I Dreamed This Day….

Pastor Jim and Carole Pray for Our Family

Nathan is One!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Nathan or “Ahbenny” as he is often affectionately called, celebrated his birthday yesterday with a huge accomplishment!  He is crawling!  So amazing - three months ago he couldn’t hold his head up, now his chubby little self can crawl!  Soon, I’ll be chasing him…Oh my!  Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeBy2FOCdvs

All else is well here, just busy with Mark back to football coaching… and it will be for the next three months.  We didn’t end up starting school yet - thinking about doing M,W,F next week - we’ll see….  We have been doing Math all summer and we’ve started a great devotion book called Character Sketches from Training for Triumph - great curriculum stuff!  You can google Training for Triumph and check all their stuff out!

Marie

Sometimes it’s not what you think…

Interesting that our pastor has been talking about decisions…and this past Sunday in ladies Sunday school too.  So many decisions around here with school starting in a few weeks - actually I plan to start some school this Monday (if I can get it together!).  My mind swirls and really if not for the reality of God being in charge, I’d be nuts by now.  I am quite exhausted.  I have the responsibility of schooling a pre-schooler, a kindergartener, a second-ish grader who speaks little English, a third grader, a fifth grader, and a sixth grader.  I went through all the subjects to be covered and made a schedule.  Wow!   It’s amazing how one little change in one child’s schedule influences the others.  I’ve got a good enough draft to give it a try and eventually, we’ll be tackling Devotions, Community Bible Study homework, Reading, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Math, Science, History, Keyboarding, and for Yakobe - English Language.

So, in feeling overwhelmed and constantly giving it back to the Lord, Mark and I had to make decisions about extracurricular activities…. and this is the “sometimes it’s not what you think..”  I thought it would be much better for our family as a whole to participate in Upward Flag Football - just make Sam and Yakobe and Thomas play, the girls could cheer or continue with gymnastics and life would be much simpler - especially for me.  It seemed like a very godly decision - a Christian league, one practice for one hour per week and a one hour game - especially since I wasn’t all that pleased with some of the attitudes and such with some secular sports we’ve been involved with. 

BUT… even though Mark was fine with that decision, I didn’t have a peace about it.  I tried to have a peace about it, to justify it in my mind… but God has a different plan for this fall.  And, it’s a busier-for-me plan.  But, I know it’s His plan for now, and that’s peace.  Peace in the chaos.

SO, Sam will be playing full-contact tackle football.  He practices 4 nights a week for about 3 hours each night.  Games are on the weekend and consist of about a 4-5 hour commitment.  Yakobe will be playing soccer (He can’t wait!!!) through parks and rec.  The girls will continue with gymnastics and also cheer their brothers on.  And, well, thankfully for now, there are still 3 little ones who aren’t involved in anything!  Not yet anyway!

The direction of God surprised me.  It really shouldn’t.   Not after all that’s happened in the past year.  God’s ways are not our ways.  His thoughts are higher, His plan is better.

Who knows what plan He has for our family in this.  I pray we are a light.  I pray that our life and others’ lives will be changed for the better - closer to Him - nearer to His heart.

Marie