Remember when the terrible twos were terrible and you thought, "man if I get this kid passed two and potty trained I'll be cruising!"? Yeah, well that was nothin!
Teenagers have a unique personality and I'm convinced they are of a different species altogether. They are relentless, crafty, manipulative, clever, moody, and sometimes when you least expect it -- they are your child again -- sweet, lovable, touchy feely. Thank God, he gives us those moments.
It's no secret we've been through a difficult time with our typical teen, but God has been there each and every step of the way. For now, our teen seems to be settling down. He's adjusting to private school and making a few friends along the way. He's still a teen and instead of surviving I'm embracing my teen because all to soon he'll be grown, graduated and moving on.
Thank you Lord for your faithfulness even when we lose our way. Thank you Lord for your patience when we go astray. Thank you Lord for your love and mercy when we find our way back.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
House for Sale
Yep, we did it. We finally decided and as of yesterday we are officially on the market.
We've been toying with the idea for months now. We built our dream house almost 7 years ago and because we built it ourselves we have a great deal of equity, so it makes good financial sense to sell, build another dream house and be debt free of a mortgage. Like I said, it makes good financial sense. I'm still getting used to the idea. However, like everything else in our lives, we've turned it over to God. If it is his will he'll send a buyer, if not we'll stay put.
I like leaving it up to God!
We've been toying with the idea for months now. We built our dream house almost 7 years ago and because we built it ourselves we have a great deal of equity, so it makes good financial sense to sell, build another dream house and be debt free of a mortgage. Like I said, it makes good financial sense. I'm still getting used to the idea. However, like everything else in our lives, we've turned it over to God. If it is his will he'll send a buyer, if not we'll stay put.
I like leaving it up to God!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
God's Timing
I'd like to shout it from the rooftops -- MY GOD IS AMAZING!!!
Sometimes we as Christians think we are so immune to the bad stuff. That having God on your side means you only get the good stuff. Sometimes our prayers are God please let me have this, please make this better. Sometimes we treat God like a magic genie lamp. I believe that God allows stuff to happen in our lives in order to refine us. To make us more like him, Christlike. Do we like the refining? NO. Is the refining easy? NO. Do we always get it and understand it? Maybe not on this side of eternity. I spend alot of time trying to figure out the WHYS of refinement instead of looking for the blessings. Yes, there are blessings in refinement. Praise the Lord for friends who step up and pray alongside of us, praise Jesus for the moments of peace in a world full of chaos.
Tomorrow my sweet, sweet child begins his first day at a new school. Homeschooling is still always an option, but God opened doors last week like you've never seen. God's timing, his infinite wisdom, his plan, not our plan.
My God is not a magic genie. He is however my loving father and he knows what is best for me. The best comes out of refinement. The best is not always my answer and it's not always comfortable, but if it brings me one step closer to my father it is worth it.
Sometimes we as Christians think we are so immune to the bad stuff. That having God on your side means you only get the good stuff. Sometimes our prayers are God please let me have this, please make this better. Sometimes we treat God like a magic genie lamp. I believe that God allows stuff to happen in our lives in order to refine us. To make us more like him, Christlike. Do we like the refining? NO. Is the refining easy? NO. Do we always get it and understand it? Maybe not on this side of eternity. I spend alot of time trying to figure out the WHYS of refinement instead of looking for the blessings. Yes, there are blessings in refinement. Praise the Lord for friends who step up and pray alongside of us, praise Jesus for the moments of peace in a world full of chaos.
Tomorrow my sweet, sweet child begins his first day at a new school. Homeschooling is still always an option, but God opened doors last week like you've never seen. God's timing, his infinite wisdom, his plan, not our plan.
My God is not a magic genie. He is however my loving father and he knows what is best for me. The best comes out of refinement. The best is not always my answer and it's not always comfortable, but if it brings me one step closer to my father it is worth it.
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Leaf, New Life
That's what we've been saying to Jacob recently. Take the opportunities placed before you and begin again. Isn't it wonderful that God allows us every day to take the opportunities placed before us and begin again? 2007 brought lots of turmoil to our home and we crazily thought 2008 would be our year. Dare we to believe that 2009 will be better? You know, it doesn't matter what it brings or what the other years brought, because through it all God walked every step of the way with us. I'm sure he even carried us (me for sure) most of the way.
Thank you Jesus for being so powerful that you care about every little detail of our lives.
So whatever happens this year -- I know that my God is big enough to handle it. So instead of bumming about 2008 here's a sneak peak at some of my favorite days . . .
13th Birthdays!
Baby Calves
New Life
Beautiful Brides
Nervous Grooms
Big Bucks
40th Birthday Surprises
and at the center of it all -- family
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