. I am fully supportive of those who homeschool but it is not the direction the Lord has led me and so why do people feel the need to preach at or try to convince to change? I am really burdened by this whole thing and how hurtful Christians are toward one another over it. We are not all teachers - seriously God didn't include teaching in the fruits of the spirit! He listed it as a gift that SOME have!!! So - tonight I am just praying about how to go about encouraging and reaching out to Moms who have their kids in Public Schools. I feel very strongly that this is needed. Homeschool parents have MANY support networks and groups but honestly not much is out there for those that Public School.

Finally - I am really wishing the Lord would provide a bigger house for us. Our current home is great but our kids are getting bigger and honestly these walls are getting smaller. Having only one bathroom with a family of 6 is HARD!!! Not only that - with only 1200 sq ft there is barely room for us much less any company. So I keep praying and hoping but don't see it happening yet.

Okay - so there you have it - my overall "blah" night. Thanks for letting me ramble....and like Scarlet O'Hara said "Afterall, tomorrow is another day"!

Camps and Blessings - overflowing!!!!

Thank the Lord for that week of relaxing because man July 6 we hit the ground running again by leaving for Youth Camp!!! July 6-10 was our associational youth camp at Hesperus Baptist Camp. The theme was Hollywood Lights - exposing the world's lies with God's truth. It was a fun week. We took 4 youth and had a wonderful week!!!!

Then - July 13 I left for Hesperus AGAIN this time for Girls' Camp! I took 7 girls and we were there July 13-16!!! The girls were Amazing and I was so blessed by them. They were absolutely wonderful and had no problems at all!!! I am serious!!!!

I returned yesterday in time to unload the girls and load up the boys for boys camp! Joel took 5 boys to camp and will come home on Sunday!!!

Talk about a whirlwind of activity~~~ I have posted some pictures on Facebook. When Joel gets back he is going to help me figure out how to possibly have a slide show here as well.

A week of relaxing

This week has been fabulous for me in that I have been able to "catch my breath" in the midst of a chaotic and busy summer. Although there were Bible Clubs this week - I was not as involved in them and so spent most of the week at home getting things caught up!!! What a refreshing feeling - it reminded me that even our Saviour had to take time to get away for refreshment and renewal - that is EXACTLY how I feel after this week refreshed and renewed. This is a good thing since I will be going full steam ahead again beginning tomorrow for the 4th of July!!!

Some highlights of this week:

One salvation at the Bible Club!!!

Carnival with Nana and Pawpaw!!!

Bar D with our church family and NC workers!!!

Lunch in Durango with my cousin Marcy and her girls!!!

Carnival in Pagosa was so much fun with Nana and Pawpaw!!! Thanks for a wonderful night.

Amber, Olivia and I at the Bar D

Backyard Bible Club Week 2

Playing with Marcy's daughter Abbie at Burger King!