where I'm resting right now

Something about the year rolling to 2012 made moving out of the country seem very very real...and very close.  And while I'm so thankful that we get to do this, I'm also feeling so aware of my inadequacies and well, I'm grieving some of the losses.  (feel free to head on over to pinterest or something at this point if you're just not up for hearing about an emotional process!!  :-)

So it's a strange combination...this certainty that this is the path God has for us...that He has said I will love the country and will thrive there...but at the same time feeling the losses of what I love here in the US.  So here's where I'm resting these days.

This verse:
Colossians 3:1-3
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

These songs:


 and "Unchanging" by James Mark Gulley
I couldn't find it online for your to listen to, but it's GREAT!  If you go to itunes and search for "world mandate 2008," you'll see the song and can buy it.  It's worth it!!
It says...
"Jesus, Savior, in this world that's ever changing
You are faithful, forever the same..."

This truth:
"See, what God has called us to is outrageous, impossible, and totally unpredictable.  And the only way we will do it is because we are secure in the nature of God.

And God has called you to see the invisible and do the impossible.  God has not called you to do the things you can do, He's called you to do the things you'll never be able to do in a million years. 
You're not able to do what God has called you to do.  Only He can do it.  But He has called you to live in his faithfulness; He has called you to live in His consistency that He will come and do all the things that need to be done.  You cannot find security in what God is doing because God commits you to the impossible; he asks you to see the invisible;  He calls you to do the outrageous.  There is no security in the place...there is only security in who God is.

This great God we serve will throw us into situations beyond us with no other thought than that His great heart will sustain us."--Graham Cooke

If you're a follower of Jesus, this is what He's called all of us to do.  It looks different, but whether it's in parenting, friendships, marriage...He's calling us to lay our lives down, to do the impossible.  And what I'm trusting in is that He'll be there to catch us!!!

some family time

John didn't have to work the week after Christmas, so we soaked up some amazing family time.

We found a great farmer's market in town...

Some folks from our church make fresh crepes and sell them. 

If you live in Waco, you've GOT to go!

The farmer's market is right by the river...

We also played wii together...

We went on walks and spent time together and had time with friends.

We were introduced to the game settlers of catan.  I wish I could play it every day!

We played with new Christmas toys with the kids, took naps, watched movies.

It was JUST what we needed!!

a little more Christmas

Here's a little more Christmas excitement...better late than never, I say!

This happens every year to our nativity set...

One of the kids turns each part to face baby Jesus and crams them around Him.

And every year it's the sweetest reminder to me that that's how my heart should be...

centered and focused on Jesus.

My mom and my brother and I playing words with friends with each other.

cause that's what you do when you're together...

you connect electronically.

(Jeff...this is a friendly reminder that if you don't play a word in

7 days or something it forfeits and I win!!)

My brother brought each of the kids one of his treasures from growing up.

Jacob got one of his cars, and here he is hugging it.

Matching Christmas pjs!

Jeff got Zach this really cool marble track.  This might be the last time you see Jeff smiling because after that he pretty much disappeared for 2 days to assemble the track.  {insert evil laugh}

Zach was super excited to get a remote control helicopter!

My precious mom and dad...i love them SO much!!

It was such a treat to have them here braving pneumonia and strep throat germs.

My dad cooked his amazing Christmas breakfast.

Here's a closeup...

tea party with mimi (it's a tradition when she's here!)

This is an AMAZING new Christmas book.

You should check it out if you have kids you like to read to!

It was such a special Christmas!!!

Mom, Dad, and Jeff, thanks for coming to Waco!

Christmas is here!

YAY!!!  My mom and dad and brother are here to celebrate Christmas with us.  I'm sitting in the living room watching country music videos and listening to my dad and brother sing.  That's the sound of my childhood, and it's sweet to my soul!  Oh, and I was so ready for it!  I had pneumonia this week and 2 kiddos with strep.  John has been an absolute hero!!!

But there's also been SO much sweetness.  I wanted to give you some little peaks into the fun we've already had.

My little elves have been helping me ...

 

Here's a few peeks of house decorations...

Check out these AMAZING candle holders made by my friend, Courtney...

I won a blog giveaway this week.  It's one of my very most favorite blogs.  And I'd taken a class here in Waco and made a journal with these amazing artists.  And I WON A GIVEAWAY ON THEIR BLOG!!!  I am still on the moon with excitement!

I made this fun little garland this year.

I made that from the scraps from these little goody bags for

the teachers at Zach's school.

Thanks, pinterest!!

Some neighbor and friend gifts...

Well, the excitement was building, and THIS BOX came from my brother with gifts. 

The kids were SOOOOOO excited...and so was I! 

Notice Zach stretching his arm out to show you the scale of the box.

Mom and dad and Jeff got here yesterday, and the fun is ON!!!

Here's dad working on some building projects with the kids.

Last Christmas, dad and Zach built this great gumdrop tree.

We reloaded it, and it's a hit!

 

Here's a sweet Christmas hug.  I could just sit and look at this picture...for a long time!

Merry Christmas from Texas, friends!!!

happy days

Catie and lambie

Jacob and Thomas

my two favorite little doggies

picnic breakfast

the never-ending joy of playing in messy stuff!!

(We've been on a kick around here of making fun stuff...slime, oobleck and playdough!)

Z's favorite was the oobleck!

The kids making their own candles at a festival.

Zach is 7, Catie is 4, and Jacob is 2.  I love, love, love these ages and want to freeze these memories into my heart!!!  Children truly are a gift from God!!

Baby shower and Thanksgiving fun!

I know I've said this before, but we are SOOO thankful for our friends here.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with some of them, and it was a BLAST!!!

Here are the "little two" (which Catie feels is a huge insult because she is NOT little!!) eating dinner.

Zach at one of the boy tables.  Check out that cool turkey Zach made that himself on Thanksgiving morning to take for decorations.  YAY!!  I think I've rubbed off on him a little!

Me and Katie Zurcher.  Katie and her husband, Jarrod, moved here summer '11 and are currently doing Elevate.  They are awesome, and we're so thankful for some more

ATL friends out here!

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Courtney and I threw a baby shower for our friend, Susan.

We had a BLAST planning this shower and loving on Sus!!

Here we are gathered around Susan praying for her.  And she needed it cause she went in to labor THAT EVENING!!  We barely snuck that shower in!

get cookin'

Zach cooked cookies ALL BY HIMSELF for the first time the other day!

He did such a great job, and everyone totally enjoyed his delicious oatmeal cookies.

Our boy is getting SO big!!!