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!! 

This Was Not the Way I Expected to Start 2015...

This was not the way I expected to start 2015. 

All 3 kids sick. Husband who is sick. I'm getting over this myself! And we have been stuck in the house for over a week. With lots and lots of snow outside. Partly because we have been sick...and partly because we only had the Jeep! (The faithful suburban has been out of commission for a bit due to the deer that was hit by it on the way to the Connection Church Christmas service!)

My kids do well playing with each other for a little while. 

But then the simplest thing can seem to trigger the start of World War III. 

The gross mom jobs that don't seem as gross when you are a mom have been multiplied this week. 

Even this morning there was one of those "Oh my word it's getting everywhere" moments...

And I feel drained. 

And strained. 

And I just don't want to be touched or talked to for 5 consecutive minutes. 

But, that's not where I am at for this moment. 

I'm holding a silly little sick one who finds comforts in my arms and in a lambie hooded towel. 

I'm keeping the peace between the 4 year old and the 6 year old as they learn to play together on the wii...or share the iPad...

I'm heating up red beans and rice at 10 am because that is what was requested, and appetites have been low around this house. So I am excited that they want to eat! 

I'm not at church today...because I do not want to spread these icky germs...so I had to send things with Lee for him to do on top of all of the other things he already has to take care of. And there were just a few things I didn't get to contribute to today. 

Yeah, this is not how I expected the fabulous beginning of 2015 to look like. 

But, I am still expecting great things. I know that God is working in me and through me...even now...even today...when I may not feel like I am vibrantly living life. 

I still believe the best is yet to come! 

I Expect Great Things

Here we are!! 

2015 is knocking on our door. 

It's just 2 sleeps away...and really, just 1, because we all know that I am not going to go to sleep until after midnight tomorrow night! That's crazy!!!!!!

I am super excited about 2015. 

I really am! 

I believe that the best is yet to come. 

Yes, we had hard times in 2014, but we are moving beyond that, and it just gets me fired up. 



I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through Connection Church. 

I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through AdvoCare.

I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through Lee at Apple.

And I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through me and my family. 

There is a new expectancy in our home and in our personal lives that I don't think we've had in a very long time! 

It is a fresh season in our lives. 

What are you excited about for 2015?