HOLA, Nigaragua

As I am blogging tonight, I am sitting in my den all by my lonesome.  The last couple of days have been crazy.  God has been at work in our lives and so has the devil.  Matt was supposed to leave to go to Nicaragua early Saturday morning (1:00 am) for a mission trip.  Last week, we were so busy preparing for him to leave.   He and two friends from church were going with a group from Georgia.  We went to several prayer times and had lots of people pray over us.  Thank goodness they did.  Well..... Friday morning, Matt woke up with an awful virus.  Matt never gets sick!!! So he pondered all day, Do I go or not???  He was left with the thoughts of flying, being in a foreign country, not having the comforts of our home, not knowing what he would have to eat, the list went on and on.  So as the day went on and he wasn't feeling any better, Matt decided that he wouldn't go.  He was upset and I was sad.  As Matt made the phone calls~ I began to pray that God would tell us HIS will.  I didn't want him to miss out on what God had in store for him, but if it wasn't God's will for him to go, then I certainly didn't want him there.  Anyway, as Matt slept and was in and out.  I opened my bible to the place where we had left off.  I begin to read Romans 10.  This is what I read right after I had just spent time praying for God's will to be revealed.  "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?  And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?  That is what the scriptures mean when they say "How Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10: 14-15   Coincidence?  I don't think so! 

As I continued to read this passage over and over, I knew what God's will was.  I read it to Matt.  He drifted back to sleep, not really wanting to hear that he was going to Nicaragua.  It was 12:00 now and Matt's friends continued to text him to make sure he wasn't feeling up to going.  Anyway, he continued to say I just don't think I can go.  Finally, I asked him if he heard what I had read, I reread it, and then he decided he probably should go.  So he started to get the remainder of his things packed.  He looked awful!  I packed him some chicken noodle soup, some Sprite, and he was ready.  We said a prayer and I cried the entire time.  Then he left.

Then fear struck..... he can't go.... he is sick.... what if this happens.... what if that happens.  I cried and cried.  I just didn't want him to be miserable.  I wanted to go get him and bring him back home.  So I told you that God was at work, but I also believe the devil was working overtime to get Matt to stay behind.  I am so glad he went.  I have gotten to talk to him each night.  He is feeling better and is glad that he went.  This experience just reminded me that even though trusting God is sometimes hard (especially when you think of the what ifs) he has our best interest in mind.  I am glad we let go our plans and embraced God's plan.  I am thankful again, that God spoke to us clearly.  It is good to know that God hears our prayers and works on our behalf.  I can't wait to hear the stories that Matt will have. Please pray for the remainder of Matt's trip and that he will have safe travels coming him.   Stay tuned...for the rest of the story!

Happy Valentine's Day

I saw this in my drafts.... I had never posted!  Oh well, I am still thankful for all the love!!
 Just couldn't delete.

I guess Love is in the air:)  This morning, I was on facebook and everyone was dedicating their posts to their wonderful husbands and sweet kids and talking about how much they love and how blessed they are.  Yes husbands and children are such a wonderful blessing.  Yes I love my husband, but all I have been able to think about is the love that Jesus has for us!  I guess since I have been in Romans and reading about the wonderful gift  we can receive by believing in Jesus Christ (even though we are so undeserving) this concept is more on my mind than ever!  As I went for my walk  today, I had my ipod playing and the song "Forever Reign" came on.  The words struck me like they never had before.  "Oh I'm running to your arms, I'm running to your arms.  The riches of our love will always be enough... then it goes onto to say.....My heart will sing, no other name, Jesus!!  I almost got teary eyed.  It just reminded me, that no matter what~ I will have Jesus (his love IS enough)!!  I have so much to be thankful for.  I have the love of Christ!! I am forgiven!!  I have eternal life!!!!  I have a wonderful husband!!!  I have an awesome family!!!!  I have great friends!!!  So on this Valentine's, I am celebrating the fact that I have the love of Christ that will last for all eternity!!
I hope you will find this verse as encouraging as I do.  It is my all time favorite and so appropriate for Valentines!! This is Paul's prayer for other believers and it is my prayer for myself and others

"And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God." 

Ephesians 3:17-19

 

Let it SNOW, let it Snow, let it SNOW.....

Wow is just about all I can say for the last 3 days.  It has been a long time since we have had a snow like the one we witnessed this week.  It was wonderful.  I found myself waking up early even though there was no reason for me to get up.  I got up just to look outside!! Matt and I had such a fun time together.  We went on numerous four wheeler rides, ate a lot, and watched lots of TV.  Then on Thursday we went to Marcie and Justin's to play with Emma and Evan.  Emma was not a fan of being pulled behind the four wheeler.  She did help to pack snow on our snowman.  We had a great time with them.  I was reading in the book of Psalm on Tuesday morning (I wish I could enjoy my coffee and have my quiet time every morning at such a slow pace).  This is the verse that I read...... I can't think of a more appropriate verse as I watched the huge snowflakes falling!!!!

  "The heavens tell of the glory of God.  The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship" 

Psalm 19:1 

 Enjoy the snow pictures!!

Amos had to get his paws wiped before he was able to come in.  He has gotten into the routine since we have had so many cold nights lately.

Ready to face the wind on the four wheeler

Scary possessed giant snowman. 

Deck PaRtY coming soon!!

Well..... As I sit here waiting for the snow.... I figured this would be a perfect time to update you on our projects around the house.  At our old house, our yard looked so pretty.  It was just like I wanted it.  I love spending time outside and our yard is hardly what I would like for it to be at our house now.  We have planted shrubs in the front yard and laid some sod since we moved in and it looks a lot better.  BUT.... our backyard is in dire need of some help.  We started with the half of a barn/lean to that was there.  We knocked down the lean to, painted the barn, and Matt added the other side of the barn to make it look better.  I must say, it looks a lot better than it did.  Just recently we had a friend build us a deck.  Matt usually is the one who does our projects around the house, but it would have taken him a lot longer working on the weekends and after work.  So it is finished now.  I am excited to be able to enjoy it.  We have our furniture on it from our old house, but I can't wait to add some flowers and other seating in place of our chewed up rocking chairs (Thanks Cash).  Now we have a place to sit outside.  I'm looking forward to a few deck parties.  Here are a few pictures. Right now I am going to enjoy the snow.... but I look forward to spring and summer where I can enjoy relaxing outside!

 

We also have been painting our upstairs bedroom.  We have done a lot of work downstairs, but haven't touched the upstairs.  It still looks like 1960's /70's up there.  We want our guest bedroom upstairs and our  nursery downstairs with our room. So Matt has been working hard to repair the walls and get the upstairs bedroom painted.  Now all we have to do is move the furniture and then we will have an empty room downstairs that we can begin to paint to prepare for our little one.  Hopefully it won't be too much longer.  We have been waiting almost a year  (in April)~ we pray nightly that God will answer our prayers in his time, but I want to be ready when we finally get "the call". I think the bedroom looks so much better, you can't really appreciate it as much without seeing the before.

 

Not the best picture- I tried to do a panoramic view of the room.  Sorry- but you get the idea.

 For now,  I plan on getting some fun snow pictures, eating some yummy beef stew, and possibly watching a movie tonight! I love cold snowy days!  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone already.  It was such a fun time for our families.  We had lots of fun throughout the holidays.  I enjoyed an ornament swap with my bible study girls.  We also had such a fun time at the Arnold's annual Christmas party.  It was fun to spend some time with lots of old friends from Oakland (the first school that I taught at) at Mrs. Behrendt's house. This year, I decided to make cinnamon rolls to take to friends.  This was the first time I had ever made dough with yeast.  It went well and I think they turned out good.  I look forward to improving them as the years go by. I have already found a new and improved cream cheese icing for next year!  Matt and I had fun delivering and spending time at each house. We enjoyed lunch with Matt's cousins. Then the time had come..... We enjoyed a candle light service at St. Mark with Matt's mom and dad and then we headed to Marcie's for a Christmas Eve dinner.  Christmas morning Matt's family came over for brunch.  I wanted to do something a little different so we had shrimp and grits, ham biscuits, strawberries, cinnamon rolls and quiche.  It was so much fun.  I love pulling out my china and silver and making it special each year.  We visited for a while, took a nap, and then headed to my mom and dad's house for Christmas there.  We ate ALOT and then we started opening presents.  We really enjoyed Christmas, but I hated to see it go.  Then on Friday, we headed to Charleston to have Christmas with Matt's brother's family.  We certainly enjoyed our visit and enjoyed downtown Charleston as well.  How thankful I am that we have a reason to celebrate.  How thankful I am that Jesus left his throne in heaven to come and die a sinner's death just to save me (and you!!).  Here are some of the pictures to enjoy. 

 

 Even got Matt to help roll some rolls!

Ready for delivery!!

Christmas Eve

Ready for bed!!

Brunch

 We got daddy a Richard Petty driving experience.  He gets to ride in a racecar for 3 laps.  I think he liked it!!

 George is going too!!! (In fact, all the boys are going for a ride).  I can't wait to see their faces!  George couldn't believe it.  Matt is pretending to be the driver. YIKES!!

 Matt's new BB gun

Charleston

Harrison and Gray play violin.  They performed for us so they could get extra credit.  I must say, they are good!!

 Matt and Campbell.  This was just before we decided to play Just Dance on the Wii.   I only had videos of that.  It was quite funny!

 

Say it ain't so.... I'm 30 years old??????

Oh my.... where does time go?  I can't believe that I am thirty years old.  I feel like I should be about 20.  I guess it is really time to grow up now.  Well, I had a great birthday.  I started my day off with a nervous feeling.  I had to have my first mammogram on my birthday. What a present?? I had my physical and my doctor felt "something".  She told me not to worry, but she still wanted to have it checked especially since my grandfather had breast cancer. Well, I survived and turns out everything was fine.  Thank goodness and it only got better after that.  I spent the evening with my parent's house.  Matt's family and Justin's family all came over to enjoy Low Country Boil.  I got a lot of great presents this year!!  If you know me, you know my love/obsession with platters.  Marcie got me a new Nora Fleming napkin holder.  Then I got a new jacket from Alison. My mom got me some new chargers and burlap bows (silverware holders) for my dining room.  I can't wait for Jillian to monogram them.  Matt's mom got me a new Mark Roberts elf. She also gets me a new ornament each year.  Matt got me a new wallet and a facial (YAY). I got some other little things.  I felt like a kid.  It was fun.  Anyways- I look forward to a great year.  The morning of my birthday, this is the scripture that I read- I love it!!!  "There is wonderful joy ahead even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while".  I am looking forward to that wonderful Joy!