One Year Later…

It was one year ago last Saturday that Rob and I first laid eyes on our church here in the Big City. I can hardly believe that one year ago I was writing in my journal from my picnic table in my front yard, underneath a tree, with no houses in sight. I don’t know if I will ever get used to people being all up in each others’ business and yards. ijdk…

But it really has been a lot better than I thought it’d be. The people are mostly nice to us at the church. People mostly don’t smoke pot in their front yards, or let their flea-ridden dogs snuggle your flea-free dog. People really don’t drive crazy in the neighborhood, or steal my lawn ornaments. So it’s pretty good.

I left on Saturday morning (against dr’s orders to take better care of my bulging disk) to visit Rob in Ohio. He’s  at seminary, this being the last of two solid weeks of study. I miss him so, which is why I packed up myself and the dog and went to Ohio this weekend. It was great to see him, but I couldn’t get settled down at bedtime. We both grabbed for each other’s hand and said, “Let’s pray,” at the same time, and we both felt better afterward.

Since it’s Pastor School, they have their own little service in a common room on Sunday morning. We were told it was at 11:00 and while I didn’t really want to go, while we were praying, God laid it on my heart that Rob and I should attend. “OK God,  you’re the boss of me,” I said with a light heart.

Sunday morning comes and we awoke early. The bed there is HORRIBLE. We ate and Rob walked the dog and then we piddled around until time to go to church. We left with several minutes to spare, but we were slightly horrified that there was singing coming from the common room before we could see anyone’s faces or understand how late we were. I was shocked, because my phone is a bit fast and it said we had 6 minutes before 11:00.

Then I realized they were singing a song usually reserved for the end of the service. We walked in and greeted people and realized the service had just finished when Jerry, who’d told us the service time the night before, asked everyone to come back together and join hands with Rob and me. He told them how he’d told us the wrong time and how he wanted us to be a part of their morning worship, so please would we pray with them.

A man took charge and told Rob that he needed to get in the middle so they could lay hands on him and pray for him. I was very happy with this, because Rob is a bit out of his element not being at home. But then they asked me to join Rob in the middle of their circle. There were at least 20 gathered around us with hands on both Rob and me. For a short minute, I was thinking my knees might buckle under the weight of their hands. LOL

Do you know what they prayed about? Each and every single thing that Rob and I prayed about the night before. Can you believe it? I mean, I know I should expect cool things like that from God, but it blew me away! I was a bawlling, blubbering mess at the end, but my heart was soaring!

They prayed for our being away from each other these two weeks, and how happy they are that we younguns have found the Lord in our young age. LOL  They prayed that the Lord bless us in answering His call to minister to His people. Really the only thing they didn’t specifically mention was infertility… I think I would have died on the spot if they had!

Afterward, as a group we made blueberry pancakes and sausages, as well as coffee and OJ. DEEEElish!

And on the way back to the hotel to pack up and leave my honey, something very amazing dawned on me.

• I hadn’t wanted to go to church because I wanted to be lazy and stay in bed with Rob.
• But God told me we were to go anyway.
• The bed was horribly uncomfortable, so we were up very early and dragged our feet until it was time to go to church.
• WE HAD THE TIME WRONG, but nobody had our phone number, so we got there late.
• And the group of pastors prayed for us.

GOD ALWAYS KNEW we would be late. He told me to go to church and he knew how everything was going to happen! I am thrilled that my God knows me so well that he asked for my obedience in going to worship, and I didn’t have to sit there at all. It was like eating dessert for dinner!

Mindy’s Open House

Mindy and her Cake, made by my Mom!

The party went well. Rob and I are exhausted. L spent the weekend with his former foster family. I also, for some reason, painted the bathroom over the weekend. Am I a nut, or what?

VACATION!!!!! YEAH!

Just got home last night. I wrote this yesterday.

 

The best thing I can think of about this vacation is actually more than one thing.

The food. Garrett has cooked for us nonstop since we arrived. He’s not gourmet, but man is he ever close. WOW! Melon and chocolate the first night. Eggs, ham, cheese and potato hash yesterday morning. BBQ grilled chicken for lunch with dried cherries (of which I ate way way way too many and ended up with a sick tummy for the rest of the day), grilled ENORMOUS steaks last night, with asparagus and baked potato.

The atmosphere. This is a log cabin. I LOVE IT. And it’s In the middle of the woods. Again, I LOVE IT. I have not seen another house in the time we’ve been here, and believe me, we have looked. No road noise of any sort; just birds chirping their long, low, melancholy songs, and rain on the metal roof of the barn.

Reconnecting with God. I knew when we decided to come here that it was a retreat for my soul as well as my body. Garrett had confided in me a while back that their previous pastor had taken her vacations here and spent much time alone and studying. After breakfast yesterday, for about 4 hours, I sat on the porch swing and wrote in my leather journal that my family had given me. I wrote about mundane things such as what’s going on this week in my life, and also about two recent deaths that have impacted us greatly (one because it means Rob has to do a funeral, and we’re going home a day early from this glorious retreat because of it, and the other because she was my boss at my very first job at the Bridal Shop, and also a very close family friend). I wrote of a series of books I am reading by author Jeanette Oke, which are similar to the Little House on the Prairie books, in that they are set In the same time period and they are very strongly Christian books.  I share their exact same theology, and it’s one which is welcoming and loving. I love when our Savior’s love is proclaimed so, I guess, lovingly.

Also, when I had written my heart out for a while, I sat there and listened to God’s creation. I also read Psalms and prayed for a long while. I cried and cried because Rob had read Psalm 139 to me earlier in the morning, but now it was as though the Lord was telling my heart, “Jayleigh, even though you know that I know your heart and tell me that we’ll talk later, we never do. Understand that you need to take the time away from life to tell me your heart. That is for YOU, because I do know your heart without you telling me.” He knows my lying down and my rising up. If I make my bed in Sheol, He is there. The darkness of night is as light to Him.

It was one of the most moving moments of my entire life. I sat there under blankets (it was only 50 degrees) for FOUR glorious hours, communing with God and with His creation. My final prayers were that I would be filled “for the long haul” and remember to come to Him in prayer OFTEN, and not just when I was at my wits’ end. And also, that Stormy (fc 1) will be moved by the Lord to accept His true love and His healing into her life. (She wrote an email the day we left for vacation, cussing us out for WHO KNOWS WHY, calling us both some horrid names, swearing, and misusing the Lord’s name. I choose not to respond to her in writing, but in earnest prayer.

Riding Quads. You KNOW I am not really an adrenaline seeker. I like fun stuff, but not when I feel it may put me in danger. But somehow I had taken leave of my senses yesterday. Garrett really wanted us to have a fun time and either go fishing with him (he bought us licenses, no kidding!) or ride quads. Well he and Rob rode quads in the early afternoon and he was on my case to join them. I didn’t want to because I was a bit afraid that there would be many other people on the trails (I forgot that it was Sunday night and everyone had probably already gone home) and I didn’t want to put myself in danger.

We rode for over 2 hours. Me with a sick stomach before we even set out! The guys let me take the lead after a while and I don’t remember ever having had so much fun in my life! I was able to ride the huge Polaris one that feels practically like you’re riding in a car. I pushed the speed sometimes, so that later I could tell my brother (who loves to ride quads) that I was going over 50 at one point on the road. Rob and Garrett laughed when I told them that and said that the speedometer must be malfunctioning because I had gone over 50 at points ON THE TRAIL!!!!

All in all, this was lots of fun. I stopped riding so fast last evening when a deer ran out in front of me. I was alright, just  a bit startled.

We’re heading home in a few hours. I can’t wait to be there and see my puppies. L, I can live without but we found out why he never unpacked. Because his Case worker had promised that he would be livng alone as of June 1. And we all know what the date is today, so no wonder he’s a bit mad.

Anyhoo….

Now we’re in the car. In fact, we have been in the car for about 4 hours now, and it only takes about three hours’ travel time if you go the right way.  But this is Rob and me we’re talking about and we just can’t do anything the simple way. No, we must take the scenic route, along the coast of Lake Huron. In the rain. The lake black as midnight with roaring waves. How do we know the waves were roaring? It is because we attempted to walk along the beach, yes even in the rain. J We were looking along that whole section of coastline for a place my grandparents stayed every summer when I was a child. I think the last time I went there, even for the day, I was about 8 or 9. I hadn’t even been on that road since I was 17 years old. And here I am at age 36, trying to remember the party store on the one side and the cabin on the other side. Heheheh

We stopped at A&W drive in and had burgers, rootbeers  and a KIT KAT flurry. It was sooo good. Oh great. I just looked up from that last sentence to see Rob passing by the last rest area for 30 miles. Oh well. I think I shall live.

Homing Pigeons

THE LITTLE KIDS

 had a greatexperience this morning, stemming directly from my lateness and unpreparedness. I know, it sounds a bit weird. I set my timer so that I would get up from the computer and playing on Facebook, (btw bloggers pls don’t mention MY blog on FB. Real life peeps know nothing abt my blog… thx) and get showered and dressed and walk the dogs, eat breakfast, pick up the little kids and get to church on time. Yeah my Sunday mornings are a bit hectic… but you know, such is life in the Parsonage.

I need to be out of the house by 9:15, in case I need to make two trips for the little kids (depending on whether there are 2 or 7 from this home who want to come). When I was finished getting ready, not having walked the dogs and not having eaten breakfast, it was 9:22. I have NO IDEA where the time went. So I finished my morning chores, grabbed a protein bar, and my phone and ran out the door.

Hurrying, I called the church to let Rob know that I was going to be late. I had seen Duke on the front steps of the church when I rolled by, and 30 seconds later when I called, he was inside at the public phone. Weird. I told him to let Rodney know to go ahead and start the kids service without me and that I am sorry for being late. Then I just chilled and enjoyed my drive to the crummy neighborhood. My favorite is the sign that says “No HO  Zone”, warning prostitutes that they may not stand in front of this particular dwelling. I will have to take a picture sometime. It CRACKS me up.

I picked up the kids and they were arguing and chatting about everything and nothing. I turned up my Francesca Battistelli CD so I couldn’t hear their nagging and we rocked down the street in style, thumping with our music turned loud and the windows down. The kids laugh hysterically that it’s with their pastor’s wife that they thump through the neighborhood.

We got to the church and I had the kids pile out at the door and I went to park my car, narrowly missing this man in a black suit with a HUGE cross necklace on, riding his bicycle out of the parking lot. I’ll come back to him later.

JUMP AND SHOUT

The Sunday School opening between services is SO MUCH FUN. We do this song called “Jump and Shout” and it’s a British Import from a visiting pastor this church had a few years ago. It goes something like this:

Jump and Shout and praise the Lord, you gotta Jump and Shout and Praise the Lord, you gotta Jump and Shout and Praise the Lord. Jump and Shout or you won’t be heard. Wave your hands in the air. You gotta wave your hands in the air. You gotta wave your hands in the air. You gotta make some noise or you won’t be heard. Jump and Shout to the Lord of Lords.

It’s a cute song. Later, it says something like, “get down on your knees, pat the floor on either side, clap your hands in front, behind!” And later still, it says “pat your head and slap your thighs”… just super cute and my hubby stands up front with Rodney and jumps like the kids at a Rock Concert. Sweeeet.

Afterword, Corinna, 10, came up and said, “Jayleigh, I am afraid of that bad man who was here after the last service. I am not coming back if he is ever here again.” I told her he wasn’t coming back, but at that point, I had NO IDEA what she was talking about.

PENTECOST SUNDAY

OK so I grew up in the same kind of church where Rob preaches now. Except that it’s nothing like the highly formal, mostly un-fun, and eat-your-vegetables kind of church I have gone to for my whole life. Example: They decorated the sanctuary for Pentecost. The altar was more dressed up than at Christmas, and nearly as dressed up as Easter. EV-RY-THING was draped in red silk, or had red roses on it. (I keep thinking, how great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called the Children of God! 1 John 3:1 So why not lavish His altar in His house with some finer every once in a while?)

Rob gave an amazing sermon, based heavily on one of the speeches we heard at Mindy’s graduation last Thursday. The speech talked about water being at 211 degrees and just being really hot water, but if it moves up just one degree, that it boils and makes steam enough to run engines and turbines, make electricity, and all kinds of awesome things. And that even when things seem to be going nowhere fast, that a change of just one degree on our part can bring about MASSIVE changes around us.

The Choir sang this awesome song called “Come Holy Spirit” and it was sooo cool. A pretty song yes, but the lyrics blew me away. (Click the song title for lyrics.) Oh! And we all wore red. Rob had on a grey suit, but with a red tie and red liturgical stole. He was quite striking, actually.

LUNCHING WITH HOMING PIGEONS

After church was all finished, there was a short meeting about a van that this nice family wants to give the church. There isn’t enough money to pay the bills right now, but we feel absolutely led to accept this van. The insurance is on with Rob’s and my personal policy because it was a MUCH BETTER rate, and because we wanted to have control over who would drive it and watch it when it wasn’t being used. Hopefully I won’t have to make two trips for the little kids anymore!

I had 4 of the kids, ages 6-12 with me today, and I just COULD NOT send them home without having had lunch. We served a meager breakfast this morning and I had $15 in my wallet, and I just wanted to treat them to Mc D’s Dollar Menu and the playground before sending them home.

You should have seen those babies’ eyes light up when I spread a blanket out on the ground and had a “picnic” with our Mc Donald’s fare. One girl said, “Miss Jayleigh, we haven’t been out to dinner in forever.” I wanted to laugh or cry, because Mc D’s, people! That’s hardly even food! (I still like it though; you know what I mean.)

HOMING PIGEONS GOING HOME

A few weeks ago after the Mother-Daughter Banquet, I was driving the little girls home and asked one of them, “LEFT, RIGHT, or STRAIGHT?” She asked, “What????” I wanted her to tell me which way to go at the intersection. I went through each of the 4 girls about 6 times and nearly always, they told me to turn the direction closer to their home. I told them they were being Homing Pigeons and they laughed. I wasn’t certain they would get my joke.

The following week, they wanted to play “that game” but I was tired and frustrated with the day, and told them I’d do it the next week, which was today. Words just cannot express the joy in my heart right now. One of the kids asked, “Miss Jayleigh, can we play ‘Homing Pigeons’?” I began to ask what she was talking about, and then it dawned on me that they named the game that my dad always played with my sibs and me as kids. They named my game because I called them homing pigeons!

The children took turns calling out directions. When they said to turn in a way that was closer to home, I’d cry out, “Homing Pigeon!” and everyone would roar with laughter and chide the navigator for sending us in the right directon. I think everyone got about 4 turns before I took matters into my own hands. We were on a busy road then, not in my neighborhood any longer. And then a thought occurred to me to show them a different neighborhood.

BRICK HOUSES

I asked if it was OK that I took them to the neighborhood of the community college. Nobody wanted to go home yet, and out little game had taken all of 15 minutes at this point. My dad had us navigating as kids, but it was my mom who took us through leafy neighborhoods with large lawns, pretty flowers and well-kept, amazing houses from days gone by: houses that still had hitching posts and stables in their city-backyards, houses with third stories and with single candle-lights in the windows, with archways and possible with secret passages.

The children don’t get out of their own neighborhood, except when I come to get them for church. We’re about 18 blocks away. It’s a whole other world, but to the untrained eye, or the child-like one, our neighborhoods might look a lot alike. The houses are all the same. Some yards are kept up and some are not. Their neighborhood has ladies stopped  on the sidewalk at regular intervals, mine does not (thank goodness!).

When we turned down the curvy, leafy, quiet street, the children came alive. “Look at the window in the top floor of that house!” “Ohhhh BRICK! I always like brick houses!” “Look at that pretty porch! Those flowers!” The exclamations came nonstop and they’d ask me to turn left or turn right, based on the house they wanted to see a bit closer. It was an exceptionally large, nice neighborhood, and we spent maybe 5 or 10 minutes in it, driving slowly.

Those 5 or 10 minutes, multiplied by many more times that I hope to spend with these little ones, will hopefully be enough to broaden their horizons, to give them some knowledge of the world outside their neighborhood, and ultimately to give them a choice in their own future. This I pray.

I didn’t know what I’d write when I sat down today. In fact, I began on Sunday and now it’s Thursday. I wanted it to be good before I finished. This is the whole reason I am here. I have ALWAYS wanted to help people. I didn’t know how, or I had plans that didn’t line up with God’s plans. It wasn’t until I followed after His lead, giving my life over to the Lord that things lined up for me. I am by NO MEANS done with my plans. But I’m getting an idea of what God’s plans entail for me, at least for now.

I love it here in this city. It’s depressed economically, but if you look for the good, there is PLENTY to be found. It’s easy to criticize, and difficult to find the good. LOOK FOR THE GOOD! You won’t be disappointed!

What a Difference a Day Makes

… or two or three days, even.

I am sitting here now somewhat in awe of the crabbiness and nastiness I showed here on my blog last week. So in honor of God leading me by the hand out of that pit once more, I shall speak of my blessings today!

1. I don’t remember if I mentioned it or not, but I AM in contact with Stormy again. She emailed and apologized for what happened the last few days. I email and apologized for the parts where I was wrong. We are thrilled that she is in some way back in our lives.
2. Rob is getting better from his horrible allergies. Plus he’s much more fit than before. He doesn’t have to buy all new clothes because they don’t fit anymore! Yay Honey!!!!!!
3. I am not going down as far with my allergies as previously thought. And I got a great night’s sleep for the last two nights.
4. We saw some friends last night. Went to their house, hung out (Trina and The Brain) and just had a marvelous time being among friends. Not that living in The Parsonage is so awful… because I do love it here… but sometimes you just need to be around people who love you for YOU and no other reason. Plus, The Brain made burgers and even bought a tomato for topping because he knows we like them. And their whole family HATES raw tomatoes. So I was really feeling the love last night.
5. My parents never saw Angelina this week. I stopped being angry about the situation at some point on Thursday night. When I called my dad, he said very perturbed-like, “Well you got your wish. I hope you’re happy.” I asked what he was talking about. He said that the plans had fallen through with Angelina, and that they didn’t have more plans to see her, and he hoped I was happy. I got a little bit loud when I mentioned to Dad that I had not, in fact, ever told him or Mom of my concerns, and that it was my sister who had mentioned those things. “Furthermore,” said I, “you should be saying how proud you are that I kept my nose our of your business!!!” He agreed. And then we let the whole thing drop. I expect a bit of drama tonight when they are at my house, as my mom may not be able to contain her comments. But today is a different day. I HAVE ON MY GOSPEL ARMOR TODAY!!!
6. My sis is in a good place with her man. I love her so dearly and miss her every minute.
7. The new girl at work is much better than I thought she’d be. She’s quite capable and I didn’t have any doubt of that. I just wondered if she’d be sociable and it appears that she is. Yay. (This may have been the worst grammar post I have ever written!)
8. The Lord is sovereign! – He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talk s with me along life’s narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives. HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART! (That’s from a hymn, of course!)
9. There are no noises in this neighborhood until noon. We’re not looking at the flip-side, which means they were up late partying. I’m saying REJOICE, because I am up early and it’s quite serene. Praise God!
10. I have enough time to dress and walk the dogs, finish my make-up and hair, and grab a car-load of kids, and then get to church to feed the kids, help with Sunday School, participate in 2nd service, feed the kids lunch, do a Jr. Youth Group lesson, go to the funeral home with my parents (my uncle-by-marriage’s sitter passed away), come home and make dinner and eat and rest around 7 PM and go to bed EARLY I hope!

Thank you Father for my friends E and A. May you bless them greatly in their own trials this day. ***hugs***

What I Want

The Lord promises in Psalm 113:9 that he will settle the barren woman in her home as the happy mother of children.

I am claiming that promise in the name of Jesus. Amen.

1. I want to be settled.
2. In my home.
3. As a happy momma.
4. Of CHILDREN. (plural)

Yesterday buoyed my spirit. We played 2 hours of “would you rather”….

To Stormy, I posed:

• Would you rather wear Rob’s clothes to school (button down plaid shirt, khakis, deck shoes, glasses, no hair and make-up done) for the rest of your life,
• Or would you rather have the cutest outfit, the best hair and make-up in the world, drive the sweetest car, and nobody at school would ever talk to you or be friends with you ever again.

And after a grueling 3 minutes of deliberation, she said she’d rather be homely with friends than beautiful on the outside and nobody to share in her life.

It was such a great moment for me. A learning tool for Stormy, Rob and me.

I don’t remember much else of what happened, but we had fun, and Rob made an amazing chicken dinner, and Stormy and I made Chocolate Lava Baby Cakes. And I thought I would die and go to heaven. We each ate one last night, and each ate one tonight after dinner. Yeah. Heaven on earth.

Merry Christmas 2008

Every single thing is changing. Nothing is left out. But the Lord is still on His throne. He will provide. He alone is my strength and salvation. Praise to His name. Amen.

Beenie Weenie

Do you all know about Beenie Weenie? It’s a recipe. I’m licking my lips as I write this, because, dear internet, I am making the mother lode of all baked bean recipes. I am making 4 gallons of baked beans.

So you take (in my case homemade) baked beans, and you cut up hot dogs, and you toast up some hamburger buns (yes, hamburger) and you open some slices of American Cheese.

Then from top to bottom, this is what you have for one recipe of beenie weenie:

cheese                        cheese
hotdog slices              hotdog slices
baked beans               baked beans
1/2 bun                      other 1/2 of the bun

You slap those suckers on a cookie sheet and you broil until bubbly and melty. (Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE beans in any form? Seriously. It’s not right. And Rob will tell you so if you ever meet him. He’ll talk about how “musical” I am.)

Please encourage kiddos to eat with a fork and table knife or else wait until they have cooled down a little.

Here’s the part where I need to offer a heartfelt apology to Rob’s and my dear friend The Brain. The Brain once served this recipe to us, but we hadn’t ever had it before. We weren’t very nice about it. We didn’t “get” the subtle nuances of amazing flavor.

Dear The Brain,

I’m sorry for making fun of your recipe. I love you, you know. And I love your whole family.

And I love love love love love beenie weeine.

Love,
Jayleigh

Perfect Submission

I sat down at my computer about 45 minutes ago, my heart disquieted. My head is so clouded sometimes that I can’t gather my thoughts enough to even pray. I wanted to write a post. I wanted to pray for Rob in his ministry, his schooling, and one other thing on the Horizon for him, for us.

I threw up a little “God, help Rob, please. Help me know what to pray for” prayer. And instantly the phone rang. It was Rob.

He gave me two addresses. They were addresses of a church and a parsonage in the Little Big City about 30 minutes from here. The Superintendent wants Rob (and me) to consider taking this as a full-time gig.  It’s in NO WAY a sure thing, he just wants Rob’s permission to put his name through to the next round of talks.

Tonight, I went shoe shopping with Net for her son’s wedding a week from Saturday. She couldn’t find anything that would fit her because she has a wide foot. After I came home and watched Eureka, Rob and I talked a little and then I started baking chocolate chip muffins.

I was at my table scooping out batter into the muffin cups when the Lord said to my heart, “I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.” That’s a goodie for sure, but it’s the verse that I used on Rob last Sunday before he went off to school in Ohio. I truly love how God uses our own words (HIS own words that we quoted) to reassure us and show us His love.

The other two things rolling around in my mind are that no matter what happens on this Earth, I will live in Heaven with my God and Saviour for all eternity. And that if I submit to God’s will, things will turn out better than I could have imagined on my own.

And add to that, I am still over here in my own corner, dancing so hard because the Lord God delivered me from the pit those few years ago. Praise God!

Smellin’ Coffee

Praise God for His wonderful words to my heart today!

I was driving home from my piano lesson and took the long way to drive by a coworker’s house. Nikki just put in her 2 weeks’ notice because she graduate college and is putting her degree to work for her. She’s going through some tough times and God led me to pray for her while driving by.

After that (it’s only 5 minutes to my house), I let go of these past few days of irritation and agitation and finally said to God, “I’m ready for whatever you have planned.”

God said, “I’m going to move you up a big step. It will be difficult for you, but keep your eyes on me. Keep your focus on Me, but don’t lose focus or stop working at the things which are right in front of you. Don’t alienate yourself from people in your life. Keep your eyes on Me.”

I think I started crying. I’m sure I did. I can’t remember if I thanked God for His words then, but I am thanking Him for his words now. Then I was going to drive to Mickey D’s for a cup of coffee (our coffee maker takes an hour or better!) but I heard the same voice tell me just to go home. So I decided I would go home and make some for Rob and me.

When I pulled in the driveway, my darling Kody-bear ran up to the car all waggley and sweet. I petted him, dead-headed the flowers by the door, and then opened the door to see my sweet Rob sitting on the couch, working and watching tv. And then I looked into the kitchen to verify….

Rob made a pot of coffee while I was gone.

For me, that was all the verification I needed to know it was REALLY God speaking to me. Praise be to God, the Almighty, the King of Creation!!!!!

Heart Cries Out

Dear Abba God,

Today we learned from my darling hubby (Rob) that you want to be close with us, not as a disciplinarian, but as a true Father. Let me always remember your love and stop fearing the unknown. Let me stop fearing being left out or left behind. Let me stop being stung by weird coworkers who don’t know or love you. Let me focus on you and let you take care of the rest.

Forgive me, dear Father. There are so many things on my heart, and I don’t even know where to begin. I feel like a complete failure, but you have said a zillion times that I only fail if I stop trying. I want to keep trying but I am afraid. Please deliver me from this unholy fear. Rob’s only going to Detroit, not the other side of the world. It’s only 2 hours from here. Only 5 days. And he’s coming home at night. Please grant me your peace.

So many worries: our church being broken-into, now twice; my darling Hattie @ church who is ill; The Brain who Rob and I love like a brother (his salvation, his job, his family-life and marriage); Dotty and LaMar; Mindy and her job options; CJ’s constant drinking; this week at work; my chiropractor’s office move and new hours; our crazy pluming; Rob’s schooling in August in Ohio. Lord God I give all these things to you in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. I can’t handle them anymore and I am tired of trying.

I love you, Father. Please create in me a renewed heart. Thank you for the letter today from the little boy in Kenya. My heart was so moved. Thank you for the good turn-out at the dinner today at church. 12 people from Branton (plus The Brain family) came just for Rob and me.

And I Corinthians was awesome. Thank you for the Bible on MP3-cd. I hadn’t ever read it before.

You are my center, dear precious Father. You are my hope and my light, my rock and my redeemer. Help me not to care what anyone says, just what makes you happy and what is your will for my life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Party Party Party

This is my Dad figuring out we were having a party for HIM!

 

My little cousin Will.i.am with me at my dad’s retirement party on July 4. He’s so cute and I love him so much. We had a great time taking each other’s picture!

 

My niece, Cassie, me, and Charlie-boy at my dad’s party. Cassie was my shadow for almost the whole party and it was a balm unto my soul. I love that little girl so much. (Please don’t look at how my shirt is all stuck up hither and yon!)

 

My mom’s friend Maxine brought along a watermelon and wanted to have a seed-spitting contest. My Grandma Cole taught me how to do that at a young age, so I was all-in baby! From the left, we have Cassie, me, Cousin Will.i.am, Cousin Tegan, and Cousin Nellie. Guess who won!

 

 

Me of couse. Look at those stupid seed-spitting poofy-cheeks? And guess what I won!

 

Alright. It wasn’t that big. I think it was a half-pound, whereas this is 5lbs (said the caption of the website from which I blatantly stole this image).

Lastly, my super-sweet hubby darling with Will.i.am.

 

What a great day to have spent with my family!

Break-in, Breakfast, Weddings

We’re booked to overflowing this weekend. Rob and I took my parents to breakfast here in Town this morning, but before we left, got a call that Rob’s Church in Middleton was broken into overnight. They broke down the front door, and tried to break into the Safe with a crowbar.

They took money out of the offering plate sitting on the altar (which Rob had placed there a week ago so he wouldn’t misplace it), but nothing else seems to be broken or missing.

It’s sad and I’m sure the long-standing church members are feeling about as violated as I feel. Plus, I think Rob  may have to replace the funds in the offering plate: it was $22 for some books for a Bible Study that Rob’s running on Monday nights. He probably shouldn’t have put it there… but we’ve never been up against this before, and didn’t think it possible.

So now we’re done with breakfast, done with shopping and Rob’s making more phone calls about the break-in and repairs. Then this afternoon at 3 and at 5, Rob is performing 2 weddings. The one at 3 is IN the church building. The one at 5 is in a backyard by a pond. I hope to take some pictures.

My mind is actually reeling at the thought of some stupid kids breaking into my church. They had to be stupid kids, else why would they have thought for even a moment that a safe like the ones pictured, could be broken into with a CROWBAR! Come on!

Meanwhile, I am dealing with/giving up to God/moving on from my feelings of anger over the break-in. 

Yesterday I was praying and felt impressed on my heart that today the evil one would try to put stumbling blocks in Rob’s and my path, so that we would argue and generally not have a good and happy day. So we took preventative action and pledged to each other and to God that we would take it easy on each other, and not argue. We decided to band together so when trouble strikes, we are two strands instead of one. And with God, we’re three strands.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (New International Version)

 12 Though one may be overpowered,
       two can defend themselves.
       A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

 

 

A Little R&R

On Saturday evening, we saw some friends for a bit of shopping, and then to The Olive Garden for dinner. They are R and R, our former pastor and his wife. We have such a grand time together and my heart is still singing because of all the fun we had.

Also, Rob is an amazing husband. He is also an amazing Pastor. After nearly 2 years of experience in being a pastor at a small country church, my husband has turned out to be quite an amazing public speaker.

God is so good to us. He’s blessed us so much. And even though my only day off was Sunday, Rob and I rested all afternoon and goofed around. It was truly a Sabbath.

God is SO GOOD.