My girl and her daddy...

Today over lunch, out of the clear blue, Brianna said "Tanner asked me 'Where's your dad?'" (I looked up at her) "For the first time in my life I didn't have to say 'He's dead'..."

I waited...she stared...I smiled...she smiled back, that smile that says "here it comes!"...I said "Isn't God SO good?" She agreed. I started wiping away the tears.

AND, at dinner, when David and I were alone, I told him about the conversation...and I cried all over again.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

The Yankees and The Rebels

It's SO not what you might think! lol

It actually is from a recent joke make in our yard. Some new friends of ours, who we met through Karate, were over last night to look at the apartment over our barn. You know, the one my parents were "supposed" to move into months ago. Well, my mom was recently moved to a nursing home near their home, and we have now found out that she has been SO HORRIBLY cared for over the last six months in the first nursing home that the new nursing home can't even think about rehabilitation until they get her healed. (She has several wound areas as a result of the first nursing home...and she's diabetic...you do the math.) SO, my parents won't be here any time soon - that we know of - and we have the vacant apartment.

Our friends have sold their house and while they're waiting on the Lord to direct their next long-term step they're going to be our tenants! Everyone in our house is pretty excited about it! (We'll see how long they stay excited when Miss Kim starts getting Mommy up at 5am to workout! Which, by the way, Mommy is SO excited about! Miss Kim is a certified personal trainer don't ya know!)

SO, we will have a family of four (there are two boys) and their two teeny tiny dogs living in the apartment, or as we say around here "living in the barn". Needless to say, this helps us out, and we hope it will be a blessing to our friends as well. And maybe, I can't help but wonder, God has a reason for putting two boys in Brianna's life and backyard...like maybe there will be two boys of our own one day! I hope I hope! =D

In the meantime, feel free to rejoice with us in this season of God's continued provision for us. And, please pray! We have A LOT of reorganizing to do in our house, to move in some things from the storage area as well as the barn, in order to make room for our friends. And, did I mention we're leaving on Thanksgiving for Atlanta for the weekend??? Yes, our friends will be moving in while we're away! So please pray for them as well.

And, if you're in the neighborhood stop by! We can surely find you something to do! Uh, is that what I meant? I'll say "We'd love to introduce you to our friends!" =D

Oh, I almost forgot the joke! You see our house sits north on the property...and the barn is south on the property. So it was a big joke last night that we're the yankees and they're the southerns and they'll have to work on their southern drawl. (David is the only real southerner of the four us.) And this morning at karate we were joking about Kim coming up to the big house when she needs something...

We're having fun already! =D

Isn't God SO faithful? He does what He says He will do...EVERY TIME!

Philippians 4:19: "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

A time for everything...

A Time for Everything
3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Brianna and I came home from karate this morning, and were sitting at the dining table enjoying our mid-morning snack. I looked out the glass doors and saw orange oranges on our two trees just a couple of feet from our deck (as opposed to seeing green oranges for some time).

As seems to be the new norm around here, the Lord used His creation to illustrate a point to me. Everything has it's season. E-V-E-R-Y thing.

I have never seen oranges on the trees in the yard before. This time last year David and I were courting...I didn't spend much time at this house last year. When I was in town I stayed at his mom's house. But, quite honestly, we spent a lot of time running the roads. Trips to Atlanta and Alabama, meeting for dinner and a walk on the beach in Daytona, and driving around Orlando.

I am very aware today of how each season brings it's own fruit. Not just on the tree, although it does help bring the point home... My single season did not bear the fruit of my young married season. My season of being married AND a new mother produced different fruit than being married without a child. Being a widow was certainly a season of MUCH fruit...all different kinds of fruit! And now, I'm back in the season of being newly married, although this time I have a pre-teen and hope for more children.

Today I realized I had been grumbling and complaining about not being in EXACTLY the season I want to be in. I found myself convicted. As much as I am so enjoying this new season...I am still discontent nonetheless. I want to have a little boy who has David's nose...I see him in my dreams...and I have been discontent with God's timing, or even His provision. Who am I to think God SHOULD give me that little boy NOW? (or ever!)

Not getting what I want in my timing produced all kinds of bad fruit...discontentment, fear, and arrogance for sure!

BUT GOD in His kindness revealed my sin to me...

Lord, thank You for Your mercy! Thank You for not leaving me where I was, but for spurring me on to love and good works! Thank You for being ALL I need! Thank You for setting me free from the power of sin...now I can CHOOSE to trust You in all circumstances. How kind You are Daddy!

And to quote a most beloved song: All of You is more than enough for all of me, for every thirst and every need, You satisfy me with Your love and all I have in You is more than enough...

Thank You for being more than enough Lord! Thank You that children are a gift from Your hand, but they will never compare to Your gift of salvation...And IF You choose to give me more children I only want them in Your time. Just like with marrying David...I wanted it years ago, but I am POSITIVE that any day before March 1, 2008 would NOT have been YOUR day for us. Help me to remember that Your timing is worth waiting for and that You know what I need, and what I need to do without. I love you Lord! Thank You for seasons, and fruit in the right time!