Christmas Craft

Hey y'all, I thought I would share with you the Christmas craft John Hunter and I are going to do today or tomorrow. It is pretty fun and super easy with preschool kiddos!

Here is what you are gonna need:

- 25 strips of construction or christmas scrapbooking paper

- stapler

- Marker

- Header... you can save download this template or make your own, you get the idea!

With the 25 strips take the marker and write one name on each strip. Each night when you cut the chain that is the person you are going to pray for. The last link should read "everyone of God's Children"

Once all the links are labeled begin to make your paper chain. Once the chain is made, attach the header and place it somewhere where you child can see it and count down to Christmas, while praying for those he loves!

Enjoy!

Grateful Heart

We are in Gatlinburg and I have to say that we are having a blast. Away from it all, with our family and friends. Lots of fires, hot tubs, sports, food, go- kart riding, oh and I think I rode my last Tilt-A-Whirl, although JH loved it so i might do it again for him.

This mini-vaca has been amazing. Something about it has brought a great sense of peace to my heart. I am a little unsure of heading to Indy tomorrow for fear of so much to do, a house to live in, lesson plans to write, moving, Christmas decor, and the whole nine yards! But I know even here on the mountain he is preparing a place for us.

Truly this has been a mountain top experience for us. We are so grateful, content, and at peace. What else is there to be thankful for?

Here are a few pictures from the last couple days, I will post more later!

A Thanksgiving Post

Today (well really last night) I was reflecting on all of the things we are thankful for,however this post is not going to be a list of thankful things! This is going to be a post about a Thankful experience!

A year ago, was when this whole moving, wilderness experience started! When there was talk about moving to Indy, I was listening to the words of Selah's part the waters? Do you remember?

When I think I'm going under, part the waters Lord

When I feel the waves around me, calm the seas

When I cry for help oh hear me LORD, and hold our your hand

Touch my life, calm the raging storms in me!

I remember thinking of Moses walking through the Red Sea. The fear, the unknown, and the faith. No where am I a comparing myself to Moses, but I felt like leaving my home and all familiar was my own Red Sea experience!

Living in our rental house was a wilderness experience for me (well for us). The Lord provided our own form of manna, in neighbors who we cannot imagine life without, friends who he literally placed in our path, a church family that we would be lost without, and he has allowed our little family of three to be closer!

When were so excited when the LORD provided us renters for our Lexington house, so we started looking for our new home. From the beginning we prayed that God would open doors and close windows. We found a home after making an offer on 7 that we love! We were super excited to move, but then things started popping that were out of our control! And now we do not have a home, nor will it look like we will be getting one. We are now looking at renting another home for a year. When we got the news it was devastating. Another Wilderness experience for us, but we are confident that God has a plan. We honestly cannot imagine what it is, but we trust him. We know that He would not have brought us to Indiana without a home or purpose in mind! And today on thanksgiving, we are grateful for that!

Now we when we get home from our family getaway in Gatlinburg, we will begin our search for our new home, and trusting Yaweh each step of the way!

What's Cooking?

What are we doing today you ask? Well I am making this for a very special friend who has been so wonderful to me. It is sort of a trial run for Thanksgiving! I think you should try it too. Find someone that you are Thankful for and send it to them!

Ingredients

• 2 (14-ounce) packages gingerbread mix
• 1 (5.1-ounce) box cook-and-serve vanillapudding mix
• 1 (30-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon
• 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping
• 1/2 cup gingersnaps, optional

Directions

Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped topping. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl.

For I know the plans...

So we did not close on our house this week. Well honestly, we don't know if we are going to close at all. It is a LONG story but in the words of Eric, "we need a miracle". We believe in miracles and we know the miracle maker so we are waiting, and trusting. However, I am not really good at that.

At Mops on Friday scriptures were put on the table and one was Jer. 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to give you a hope and a future. Why did I spend a day in doubt? Because I am a control freak and I like things my own way, in my own time!

Father God, we give this house over to you, let your will be done. We know you will not leave us and long before we came to Indiana, you prepared the way!

Prepare the way Lord, prepare the WAY!

A great weekend

We have had a great weekend. Anna, Ben, and Kyah came for a visit! We were thrilled to have them. I kinda laughed at the thought that they were a first house guest here and now our last. We enjoyed having a baby around, and it was fun to see them play with John Hunter. He loved every minute of it. But I have to say his favorite part was having with Dixie... the dog!

We had professional pictures done of the cousins, I have the save the best for some "presents", but here are a few sneak peeks!

Also we have a busy week this week... I have to teach on Tuesday, we are headed to Lexington on Wednesday, and I am speaking at Southland on Thursday, and we are "supposed" to close on our new home Friday... please pray for us as we go through this busy week.

How Vast the Father's Love for us

This morning as I drink my hot cocoa a and stay connected to the vine I am reminded about the love of the Father.... I have listened to this song so many times over the past week. His love truly is amazing, even when I am unlovable! Read these words, and let them be the meditation of your heart!

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed to hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that kept Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

What a surprise....

For some reason on Friday night I was feeling a little homesick. Sure I loved being at home with my boys, but I wanted to be home. We entertained the idea of going home, but realized this was our only free weekend for a while and thought it would be best to stay home.

We called home several times and Saturday morning we even tried to convince my parents to come up. They had a busy weekend planned, but I knew we would see them in 2 weeks.

Well we did house stuff, we napped, we played bikes, we had a great day. I was outside with Cheri enjoying the weather when my parents called and said they would be here in 1.5... I was THRILLED to say the least! What a great surprise... i just love it when they are here!

We went to dinner and here is a precious pic of Gigi and Grandad... more pics to come! I promise!

Sweetest Words

So today we were driving home from Joann's Fabric and John Hunter got really excited and said, "Look Mom, an orange sunset!" I responded by saying it is beautiful!

He said, "Mom, Jesus made the orange sunset for me because it is my favorite color. And he thinks I am special because I can pedal my bike"

Now if those words do make life with a three year old precious... I don't know what it!

Bike Riding!

We have a new found love for bike riding.

We have come so far...

One year ago today I wrote these words...

Can you believe it? One year ago today we announced that we would be moving to Indiana, I remember sitting in our living room weeping as I wrote those words. Well a lot has changed in a year. I really didn't seeing myself making it to this point. I have kinda always kept this date in my mind over the past few months, know that the "one year" was approaching.

I would not say this year has been easy, actually it has been one of the hardest years of my life. I spent 5 months without Eric,my parents no longer live next door, I left my "home", and said good bye to my comfort zone, and my church. All those things were hard, really hard. But there have been some good things as well. I have met some amazing women of the LORD, I have some excellent friends, we have awesome neighbors, our little family of three has grown so close, and we have found a new church home, one that we love! I could write so many other things about this transition, but as I wrote last year, the LORD has spoken to me through song. Last year's song was "Part The Waters", remember?

Yesterday we sat at church and welcomed the Holy Spirit, sure he was already there, heck, he has prepared the moment before it happened, but it was there! The sermon was excellent, and the worship was amazing. During communion a song was sung, that has been the anthem of my life for the past several months. Today I did a little research about the history of the song:

: Ad e laide A. Poll ard, 1907. Pol lard be lieved the Lord want ed her in Af ri ca as a mis sion a ry, but she was un a ble to raise funds to go. In an un cer tain state of mind, she at­tend ed a pray er meet ing, where she heard an el der ly wo man pray, “It’s all right, Lord. It does n’t mat ter what You bring in to our lives, just have Your own way with us.” At home that night, much en cour aged, she wrote this hymn.

Have Thine own way, LORD!

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

So here I sit today, different house, different state, different couch, heck even different cell phone number but my anthem is still the same, Have thine own way LORD!