New new new!!!

We are officially settled in and have gotten use to the new digs!!  We are so blessed to be provided with housing and that my kids get to stay home with me!!  I couldn't ask for more!!  I love waking up everyday and getting to spend some quality (and grouchy) time together at the breakfast table before we load the van!  We load the van and get woman to their respected school or job and their children to daycare.  Then we are back home for some one-on-one time and home school with Gibson before lunch.  After lunch Gibson reluctantly goes down for a nap and then we load the van again and pick everyone up!!!

Gibson loves getting to hang out with other kids all the time!  There is a big playroom in the cottage area that he gets to play in and do lots of pretending in!!  Lennon enjoys being cooed over by the older kids and moms!!  I love getting to serving the Lord and that my kids are a witness to it.  Cory loves that the house is clean every night that he comes home :)

Lennon's room

School area

Gibson's bedroom

I would be lying to you if I said that there wasn't a down side.  Living where you work is a very weird thing to have to adjust to.  Knowing that all that separates you from 2 to 3 other families is one door is a hard thing to get use to.  Another weird side of living where you work is that you are never really "off" work, I am just right there so if someone has an emergency or needs advice after dinner then my phone rings!

God has poured out His blessings on us and I pray that he begins to strengthen me and my family as we dive deeper into this ministry!  I covet your prayers as well!!

Things I found while packing!

It is taking me a lot longer to pack then I thought... mainly because I am doing way too much reminiscing!!  I was looking through my high school scrapbooks that I had made and could kick myself for not writing peoples names in them!! I just knew that I would never forget anyone and now 9 years later I can't remember!!!  I found notes and cards that Kaydee had written me when she was preschool aged and pictures that Peyton "scribbled" for me and Kaydee wrote out what it was :)  I found comic books, year books, cards, notes, and tons and tons of pictures!!  I just kept thinking that some of these pictures needed to be put aside for Dustin and Elizabeth's wedding video!!  I have a lot of them together when they were younger on camping trips!!  (in the same picture there's also me, Kaydee, Colby, Cole, Peyton, Ashley, Karsyn, Masyn, and Brextyn!!)

I found a list a made of the reasons I love Cory!  I don't know why or how long ago I made it.
1. You Love God
2. You are kind
3. Head strong
4. Intelligent (especially when it comes to the Word)
5. Fun
6. I love you laugh (cackle)
7. You love and respect me
8. Follow your convictions
9. Work hard for me
10. Speak your mind
11. Loyal
12. Cute!!
13. You love Gibson!!

I now have to add to that list
14. Strong leader of this family
15. Work hard for US
16. You love Lennon!!

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!