Are We There Yet?

[Here is a collection of recent Facebook status's]

February 6, 2013

An answer to prayer today. It looks like we will be moving into a rental in Florida this Friday. I am a little nervous. Actually a lot. What does this imply for our lives? Is this God's leading? It is hard to tell since we were so grossly mistaken just a few months prior to this. But why was I praying for this in the first place if I am going to be doubtful of it now? I am excited about this though. It has been a while since we have had our own house. The questions is, will it be home? Sometimes I wonder, will this ever end? Will we ever know, or at least have a general idea of, what lies ahead? Surely God must be behind all of this - He never fails to have a reason or a plan. Tell me that there is no God? Well then I would go mad if I ever were to believe it.

"All things must work together for my [continued] salvation." [addition mine]

Like this rental house in Florida. My life needs salvation not just my soul. If this is going to be part of my life, it will be part of God's salvation and His blessing in my life.

Train Ride, Ice cream, Friends, and Two Birthdays

This blog post will be a conglamoration of photos that were taken in January. This is what January looks like in Alabama this year.


Around The House

Yes, we were still celebrating Christmas in January.

He loves to take the compost out.

Our Baby's Second Birthday

I am so excited to share these pictures with all of y'all! I am very proud of my mother for doing such a great job on this project.

 

Thomas the Tank Engine!

Mom worked two days on this cake, the kitchen was a wreck. It was awful. The fondant had to be made and remade at least three times. After the cake was made it unfortunately had to wait two more days for the party. Mom did not put Thomas' face on because she was afraid it would slump before it was ready to eat.

New Years 2013

New Years Eve we went on a camp out with the church we have been attending in Pensacola, Florida - Providence Church, which is in the CREC (Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches) denomination.

Right so yes, we went on a New Years Eve camp out with the church. We did not get very many pictures because we were having so much fun but I will share the few we have with y'all.

We arrived early and so we had time to explore the site.



I played Horse with Bethany.

Mom and Dad went exploring with the baby.

Two Years

Two years ago today, my baby brother was only one week and three days old. It had only been one week and three days since our house burned down and only one week and three days since I had seen the ugly side of the police force. The side that only criminals are supposed to see. On this day two years ago we were still living with our friends and my parents were still in the hospital struggling to keep our baby brother safe. Struggling to keep their son in their arms. It was a dark time. An uncertain and frightful time. Almost equal to the year when we first moved to Missouri. That year our family went through what seemed like Hell on earth. The questions, the doubts, the accusations I flung at God. "What are you doing?!" Anger and confusion was my first reaction. Then about a week after it happened something clicked. God spoke to me and then I knew that my life had been changed irrevocably for the good.

Christmas 2012

I know y'all haven't heard a peep out of me about Christmas. You may be wondering, "Did they even have Christmas this year??" Well to answer your question, (never mind that I asked it for you..) yes we did have Christmas and it was lovely. Grandma said it was the nicest Christmas she ever remembers having. Our Christmas celebration as a family was quiet and not at all stressful.

December first...

we went to visit our friends in Louisiana. We stayed for a week and while we were there among all the other everlastingly fun things we did we also went a local fair in town.



They always have the cleverest Christmas decorations. We went there last year as well.

“In Essentials, Unity; in Non-Essentials, Liberty; in all things Charity.”

There’s no such thing as a factory-made Christian. No assembly lines or quality checks.

Christians come in all shapes and sizes and wrappers. A Christian may wear makeup and another may not. Some Christians listen to country music, or even *gasp* "Christian" Rap. Other Christians listen to blue grass, classical, or hymns only. Some of our brothers and sisters, don't "do" the Facebook thing, and even have a hard time with text messaging. Some wear only skirts and others wear slacks or even (horror of horrors!) jeans to church. Some have tattoos and some don't. Christians go to college, and others may not. Some Christians celebrate Christmas and others don't. Some Christians drive cars, and some have beards, solemn clothing, and ride horses around. Christians may have worship bands in their church, or choirs, but some have neither one.

We are a diverse group. There is no formula in the Bible that tells us exactly how to dress, how to talk, how to act, what holidays to celebrate, what music to listen to, what kind of education to pursue, or whether or not to drive cars. There are hints and precepts but there is no checklist, no neon flashing signs.

We do have many things in common, we are Christians. We are God's people, His children, His chosen ones, His Bride. We all strive to honor God and do what we understand to be His will for us.

Certainly there are things that I believe, and hold to be right, and His will, but let's not quibble over little things; like if it is wrong to wear bright colored clothing, or if it is better to dance and clap your hands while you worship than it is to stand straight.