"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away." 6th Year Anniversary.

I can't believe that today is our 6 year anniversary. Time flies. I just feel thankful. Thankful that I have an amazing husband, whom I truly love with all my heart. Thankful that we are still in love. Thankful that we just love spending time together. Thankful for GRACE. It is by Grace that we even met, married, and are celebrating 6 years of marriage. Marriage is such a gift. The Mr. and I have been attached at the hip since day one. We have tried to continue to date one another even after our wedding and the birth of our daughter. Sometimes that means taking her with us on dates, and sometimes that means planning dates at home. Whatever the case, we have made each other a priority. Most importantly, we have tried to make sure God is at the center of all aspects of our life. Not so we will have a perfect marriage or life (there is no such thing), but simply because WE NEED JESUS. I need Jesus all day, everyday, 24/7. Not sure where I would be without Him. I really do not know how any marriage could survive with out Jesus Christ. Growing up we both witnessed marriages that failed. We knew when we said "I do" that we would be committed to one another no matter what. My husband and I do not have a perfect marriage, we have ups and downs like every couple. We have had really hard things to deal with that have stretched us, tested us, grew us, and molded us. Even things that have even brought out the worst in us. But God in His amazing mercy and grace has taken the junk of our lives, and continues to make us like Him. Such Grace! I really believe I have the best husband in the world. I am thankful for the way He remains faithful to Christ no matter what. I love the way he desires to make the Word of God known to others. He loves and serves our family sacrificially. He treats me like a princess. He is a great father. I know I am loved beyond measure by him. Thankful for this sweet love and marriage that God has given us! My prayer is that God would give us 50 years together. Here is one of my favorite scriptures that was on our wedding invitation:
"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away."~ Song of Soloman 8:6-7

All about My Valentine!

I thought I would do a post all about my Valentine! I am convinced I have the best Valentine ever!

• Thankful my Valentine takes up his biblical manhood card & romances me all through out the year, not just on Valentine's Day!
• He leads our family with love!
• He loves me sacrificially the way Christ loves the Church.
• He has been devoted to me even when "Christians" have tried to mess our marriage up! Side note: As a former skeptic of Christians-I have found that NOT ALL Christians are that ruthless! MANY ARE VERY SWEET... THE TRUE BRIDE OF CHRIST LOOKS AND ACTS LIKE CHRIST!
• He always has my back!
• I am treasured by my valentine!
• He is a godly man, who is sold out to sharing God's Word to the ends of the earth!
• He points me and our precious daughter to the Gospel.
• He remains faithful to God and His Word no matter what the cost is!
• He has loved me unconditionally since we have been together!
• He still plays/writes songs for me on his Guitar! My husband + guitar+ song= Hotness
• He can PREACH. When he preaches I sometimes get blown away at how well he preaches. This is a new gift that has developed in the last few years. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder where he is and I go looking for him in our house and he is writing sermons that God has given him!
• Apart from glorifying God, being a great husband to me, a loving father to our beautiful daughter-His 3 goals in life are multiplying churches, adoption, and bringing awareness to sex trafficking!
• Thankful God chose me to be his valentine! Such a blessed wife I am!!!

Family Worship

This New Year our WHOLE church family is Reading God's Story, A Chronological Daily Bible! Here is what it looks like: 6th graders- on up are reading the Daily Bible together. Birth- 5th grade will be using curriculum that matches pretty closely, and also each week will have certain pages to read from The Jesus Storybook Bible that coincide with the Daily Bible. Each week in the bulletin there will be a catechism that families can also memorize together. Reading the Chronological Daily Bible is something I have been looking forward to since we got here! I am excited to see what God will do with a church who is willing to commit to reading His word together as a body of believers. I am also excited to read the Bible in Chronological order. I have personally never did that before.

Something else I am looking forward to this year is our family doing family worship each night. Our nightly family worship time looks like this:

• 2-3 songs: The Mr. leads us in worship on his guitar. K-B plays random "B" instruments. I play whatever "B" instrument that K-B decides I need to play! ;)  It  truly is a sweet time of worship! (we got the "B"  brand instruments from Target incase you would like some too! Although pots and pans would  work well too! A joyful noise it is!)
• Prayer- We discuss prayer request and praises. We all hold hands and each one prays together as a family.  Hearing K-B say "Hi God! I wuv you JEEESUS! AAAAMENN!" is so precious! The Spelling of her prayer is exactly how she says it! MELTS. MY. HEART.
• We talk about our catechism and Memory Verse.
•  Read Jesus Storybook Bible
• Then we put K-B to bed
• Once K-B is all tucked in, the Mr. and I talk about our reading from our Daily Bible.
• After that, we have prayer  together! (praying together with your spouse can be awkward at first, but overtime becomes natural! I love holding hands with my sweet hubby as we seek God together! As my bible study leader from my home church, Dr. Bob O says "It is the best love making you can ever make with your spouse!")

Week at a Glance:

Sunday Nights- Introduce new catechism & memory verse for the week AND  Family Worship.

Monday Nights- Family Worship

Tuesday Nights- Family Worship

Wednesday Night- after church Family Worship

Thursday Night- Family Worship

Friday Night- Family Worship

Saturday Night-  Jesus Storybook Bible (read the specific story listed in the bulletin) & Special Treats

*we want to make learning and reading the Bible fun! SO Saturday nights is the night we have something special! Thinking about making plates together that we will use only on Special Treat Saturdays. Our special treats will be cookies, cupcakes, brownies, ice cream or something else that is a treat for us! Saturday nights will be a celebration!!!

 

                   

There is not only one right way to do family worship and I am sure there are many out there who do it better. This is just what works for our family! Hopefully it will help as you think through family worship, and what works best for your family!!!!!

 

 

 

Tennessee

I thought I would do an update for our family and friends...Today marks week 5 since we have been in West Tennessee! The church sent sweet people  to our apartment at the Seminary to come help load our stuff  up and they helped us move. When we arrived to our new community we had what felt like millions of people from the church helping unload the Uhaul. They helped us set up beds and get us somewhat settled in! The members of our church are very sweet and thoughtful! We are very thankful for their kindness and big hearts!!!  Our life is finally settling down since we moved. No need to go through all of the details but we ended up having to find a different house than the one we thought we would be living in. For 15 long days we slept in the house we originally thought we were going to live in with the majority of our stuff still in boxes. It wasn't exactly how we wanted to start ministry here but God had it as a part of the plan for some reason. God helped us find a house-He provided like He always does--and yet I still doubt Him every time--stupid sheep I am!!! We feel very welcomed  here. We love our  new church and the people in this community. We are excited to do ministry here and feel very blessed that God sent us here. We are very excited to serve under our Pastor. He loves the Word and desires for the church and community to be in love with the Word! My hubby and him are pretty likeminded.   On Wednesday nights the church is doing the Gospel Project which is really neat. I am personally ecstatic for 2014 because the WHOLE church from  babies – to the young at hearts will be reading the Bible in chronological order! I love that what we will be learning at church we will be able to talk about  at home with our children since we will all be studying the same thing at the same time.- So SIMPLISTIC!  Kinda neat since SIMPLISTIC was my “word for the year” almost 2 years ago when Mark D. from my home church challenged the church to pray about a word for the year! Who knew the last almost 2 years, God would continue to teach me simplicity. I am so pumped to see what God will do with a body of believers at Mary’s Chapel who will live simplistically biblical by going through the Word together!!! 

Our sweet princess is settling in pretty well for a toddler. She often says she wants to go to the children’s houses where I used to nanny. She doesn’t understand that we have a state in between us! I have to refrain from crying when she asks to go to their houses! I miss their families so much and so does K-B!  She loves to go to church. She enjoys the other children at church! She especially loves our Pastor’s youngest son that is about 8 or 9 months younger than her. She talks about him a lot…makes her daddy worried! ;)    I have to remind him she is TWO! No need to worry! J All in all I think she has handled our transition well!!!  J

We are excited to do the Great Commission here!!!

 " Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~Matt. 28:19-20

 

What's New This New Year...

This New Year I started a new job! I am nannying for 2 wonderful, GODLY families!!! I have been a SAHM  and worked out of my home since Kaeley-Belle was born, so this is a change for our family!..A good change!!! I already love the children and their families very much!!! They are absolutely precious!!!  I also get to take Miss Kaeley-Belle to work with me!!! If you have read my blog since the beginning you know that before I had my precious baby girl, God really burdened my heart to make sure that I made faithful choices as her mother!!! I knew he was calling me to lay a godly foundation even in her very early days!!! Part of the foundation He was asking me to lay, was to be a SAHM! God made a way, and I stayed at home with my baby girl!!! :)
 I nanny 4 days a week, and basically do the same thing that I would do in my own home!!! Nannying for these families is a HUGE blessing!!! When I interviewed for the position, I asked the families what they would like me to work on with their children and they said teach them scriptures!!! My heart leaped for joy because that is right up my alley!!! Now I want to clarify something...these parents are not expecting me to be their childrens' primary source of spiritual food so to speak; these parents recognize that is their job!  I am blessed to have the opportunity to assist them in the process!!! SO my new mission field is caring for these families and my own!!!  I am very excited to work with both families!!! I am excited for what God has in store! I know He is all over this, because it is too much of a perfect fit for Him to not be all over it!!! This New Year my mission field is tea parties, bible studies, playing dress-up, crafting, singing songs, attending "concerts", reading books, making messes, cleaning up messes, and much more!!!! ;) What does your mission field look like this new year?????

^" And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col. 3:17

Life Living at the Seminary

We are partially moved in on seminary campus! Have I mentioned how I HATE packing.unpacking. boxes.moving messes.etc?!?! You would think by now I'd be used to it!  I say this everytime we move but I am not sure how we end up with so much excess! I seriously get rid of TONS of STUFF everytime we move! This move was especially eye opening because God has us in a one bedroom apartment on campus! SO I knew prior to moving we were going to have to give away extras that were given to us!  We have been very blessed.  Some very sweet people have been very generous and gracious towards us on our WiLd RiDe of a FAITH journey! Most of everything we own  has been given to us (other than one couch and one recliner). That is how God has provided for us! I can honestly say God can decorate a house way better than I ever could have!!!... Even down to cute decorative items! Who says God doesn't care about the small things in life?!  "Seek first His kingdom and His rightousness and all of these things will be added unto you!"-Matthew 6:33

The beginning of this year...Mark D. -the youth pastor at my home church- challenged the church to pick a word for a year. So I went home and prayed and asked God to show me the word He wanted for me this year. The word simplistic kept popping in my head! Through out the year God has been teaching me simplicity. He has taught me the beauty of simplicity-I can't wait to share with you in future posts. Life living at the seminary in our one bedroom apartment is truly simplistic. It is peaceful.  We are excited to learn, grow, make forever friends, and to continue on in our WiLd RiDe of a FAITH journey. Coming here after being on staff at two different churches makes us appreciate our time here I believe more than we would have when we were younger! It is neat having various age groups here, all with the same goal of making disciples of all nations!!!

" Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

*sometime in the near future I will have to have a blog post and pictures of organizing a one bedroom apartment with a toddler! interesting!

Happy 4th Anniversary!!!! Our Love Story~

My hubby and I met at a Disciple Now at his home church! One of my friend's friend was the youth pastor at the time. At the last minute the youth pastor needed some D-Now leaders, if I remember correctly I think the ones that were supposed to lead couldn't make it or something like that. So I got asked to help. My hubby was the worship leader and I was the high school girls leader.

Funny story- The 1st night  they introduced the leaders (my hubby was in the gym during this time) and I guess after they introduced the leaders one of the high school boys that my hubby mentored came running up to him jumped on his lap informed my hubby that he just met his future wife, then jumped off his lap ran around the gym bouncing off the walls like usual! lol

One of the days that my hubby led worship I remember thinking there was something different about him! I thought he was really cute too!! :) But I was too shy to talk to him. He was too shy to talk to me as well! Infact, he was SO shy it took him a    WHOLE YEAR to even talk to me!

 Finally a year later and he asked me if I wanted to hang out. The 2nd time we hung out we watched a movie and played hang-man. When we played hang-man he asked me out on a date. The 1st time I didn't get it b/c I wasn't sure if it was just words he was using as part of the game or if he was really asking me out?!....so I didn't say anything!!! He asked me the same question for the SECOND time, and I said "OF COURSE"! He took me putt-putting on our first date and on our second date he took me to watch the Dark Knight! ( In Four years of marriage he has made me a comic nerd! I now look forward to when his favorite movies come out!)

With-in a month of our 1st date he asked me to marry him with a paper ring he made! ;) He later gave me a real ring during a candle lit dinner! With us having a fast engagement-we were nervous to tell some people! We were nervous to tell my home church Pastor b/c he was like another dad and we were also nervous to tell Pastor Don who was the pastor of the 1st church my hubby was on staff with! I wasn't nervous to tell Bob O though.. who is also like a spirtual parent to me..I knew he prayed so much for me that he would have peace! We weren't really nervous about telling our family or friends! We knew they would all be happy for us!

I remember us being SO nervous when we were on the way to tell Pastor Don we were engaged! I stayed in my hubby's truck and when he went in to tell him-Pastor Don was like Don't worry Brother I asked my wife to marry me the 1st week we started dating! (Apparently Pastor Don knew sweet Miss Beth was a keeper!) We were so relieved that Pastor Don was okay with our fast engagement!-My hubby especially  was b/c Pastor Don knew my hubby since he was little! My hubby has a lot of respect for him-he taught my hubby a lot about ministry!

When we told my home church Pastor, he was a little skeptical at 1st! He wasn't so sure about it!!! After his "Marraige Counseling Boot Camp" as I call it-He had peace! (Seriously though if you want great marriage counseling Pastor Bob is great at it! At the time I HATED DREADED it! Me and my hubby sat 5 feet apart on the couch in his office!!!! But we still use what he taught us in our marriage today!!!)

We got married on November 1, 2008 at my home church by Pastor Bob! My hubby even wrote a song for me and sang it as I walked down the aisle! We had our reception at the family life center at the church my hubby was on staff at!!! The day was very sweet!!!

Since day one we have been inseperable! God has truly blessed me with a sweeter love and marriage than I ever imagined! My hubby is truly the love of my life! He is precious to me!!! I love sharing this life with him!!!  I definitely do not deserve him, he is a gift from God! The gift that he is to me, is a constant reminder of God's love and grace!!! He daily shows me the love of our Father! We don't have a perfect marriage-we have our ups and downs like every couple!!! but we DO have a perfect God who we invite to be at the center of our marriage!!! I can honestly say after 4 years of marriage I love my hubby more today than when we got married!!!

I love this Scripture it was on our wedding invitations:

"Place me like a seal over your heart,like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.
~Song of Soloman 8:6-7