BIG NEWS!!!

I am excited to announce to you today that we are moving to Ohio! Andrew has accepted a position as Assistant Communications Director at a church we are excited to have become our next church family. New Pointe Community Church in Dover, Ohio is one of the healthiest church environments we have ever experienced and we are happy to announce our move there. Andrew’s job will be casting vision for the design aesthetic of the church, and building a team of artists under him. Inside he is doing cartwheels over the excitement of this position. It combines his love for art, and his skill in leading a team, all in one job. One of the things we are most looking forward to is this move allows me to stay home with Cooper! Andrew’s job will be a Monday-Friday job, giving us the weekends together. This will also allow us to serve in whichever ministry we desire. We are confident this is the right move for our family. We have many different emotions about leaving our wonderful friends and family in Florida. Our hearts are so full from our time with you. We thank you for your support and encouragement during these past 6 months. Andrew starts August 22 and will be driving up to Ohio on August 18. I will be staying behind until we have a renter and most likely until Ashleigh's wedding.

As we are at the end of Andrew’s job search and the many emotions felt through this whole process, we are able to look back and see just how God has had his hand in it all. If you’d like to know just how we’ve seen God, continue reading. If not, you can stop here and go about your day!

Ways God has been evident to us in this process:

• Andrew’s Cohort. A year and a half ago, Andrew heard of a mentorship program that Mark Ostreiker was starting. It was a small group leadership training experience. Andrew was feeling like he needed to grow more, so he signed up for the program. Generations agreed to pay for the training. His training started in September and ended just 2 weeks ago. Andrew would not have made it through this ordeal the way he has without this group of men + Caroline (the one girl in the group). We have both been hurt, but Andrew especially, struggling with self-doubt and depression. This group that come around Andrew, encouraging him, pouring time into him, and helping him process through thoughts, emotions, and decisions that have needed to be made. We know that God had put this whole group in motion well before anything every happened at Generations so that Andrew would have a support group. (By the way, if anyone is interested in this program, let us know – we would love to connect you to this awesome experience).
• My desire to stay at home. Around October a desire for me to stay at home started growing. Before I even discussed this with Andrew seriously, it is something I prayed about for a couple of months. I also discussed it with a few trusted friends. I wanted to make sure this decision was not a selfish decision so I could stay home in my pjs and not have to wake up early. I realized that our family life would be much healthier if I were home. So, in January it was something I finally brought to Andrew as a topic of discussion. He dragged his feet about it for a long time. He kept telling me there was no way it would work, and it was just better to have 2 incomes rather than 1. Well, after a couple of weeks of discussion with our core group, some people from church, and reading the book Radical, Andrew told me he would join me in my prayer to stay home. Our prayer was for something “radical” to occur to stay home. Exactly one week later was when everything changed for us at Generations. We weren’t expecting a loss of job to be the answer to that prayer, but were hopeful that in the end this prayer would be answered. I know that God placed that desire on my heart long before anything happened with Andrew’s job so that we would have something to aim for. Andrew has had opportunities come up that we didn’t accept because it didn’t allow me to stay home. Because we have waited we have found a truly amazing church to call home.
• Provision. How is it that we now have more money in savings than when we began this process (granted, it’s not a lot). How is it that we have been completely taken care of and our needs have been met this whole time? God. This was His plan, and He has worked it out for us to be taken care of. I am holding onto that in the next few weeks as we have to find someone to rent our house, find a house to rent in Ohio, and come up with money to get a house in Ohio. We will not be making any money for at least a month, so I’m just trusting that God keeps on providing the way he has.
• Timing. How dare we ever doubt God’s timing. Sure, there were times during the past six months where we just wanted Andrew to have a new job and to be able to move on. However, great blessing has occurred with timing. Because so much of the action occurred this summer, I have been able to travel with Andrew to different churches, interviewing, and being able to scope out the scene with him. Also, we are now both home to organize and pack our life up and take care of everything before we move. God also worked it out that I didn’t have to start the school year, and then have to quit just a few weeks into the school year. God has the best timing. (I know this to be true, but I will tell you that there were many times during everything that I wondered about it. It’s so easy to see now that we’re at the end).
• Growth. Because of this process, Andrew and I have both grown in our walk with God. We have grown closer to each other as well. Our experience has made us not be naïve anymore. It seemed as though we aged over night. We have grown a hunger to grow more in Christ. One of greatest parts of moving to Ohio is that we know we are moving to a healthy church environment that serves others and will stretch our fait to reach out our hands to others as well. In the few short hours we were with the people of this church, our faith was challenged. We both questioned the way we treated others and the way we served. So excited to know we’re going to a place that will allow us to grow.
• People. It has been a crazy experience interacting with others during this time. First we broke the hearts of adult leaders and students. Then we were broken because of leadership. Then we tried to make connections at other churches. Some churches we had a harder time being unguarded. Andrew even walked away as an “introvert” at one of them. Other churches, however, we felt completely at home. We fell in love with the people and genuinely hoped we could work with the people there. Choosing to go to Ohio was difficult because of some of the people we met along our journey that we now have had to turn down. And, now, we are leaving behind some wonderful people. God has created Andrew and I both as relational people. We both love to form relationships with others, and it has been a learning experience for us. We know that God has moved in us, showing us how much he values others, and how we are his tools to make that happen. We are very excited to do life with the people in Ohio.

Poop

For the first time in a whole week, Cooper had solid poop!

I don't know if it's teething (4 teeth pushing through right now), or change of routine (we were away from home for 2 weeks) but Cooper has had quite the week of poop. It has shot out all sides of his diaper, as well as been all different shades and consistencies. He has not had an appetite, and we've tried all sorts of different diets. So, not only has Cooper had solid poop, but his appetite is back in full swing. 2 eggs and peanut butter sandwich for breakfast, 2 slices of white spinach pizza for lunch, and grapes and goldfish in between.

Wanna know what's even crazier than all of that?? Cooper can name each one of those things. I have quite the talker on my hands. At least he's a cute talker.

Treasured Photos

Just got word that my mammaw has passed. When I think of mammaw I think of:

• gardening
• hand-made costumes at halloween
• hand-made clothes
• no-bake cookies
• curly white hair
• "Well"
• laughter
• love

I am so happy that Cooper and I were able to visit her a month ago. Her last words spoken to me were "I wish you lived closer so we can watch Cooper grow up". Ironic thing is that soon we will be closer, and she gets the best view of Cooper growing up. These two photos will always be treasured.

Andrew and I were supposed to drive back to FL today. Instead we will be traveling to KY. Please keep my mom's side of the family in your prayers.

No pictures, but great memories.

There are so many thoughts going through my mind that I will be able to share at a later date. Until then, know that my life has been a whirlwind the past couple of weeks and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Please keep my family (Andrew, Cooper, me) and my extended family on my mom's side (my mammaw is not doing well) in your prayers.

Currently we are in Nashville, TN. Andrew has his last training this week, and since I have cousins here, we decided to make a week of it and come stay a while. I can't tell you how wonderful it has been to be here with family. Many of you often hear me talk about my Nan and the legacy she left. At her funeral several years back, I looked around the room and realized that the family she had left believed in the Lord. I can't tell you how encouraging and peaceful it is to be with that family she left behind. A family who truly loves each other, has fun with each other, and serves each other. It has been a growing experience for Andrew and I. I hope that at my funeral, you are able to look around and see the same legacy. I want my family to love the Lord and each other. To my Nashvillian family: thank you for your love, your time, your service. We hope to come back and see you as often as we can.

I brought both of my cameras with me this trip. Both camera batteries have died, and I forgot both chargers. SO, no pictures this post, but I will share two great memories from this trip.

First, the funny.

Cooper has found that thing that hangs between his legs. It took me a few days to realize that we needed to tell him what it was. He would point to it and just look at us with a curious face. So, we taught him what it was "penis". He says it "eenis". A couple nights ago I was giving him a bath and talking to him about Jesus. He then said "eezus" and pointed to his penis. Not quite, Cooper. Jesus lives in our heart, not our penis. It was funny that he got them mixed up. I hope it's not a mix up that lasts very long.

Now for one of the most precious memories.

Cooper and I were sitting on the couch the first night we arrived in Nashville. He patted me on the shoulder, then put his face real close to mine, kissed me on the mouth, and patted me again. He then looked at me and with all sincerity he could muster up, said "uv you". I then told him I loved him too. He smiled big and sat back. This was the first time Cooper has stated his love for me without being prompted. Talk about a melted heart, swelling with love and joy!

Passion

This picture shows Cooper saying "weeeee".

Wanna know what Cooper's so excited about?

The vacuum, of course.

It is no secret that Cooper has a slight obsession with the vacuum. It is often the first word he says when he wakes up in the morning, the first toy he searches for, and usually the last thing he's thinking about when he goes to bed at night. He talks of it and plays with it all day long. He has his own little red devil vacuum to play with, but the real joy comes out when we get the "real" vacuum out. We keep the vacuum in the garage and when the garage door opens, he comes running as fast as he can to see if he can get a peek at the loud, green masterpiece. If he does spot it, or gets lucky enough to venture into the garage with us, he screams, "There it is" with so much excitement it's as if he's been looking for it his whole life and has finally found it. Kind of reminds me of the excitement Indiana Jones felt when he found the arc of the covenant. There was also for Indiana the disappointment of having it taken away. Cooper, too, has great disappointment when the vacuum is taken away or he can't go to the garage to see it. He soothes himself by saying "bye bye" to it.

This weekend Andrew is actually doing a lesson for students! Something he hasn't done in months and it's exciting to see him "back in the groove" of being creative in that way. He is speaking of passion, which has caused us to talk about things we're passionate about. Can anyone guess what Cooper is excited about? THE VACUUM. I hope that one day Cooper can be as passionate about God. Maybe he'll still be passionate about the vacuum, but using it for God's glory...like vacuuming for his wife, or for the church, or the elderly woman down his street. Whatever it is, I'm excited to see Cooper's passion unfold in the coming years, and I pray that he uses them for God's glory.

One more picture. How cute is this box?

5 More Years

Did you ever have one of those periods of your life where you sensed God's work in your life and felt his movement? Right now is one of those times for me.

Making time with and for God has always been a struggle. There are times when I give myself a big pat on the back for continually making time for him, and times where time with him is far from my mind. Since having Cooper, it has been much harder to "find time" to open up God's word and let it soak into my heart and mind. Add to having a baby: a work schedule, ministry, and family problems of all sorts. God should have been my first retreat. However, I slowly walked further and further away from quality time with him. There have been times in the past year where I have spent time with him, but it has in no way been a consistent priority for me. Other things fell apart during this time, too. Health (mine and Andrew's), budgeting expertise (I would completely forget to pay bills...not because we didn't have money to, but because I was completely overwhelmed), home-cooked meals, having fun...the list could go on but I'll spare you.

I have the intention of making my time with God out of want, not requirement. Nowhere in scripture does it say "thou shalt spend 30 minutes a day reading the Bible" (crazy to think that the Bible wasn't "The Bible" when it was written). I have wanted my time in scripture to come from my desire to. And honestly, my heart just hasn't been in it for a while now. It's been about a month since school ended and I can tell you that having a "break" (as much as a break you can have with a child and husband home with you) has brought back my desire. This past week week I longed for time with God. Funny that when everything else kind of calms down, that desire is strong.

*I know this blog entry is a long one, with no entertaining pictures, but you're getting ready to encounter my 5 More Years point of it all*

Yesterday I had the hardest time finding time to spend with God. Cooper's naps were short (he is growing out of his 2 naps a day and into 1....NOOOOOOOO.) and I'm pretty sure I procrastinated with a ton of stuff. But, I finally found some time. During that time I wrote at the end of my journal entry that I had a new goal: Wake up at 6am, spend some time with God, workout, and then fiddle around the house before anyone else wakes up. This may not seem like a big deal to many of you, but during the summer I love to bask in the glory of sleeping in. God has given Cooper an ability to sleep until 8, 9, sometimes 10 this summer. Also, I am a lover of sleep. I am a pro-nap girl; always have been, always will be. Andrew used to give me a hard time about my napping. He didn't understand how I could just go and nap in the middle of the day. Becoming a dad has changed his perspective a bit, but mine has grown even more concrete: Naps and sleep are soooo gooood. So, waking up early during summer is quite a feat for me. A habit I'm not so sure I will do well with, but am going to try.

So, this morning I heard my 6 am alarm sound at what seemed to be a not very long sleep. I "snoozed" for about 20 minutes. For my first day I thought that was pretty good...better than not getting up at all....right?! I've been going through a book about the Proverbs 31 woman. Guess what today's chapter was about? Getting up early! No joke...I couldn't believe it. I came away from that feeling rejuvenated with my conviction confirmed to wake up early.

Here is an excerpt from today's chapter.

"If you can do nicely with six hours of sleep instead of the eight you now may be getting, saving those two hours a day, Monday through Friday, would give you an extra forty hours - one additional work week - every month! ...Just one hour less sleep per night would mean: six extra work weeks per year, which adds up, over a working lifetime, to more than five years. Think what you could accomplish in an extra five years! - Up and at 'em!

I am by no means showing off that I got up early today. It is only day one, it's 1:30 pm, and I'm EXHAUSTED already. I just wanted to share what is on my heart today. To all those people who "don't have time"...try waking up early. I was one of them, and I can assure you I will be going to bed earlier tonight. But all I'll be missing then is TV. What I'm gaining is much more valuable.

I have had the sense that God is getting ready to do great things for our family. I can feel him moving all around me. God is on the move and I can't wait to see what he does.

Cooper wanted to share something too:

"6s 5986357-==87rrre64r567890-iikju867890[[" - love, Cooper

Cooper's First Fireworks

The 4th of July brings about amazing memories growing up spending the day picnicking and playing with cousins. I am so happy I was able to grow up with my cousins and am thankful I still have relationships with them to this day. To those cousins who read this: I love you.

On to this year's celebrations...Andrew decided to make a crazy trip to Houston and back with a friend. He got back in the afternoon of the 4th...tired, exhausted, and a little grumpy. I had one mindset: to take Cooper to see fireworks for the first time. After Andrew napped and I ruined some alaska cookies, we headed out for some fun. We ventured to our friends, the Laucsher's, for dinner, then went over to the harbor to watch fireworks with them. The had parked their boat on the dock earlier that day, so we had some perfect seating. We didn't go out on the boat because we didn't know how Cooper would react and we didn't want to be stuck in the water if he hated the fireworks. Cooper did play on the boat, and ate some popcorn and watermelon. (Food is definitely the way to Cooper's heart).

Then the show began.

Cooper was squealing with excitement and words like "wow" "ooh" "yay" and his new word for that day "firework".

A couple of minutes into the show, they stopped. Not exactly sure why yet. So, we waited around for a while. During this time, Cooper was yelling "Ready...GOOOOOOO" as loud as he could, as well as "firework...where is it?" After waiting a while and Cooper getting restless, we decided it was time to go.

As we were gathering our things the fireworks started again. We stayed and watched a while longer before heading home.

When we got home Cooper was OUT!

I took this picture so you can get a better idea of how tall he is...crazy!