When I found out, I was still in Muskogee. I was down stairs talking to Mom and Dad waiting for Tara to arrive so we can start hearing all about their vacation to Rome and the Mediterranean. Just as Tara was getting in the door, my phone rang. I hadn't heard much from Paul since he went back to Colorado just 2 days prier because his phone didn't get reception by the mountain wear we lived. So I quickly answered anxious to hear his voice. But his voice was not his usual. I ran upstairs so I could hear him better away from the noise of excitement down stairs. This is when he told me.
After getting off the phone I carried myself down stairs to tell the family. Sick and disbelief swept over me. Anger and tears welled inside. I was upset, I didn't understand, and I was confused as to why.
The next morning I awoke with this song, "Everlasting God" at the very forefront of my mind. I basically awoke singing it. "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,"
That day I met up with Paul and we were able to talk things over and get a plan in motion. But things were still very confusing.
Wednesday morning I work up singing these words "When you don't understand, when you can't see God's plane, trust his heart."
God continued to encourage me in this way because the next morning I work quoting Proverbs 3 "Trust in the LORD with all your Heart, lean not on your own understanding". I later that day went to look it up and saw how helpful that Proverbs 3:5-12 was.
Again God put a scripture on my mind when I awoke the Friday morning Philippians 4:4-7 "rejoice in the Lord always again I will say rejoice, let your gentleness be evident to all, for the Lord is near. Do not worry about anything but in everything, with prayer and petition, and thanksgiving offer your request to God, and the peace of God that paces all understanding will guide your hearts in Christ Jesus."
I would not have made it through so easily without these sweet reminders and encouragement from my God.
He was even faithful when I was weak. While we were white water rafting on Sunday I was thinking about the situation and was hurting when I looked up and written on the back of our guides safety pack was "the Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still" Exodus 14:14
I still don't agree with how and why things happened they way they did and why they did. But I am better in knowing that God has carried me through. He has reminded me daily of who he is and daily protected me from the evil ones lies. I am so thankful for his Care and protection. He is a great God who loves me very much.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
okay here we go...
This is still very fresh, but Paul and I have had time to pray and talk it over with friends, family, and mentors.
Paul got in from visiting family briefly in Muskogee on Saturday night. He went to finish setting things up to be ready for service on Sunday. After leading Worship on Sunday, Paul went in to work, which is usually his day off. but because I was coming back into Colorado the next day, Tuesday, and because he was going to have to go to Denver to pick me up. He chose to work Monday. That afternoon, the minister, and one other Elder met with him. They talked to him briefly and said, they thought it is best if Paul would resign. (Just to be clear, there are NO moral issues involved!) This came as a huge shock, we have had our struggles, but it had only been 18 mo.
There are a lot of reasons for resigning most are small and insignificant, the greatest cause was because we are not the fit for Grandview. All in all, I feel that we were not given much time to adjust to the difference in culture. We felt as if we were just coming accustom to things when they asked for us to leave.
God is so good and continues to take care of us. They gave Paul a choice of taking the kids to CIY or not, Paul chose to do so. After that our responsibilities were done, but are paid until August. We put our house on the market, packed up what we could, and said some quick goodbyes, then left for Muskogee, with plans to return soon. Here we are at Paul's parents until we see were God is leading us to next. In the mean time Paul is looking for a job both here in Muskogee to get us through the transitional time and one for the future
We are not done with Ministry. We learned too much in this last one to be through, we feel as if we were just getting started with even more to learn.
God has been wonderful in providing encouragement both to Me and Paul.
The beginning of last month before we knew of anything. Paul went to Camp at Camp Como. There he was encouraged greatly by other youth ministers and even by one in particular who talked a long time with him. God knew he would need these as reminders that Paul is in the ministry He had called him too. God had continued to encourage him even after the event through friends, family, and mentors. For this I am VERY thankful.
God has encouraged me too, by giving me scripture or a song on my mind each morning I awoke for the first week. He is ever so faithful and is my comforter. Although it is a scary time, things can look more like an adventure when God is ever so present. When things don't make sense and even seem unfair, We can make it when We know that God is on our side.
Paul got in from visiting family briefly in Muskogee on Saturday night. He went to finish setting things up to be ready for service on Sunday. After leading Worship on Sunday, Paul went in to work, which is usually his day off. but because I was coming back into Colorado the next day, Tuesday, and because he was going to have to go to Denver to pick me up. He chose to work Monday. That afternoon, the minister, and one other Elder met with him. They talked to him briefly and said, they thought it is best if Paul would resign. (Just to be clear, there are NO moral issues involved!) This came as a huge shock, we have had our struggles, but it had only been 18 mo.
There are a lot of reasons for resigning most are small and insignificant, the greatest cause was because we are not the fit for Grandview. All in all, I feel that we were not given much time to adjust to the difference in culture. We felt as if we were just coming accustom to things when they asked for us to leave.
We care a great deal for Grandview, and Trust God's hand is in this. Although we are so glade to have served there, our time has come to an end. It has been the hardest most exhausting year and half of our lives. But we have learned a lot being there. I feel as if we have learned 5 yrs worth of experience in just 1 1/2 years.
God is so good and continues to take care of us. They gave Paul a choice of taking the kids to CIY or not, Paul chose to do so. After that our responsibilities were done, but are paid until August. We put our house on the market, packed up what we could, and said some quick goodbyes, then left for Muskogee, with plans to return soon. Here we are at Paul's parents until we see were God is leading us to next. In the mean time Paul is looking for a job both here in Muskogee to get us through the transitional time and one for the future
We are not done with Ministry. We learned too much in this last one to be through, we feel as if we were just getting started with even more to learn.
God has been wonderful in providing encouragement both to Me and Paul.
The beginning of last month before we knew of anything. Paul went to Camp at Camp Como. There he was encouraged greatly by other youth ministers and even by one in particular who talked a long time with him. God knew he would need these as reminders that Paul is in the ministry He had called him too. God had continued to encourage him even after the event through friends, family, and mentors. For this I am VERY thankful.
God has encouraged me too, by giving me scripture or a song on my mind each morning I awoke for the first week. He is ever so faithful and is my comforter. Although it is a scary time, things can look more like an adventure when God is ever so present. When things don't make sense and even seem unfair, We can make it when We know that God is on our side.
CIY
Wow! Is the first words to my mind. It was a great week! Very informative and very inspiring. The weekend before we went to Noah's ark which is a camping, rafting, and rock climbing place. We stayed two nights and had only 3 of our kids with us for the first night. We cooked out on Paul's pocket rocket, because we thought there was burn bane, but found out later there wasn't. The funny thing was the next day we went to get fire wood and the burn bane came in effect that night.
the first day we went white water rafting, which was a BLAST! The kids seemed to really enjoy it too. Later that night the other 2 kids arrived and joined us for frito chilli pie and smores over the pocket rocket. very funny site to see.
After freezing our tails off for two nights we got into Durango to go to the conference. The first day was focused on Samuel, we learned about how he listened to God and then God spoke mighty things through Samuel. Then we learned about Rahab, the prostitute, and how even though we may have a past, God can and will still use us, we need only to be willing. Thursday was the most intense day. We learned about Radshack, Meshack, and Abendigo (spelling is wrong I know) and how they were faithful in the small and became faithful in the big and God showed his great power through them! That night we also got to hear of Awjai Lawll Speak (spelling again is wrong) He is a minister in India, who has planted over 500 churches and has been persecuted for the faith. He shared many amazing, awe-inspiring stories about those who have been faithful for the cause of the Gospel. After He spoke we watched a documentary by CIY called "love cost everything" it is about the persecuted church and how it is the number one persecuted group in the world right now. They mentioned that if you care anything about human rights you should care about the persecuted christians. It was almost overwhelming, but completely eye opening. It made all my troubles seem like nothing. The last day we talked about John the baptist and how his job was to prepare the way for the Lord. How his life pointed to Christ and how ours should too!
The kids that went got a lot out of it, I think. Most of them it was their first time to CIY. I think CIY will have as great an impact in their life as it did ours.
I am very thankful we went to CIY. It was not only a great conference, but it allowed us to have some great time and memories with the kids before we left. Those kids are amazing and we truely love them. I got to see some really neat things that week in the lives of the two girls I was with most of the time. One of the girls whom I have known the whole 18 mo we were in Canon, finally allowed me to see a glimps of her heart this week, and I loved what I saw. She has an amazing spirit and such a desire to serve God and lead others to him. She has such the gift in leadership, I am praying that she uses it this year to lead the youth group since they are now with out a youth paster for a little while. She has been their only constant person and they need her to lead them. The other girl is so sweet and tender, but she realized how quickly she lets other dictate her. She desires now to lead others, she will be a gentle leader, one who will lead more with passion and actions then anything, which is exactly what is needed! I am so thankful for the short time I had with them, they have taught me so much. Lessons that Paul and I will treasure, and may not have been able to see as clearly if things were not happening the way they are.
the first day we went white water rafting, which was a BLAST! The kids seemed to really enjoy it too. Later that night the other 2 kids arrived and joined us for frito chilli pie and smores over the pocket rocket. very funny site to see.
After freezing our tails off for two nights we got into Durango to go to the conference. The first day was focused on Samuel, we learned about how he listened to God and then God spoke mighty things through Samuel. Then we learned about Rahab, the prostitute, and how even though we may have a past, God can and will still use us, we need only to be willing. Thursday was the most intense day. We learned about Radshack, Meshack, and Abendigo (spelling is wrong I know) and how they were faithful in the small and became faithful in the big and God showed his great power through them! That night we also got to hear of Awjai Lawll Speak (spelling again is wrong) He is a minister in India, who has planted over 500 churches and has been persecuted for the faith. He shared many amazing, awe-inspiring stories about those who have been faithful for the cause of the Gospel. After He spoke we watched a documentary by CIY called "love cost everything" it is about the persecuted church and how it is the number one persecuted group in the world right now. They mentioned that if you care anything about human rights you should care about the persecuted christians. It was almost overwhelming, but completely eye opening. It made all my troubles seem like nothing. The last day we talked about John the baptist and how his job was to prepare the way for the Lord. How his life pointed to Christ and how ours should too!
The kids that went got a lot out of it, I think. Most of them it was their first time to CIY. I think CIY will have as great an impact in their life as it did ours.
I am very thankful we went to CIY. It was not only a great conference, but it allowed us to have some great time and memories with the kids before we left. Those kids are amazing and we truely love them. I got to see some really neat things that week in the lives of the two girls I was with most of the time. One of the girls whom I have known the whole 18 mo we were in Canon, finally allowed me to see a glimps of her heart this week, and I loved what I saw. She has an amazing spirit and such a desire to serve God and lead others to him. She has such the gift in leadership, I am praying that she uses it this year to lead the youth group since they are now with out a youth paster for a little while. She has been their only constant person and they need her to lead them. The other girl is so sweet and tender, but she realized how quickly she lets other dictate her. She desires now to lead others, she will be a gentle leader, one who will lead more with passion and actions then anything, which is exactly what is needed! I am so thankful for the short time I had with them, they have taught me so much. Lessons that Paul and I will treasure, and may not have been able to see as clearly if things were not happening the way they are.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sometime in Muskogee
After a while of processing what to do while Paul was at camp. We decided to fly me and the girls down to spend some time in Muskogee for Eden's birthday and while Paul did camps. We got in just before Eden's birthday and had an amazing time, all for the fact that her daddy couldn't be there. It was a watermelon theme party with an amazing cake made by one of my friends. We played in the water, even though Eden would screem anytime she was brought near the water.
We then had lots of time with Aunt Haley, cousin Alexa, Aunt Tara, cousin Piper and Miley, Granny, Pepaw, Nana, Papa, and more.
After the first week Nana and Papa left to go on a cruise in the Metateranian. So we spent the next week at Granny and Pewpas. It was fun and we enjoyed it tramendously.
Paul even got to join us for a few days inbetween camps. We went to the aquarium and to the water park. We made sure we had a blast here in Oklahoma before we went back to Colorado.
After 2 1/2 weeks I flew back to Colorado to join Paul and go with him to CIY.
The girls then got to spend another week and half in Muskogee waiting on their mommy and Daddy to get back.
We then had lots of time with Aunt Haley, cousin Alexa, Aunt Tara, cousin Piper and Miley, Granny, Pepaw, Nana, Papa, and more.
After the first week Nana and Papa left to go on a cruise in the Metateranian. So we spent the next week at Granny and Pewpas. It was fun and we enjoyed it tramendously.
Paul even got to join us for a few days inbetween camps. We went to the aquarium and to the water park. We made sure we had a blast here in Oklahoma before we went back to Colorado.
After 2 1/2 weeks I flew back to Colorado to join Paul and go with him to CIY.
The girls then got to spend another week and half in Muskogee waiting on their mommy and Daddy to get back.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Eden's first birthday
Eden turned one!
She is 17.3 lbs
27 inches long
less the 5th %
She is little, but she eats a lot! Her personality is soo much fun. She maybe shy at first, but if you take a moment to get to know her you realize how sweet she is. She loves to flirt and tease, most of all she loves to be held. She has such a sweet smile that just gets you every time. She also has a stinker smile that she gives when she is being ornery. She is learning to stand up for her self and is a quick crawler to get away from her sister. She may be little but she compensates with how she eats. She loves food, and never seems to get full.. She also compensates for her smallness by being loud when she needs to be. If she doesn't think something is just she will let you know. Such as when she doesn't have your attention or if Haddie is annoying her. She also loves her schedule, but she is doing better with being flexible
so much to say...
There are so many things I need to post and update. So over the next few days or so I will posting updates on our life. A lot has happened over the last month and lot needs to be said! Eden turned one, I spent some time in Muskogee, we left Canon City and we went to CIY, then we moved to Muskogee. These and more will be coming in detail in the next few days.
God is doing something, we may not be sure what just yet, But we trust that it will be good and very much an adventure!
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