Every moment...

To praise God during all the valleys that life might bring our way...to celebrate every moment...to see joy in every gift that God blesses you with...to pray knowing that God hears every note...to trust Him with every part of your being...

Those were just a few of the thoughts that came to mind when I watched this video that my friend had shared with me. The family's faith in this video is unwavering and simply beautiful.

"Costume & Game Night"

A couple weeks ago, our fun-loving Sunday School friends got together for a "Costume & Game Night." Christopher and I are incredibly blessed to have such an amazing and strong circle of friends. Their faithfulness to the Lord is unwavering. I don't know what we would do without them. As you can see from the following pictures, fellowship together has no definition...and is always a joy!

Many of my friends are mothers...so I decided to embrace the beauty of pregnancy for my costume! Note the mascara running down my face!

Dana & I...what a pair!

Shawna & Brian...Arrrg!

Dana & Andy...Andy was someone from Halo (it's a guy thing!)

Kelly & Aaron

Michelle & Jonathan...the 70's!

Stacy & Brian

Heather & Kurtis

Lesly & Billy...Rock on!

What a sweet couple...Christopher & Billy

Yes...this is a mullet (business in the front...party in the back!)

Some of the ladies.

Lesly & I

So much fun! :)

The Journey

So...Ike put a little hitch in my get-along...but power is back...and here is a new blog post! I wanted to update you all on my anxiety. While I still do not feel totally back to normal, I am much better. I cannot thank y'all enough for all of the prayers that you have lifted up in Christopher and my name. Through lots of prayer, petition, and counsel, Christopher and I decided that I needed to take this year and try to make it as stress free as possible. As a result, I am not teaching this year. I never...in a million years...would have guessed that I would be where I am right now...but, being here means that I am in the Lord's Will...and that is exactly where I need and want to be. It's a bit crazy...the journeys we take. We never can tell what He has in store for us...but it's always better than what we can imagine. Here is where He has me right now...I am working for an amazing, Christian couple who are holistic kinesiologists; the office is literally two minutes away from our apartment; I have Wednesday off (and for the first time I'm able to go to Wednesday morning Bible studies); and Christopher and I are able to spend more time together due to the hours that he is working at the moment. I'm really looking forward to getting into this new routine (and always staying flexible, of course.) :)

For those of you who are wondering how Christopher and I weathered during Ike, we were extremely blessed. While my hubby worked overnight on Friday, our friends, Lindsay and Ryan Miller, took me in. Uncle David and Amy welcomed us into their home while our's was out of power for two nights, and our dear friends, the Keplers, also hosted us in their home for three nights. We finally got that back last night. I have to tell you that it was quite amazing to see neighbors out talking to and helping one another and children playing outside. It seemed...for a moment...that I was back on Lawndale Drive in Richardson, Texas. Memories flooded into my mind of my own childhood, and how blessed I was to live in the "Leave It to Beaver" neighborhood that I did.

Anywho...I'll keep y'all updated on our happenings and how things are going here in Houston, Texas. There's more to come!

Patience...

As many of you know, August 25th (this last Monday) was the first day back to school for the kiddos. The previous morning, I had experienced a terrible anxiety attack that landed me in the hospital. I've been to my anxiety doctor...and medications were adjusted, but nothing seemed to be helping. I had my first meeting with a Naturalistic/Holistic doctor here in Houston (I had been to one in Fort Worth while living there) and was absolutely amazed and excited that God had brought me to that particular office. I had heard many wonderful testimonies from friends, but had yet to experience it for myself. As soon as I walked into the office, I was given a peace (it's such a wonderful environment...it's a husband and a wife...and they even have a playroom so their two beautiful children (and one on the way) can be up there with them.) I saw them again today...which is simply an act of our sovereign Lord because it is SO hard to get in there! All of this to say...I have yet to go back to school and my anxiety is not enabling me to do a lot as of now. Dr. Hopkins (the naturalistic doctor) has pin-pointed some problems and has giving me supplements that he thinks will take action very soon. How wonderful that would be! Please be in prayer for Christopher and I as we pray about my teaching career, the anxiety, our finances (the Lord ALWAYS comes through with this!), and patience for both of us. Christopher came home yesterday with two movies and a BEAUTIFUL bunch of white flowers for me! (Many of you know how buying flowers can give Christopher an anxiety attack! ;) (...hey...I have to try and have SOME laughs about this!) So...it meant the world to me. I have an amazing, supportive, loving, and strong husband. :)

I wanted to include some pictures on this entry and realized that I hadn't posted any from when our Sunday School went on it's first excursion to God's Food Pantry! It was a lot of fun...enjoy! :)

Some of us girls (can you tell how early in the morning it was?! No make-up!!)

The boys being...well...the boys!

Sweet Jack!

Where are those Child Labor Laws when you need them?!

Keepin' busy!

You ARE looking at this picture right! Dana is actually on the floor playing with the children! ;)

Keagan...taking stock of the shelves! Cutie patootie!

Busy...busy boys! Don't know what we would have done without their help! :)

Healer

So...I've realized that I'm not a great blogger! I'm going to try and be more timely in my posts...but the next couple weeks are going to be crazy! My school's inservice starts this coming Monday...and the kiddos come the following Monday! Yikes! Where did the summer go?? Christopher has started his new job as a dispatcher at the Humble Police Department. He's enjoying the change of pace and the constant learning that is going on. I get to hear the amazing stories about the people that he gets to talk to! Christopher is also working on his application for the Houston Police Department's Academy. I know...I know...we were suppose to be headed for Russia, but God has a different course for us to take right now. It looks like we'll be in the States...and Houston...for a while longer! God is so good and gracious!

I have a couple prayer requests to send out to our prayer warriors. Please pray that Christopher and I will continue to follow God's will...and be patient in waiting for it. My mother could also use your prayers. She is moving into her new house...and needs to be out of the one she's lived in for 29 years by the 30th of September. Obviously this is a BIG change for her. Please pray that she continues to lean and rely on God for her strength...and that she has peace about the new adventures that lay before her. Lastly for now...my anxiety has been quite the thorn for the past couple of weeks. Please be praying for healing and that I would continue to turn to our sovereign Lord for my comfort, protection, and peace.

I'm including a verse and an amazing story on here that I read from another friend's blog.

Philippians 3:10-11: "-That I may know HIM and the POWER of HIS resurrection, and may share HIS sufferings, becoming like HIM in HIS death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

Here are her humbling and inspiring words:
"WOW! I felt so convicted because the first part of that verse is easy to take---YES who does NOT want to KNOW the POWER of THE RESURRECTION of CHRIST, BUT...its that second part that stopped me in my tracks--AND SHARING in HIS SUFFERINGS? How MANY of us can say in what ever circumstance you give or take away ---"BLESSED BE YOUR NAME?""

Jonathan & Katherine's Visit

Jonathan and Katherine were able to come down a couple weeks ago and bless us with their presence! We had a lot of fun!

Hanging out in the new apartment!

Katherine and I

The brothers and I at the Movie Tavern (thanks for taking the picture Herby!) :)

This would have been such a pretty picture! ;) My sweet ham!

Precious Time in Georgia

Christopher and I were able to go to Georgia earlier in the summer to visit our dear friends, Kenny and Teri Pope, and to spend time with his family. Here are some of the pictures from our week there!

Christopher, Timmy, and sweet baby girl!

This is Timmy and Katie's new baby girl (their third child.)

Their other angels!

Daniel...well...being Daniel!

What more can I say?? :)


My sweet "MIL" and Glen

I can't find the rest of our pictures, but when I do...I'll post them ASAP! :)