Tour of our new home!!

Today we all went up to look over the campus of the Baptist Home and got to see our cottage!!  The apartment is great and will meet all of our needs!! We are right across the street from the commissary and the gym and pool and is behind us!!  Gibson is most excited about the playroom full of toys inside the cottage area!! Here are some pics of the outside!!

I tried to make the pictures look more panoramic... but imagine they are attached together!!  The cottage is very long and you can see the front door and over the side is the storage and carport area!

Stress and packing!!!

How in the world do we have this much stuff!!!!!!!!!!!  I am almost embarrassed at the amount of trivial stuff that we have accumulated over the last 6 years!!  I have closets that I haven't used in years because I don't need the junk inside of it!!  We have got to live more spiritually and not so materialistically!!

As I am packing and getting rid of stuff I can't help but stress out about small things... having to find a new pediatrician, family doctor, hair dresser, bank.  Satan know how to place little stresses and doubt!!

My goal is to take only what we need and declutter this house so that it can sell easier and to not clutter up the new house with junk we don't need!! Please pray for us in this venture!!

Following God's direction

Now that all of the family and employers have heard the news it is time for a public sharing of information!!  I know some of you have seen my name on the School Board Agenda as a resignation.  Let me give you some details to what has happened over the last week and a half.

1. I received an e-mail about an opening at the Oklahoma Baptist Children's Home

2. I filled out the application and went to the campus

3. Talked with Coordinator of the position that I applied for and she told me that the position had been filled!!

4. Received a call to come in for a formal interview

5. Was offered the job (same job but they created another position) and told to talk it over with Cory.

6. Was told that I would start in October.  (2 months without income from me :(  this scared us)

7. Wrote my letter of resignation and dropped it off at the administration building.

8. When we surrendered to this job we were then told that I could start sooner!!  mid August!!!  (Isn't God amazing!!!)

Now we are at the point of waiting.  The school board will vote on my resignation tomorrow night at the board  meeting.  We have started packing and getting rid of belongings.  We have to sell our house.  We have to relocate to the campus in OKC.  (Yes we will be moving!!!!)

What will I be doing? I will be a Family Advisor.  I will live in a 3 bdrm house connected to a cottage that is equipped to house 4 single mothers and their children.  I will be working with these woman on important life skills that they need to raise their children and be successful as a single parent.  

We covet your prayers for a quick sale on the house, an easy transition for us (and the grandparents that will miss us), and that God will equip us for the challenges that this new journey will bring!  Thank you so much!!

My best friend... my love!

Today's verse: "...This is my beloved, and this is my friend..." Song of Solomon 5:16b

Cory is my best friend.  We have so much fun when we are together.  He knows every part of me and loves me anyway!  I fell in love with him for the same reasons I value his friendship!  Some of the qualities that I admire about my best friend are:
He has a very adventurous spirit
He is a dreamer
He loves with all he has
strength
courage
caring father
wonderful husband
provider
smart
WITTY
awesome sense of humor
down to earth
able to laugh at himself
willing to help
always there
I could go on and on...

As I end this 30 day challenge I find it fitting to end with a prayer to the one who helped me get through.

"Lord, thank you for the strength to complete this challenge and stay diligent to the end.  Thank you for helping me realize that sometimes it may be hard to love but when my attitude is right it makes it a lot easier. Thank you for showing me what a wonderful person you gave me.  Thank you Father for your love and being able to experience pure wonderful love from you so that I know how to love my husband and vice versa.  Thank you God!! Amen"

I encourage all the wives out there to check the links at the bottom of my blog and try this challenge for yourself!

Day 29!!! Almost done!

Today's verse: "A prudent man foresees evil, and hides himself; the simple pass on, and are punished."
Prov. 27:12

Today I encourage Cory to avoid sins against God (Gen. 39:9) which are sexual sins.  Today's world lets men think that it is okay to look (pornography) or to think (lust) as long as they don't act.  This is not true according to God.  Lust is an equal sin to adultery. Cory makes it clear how much he loves me and is thankful for only me!! I am so thankful that I am not competing with other women over my husbands love.  It is an amazing feeling knowing that your husband is attracted to you, especially after your body has gone through birth of children and has changed dramatically.  Thank you Cory for loving only me and for making me feel beautiful every day!

Humility

Today's verse: "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility."
 Prov. 15:33

Today I was encouraged to approach an argument with my husband with humility.  Cory is very good at admitting when he is wrong but he is also very good at reminding me when he was right!!!  I am not good at admitting my faults and asking for forgiveness.  This is something I am praying for.  The challenge also asked to reflect on your husband's humility.  Cory has shown me his humility over and over these last few months.  He has gone above and beyond to take care of us.  He has accepted things that he didn't want all to provide for us.  I am reminded daily of what he has done for us.  He has surrendered to the Lord and has shown His love!!

My knight!

Today's verse: "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."
 Ps. 31:24

Today we are to think about the courage our husbands have.  What a day to think about it too!! 4th of July makes us think about the bravery and courage of those fighting for our freedom.  At our home Daddy protects us and leads us into safe situations.  Cory guards our marriage by outside attacks by communication and praying with me.  Cory protects our family by safe guarding our home with smoke detectors, extinguishers, and locks.  There are many ways that Cory shows courage.  Standing up for his church body and teaching a Sunday school class.  Not only teaching but teaching the tough topics such as creationism and believing all parts of the bible as spoken truth.  I am so blessed to have such a courageous man!!

Finding Balance

Today's verse: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

Today is making sure and encouraging the balance your husband has in his life.  This balance is between physical, spiritual, and social.  Cory has the social part down and is easy to talk to and talk with.  Since starting a new job things have been very out of balance but I can see him striving toward that balance more and more everyday.  It takes a lot of getting use to since Cory went from wearing ties everyday to work to wearing a cap and jeans.  The physical demand of his job has left him more exhausted every day.  I love seeing how the Lord is working on him and through him though.  I promise to encourage the attempt at balance as I see it in him daily!!

Peace

Today's verse: "...seek peace, and pursue it." Ps. 34:14b and "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Is. 26:3

Today was thinking of peace... seems ironic since Cory and I have been at odds with each other today!!  We have had small blow ups all night!!! :) Over goofy things of course!! I love him so much and I especially love how much he loves us!!  So today I am reminded at how Cory brings peace upon our home.  Cory is a pretty easy going person in general and can talk calmly no matter how upset Gibson or I are.  The challenge said to think about every aspect such as the music he listens to... Gibson and Cory listen to a lot of jazz records on the record player! Gibson loves the saxophone in the music and it has always calmed him down even as a baby.

The challenge also said to look at yourself as a wife and mother and how you bring peace to your home.  I am normally the nagging one... some may say that I think practically and worry a lot while Cory lets things go.  As a mother I am AWESOME (if I don't say so myself) at bringing peace to my children with a hug, a kiss, or just by being there!!  I love my sweet little family!!

Fabulous Father

Today's verse: "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the
training and admonition of the Lord." Eph. 6:4

 Daddy leads us on the right path.

 Daddy guides us when we need help.

 Daddy is there for you from day one!

Today is time to encourage Cory for his parenting skills.  Cory is a wonderful parent we have the same ideas on discipline and he is amazing at talking with Gibson to calm him down.  He is concerned with our children's safety and well being making sure they sleep the right way, rest enough hours in the day, eat healthy, and keeps up on other healthy habits.  He also knows how important it is that we teach our children valuable habits now like prayer and devotional time.  He shows this by example but also by talking with Gibson too!! I am so blessed to have the wonderful family that I do!!