Thankful Day 13- Not for a Moment

It's been almost 3 months since our lives completely changed and we sold our first house in Texas, left our family and friends in Texas, and moved to the northwest (Portland).  Wow,  to be able to say it in such few words does not display all the details of how our lives have changed physically, emotionally, spiritually.  God has been good and faithful through this process and my heart is filled with gratitude to serve a God who knows the depths of my heart and is replacing my desires with His.

I trust and know the Lord lead us here.  As Tim and I prayed and sought God’s guidance, we knew this is where God lead us.  With that said, it does not take away all the transitions we have endured the last 3 months. 

I have lived in Texas my whole life.  So moving out of state, somewhere we have no family or friends within 2,000 miles of us, and knowing the weather was not going to be as warm as it is in Texas most year round, it’s been a transition. Not in a bad way, just different.  I do remember our first day in Portland just being in awe of the beauty that surrounded us.  The flowers are so big and vibrate here.  People have hydrangeas in their front yard! I mean, I have never seen that in Texas, or just didn’t observe it that much.  On the drive from Portland to Seattle, you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helen, and Mt. Rainier.  I mean, truly breath taking sights.  Everything was so green and lush. The people here remind me of the “Keep Austin Weird” people so I felt right at home.:) As amazing as all of this sounds, it still was different for me. 

As everything that was familiar to me was striped away, God broke me in a good way.  When everything that is familiar was gone, the only thing constant was the Lord.  Yes my family was here with me, but we were all taking it in, learning the culture and adapting to our new environment so we were all changing together.  

But God was the only constant, unchanging person in my life.  My dependence and desire for the Lord grew so much.  I have always needed the Lord but I finally recognized how much I NEEDED Him.  I needed him to remind me why he took us across the country to glorify Him, to provide me with the words to have heart to heart conversations with my kids about why we moved from family and close friends, and to seek the Lord for my husband to love him well as he transitions to a new ministry.  Waking up early in the morning was not as hard as it used to be.  The Lord occupied my mind in the “little” daily tasks of the day.  Those tasks that bothered me before were seen in a new light, tasks given to me to glorify the Lord not me.  And my heart delighted in this.  My heart delighted to seek the Lord, trusting he alone is in control and is using us for His glory.  Of course, transition is hard.  New state, new town, new home, new church, new school, new everything! I needed the map to get to Target! Everything new is hard.  But God does not change,is constant and my Rock.  God has equipped me for every good work and desires to use our family for His glory! What a gift. 

“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my might rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 62:6-8

God has always used music to speak to my heart.  I love singing songs of praise to Him, I can't carry a tune, but I know He is still glorified whether I am singing in tune or not. :) Parts of this song talk about how the Lord is constant and not for a moment did he forsake me. Not for a moment was he not present as were a week without furniture living on blow up mattresses, when our car got broken into our first week, or our crazy travel weekends to Seattle. Even though transition can have it’s ups and downs, His arms are always opened to be a place of refuge and clarity.  He is always with us and we are held in his hands.  He is Sovereign over all things.  

I am so thankful for this journey. I am thankful for how the Lord is revealing Himself to me and to my family.  We are experiencing a dependence on the Lord we would not have experienced had we not taken a leap of faith to do what we are doing.  I am thankful my Heavenly Father loves me with an unfailing, steadfast love.

Thankful Day 12- Taylor Swift

Ok, so I know this sounds weird, but I am thankful for Taylor Swift music.  My daughter loves Taylor Swift.  It literally puts her on her feet jumping around. How does every little girl love Taylor Swift? Well, mine does and I have fun with it.  We will have dance parties just the two of us and my son will sometimes join us, just excited we are jumping/dancing around.  

Today Neela has been a bit under the weather and we watched Charlotte's Web and jammed to Taylor Swift.  Also, when we lived in Texas Neela would listen to Taylor Swift when she would take a bath (I know!) and so it's fun for her to remember that and just sweet memories from our home in Texas and a great way for her to remember.

This is her favorite video:

 

Thankful Day 11- Veterans

Thankful Day 10- Glimpses of Grace

I recently read this book and loved it!  My heart was convicted and pointed to the gospel in the mist of my sinful and selfish heart.

This book "Glimpses of Grace" by Gloria Furman is about treasuring the gospel in your home.  Being a stay at home mom right now, my selfish heart struggles to serve all day and not having a lot of down time for myself.  I sound so awful right now, but it's the true state of my heart at times.  Gloria Furman points our hearts to what scripture says about glorifying the Lord in the mist of our mundane task around the home and our duty of the never ending changing diapers.

God's grace and presence is in every area of our lives.  He is glorified and made much when we seek to know Him more and to know He is our Savior, Redeemer, and purpose we live for.  I love how she uses so much scripture to point us to the gospel.  It's not just her being witty and great with using her words, which she is, but loads this book with theology and truth my heart is desperate to hear.

She addresses how so often we feel like life has to be perfect to pursue Jesus or to even glorify him.  But we are called to glorify him in the mist of life, struggles, discouragements.  Our home will never be clean enough, our kids will never be "good enough", our dinners will not be "tasty" enough.  We will have people see us in the mist of our messiness and what a beautiful opportunity to point overs to the Jesus who sustains our life.

I am thankful for the time I have with my children and even in the mist of a hard day, this book has taught me how to point my heart to the gospel.  I have the life I have because the sacrifice Jesus paid on the cross for my freedom.  Because I have experienced true love and grace, I am given the ability to extend the same to my children and my words to be filled with love and grace because of Jesus.  I was dead in my sin and now alive in Christ.  This is life I have the privilege of sharing with my children on a daily basis.  What a privilege.

Here are a few gems from the book. 

-Scripture my heart is dwelling on, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 3:23, 24

-"Spiritual disciplines serve as gateways to cherishing the gospel, not as substitutes to the gospel."

-Two Purposes Jesus used Parables: "1. To reveal things. 2. To emphasize the point that his teachings were concealed form people who did not understand the things of God."

-"Treasuring Christ changes us. Faith looks back at the cross and agrees with Jesus who said, "It is finished." My debt has been paid and my sin is forgiven because Jesus paid it all.  I am reconciled to God through the death of his Son.

-"What we need more than clean hands is a clean heart. God is the only one who can purify us: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" Psalm 51:7, 10

-"The greatest nightmare of shame is the fear of being found out. But the gospel turns this fear into an occasion for joyful celebration at the foot of the ross. We will be free from the controlling effect of shame only when we are repenting of our efforts to cleanse ourselves and rejoicing in the saving blood of Christ instead."

These are just a few gems from this book.  I highly recommend this book!

So thankful for this book, "Glimpses of Grace."

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 3:23, 24

Thankful Day 9- Hoyt Arboretum

I love all the beautiful hiking trails here in Portland.  Honestly, you can walk anywhere here and enjoy the beauty of creation surrounding you.  Today we discovered Hoyt Arboretum. Wow, trails between streams, red wood trees, fir trees, and all sorts of coloring mushrooms.  I climbed a fir tree super high because it was so easy to climb almost to the top of the tree.  My daughter enjoyed exploring, singing loudly, and dancing her own jig.  My 1 year old loved walking around screaming and staring at everyone who walked by.  The hubby of course taking it all in and thankful for our time in Portland.

I'm thankful for the ability to teach our kids to enjoy the beauty of the Lord that physically surrounds us on a daily basis.  In our culture, we are so quick to think we need games, ipads, toys, and man made entertainment for our children at all times.  Yes, these things are gifts from the Lord but He is our greatest gift and His never ending beauty surrounds us. I am thankful for the opportunity to do this in such a beautiful place like Portland.

I am thankful for  a day of hiking with my family at Hoyt Arboretum.

Thankful Day 8- Parenthood

I am so thankful for this show!  I love Parenthood! It's a fun time for Tim and I to sit down and have a show we enjoy together.  Now that we live in Portland, Parenthood does not air until 10:00pm!?! Crazy I know!?! I have to be honest, there are times I have fallen asleep because it's so late and will watch Parenthood on Hulu, but I do try to stay awake. :)

Thankful Day 7- Children

I am thank for my children.  Children are a gift from the Lord.  It’s true. 

Psalm 127:3-5

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,
 offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
 are children born in one’s youth. 

Blessed is the man
 whose quiver is full of them."

My kids are such a joy and I have the privilege at this time in my life to stay home with them.  Each day is an adventure full of barbies, crafts, letters and numbers, care bears, blocks, picnics, cars, and so much more! Jealous I know. J

My four year old is my tender hearted, compassionate, silly when no one is looking, has a love for learning kind of gal.  She is inquisitive and often brings me to tears with the questions she will ask me.  Questions about our family, friends, God, herself, and super heroes and princesses of course. Never a dull moment. 

My one year old is a fun lovin, interactive, stare you down, ball of energy.  He is very much go with the flow just have snacks for him and his pacie and he is good to go.  He loves balls, exploring and pooping in his diaper. J Again, never a dull moment.

We moved to Portland two and half months ago and it was a big transition.  I was nervous for the transition for our children but they have champs!  Of course, my four year old ask dozens of questions, even now, but have embraced our new city and we are settled in.  I know this is the Lord’s doing.  It’s funny when I worry so much about things I really have no control over and realized how much energy I wasted.  The Lord has gone before us and knows what will happen.  He is taking care of us and is our place of refuge.

The other day my four year old said, “Mommy, I’m going to look out the window while we are driving in Portland because I don’t want to forget what Portland looks like.”  Who says that!?! She is constantly process things and I’m always amazed with what comes out of her mouth. 

The Lord reveals to me daily the need I have for him to give the the strength and wisdom to parent and love my children well.  He is so faithful and equips me for every good work.

Today, I am thankful for my children.