Wednesday, May 15, 2013

fresh wind for south africa...

he's off to Cape Town...

after many days of work, preparing, praying, fasting, and packing...


he's going to write in the journal i gave him... i know he will have some amazing stories.
can't wait to hear!


please join me in praying for him everyday for the next 18 days...
praying today for safe travels, as they land in Cape Town this evening.
it has been a long 2 days of travel.  praying for health. praying for rest.

also praying that as they fly into cape town, they would bring with them a fresh wind of the Spirit and presence of God... praying for a a fresh wind...


but in the mean time, i am playing with this boy.  he just got new goggles.  he refuses to take them off... bath time, in the car, at the park, etc. 

my sweet friend Nadine and her little boy, William, just arrived from Virginia... she is going to be keeping me company! thankful for a caring, loyal friend.





Thursday, February 28, 2013

the pitter patter of peace

 laying in bed, post night shift fog laying heavily across my eyes, but hearing the pitter patter of little feet outside my bedroom door.  coaching myself on the need to get up... so many things to get done before my next round of night shifts come along.  then i heard the swish of the little plastic basketball and the cheers of daddy, and then, "give me a high-five dad, i made it!"

i wanted so badly to get out of bed, to go take B to the park, to sit and talk with my hubby and actually feel awake... but i was exhausted.  the kind of exhaustion that you can't shake, that coffee will not cure. only the sound of little feet could have gotten this worn mommy out of bed.  i laid there just a few minutes longer, thinking, pondering, wondering what the future holds.  will there be continued grace for me to do this?  grace has met me daily since we moved here... i have felt the peace and presence of God in every decision and i have seen His beautiful favor with my job.


i merged from my little cave under the covers, my hair looking as though a bird had nested in it, and my heart heavy with emotion.  i sat on the couch and trying to get out something so that my dear husband wasn't blind-sided my emotionally breakdown.  barrett came over and kissed me, like he does whenever i finally get up for the day, and he said, "you miss me, mommy?"  well, that pretty much did it.  the tears started flowing... my boys can be very tender-hearted when they want to... and they were.  they held me, kissed me, encouraged me, and prayed for me.  i did not feel instantaneous deliverance from the heaviness and exhaustion, but i felt cared for and loved and i felt a glimmer of grace returning to me.

last week was hard.  i did not want to work full time anymore.  i did not want to work night shifts anymore.  i wanted to stay home with my boy, do crafts, make awesome dinners, and have a clean house... i would choose to stay home with 10 crying babies then have to have to go to work last week... but as i pressed in to hear God in those moments of desperation, i quickly realized that He is in control.  it's simple, but He is.  He holds my future, our finances, our plans, our jobs, etc.  my eyes were on myself and that brought overwhelming emotion.  i can not keep doing this, Lord... but He sweetly said, "I can."

this week has proved to be much better.  my heart a little more stable.  my eyes much more fixed.  my goals, plans, and future placed once again where they belong, in the hands of my Father.  He is constant and i need that.  He is peace and i surely needed that.


rivers of refreshment came.  peaces that passes all understanding is ruling now.  grace to get up, to be the best wife, mom, sister, friend, daughter, and nurse that i can be does not sound so overwhelming now... because my eyes are on Him.  resting in Him, listening to His voice, and just taking it one day at time.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

one proud sissy


My sissy, my best friend, 
Dear Auntie, Sweet Daughter,
Loving wife, Special friend,
Amazing teacher, passionate woman...

During our time in Virginia, I was able to stop by and see my sister's first classroom!  She is a first year history teacher. I have never felt more proud of my sis that day.  She was so humble and so cute as she showed me all the "little things" that made her classroom special.  My sis, she has a teacher heart, just like our mama.  It was really special to see.  My heart almost burst out of my chest as I was overwhelmed by the favor of the Lord over Betsy's life. I know she will have many more testimonies of God's great grace and blessings on that little classroom.  His Spirit was there and that was truly my favorite part...

yeah, i'm pretty much beaming!!!

** side note: on our way into her classroom, she was chatting with everyone... even the janitor... and that's one thing i love about my sis... she loves people, no matter who they are or what they do. **

the little table skirt my mom made for her...



the first thing i saw when i walked in the room was this pic!



Her classroom

The awards she's received and the article about her in the paper :)
she would never tell you, but she is already an amazing teacher and its
only her first year!

I loved this note that one of her students wrote her because at the bottom
it says, " You are the teacher I can trust."
Wow... She has gained the trust of her students...

I know it has been hard on her, starting a new job, learning how to manage a household, be a wife, and do all the little things that still need to be done.  But I am amazed at her steadfast heart... her will to get up in the morning with a smile on her face... and impact the next generation...

She's more than just a teacher, she is the teacher that her students can trust and I know that God will bless that abundantly!  So excited for the impact that she will have on the public schools and the children that attend!  

Mrs. Betsy Joy, thank you for impacting the next generation!  I could not be prouder of you and all that Jesus has accomplished through you.  My heart swells every time I look back over these pics.  Tears usually fill my eyes, because I just couldn't ask for a sweeter sis.  You set the standard high... doing all for His glory.  Praying that God continues to "establish the work of your hands."  





Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Happy New Year! ...a little late...

HApPy nEw YEar!


grateful for our new beginnings in 2012, looking forward with fresh vision for 2013


asking God for more of His heart; waiting on Him to show us the dreams that He has for us


thanking our Father for 2 amazingly sweet years with our little boy... believing that God is going to save our boy at an early age


crying out for more joy in our home, more love for our God, and peace in whatever storms may come this year


praying for faithfulness in our marriage and purpose in our ministry together... what God has joined together can only grow stronger


in faith that 2013 is going to be one of the greatest years of our lives... this time here at CFNI has marked us forever.  our hearts are overwhelmingly grateful to the Lord for bringing us here for such a time as this.  

Lord, we want to be ALL Yours this year.  
We will listen.
We will obey.
And we will give everything we have for you.
You are worth it.
You have always been worth it!

"blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.  as they pass through the Valley of Baca, they will make it a place of springs; the autumn rain also covers it with pools." Psalm 84:5-6