How Reflecting Builds My Faith

Reflection is an important tool in our personal growth. 

It helps us see where we've been...how far we've come...where we need to go...

I usually spend some time going through my journals and re-reading what I wrote.

And with things like the Timehop app, I can see everything that was posted in the past on this day. Like these sweet memories...
 

Sometimes these posts are funny. Sometimes they are scary. Sometimes they are sad. 

Right now, I am realizing how much life has changed for us. 

Instead of mountains and snow, I see swamps and mud puddles. 

Wasps, bees, and fire ants are a constant part of our adventures outside instead of white-tailed bunnies and the deer that would walk through our neighborhood. 

We actually count alligators on the side of the road much like we were able to count deer there. 

We don't have the daily knock on the door from our neighborhood kids ready to play, but we do get to set up play dates and see our friends at co-op meetings during the week as well as making new friends at church twice a week now. 

We know that we'll get to enjoy the summer days here...even though they may not seem as long and as full of sunshine as they did there. We know that the humidity will feel thicker and the air much hotter here during those days. 

I know that Lee is enjoying getting to know and work with his new Apple team here, but I know that he misses his friends at the Aspen Grove Apple Store. 

I am so grateful for the house we are living in now...it's the most comforting thing to know we had a place to come to from Colorado...no wait...it was ready for us...and we are able to look for a permanent home now without a rush of a sudden deadline, but I do miss our house on Fairwood Street...and our amazing view from the back deck!  

I miss getting to see my sweet girlfriends...and I am so thankful that I am able to stay in touch with them through text and Facebook messenger, and I am also thankful for the ladies who are coming into my life now...and that I get to see my mom, my sister, nieces, and cousins more often now. 

We had some really good times in Colorado. I know that we made some really good friends in Colorado. I know that we are better people and closer to God because of our experiences in Colorado. 

It was an adventure that we were called to take. 

And it was that adventure that led us to the adventure we are on now!! 

I know that God has great plans for us. I know that He is not finished with us. He didn't drop us off in Boutte, Louisiana to forget us and forsake us. 

The best part of our story hasn't happened yet. 

I refuse to live in the past. 

Wednesday night, at the Alpha Bible study at Life Church Boutte, I read a quote by Nicky Gumbel that was in the book::  

Faith is not a blind leap, but a step forward, based on evidence. 

That really has me thinking... a step forward...based on evidence. 

Evidence from my personal experiences and the Word of God. 

Another quote from the book was:: 

Faith = taking God's promises and daring to believe them. 

Living by faith is an adventure!! I continue to trust that as God leads me and Lee, we will follow Him in obedience and He WILL come through. He's done it before. He will continue to do it again and again. Because He loves me. 

And He loves you. Just as much as He loves me. We are all God's favorites...as I was kindly reminded this week by my sweet professor from Southwestern Dr. Amy Alexander...

I will continue to reflect...reflect on the promises of God...reflect on the good times and the bad...the moments that have made me stronger. 

And as I reflect, I know my faith will keep growing stronger and keep us on this wonderful adventure!! 

A 4 Week Difference...

It's hard to believe that just a little over 4 weeks ago we were packing up in the snow and ice with mountains as our background. 

Now I am looking out a window at a beautiful yard with a mud puddle in the driveway that my children get excited about it filling back up!  

In some ways it feels like we've been here longer than a month. 

We've been able to reconnect with some amazing friends who live in this area or close enough to make a drive to see us. 

We had my niece spend the whole weekend with us our first weekend here! The girl cousins were thrilled with all that time together!!

We've been able to go to my mom and dad's house together as a family...something we haven't done in 2 and a half years (thanks to my husband's selfless sacrifices of sending me to my parents for Thanksgiving for 2 years). 

We've been able to spend time with another homeschooling family who has a daughter the same age as Bella! Jenelle has been an amazing resource to me - even before we started homeschooling, I picked her brain about her experiences since she's successfully homeschooled 5 children! She has encouraged me as we were 1300 miles apart, but now that we are in the same neck of the woods, being around her and her awesome kids makes me feel so much more normal. 

We are going to continue homeschooling for the remainder of this year and then assess where we will go from there. We've already been welcomed into local co-ops, field trips, play dates, and we attended a Valentine's Day party last week!! 

Lee is doing well at the Apple Store at Lakeside!! We are both so thankful that he has a job that he loves. He gets to be himself...the man I love. The man who loves people until it hurts. 

It is so refreshing. 

All of it. 

I look forward to what is ahead because I do believe the best is yet to come. 

Louisiana Lagniappe

I've MIA on my blog lately...It was because I spent 2 weeks in Louisiana...

It felt good to be back.

Honestly, part of it felt like I haven't been gone for almost a year now. Some things just haven't changed much at all.

I really enjoyed being at Crossroads Church in Lafayette for the Joie de Vivre Conference. Connection Church ladies, get ready...we're going to have a Joie de Vivre Conference of our own one day soon!

I walked away from that conference inspired and refreshed...ready to go back to minister to the wonderful ladies in our community!!

It was great to see friends...to hug necks and show off my kiddos...

And it was absolutely wonderful being with my parents. I'm so thankful for Skype and FaceTime...I get to "see" them a lot more often than I would if it wasn't for the internet...but there's something special about being in their home.

I've enjoyed my mom's cooking...hearing my dad play with my kids...and watching my mom put my littlest one to sleep. There's nothing else like that.

It was a good time had by all.

I know that Lee and I are where we are supposed to be in Colorado. We have followed God's call, just like our parents have taught us to do.

I'm thankful that I can get to my parents house in less than 3 hours on a plane...instead of 24 hours in a car!!!

Flying back by myself with 3 kids really wasn't bad at all. Bella had a minor meltdown due to another tooth coming loose and bleeding a little (she's totally my girl and gets freaked out by anything to do with blood), and Brennan's meltdown came at the end because he didn't want to stay buckled.

Other than that, we made it. No one was left behind or lost...not even toys. And no one got really sick on the plane (which is usually me...but I made it!) And I'm thankful for the super nice flight attendant who helped me fill water cups and make sure Bella was ok!! (Thanks Southwest Airlines!!)

And I know that I can do this again. And I plan on it.

I love Colorado. It is our home...but there is a special place in our hearts for Louisiana. We'll be visiting again as soon as we can!!!