It is going to be worth it all

Today is the day. I dove in to one of the biggest steps of faith ever. Todd and I have brought our babies home to school them. What a challenge! Today was the beginning of a journey that I know will be so rich and full of change. Well, it is was good overall. The kids had a great time and responded well. It definitely needs improvement but it was real. The pressure is so different. We enjoyed the night. Todd found me reading books to the little ones after such a full day. Also, able to take a walk with Lainey who made the comment that we might need to get another teacher to help. I thought it was so chaotic that I had to laugh. It was definitely a full day but I feel so close to them. I feel a connection that I don't think I have ever felt or it has just been a long time. I look forward tommorrow. I want to enjoy what God is doing.

Why can't I just have great faith and trust Him. He has never let me down! He has allowed hard times and great voids, but they never fail to drive me away from the recognition of my need of Him to be my life. Our bible study this morning was on Colossians 3:4, "Christ, who is your life,..." Charles Spurgeon writes a wonderful sermon on this small but powerful passage. He cannot be part of our life. We can't just add him to our own agenda and make it fit. He has to be the substance, sustenance, solace, object and exemplar of our life. Spurgeon writes, "If we have close fellowship with Him we will grow more like Him... How safe, how honored, how happy is the Christian since Christ is his life!" The calling of a Chirstian is so far more sacrificial than the church wants to admit. If "to live is Christ," as Paul says, then why should our sacrifice be any less than our own life as well. I know that I do not comprehend that in my own human understanding. But, I know that if we pray the prayers with the right intent and true words of gratitude, we will see glimpses of the depth of sacrifice that make the religous shudder and scoff. I have believed many lies of the enemy. My committment is to listen to the voice of truth that tells me a different story. (Thank you Casting Crowns for that anthem) Not a voice that makes me feel special. One that satisfies my soul. After all, it is what I desire most. It may a some times become a desire cloaked by the things of the world but they slide through never to fill. It is a place that only can be filled by the one for which I was created to love and praise. Oh Lord, teach my heart how to love you.

I did not mean for this to turn into a sermon. I am preaching it to my own weak faith. God, you are good and I know that full well.

Praise God for Todd, my cheerleader. He is my biggest fan in this whole journey. He is my best friend. Thank God for a friend who tells the truth and wants God's best for me even if it causes him to have to sacrifice. Proverbs says, "The wounds of a friend can be trusted." I want it real. I am tired of nailing ugly plastic fruit to dead faith. We all should be. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen!

P.S. Can't wait to share about our precious church family.

WOW! What a summer so far!

July began with a bang. My third baby turned 8! What? That is crazy. Holly is so special and brings great things to our family. I am so thankful for her. She is amazing! We spent the majority of the day at Monkey Joe's. A huge building full of air blow up slides and jumps. It was fabulous. They played for hours and I got to read a novel in a glider rocker the entire time (in the air-conditioning mind you). It was worth every penny. We had a small dinner with a few family members and our dear friends the Wachtels. Holly's great grandparents were able to make it too! It was alot of fun!
The fourth of July was a special weekend at Grandaddy and Nana's. They sure know how to throw a party. The food was great! And we got to have sweet time with our family. Between the badmitton, fireworks and sno-cones, we had a blast!
Emily had her first long play date. She went fishing with her friend, Savanna Sanders. She caught bream. She also did gymnastics and swam at the pool. She felt so big to be away for so long with her friend.
Lainey is ready to start homeschooling. She is getting so big so fast. I have wished for so long for them to grow up. And now I want it to slow way down. However, I am so proud of her. She is such a big helper to me. What a pleasure she is.
And today! Well, my son, Nathan, got a hole in one. He was playing golf with his Papa Bill and hit it in on the third hole of Fox Run CC. Amazing! He really loves golf. My dad has provided him with lessons this summer and he absolutely loves it. I mean he loves it! He would play everyday if someone would take him. I love to see him so excited.
I want to thank our parents for being so great! You are a true blessing to us! Thanks for blessing us through blessing our babies. We love all our family. Each of you encourage us in so many different ways. Thank you God for the rich and abundant blessing we have in our family and our friends.

The Sweet Conviction

Oh how sweet is the conviction of sin. Strange that correction or even rebuke from a loving source can give such a since of security. For about ten years I have known that "God is good". I mean that it is not debatable for me. In other areas that it not the case. I have acted like Eve. I have not listened to the voice of truth but have allowed myself to believe a lie. The only way to be deceived is to not know the truth. It is understandable why God is so emphatic on knowing what He says so that we are not easily led astray. It is not enough to know about God. We must be intimate with Him. Seek Him above all else. I don't think it was one pivotal moment but just little compromises along the way. The gap got wider and I was unaware of just how far. But God in his great mercy corrected me. Told me to listen to the voice of truth. Like Eve I had listened to the voice of the deceiver. The lie seem so real but it was just a smokescreen. It has no power unless I ponder it. Oh how sweet is the mercy of our loving God. No more clanging symbol. Thank you God for loving me so much that you tell me "Stop it."

Here we go!

Here we go! We are no Jon and Kate plus 8, but we are Todd and Nat plus 4. It does not rhyme as good. Sometimes I get tired of my issues but in comparison I like mine and wouldn't want to trade my issues. Here is the start for you of a journey that we have been on for a long while now! God is leading us as a family to make changes that many don't understand or may think we are CRAAAAZY! It is not for us to make our own way but to follow Him!

I am excited to have this technological opportunity to document our lives even it is only for our children's sake and my sanity. My inspiration is both my sister-in-laws have blogs and what a blessing it is. Conversations are not always my strength (I like the delete button, wish my mouth had one).

Here we go!