One Thousand Gifts...

While I could probably go on and on about things that are frustrating, or overwhelming, or different... I choose joy and thanksgiving during this huge transition of our lives!

I am grateful for the gifts of...

- peach muffins warm out of the oven
- being pampered from head to toe
- Caleb asking, "mama, you hold me a little bit?"
- a few more bags and boxes unpacked
- curtains hung in our bedroom
- Seth sleeping in his crib right now
- my handy husband
- sweet potato fries
- having lots of people to play with the boys
- gracious in-laws

Moving Day...

So we have just concluded our first 24 hours in our new home with Josh's parents. Thank you for praying for this huge transition in our lives! Our packing went very smoothly, with everything unloaded here by 1pm, Monday! We had help from Josh's brother, Dave, and his friend Nick and our buddy from youth group, Michael. And then when we got to the Hallahan's- Doug, Brandon and Lindsay were here to help unload. The boys were happy to be reunited with the toys we moved here on Sunday, and so that was a blessing!

As a concerned mama, I pictured us walking through each room of our old house saying goodbye, and being a bit teary pulling away from the only home we've ever known as a family. But when I told Caleb it was time to say goodbye to our house, he said, "Bye house" and was out the door in a flash! God is good.

So far we have our living room unpacked and situated, and our bedrooms sleep-able, Josh got all his clothes unpacked today, and we even have pictures hanging on the walls in the living room! The boys and I have come down with my predictable cold that accompanies all major transitions of life (I remember always getting sick at the end of a semester at college), and Seth was up every two hours last night- but other than that, we're feeling good. I don't know if it's going to sneak up on me, and I'll be overwhelmed with emotions some time soon, or if my husband, and in-laws are just that great and have taken good care of me- but for now I am praising Jesus for His hand upon us and His tender love for me.

It is definitely an adjustment, living with four generations under one roof... but as we strive to live in biblical community I know the Lord will be glorified and will bless our relationships!

Please continue to pray for us:

- that Seth would adjust quickly, and learn to sleep through the night (Caleb and Seth are sharing a room now, which complicates things).
- that Caleb would adjust well to living with lots of grown-ups (and that we would be clear on our expectations of him)
- that we would find a place for all of the things we've brought with us
- that we would consider one another ahead of ourselves
- that Josh and I would learn how to best guard our marriage in this new situation
- that Seth's birthday party on Saturday would come together and be a fun celebration of his life
- that Josh's parents and grandmother and brother would adjust easily to four more people in the house (two of whom are boisterous boys!)
- that God would be glorified in each relationship

Thanks for walking with us into this new season of life and ministry!

One Thousand Gifts...

It's Wednesday, and time for our next installment of one thousand gifts in no particular order! God is blowing my mind with His goodness as I strive to pay attention to His presence and the gifts of grace He bestows!

This week I am grateful for the gifts of:

19. both boys napping at the same time (which meant I could nap too!)
39. cool mornings and dark coffee (I have a feeling coffee will show up on this list frequently!)
41. Caleb thanking Jesus for His power (after the thunderstorm)
51. Cheryl coming over to keep the boys happy while I did some packing
54. Seth waking up happy after a very rough night
56. Snuggling with my boys under a cozy blanket watching Sesame Street
60. Chubby, dimpled hands

A Happy Heart!

Now this is the Caleb we know and love... this particular picture he's asking, "Daddy, you wanna wrestle??" And we just want to thank you for wrestling in prayer with us over Caleb's sadness about moving!

We could tell a difference in his attitude Monday afternoon! Thank you for praying! I could tell he was feeling better, and asked him if his heart was happy, and his answer was a resounding, "YES!" accompanied by a big smile! So we took a minute to thank Jesus for making his heart happy, and for answering our prayers! He is so good to us!

We have begun a count-down calendar featuring a fun thing to do each day until we move, so that has helped a lot! Yesterday we went over his best buddy Noah's house. Today we will be having a cookie picnic outside and painting with oranges (stay tuned for pictures!). Tomorrow Caleb and Seth have a date with Grandma Laurie (and Josh and I have a much needed date of our own!). Saturday we're going cherry picking!

In between those fun things we still have lots of packing to do, and a birthday party for Seth to plan! I am grateful for family and friends who are helping us through this transition!

I'm sure there are still bumps in the road ahead, but with our prayer warriors behind us, and Jesus beside us, we are ready for anything! Thanks for carrying us!

A Tender Heart

Caleb is such a sweet boy, and a delight to my heart, but these days he is just so sad. He came home after our yardsale and got very upset that we had sold our table and chairs, our love-seat, his bed frame (he still has a mattress to sleep on), and much more. He climbed on his mattress for his nap, and as I was tucking him in he said, "Mama, I don't like this." In his pitiful little sad voice. That's enough to break a mama's heart :( And as I start welling up with tears of my own, I just lean in and hug him close, and tell him that I don't like it either, and that Jesus loves to hold us when our hearts are sad. So I prayed and off he went to dreamland.

The next day in church, my sister starts singing "Made Me Glad" by Hillsong, and I just lose it. And as I sit there weeping, my mom puts her arm around me and cries too. And in that moment, I realize that a mother's heart always breaks when her child is hurting. And how God's heart must break as He watches His children suffer. The words to the song have become my theme for this transition-



Will you pray for Caleb during this transition? His little heart is breaking, and he is processing this a lot more than I expected a 2 year old to, and so lift him up to Jesus. And pray for us as we try to parent him through this, and help him place his tender heart in Jesus' hands. Thanks so much for carrying us in this time of transition!

God provides again!

Yesterday was one of those days that Gods hand was so evidently seen. It actually all begins on Wednesday. At work on Wednesday I (Josh) happened to really fall into a grove and get a lot of work done including writing my sermon. I had planned to do my sermon on Thursday or Friday. Keep that in the back of your mind.

For a few weeks now I have been keeping an eye out for a job to get us through the summer, be a supplement for us when we start getting a check through WGM, and also to keep me occupied because I get bored real easy. I had a couple of leads none of which I was incredibly excited about but ya gotta work right? I did find this company that does valet services at Virtua hospitals here in the area. This peeked my interest because I like to drive and would love to drive other peoples cars, potentially nice cars. I emailed this company over a month ago and was told to contact them when time got closer to me needing a job.

Long story short(er), I called Wednesday afternoon and was told to go up to Virtua in Mt Holly (near Delanco) to fill out an application and have an interview. I was up in Mt. Holly at 9am and after filling the application out I sat down with the area supervisor (Earl) to discuss a job. Earl was on the phone with the supervisor in Marlton and I could hear every work of their conversation and they were discussing what to do because they needed another van driver in Marlton to shuttle employees back and forth from the hospital to the employee lots. Earl looked at me and said, "how old are you?" "26." So Earl says into the phone, "let me call you back. I may have a solution." Go through the interview and Earl begins to tell me about this shuttle driving job in Marlton (which believe you me I would much rather work there than in Mt. Holly) and how there was another woman who applied yesterday but was now not answering her phone so they may need me right away. Earl hired me on the spot, against the judgement of his supervisor (shhh, our little secret) and told me my first day would be Monday but there was a chance I would be called in that day. My official job was a "standby shuttle driver" which just means I am on call to fill in when they needed me.

Lets recap: 9am application/interview. 10am offered job as "standby" driver.

Ok so I drive the hour drive home and figure Ill just start working this job on Monday. I get home and at 12pm get a call to come in as soon as I can to start working. Glad I ate lunch! I get into work and learn the job (I also have to help the valet guys) and begin to realize that they want to hire me full-time already! So in a matter of 4-5 hours I applied for, got a job (part-time), and was promoted to full-time! hahahaha! God is so good.

I wont actually begin working full-time til after camp meeting since our life transition is so crazy but isnt it just like God to all the sudden just provide so overwhelmingly for what you need. This job is fun for me and also a perfect fit for our new life as missionaries preparing to go on the field. The job has already given me many opportunities to share my story and what we will be doing in Africa. Plenty of people for me to share the love of Christ with and I am so excited to have sometime out there "in the world" just loving people for Jesus. An obviously different atmosphere from being a youth pastor.

The one sad part about this job is that Caleb has decided that daddy is the best thing since sliced bread. Caleb was so excited when I told him earlier in the day that I didnt have to work on Thursday and would be home all day. He became very sad when I had to go back on my word. God is good though and has blessed me with a job where I can spend all morning with my boys before nap time and then go off to work. So my sermon is done for Sunday (did you remember?) and I am working again today at the hospital. Praise God!

One Thousand Gifts...

I have been meaning to write this post for weeks and months. Jamie kick-started my resolve to give thanks. This blog is where it all started for me- thanks, Ann, for creating a Gratitude Community.

And so I begin my journey of one thousand gifts... collecting pieces of God-glory, as Ann would say. And already I am connecting with my dear Savior in a new way. I just started this morning and the list is overwhelming me with joy and delight. Without further-ado, I am grateful for the gifts of:

1. squinty morning eyes
2. snuggly arms wrapped around my neck
3. Kashi Honey Sunshine
4. pear juice trickling down a toddler's arm
5. hot, dark coffee on a gray morning
6. plastic cups and a happy one year old
7. silly brothers babbling to each other, as if they understand one another
8. Josh's possible job opportunity
9. beautiful piano music lending a peaceful tone to our morning...

I will keep posting tid-bits of my thousand gifts- in no particular order- as they occur- each Wednesday- how soon do you think I'll reach one thousand?

What are you grateful for today?

Time Flies!

Is everyone else blown away by the fact that it is June??? I have no idea where May went! It was definitely full of joy and busyness and I am glad we survived- but oh June, how full you will be as well! The month of May was filled with Birthday Extravaganza week, our last G5 Retreat, Pete and Cristi's wedding (the first Youth Group "kid's" wedding we have attended), several great connections with people about Uganda, Seth's first haircut, our last MOPS meeting... and so many other delights and wonders! I'll only list these events, as, hopefully, Josh will blog about some of them in the near future!

June stretches before us with only 19 days until our last Sunday at Trinity, and 20 days until we move in with Josh's parents. Wow. This house is still so full, as is my heart as I ponder the last 5 1/2 years of ministry and the last 4 1/2 married to Josh... our whole family history has been lived in this parsonage... but the sacrifice we make when we obey God's calling is the least we can do.

Consider His great love and immense sacrifice... dare we say "no" to anything He asks of us? And He not only died for us, that would be enough to gladly say "yes" to anything He asks, but He continues to walk with us, provide for us, and equip us... our whole lives should just shout and sing our worship for His goodness and faithfulness! Is that your perspective today? I know it wasn't mine until I typed the words... praise Him for His Holy Spirit to guide us to the right perspective even when we aren't aware of our poor perspective! So if you will excuse me, I have some things I need to sort out with Him this morning- do you? Enjoy His presence as you walk with Him this day!

image from discovermagazine.com
Caleb and Seth swinging at Cape May Zoo... when did they get this big?