At home

We've been so busy settling in to our new "old" home that it's been hard to post anything lately. We love being home and are slowly but surely making our way down that to-do list. We have been working on various projects around the house as well as beginning new friendships with our neighbors. We are so excited to have such friendly neighbors both right across the street and to the left of us. I'm praying God will open doors for opportunities for us to share His story through ours. I would love for you to pray with us. We do not want to set our eyes on anything else but His cause. And though I love renovating and remodeling an old home, I know that He has us here for something much greater than that.

And I've been at war within myself, this flesh that I fight... but God is so good. I've been reading about Paul's conversion in Acts 9 and Paul's words in 1 Timothy say that God set him apart before he was born to be an instrument of God's grace, to show Jesus' perfect patience (the whole of His long-suffering). I'm so thankful for His perfect patience in my life.

We are learning so much through this season of our life. God has brought us down an interesting road. One that when we set out we didn't realize would be as winding and rocky and long. I have had to depend on the Lord for strength when I've just felt I couldn't do it anymore, faith when I've questioned why if it's the Lord's will does it have to be so hard, patience when it seemed there were so many obstacles in front of us, constancy when it seemed our feet were not planted in one place very long, contentment when the walls of our apartment seemed to be closing in on us, and grace when it all got the best of me. And His grace is sufficient, His mercies are new every morning. And even though we may be hard pressed, we are not crushed. He works all things for the good!!

These pictures are very special. One night a couple of weeks back Emma and Lili asked if we would like to go to a dance after dinner was over. After we said yes they went into our closet and picked out outfits for both Mike and I, we were all very dressed up for the special dance that was to take place. Lili had on her princess dress and spent most of the time in her daddy's arms just as in one of the pictures. They both love to dance with their daddy.

This was just the first of many precious memories to be made in our new home.