Dealing with Change...

Well, we're officially settled in our new house. Still much to do to make it 'homey' and organized, but we're technically in... :) We've been here 3 weeks today.

Yesterday the air conditioner broke. Thankfully it's supposed to cool down this week to the mid-90's (note sarcasm here). AC dudes can come Tuesday. Steve's parents are driving RIGHT NOW to come and stay with us for a few days. Life is always such an adventure with me. If you want bland- DO not be friends with me... :)

So, last night, we decided as a family that it was healthy for us to experience life as the rest of the world does. We'll do a few days with no air conditioning. And in the meantime, we'll pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who deal with ceaseless heat and bugs.

Steve found a website this week where you can plug in your annual income, and it shows you where you are compared to the rest of the world. We're in the top 1%! That's crazy considering that we've been pinching pennies for years, and don't live an extravagent lifestyle by American standards. WE ARE SO SPOILED!

So, yes, it was 88 in the house last night as we went to sleep. BUT, we each went to sleep in a safe house, in a safe community, with screens on the windows, no malaria carrying mosquitos, and fans above our beds. As we slept, our tummies still full from dinner, and we knew that there would be breakfast available for us in the morning.

Trying to keep a global worldview when I'm surrounded in opulence is difficult at times. So, I think I'm actually grateful for this experience. I am praying that it doesn't end in having to get a new AC or something else that is expensive- but I realize that God WILL provide if that is the case.

On another note. I'm an excited and nervous mommy today...

My 5 year old who has type 1 Diabetes is at a day camp with other diabetic kids this week! I'm soooo jazzed. They will do sports, crafts, songs, etc... AND they'll also have diabetes management education, AND get to bond with other kids with diabetes. So valuable, in so many ways for my little man.

It's also good practice for me, seeing as how I'll be leaving him with a kindergarten class daily in just few months... :)

God bless all of you random blog readers out there. May you be blessed with good health, hearts that clearly hear God's voice, and passion to embrace your day!

The girl effect...

Ok- been forever since I've blogged. Let's just say life got a bit crazy on me... since I've posted, we've halfway moved halfway across the country.:) more on that later... (and yes, i meant to put halfway on there twice...)

I saw this and cried. Wowzers! I have no idea about the actual validity of the charity, but the concept is something I definitely agree with. I've been challenged by reading "Three cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson...

Check it out:
The Girl Effect

Click on 'Agree' to start the video...

Oklahoma here we come!

Woo hoo! We have a contract on our house to sell, and now we have a contract on a house to buy in Jenks, OK! We're excited.

Here are some pictures:

HOME STUDY FINALLY DONE!

Well, months of waiting- and FINALLY the homestudy is ready for us to sign. Literally on the day we find out our fate regarding where we'll move... which means that after this REALLY LONG WAIT- that we will have to re-do or update the home study... :(

Steve has an interview today in Fort Worth at 1:00. I don't know how fast this company is to make decisions- but we have to make our decision and tell the Norfolk company TOMORROW! So- ahh.

I'm praying that the Fort Worth Company wants Steve badly enough to offer him the job in the next 24 hours. That way we'll have both offers on the table at the same time, and can make an informed decision.

Thank God for praying friends and family. I am a basket of nerves unless I'm fully ensconced in HIS presence.

Overkill

Yet again, I find my heart heard and understood through music... my life stresses and worries, my fears, my love of a good song- are met through "Overkill" by Benjamin Gate today. I urge you to listen to it if you're not familiar with Benjamin Gate. They definitely rock- so turn your speakers up if you want an 'experience' of it.

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright
Perhaps it's just imagination

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

I can't get get to sleep
It only beings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation
At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night
From overkill

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications
Especially at night
I worry over situations
That I know will be alright
It's just overkill

"I love my family"

"I love my family." That's how my two year old ended the evening tonight after I sang to him in bed... made my heart swell with pride and love... :)

We had a family prayer time tonight after dinner that was amazing, awesome, and should happen MUCH more often than it does... :) We prayed about our family's future, since we're feeling unsure of the local structural engineering industry/job security right now. It was so wonderful. We explained to the boys what we wanted to pray about, and how we want God to have His way with the future of our family.

We prayed, everyone took turns. My two year old would chime in between some of our prayers and just pray for each of us by name then say "Amen." :) My 5 year old prayed some really beautiful prayers. He always amazes me with his sensitivity to the spirit of God.

Then after we finished I said I wanted to go get my bible so that we could pray through or search for some scripture having to do with our family's future. I went to get my bible, and both boys then said "Me too" and went to get theirs. We all came back to the couch and I reminded them about how God will lead us to scripture when we need direction, guidance and hope. The story that my 5 year old opened to first was the story of Ruth and Naomi.

Beautiful.

The scripture I memorized for the response to Steve's proposal when he asked me to marry him was from this story. Let's see if I can quote it more than 10 years later... "Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so unto me, and more also if anything but death separates you and me."

I love that he found this story, of all stories in the Bible at this time... This story is about a family with an uncertain future. Where will provision come from? Where will they go? What will they do? And in this account, they proclaim the faithfulness of God by declaring their dedication to one another. They stay together- and by the direction and leading of God given to Naomi, carried out by their obedience even when they didn't understand, they are redeemed and live under Boaz's protection and provision.

So, Father God. I recognize that this scripture that you gave to my son who hears and knows your voice, is indeed from you, for us, in this moment. We're fearful. We don't know what the future holds in regards to your provision and earthly security. But we trust you implicitly to lead us, provide for us, and speak to us as to what to do and when to do it. Help us to follow your leading even when we don't understand it.

Stinking awesome idea

Another stinking awesome link... this one isn't spiritual though. :)

My friend made a dress for her little girl out of a men's shirt. I totally LOVE the idea- so I'm passing on the link!

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0