We had our first visit from a Virginian loved one & friend! Jeremy (aka Jeremy Jumps if you are talking with Cameron or Taylor!) flew down from Virginia to take in a massive road-trip of Texas and to visit friends he has made through Young Life camps and staff. It was an amazing visit, one in which Rob was able to break out his guitar for the first time since leaving VA! Ok, he played for the girls once, but it has been a couple of months since he was able to strum and play alongside a friend. It was awesome hearing the guitar in our home again (now we just gotta get it into our new church! ha ha!). The best part of the visit was hearing how God has been at work in Jeremy's life, how he is looking at some Texas universities, and the thought of actually transferring next fall. He is feeling called to Texas and is prayerfully considering where God may be leading him. It's exciting to think about having a Virginian friend so close and it was such a joy to spend some time together catching up with one another and sharing our new church & home with him (as well as some good Tex Mex! Well, decent Tex Mex, we went to this particular location soley b/c of the Christmas decorations and the train! Just ask Jeremy about it!) Seeing Jeremy, however, did spark emotion in me over how much I miss beloved friends. It's just such a bittersweet time in life right now...

O Christmas Tree!

Although the threat was that we had to be out of boxes before getting a tree, Rob & Cameron surprised me by bringing home a BEAUTIFUL fir tree Thursday, December 14th!

And if you look closely, we even have our first presents under the tree!!
Merry Christmas!

Enlightened Heart

"Submit yourselves then, to God... Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:7-8

My all time favorite scripture. There is such comfort in these words. Whenever we draw near to God, we can hold fast to the promise that He is right there with us, drawing near to us. Like a shepherd holding fast to one of his lambs, maybe even a lost lamb that he has just found. God holds us, carries us, and embraces us.
To say that I am experiencing this is simply amazing. It is truly an experience and a truth I long to hold onto for the remainder of my life. Last Sunday it became clear to me how God was holding me, carrying me through this unique time in life.
Moving here to Texas has been bittersweet and difficult. I had prayed for 3 years for this day, and it was a prayer answered when we received the news that we were moving back to our "home" land. Closer to family and dear friends, as well as the "big city." Indeed, coming home to Texas was a true desire of my heart, even though I put all other options first before God. What I mean to say is that, I understand God has sovereign will over my life and where He ultimately wills, I will go. He has my best interest at heart...He knows the Big Plan and how He desires for my little life to fit into it. So, I obediently, and willingly, submit to Him. What a joy to know that Texas was in His scope & plan for us again, granting the desires of my heart that our girls know their extended family more intimately & personally.
However, transition is difficult. As excited as I was, and am, to be back in Texas, it is hard to let go. And, I knew it would be. Our roots ran deep in Virginia and we had settled in rather nicely. God had blessed us with incredible friends. He had blessed us with the opportunity to live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. We experienced seasons for the first time! The girls were introduced and lived around snow...something they desperately miss here in Texas (although, it has already snowed! I shared with Cameron how it was snowing JUST for her! It was such a tremendously wonderful gift from God!). At the root of it all, though, was God, His faithfulness, and the provisions of His church. He blessed us with an amazing church, and more importantly, church family. Although there were definite periods of distress during our six years in Harrisonburg, it was a season of growth for all of us. It has been hard to say good-bye.
The enlightened heart came last Sunday as I realized how full my heart was, and how it was OK to have a full heart. In that full heart rested God, and the sense of peace He provides through His Spirit when His people listen and are in accordance with His will. It is a wondrous experience. I truly feel Him holding me.
As I sat in our new church enjoying the Christmas story in song and spoken scripture, I realized that it is better to have a tender& full heart than anything else...it means that God is right there with me. He is close, and I feel Him. I continue to reach out to Him, asking Him to show me the way. I am curious what He has in store for me here in Texas, within our new church. I sense He is calling me to teach (scary!), but in what capacity? Only time will tell, and only through prayer and drawing near to Him will I come to see His vision and His ultimate will.
Lord, I am so grateful for your provision, for your love, and for this incredible gift of salvation and mercy that you sent to us through the birth of your son, Jesus. Oh how I love Thee!!!

December 14

Life is overwhelming. I play Christmas music constantly in order to try and keep my attitude in the right "spirit." Boxes are everywhere, my life is in chaos, yet there is so much to be thankful for. Did I mention that I started my day hunting for my camera AND my car keys? Normal stuff, you say. Well, let me tell you where I found my camera. LAST NIGHT I knew exactly where my camera was, and where to go get it when time to leave for my daughter's preschool Christmas party the next morning. However, by this morning, when I was looking for it, surprise...it wasn't in that spot. I looked for it for a while, only to not find it and realize that I needed to truly be looking for my now lost CAR keys. All this, and the time to be at grandma's house had approached. Oops.
Well, in searching for my keys, take a guess what I run across?? Yep, you guessed it...I ran across my camera. Where was it, you ask?
Well, it was wrapped up nicely and placed in a gift bag...just like someone was pretending to give it as a Christmas present. Did I mention I have a two year old and a four year old? Yep, they are the adorable culprits this time. One of them must have found my camera, decided to wrap it up in a shirt, and place it into a gift bag, all in time for Christmas! :) Yes, I did laugh.
As for my keys, I was able to retrace my steps from the night before and find those, too. After rearranging my plans, we made it to the preschool Christmas party just in time to witness my daughter's class going door-to-door asking individuals if there was "room at the inn." Upon finding their teacher and their classroom, they found "room at the inn." And, what a fantastic celebration of Jesus' birthday was to be had! We had quite a delicious chocolate cake in celebration of His birth! Yum!
Pictures to come....and of our tree....Rob brought one home even when we aren't out of boxes yet! YYYYYYYYYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!