He is NEVER late!

Well, our prayers have been answered. I can say, it definitely wasn't in the way and form that we anticipated and hoped for, but answered none the less.

We were looking for a long term rental (a year or longer) and we found a short term (4 months, then month to month), as this house is actually For Sale. However, God's fingerprints are all over this and so we know that He has a bigger plan.

We found out about this property on Wednesday, last week. Due to some mixed up information we couldn't make a connection to the owners. However, we received the owner's information (correct this time around) less than 24 hours later from someone else. We saw the property Friday. We decided to move forward, but due to Christmas we were unable to finalize anything until yesterday.  And now we are planning to move this Friday and Saturday.

We have often commented that God rarely shows up early (in our terms), but He is never late. With a week to spare on our current rental agreement we were provided for in amazing ways.

We are really excited about moving. This house has 4 bedrooms which will help the brotherly relationships between the boys. If we happen to be in this house for more than the four months, we will also get to enjoy the pool and hot tub. Plus there is about 2 acres of land with a creek, perfect for boys to play and explore. (I am sure Em will be right there with them.)

We were so blessed over the past week and over the past few months during this process to see the body of Christ rally around us. We had so many people praying, encouraging, and providing house tips. It is a blessing and such an uplifting experience to be loved this way. We are so very thankful for all of those who walked beside us.

We know that there a quite a few uncertainties as we move forward. There are no guarantees that we will be in this house for a long period of time and that we may be looking to move again in just a few months. But we know that God is in control. He has a plan and will guide and direct us no matter what the future holds. He is good!!

Please Pray

I don't know how many people look at this blog, but it only takes a few to urgently pray.

Some of you know that for the last four months we have been looking for a new rental house. Our current location is small for our family and the ages of our children. (Basically we need another bedroom so we can split up the boys a bit.)  We also have had a number of problems while being in this house, mainly water and mold issues.

We have been actively looking for another house. We have looked at many. We have been excited about two. In the one situation we look back and realize that God was most likely protecting us from a problematic situation with the property management company. The second one was so recent we don't yet see why God allowed it to fall through for us.

We believe that our God is big. He is sovereign and has a perfect plan. We also know that He is aware that our current lease in up in just 10 days. (We might be able to get an extension, but are not 100% sure at this moment.)

God has done some absolutely amazing things over the past week in our lives. We have tangibly seen Him work in ways we were not expecting. He is so very faithful. Yet here we are with a huge need that just doesn't seem to be changing. We don't understand why God hasn't provided, we don't see the plan He has for us but we will choose to keep trusting.

Please join us in praying that God will provide in a mighty way, something that can only be attributed to Him and Him alone. We believe that 10 days is plenty of time for our God to work this situation out.

So much to be Thankful for...

Last week we headed to Indiana to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family. (I will try to post some pictures later.)

We spent an evening with our best friends. The kids enjoyed hanging out and playing, while the adults talked and played cards. It was so good to be with them. The evening went by way too quickly.

On Wednesday we headed to Chicago to have our Christner Thanksgiving meal. We enjoyed the opportunity to be with our family and to meet our newest family member (niece and cousin Clara). The food was excellent and the company even better.

Thursday we had our Maxson family Thanksgiving meal, minus my brother's family. Again the food was amazing, but it was so fun to be together.

After the meal, our kids went to Uncle John and Aunt Laura's for their annual sleepover which includes watching The Polar Express and drinking hot chocolate. Aaron and I headed out to Walmart for the early Black Friday specials. We didn't get what we went for but at least we survived.  It was CRAZY. People can be so controlled by their desire for material things. It was sad. On a happy note though we ran in to a few people we haven't seen in a long time.

On Friday we headed to Indianapolis to celebrate Christmas with the Maxson side of the family. My brother is currently doing a trauma rotation in Indy and so we were able to be with him and his family. It was so good to see everyone and spend some time together.

Saturday we hung out with our families and just enjoyed each other's company.

On Sunday we traveled home. Last year we got stuck in holiday traffic on the turnpike and so we opted for another route this year. Due to a few accidents though, this route ended up taking just as long. We sat in slow or stopped traffic for at least two hours. But we made it home safely.

It was cool to see God's hand in our trip home. We made a 10-15 minute bathroom stop that was unplanned. Had we not stopped we would have been to the first accident site around the time it occurred. And while stopped in traffic the best thing happened...Emma asked how to ask Jesus into her heart. We talked and prayed together. I love how God works!!

We were reminded often throughout the past week of God's faithfulness and goodness. We are truly blessed by God. We have so much to be thankful for and this past week reminded us to take the time to thank Him for those blessings of life, family, love and safety.

Another Picture Post (not from my cell phone)

These faces bring me such joy!!

Picture Update (from my cell phone)

Sorry for the quality of these pictures. Life is a little chaotic right now and I can't find time to sit and download and edit pictures off of my "good" camera. UGH!! Maybe this weekend, but until then...

All he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth...



Yes, Alex is getting taller, or maybe I am getting shorter. Either way he is gaining on me. The top of his head is at my eye level. I swear it happened overnight.



Emma and I spent last weekend in Pittsburg with the Maxson girls for our annual girl's weekend trip. Emma got her makeup done while we were there. (Just a bit of shimmery eye shadow, all over shimmer on her face and a bit of lipgloss.) She loved it!

Nothing major to share about Jack, but couldn't have a picture post without him. What a goofy boy!

Lessons from Grandma

Two years ago today, Grandma met Jesus. (Lucky gal!)  I miss her so much, especially now living so close to where she used to live. But I am so thankful for the lessons she taught me and how her legacy can affect others still today.

Lately I have been working to keep eternity as my focus. As I work on curriculum and vision casting and all of the other things I do, I often need to be reminded that none of that really matters if eternity is not affected. I wanted to share this important reality with some of my volunteers this past week and it was Grandma that gave me the avenue to share.

Grandma taught Sunday School for years. I used to love to sit in her class, even after I had outgrown it. But I was not just impressed by her teaching, but also by her preparation. She prepared as if it was the most important job she was going to do and she prayed about it too. It WAS the most important job she did, she shared Jesus with children and affected their eternity. How do I know?

After her memorial service we had a meal, and during that meal a young man came up to my brother. This gentleman was someone who had been invited to Sunday School by Grandma and his eternity was changed because of that. Grandma's words weren't what drew that gentleman to Jesus, it was the reflection of Christ in her and through her.

As I sat with my volunteers this past week, I shared with them some of Grandma's legacy. I challenged them (and myself) with the reality that eternity is at stake. Heaven or hell hang in the balance. The method, the curriculum, the format, it may all change but eternity never does.

I can't wait to see Grandma again in Heaven. I also can't wait to see the people who are there because of the impact she had in their lives.

May it be the same for all of us. Is your eternity secure? What about those around you? If you're not sure, choose to love them enough to tell them about Jesus.

The View from my Office

Yes, it is an empty parking lot, and if you could see to the right a bit you would see a soccer field (just one more reason I love the view), but the truth is the sky is amazing today and the colors breathtaking.  This picture was taken with my cell phone so it lacks greatly from the actual view I have.

As I am sitting here this morning, I am reflecting on the past few weeks. Not the schedule that has been crazy or the lists of things that must be done, but on how God has been working in me.

I recently joined a Beth Moore Bible Study and that is definitely challenging me and stretching me. I love to sit under her teaching. 
I have also had the opportunity to teach a Parent/Child Dedication Class. It is amazing how inadequate one can feel as they prepare for this type of thing. And equally amazing is that the enemy will try to discredit (even in your own mind) and discourage you when you plan to lead others.
And finally I have the opportunity to sit with my fellow ministry team leaders and give a testimony (teach) regarding a piece of our church's new vision: Living in Obedience to God's Commands. And oh yea, God is really stretching me when it comes to obedience to Him. Will I continue to obey when the cost (sacrifice) is more than I thought it would be? Will I really trust Him?

As I think through the things He is teaching me I often feel overwhelmed. But then I glance out my window and I see an amazing landscape of color and beauty. I am reminded that just as we can count on the seasons changing, we can count on Him, for He is faithful!  I am reminded that because He delights in His creation there is astounding beauty to be found. (And that includes me!)

So for some it is an empty parking lot or the back of a subdivision, but to me it is a reminder:

The Heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

(Psalm 19:1)

...for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning.

(Lamentations 3:22b-23a)

Praise the Lord! 

Five (plus one day)

 My baby is now 5 (plus one day). Emma is such a joy to us and we know that our lives were blessed beyond measure with her birth.

Below are pictures from her birthday weekend:

Birthday kisses from her brothers.



Being silly with Great Grandpa.



Blowing out the candles.

Riding the Barbie scooter she purchased with her Target gift cards.



Wearing the shirt that has been worn by all of her brothers on their 5th birthday.

Some of my favorite things about this little girl:

1. She loves to laugh.

2. She loves to cuddle and give hugs.

3. She says "I love you" just because.

4. She still asks Mommy or Daddy to pray for her each night.

5. She loves Jesus. Her knowledge of the Bible is so exciting to watch.

6. She loves to learn.

7. She loves being silly and making her brothers laugh.

8. She is a "daddy's girl".

9. She loves to shop.

10. She taught me to love the color pink.

It is a blessing to be Emma's mommy and I pray that as she grows she will continue to love the Bible and Jesus. That she will seek to be a true daughter of the King and that she will find her beauty and security in the knowledge that Jesus loves her. I look forward to the adventures that await us because of this precious princess.

Hiatus

It has been a long time since I have posted (a much needed break) and needless to say a lot has happened since my last post.

Our lives are a bit hectic right now with work, school, soccer, trying to find a new rental house, family visits, and life. None of those things are bad, in fact we are really enjoying life right now (maybe with the exception of the impending move to a new rental) but sometimes it is nice just to take a deep breath and relax for a few moments. I'll post some pictures when that happens.

A few weeks ago my sister and her boys came to visit for a week. It was great to spend time with her and to love on my nephews.

Alex has been averaging three soccer games a week, due to original scheduling and rescheduling of rained out games. And this now includes Aaron as he is the new Assistant Coach.  It is fun to see how improved Alex is at this point in the season. He started the season wanting to play midfield but was placed at defense. He played well there, but wanted to prove himself at midfield and he has, that is now where he plays most of the game. He may not be the fastest kid on the field but he is learning to play smart soccer. (So fun as a coach and mom to watch the development of these kids.)

Jack and Stephen are loving school. They have great teachers and have made some good friends. They are looking forward to Fall Fest this Friday. It is a day with pumpkin painting, games, hayrides, etc... Jack is also getting ready for Native American day where he will dress like an Indian and give a report. Both the boys though are really excited about a mission project the entire elementary school does with a local organization called GAIN. I hope that they will someday understand the blessings of attending a Christian school.

Emma is loving school as well. She especially loves Tuesday and Thursday each week as she gets to stay through lunch and nap time in after school care. A Kindergarten readiness assessment was sent home this week and as we were looking at the criteria we realized that she was probably close to Kindergarten ready a year ago. One of the perks of being the youngest and learning from her brothers. Her favorite store (Target) opens in town on Sunday so she is super excited about that. And on Monday, she will be 5.  WOW!! 

This past week we were so thrilled to welcome new babies to our family. My god-sister had a little boy early on Saturday morning. I had the privilege of being with her on Friday during her labor before it was decided a c-section would be best. And then on Monday we were excited to hear that our newest niece/cousin had safely made her arrival into this world as well.

The rest of this week is filled with excitement as we will have more family visiting and we will celebrate Em's birthday. Plus I am sure that we will have to make a trip to Target this weekend. :)

In the midst of all the busyness of life right now God is teaching us some amazing things. I will try to find some time in the next week to post about some of those lessons as well as to post some pictures. But for now it is back to the HUGE "to-do list" that I have on my desk.

HE!

Isaiah 41 :10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Have you ever felt that at every turn something discouraging is taking place? From circumstances, to the results of nature, to personal interactions with others, to parenting, to..., to..., to...

The past few days have been crazy. Every situation seems to have some element of stress and/or discouragement. This morning I have spontaneously cried multiple times as I am overwhelmed with dismay.

And then I read the verse in Isaiah. HE is my God. HE will strengthen me and help me. HE will uphold me.

HE!!

I needed that reminder today. The reality of this life may not change a whole lot, but my eyes have been refocused on HIM. I am desperate today for HIM to get me through. He will give me strength and He will help me. I am so thankful for that promise today.

ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

Well for some reason I think hurricane season forgot that up here in the Northern part of the U.S. we are not tropical. It is crazy what the past two to three weeks have brought us. We actually did not have many water issues related to Hurricane Irene. Of course the rain we did get caused the ground to be highly saturated. And then Tropical Storm Lee decided to visit us by way of rain, lots and lots of rain.

It began with a band of rain on Sunday night. Then over the day Monday it remained gray and overcast with occasional sprinkles. And then around 6:00 p.m. is started to rain steadily. We have had very few moments of no rain since then, with most of the rain being very heavy.

It is now Thursday and the kids and I are at home becuse school is closed, our church office is basically closed (most of us working from home), streets are closed and many are battling flooding in their homes. The road that runs by our house is technically closed due to areas of flooding, though many are trying to come through only to have to turn around. And our basement is wet. My prayer is that Aaron remains safe and is able to get home without many issues, some of the stops on his route are actually closed too.

Harrisburg which is about 20 miles to our west has had over 12 inches of rain so far and it is still raining and it is to continue for at least a few more days. I have no idea what the rain amount is for us, our small rain gauges were overflowing yesterday afternoon.

I am sick of the rain. I need some sunshine. The past few days have been crazy enough and then you add in the rain and the effects of it and I am ready to scream. (Just ask the kids.)  I have literally felt that we are just going to float away at some point. But I can say that I am so very thankful that our damage is minimal, many are facing much worse flooding than us. Some have lost/will lose all of their possessions (or most of them by the time this is all over) and some have even lost their lives. At most, for me it is an inconvenience, but I think I speak for most if not all in this part of the nation, "we have had enough".

Double Digits

It's hard to believe it, but my second born is now 10. This past weekend we celebrated Jackson's birthday with family and friends.

 Opening Gifts and Cards: He was excited about all of his gifts, even the clothes. I love this kid.

Oreo Ice Cream Cake with no candles, because he was afraid they would melt the cake.

 Family gathered together is so wonderful.

Working to put his wooden elephant together.

It amazes me how quickly time passes. I am blessed to be Jack's mom. He is a curious, smart, and funny guy. I would give him a "perfect 10".

School is In Session



Alex: 6th Grade



Jackson: 4th Grade



Stephen: 2nd Grade



Emma: Pre-K



Yesterday was the first day of school!! So they all had to do the annual pictures in front of the house. The boys weren't nearly as excited about it this year as they have been in the past. But they really warmed up to the idea of a group picture.



My amazing kiddos!! They are all at Lititz Christian School this year and they were all so excited for the year to start.

 The first day of school also brought another first: Alex's first middle school soccer game. He played most of the game and he did well. They lost but it was fun to see all of the boys that Alex has been talking about for the past two weeks. And speaking as a coach it was fun to see the amazing potential that will be developed and seen throughout this season.

IRENE!

Well, my last post talked about the pace of life picking up a bit for our family; what I did not expect was to experience an earthquake and hurricane as well this week. To be quite honest, I can't really say that I experienced the earthquake because I personally never felt it. Many others in the office felt it and it woke Aaron up from his nap, in fact the kids even said they felt it. I guess I just don't shake too easily. :)

I can say that we all experienced Irene. In fact we tried to prepare for her arrival and everything. You will see in some of the following pictures that preparedness does not always produce the hoped for results. But we are all safe and that is what matters the most.

 These were the clouds that came with the first outer bands of Irene. This was at about 4:oo pm on Saturday. At this point the rain was intermittent and the winds were not too bad.

 These clouds were as the rain began to intensify. This was approx. 6:30 pm. By this time the winds were picking up in intensity along with the rain.

As we watched the track of the storm it went from an almost direct inland hit of our area to being slightly more off towards New Jersey. We knew that we would experience the effects of the storm no matter what track it took, so we began to prepare as much as we could. We laid down all our outdoor furniture  protecting the cushions and pillows. We always have our trampoline anchored and due to the surround we couldn't lay it down, so we added some weight (approx. 200 pounds of cinder blocks). While in the picture the basketball hoop is upright against the garage we eventually opted to lay it down to avoid it being knocked over. (Looking back we probably should have left it, but then again, who knows if that would have changed anything.) These pictures were taken around 9:00 pm and by this time the wind and rain were a bit more extreme. I did not get much sleep Saturday night as the storm passed through. We never lost power, in fact we actually never lost our satellite connection either. We have friends though who even now are still without power. As I drove through town you can see trees down and lots of smaller sticks and leaves lying around. There were areas that had to deal with flooding. Speaking of which we did have a minor amount of water in our basement, but nothing to cause a huge fuss over.

I took this picture from almost the same spot as the above picture of the trampoline and basketball hoop. As you can see the trampoline is not even in the picture.

We think that the trampoline caught the basketball hoop a bit as it flew over, causing a severe bend in the backboard. We later discovered the only reason the trampoline stayed where it was in this picture was due to the fact that it was embedded between part of the frame of the barn and the roof. 

We had some damage to this tree which is at the opposite side of the house as the trampoline and basketball hoop were.. We lost a few limbs, but fortunately it isn't a huge tree.

(All of the above pictures of the damage where taken during the backside of the storm, so the winds were still very high and it was still raining at this point. They were taken at about 7:30 am Sunday.)

As the storm moved out the sky cleared and we could begin to see all the leaves and sticks that littered the ground, much like a salad shooter had gone through. We ventured outside to fully evaluate the damage and do a lot of cleanup around 3:30 pm Sunday afternoon.

What you can't see in this picture is that the barn the trampoline was pinned to, it is to the left. The cinder block that is at the base of the fence was actually on the other side of the fence in the neighbor's yard. This block probably weighed about 40-50 pounds and flew from the original trampoline site, over the barn probably about 150-200 yards. (I am really bad when it comes to measurements so this might be a little off, but it was a much longer length of space than we ever expected to find it. And yes we had to search for it.)

We were very thankful that the winds were blowing in such a way that the cinder blocks did not travel toward the house.

Well, after we pried the trampoline off the barn we began to disassemble it to see what might be salvageable. As you can see, it is most likely a complete loss. The backboard was definitely questionable when we got it upright. But it is now fixed, as it seems that one of the back joints is all that was bent. 

I am not entirely sure why this is so blurry, but this was the night sky on Sunday. Amazing how quickly the weather can change. It is so very amazing to me the strength and intensity of nature. God's power is definitely evident in moments such as these. But after the storm there is such beauty to be seen as well.



Gentlemen, start the chaos!

Well, the noise level and messiness in our house has risen over the past few days. The kids are home!! It has been wonderful to see them, hug them, and listen to the stories of the adventures they shared with their grandparents over the past few weeks.

School is just around the corner and the calendar is beginning to fill rapidly. School starts on the 29th of August and so we are looking at fall clothing and supplies and determining what is needed and what can wait. Ah, the joy of fall. The kids are excited to start at the Christian school and meet their teachers and make new friends.On the flip side of what seems like a building of chaos is the reality of the normalcy that the school routine brings to our lives. For that I am excited.

Alex started preseason soccer practices this week. He is so excited about the season. There are only 12 boys on the team and since 11 are needed on the field, he is sure to get lots of playing time. He has started running over the past few days in preparation for the season. It is fun to see him self motivated to work on his skill and endurance.

Along with school getting ready to kick off, there are fall kickoff's for the church as well. My schedule is full of meetings and preparations for some upcoming changes, as well as with the organizing of room shifts and class changes for the kids. This building chaos will slow down after a few weeks, so for that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

But until then, we are off to the races.

"How are you holding up?"

I have had a fairly large number of eerily similar conversations over the past week. The conversation is usually started by the fact that our children are in another state, and when it is all said and done they will have been away from daddy for close to 3 weeks and away from mommy for close to 2 weeks. Then the question that has come from every single one of these conversations, "How are you doing?"/"How are you holding up?"/"How are you surviving?" 

I am fine! I am beginning to miss them more and more, but I can honestly say that for the first week I had days where I rarely thought of them. For some that statement may have produced a gasp and the thought, "What kind of mother wouldn't think of her children every day they are apart?"  Maybe to some I am a terrible mom, but the reality is this:

I love my children dearly, but I am not IN love with my children.

(I actually first heard this concept very early in my parenting life on none other than the Oprah show. I couldn't even tell you who said it or even what the show was about that day, but that concept stuck with me.)

You see my children are a big part of my world, but they are not my whole world. As a mom, I make sure that they are well loved and cared for, I do my best to raise them and teach them, I nurture and encourage them, I discipline them, but I do not buddy up to them and befriend them. (At least not at this stage in the game.) My goal is to raise three godly men and one godly woman and then at the appropriate time set them free in this world; to be their own person, who still loves to come home to mom and dad occasionally. My purpose as a parent is to raise them, not hold on to them.

You see I am IN love with Jesus and my husband. Those two relationships are ones that I have chosen and pursued over the years, they are one's that I do want to hold on to. I never want any relationship to become a hindrance to my first love, Jesus. Even my relationship with my husband. He knows this and understands this. Then after that, my next relationship priority is Aaron. No other earthly relationship comes in the way. Honestly though there are times and seasons where these priorities don't flesh out perfectly, but it is where I always strive to be relationally.

In a few short years (and it's happening way too fast) my children will move on. They will go off to college and begin their own lives. I want them to be free to do life on their own and succeed. I also want them to know without a doubt that they are loved. Our arms are always open for them to find safety and acceptance. I also know that when that day comes I will be more alone with my two "IN love" relationships than I have ever been before. I had better be sure to still enjoy those relationships so I strive to pursue and strengthen those relationships along the way.

Two weeks is a long time for a Mommy's heart. I honestly am looking forward to those hugs and the noise of them talking over each other in an attempt to fill me in on all the things they did. But until then, I am soaking up and enjoying the quiet and time to reconnect with my priority loves.

Last week the kids and I were in Indiana to spend time with family and await the arrival of the newest family member. While we waited, we spent quite a bit of time with my sister's family in their pool.

 Lucas Matthew came on his scheduled c-section date, Friday, July 29 at 2:05 pm. He was 8 lbs. 10 oz. and 20 in. long. He is absolutely precious.

The kids stayed behind in Indiana as I returned to Pennsylvania. Aaron and I are currently enjoying a quiet house and hours to reconnect uninterrupted.