God's Sovereignty

This has been a year where God continues to remind me that He is truly sovereign and is taking care of me in an awesome, awesome way!!

For example, last night my van wouldn't start after I dropped off some lab work at the hospital (Nate's poop sample, if you're curious!). Well, it was frustrating, but I called Triple A and proceeded to wait for what seemed like forever to someone to arrive with jumper cables. A friend came to pick up the boys, as they were going nuts in the van. Anyway, Ian missed soccer practice. Well, I just found out his soccer coach wasn't able to make it to practice, so there was a substitute coach. PRAISE THE LORD THAT THE VAN BROKE DOWN!!!!!

In this last year, we have learned that Ian THRIVES with routine and schedule. He doesn't do well when something is different or unexpected. If I had tried to take him to practice with a different coach, it wouldn't have been pretty. He probably wouldn't have even gone out on the field. We probably would have both just left in tears. I am so thankful that God worked it out for us NOT to be there...I feel like He protected me from a hurtful situation. I feel loved and cared for...I LOVE MY GOD!!!! When God says to give thanks in ALL circumstances, He means it! We don't see the big picture, but He does. Praise Him!!!

Well, I also got a super-encouraging and random text today from a woman who I was able to share the gospel with MONTHS ago. I gave her a Bible (she didn't own one), a journal, and the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. TODAY, she texted me thanking me for the Bible and journal! God is WORKING in her!!! I hardly talk to her anymore since we met and saw each other through our boys' baseball team, so her text truly was random. I am blessed!

God is SO good!!!!!!!! I love that He loves me. I am so undeserving, but He loves me. He loves me!!! HE LOVES ME!!!!!!!!

He loves you, too! :)

homeschooling no more

Well, life has definitely changed in the our household. Just 1 month ago, I would have told you that my kids would be graduating from homeschool with the Christian homeschooling community where we were members. Well, I guess God had completely different plans.

I truly, truly have been relying on my God and KNOWING without a doubt that He seriously works ALL things together for my good and HIS GLORY (Romans 8:28). I was also encouraged to remember that like in the life of Joseph (in the bible! Genesis 50:20), sometimes what MAN intends for evil, God intends for good.

SO STINKIN' TRUE!!!

Unfortunately, my family was involved in a hurtful situation that proved to be un-biblical in the way it was handled. It was emotional for all of us...lots of tears were involved, especially by me. I mean, seriously, I thought I HAD EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT before this happened. I knew exactly how my boys would be educated and thought it was the ONLY way for our family.

Well, after said event occurred, I couldn't sleep for days. I was confused and crying out to God for help and wisdom and comfort and peace and direction. Honestly, I just didn't know how to pray. So, in the middle of the night, with just my bible and journal in hand, I began to pray for the Holy Spirit to please intercede on my behalf (Romans 8:26-27). I felt His comfort and peace and ended that praying/crying time with the Lord with some direction. I slept after this...in His peace.

Later that morning, we had a family meeting with my awesome husband taking the lead. (Through this all, he was my protector and my family's hero...I fell even more deeply in love with him.  I am so blessed!) We prayed together. We cried together. The older two boys went to their rooms to listen to God and ask Him for direction.

Together, with God's leading and guidance, we decided that the boys would start public school. WOW! Seriously...4 days before this I never thought this would even be an option in our lives.  Well, never say never!

Honestly, it has almost been one month, and I finally feel like I am at a place where I can write about it.  This was hard...very, very hard.  However, I must tell you that I am doing great.  Seriously, I cannot tell you how good I feel.  I didn't realize how totally stressed-out, overwhelmed, stressed-out, uptight, un-fun, stretched, and on edge I had become. I was spiritually, emotionally, and physically drained...tapped...spent and DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!  

Now, I am relaxed.  I laugh A LOT!!  I laugh so hard I cry over ridiculous things like exploding cookies during an Apples to Apples game.  (You had to be there!!)  I seriously don't remember laughing like that in a very, very long time.  I am so much more joyful.  I like me.  It is good.  HE IS GOOD!!!

He seriously allowed me to go through an unwanted, horrible, and hurtful situation because He knew that was the ONLY way that our family would switch its course.

Even better than all that is the fact that I have fallen in love with my sweet 5-year-old Ian again.  He has been my hardest child, by far.   Now, we have some time together every day where he is the "oldest" and we play and laugh and have fun!!!  I actually enjoy him.  I also have the necessary time to discipline him correctly and diligently.  It is good.  GOD IS GOOD!!! 

And in case you're wondering, my boys love school.  Nate is having a harder time adjusting, but he loves it.

God is good!!!!  WOOOOHOOOOO!!!

red spot

Ian just came to me and said, "Look at my foot.  Do you see that red spot?" 

I said, "Yes, do you need a band-aid." 

He said, "No, it just doesn't look nice." 

Smiling, I said, "Oh, it will heal.  God made your body to heal." 

He replied, "Oh, okay" and walked back into his room.

Wow...I didn't know that his foot looking "nice" was so important to him.  What a character!!  :)

Chutes and Ladders and girls

Today after lunch, Caden, Ian, and I played Chutes and Ladders. We could only find two of the game pieces, a girl and a boy. Teasingly, I said to Ian, "You can be the girl." To which he replied, "I'll be the girl. I love girls. I have a hundred girl friends." I started smiling and said something about me being a girl. He said, "Well, you're my favorite girl friend."

Today is the first day home with just Caden and Ian. The older two started public school today. That's a whole other blog post for another day. All I can say is so far so good!!!

awful day

I know that God has amazing plans for my family, to give us a hope and a future and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). I know that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). But you know, sometimes life is just HARD. Curveballs are thrown at you and they hurt.

Well, yesterday was just an awful day. My character was called into question by someone who I trusted.

I just feel defeated. Actually, I kind of feel like someone just decided to use my heart as a trampoline.

Anyway, I know that I know that I know that God has the best in mind for me; I just hate when it hurts this badly.

So, when I was praying with all the boys last night at the end of such a horrible day, Nate prayed this, "Thank you Jesus for this awful day. Amen."

Yep...that about sums it up.

So, with the reminder provided to me from my awesome seven-year-old, I will choose to praise God in this storm. Although the future is unclear, I know that my God will guide us and protect us and LOVE us!

I don't know how I would make it without Him.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.