Some fun amid the moving events!

While packing boxes, we started to unintentionally build something REALLY fun for the kids. They would arrange the boxes into a fort and play and read all day. Caleb and Haleigh even set up a mini maze for Nathan to crawl through! Here are some cute pics of Caleb taking him through the maze they set up. He was pretty proud of himself!

Well, this is what pulled into our driveway this past week. A huge 18 wheeler that was going to load our stuff and haul it to the west coast. Basically, we pay for however much room we take up (so not much went!)It was really interesting to watch the process of loading the truck. The night before, Shawn and some friends had mapped out how much space we were using and tried to fit as much as possible in it, to give us an idea of what we would be able to take. It really helped, but thankfully, the movers were able to fit a little more than we expected.

They packed this thing TIGHT! Which was good for us, after all, we want to get as much for our money as possible! So after a couple hours, they were set, and off our stuff drove! Hopefully, we will see it all in Hawaii in about a month! 

      "Don't forget to take me, mom!"

Fried...

Shawn and I have spent the entire day packing the house. It has proven to be a very stressful process. Not only are we packing the house to move to Hawaii, but we have to pack other things to go to family in TN as well as things we need for the next few weeks while here in OH. My brain is FRIED!! One thing is for certain, I have way too many clothes! It's easy to justify the containers of children's clothing that is stored away for the next little one to wear. And after being pregnant 5 times in the last 10 years, I have a multiple wardrobes containing different sizes (pre-pregnancy, maternity, post-pregnancy, "maybe one-day's"...) you get the idea!  The Lord has been dealing with my heart when it comes to possessions, and my willingness to give them away with strings attached. I kept worrying about whether I had kept enough back for us to have what we need there. I couldn't help but hear the Holy Spirit speak to my heart a few verses the kids and I memorized at the beginning of the school year. 
     Matthew 6:24-26 
      “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
    ²⁵ “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"

     I trust that the Lord loves me enough to provide for our needs. And He desires for me to hold loosely to the material things He does provide. 

Just when I'm feeling desperate...

    People have told me that I look like I have it all together. Well, I'm pretty sure they would rethink that if they could only see what's going on in my head and heart. Since putting our "Yes" on the table to pack up our family, and move all 9 of us to Hawaii to begin a new church, I've been stretched, challenged, and at times, flat on my face before God. I've heard other church planters who've said that the journey for them, was the most challenging, but most amazing time of ministry. I believe them!
     Yesterday, I was face down in my bathroom, crying out to the Lord. Frustrated, weary and worried, I laid all of it out before Him. Sometimes I forget that He already knows what's in my heart better than I do. So many things had taken their toll on me in the past weeks, and honestly, I've been in survival mode. I hadn't taken much time to spend at the feet of Jesus.  I had neglected to cast all my cares upon Him and allow Him to lead me one step at a time. The Word of the Lord is true, I trust Him, yet I had allowed my circumstances and some disappointments  to undermine what I knew to be true.
    Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning, and His character is unchanging. My faithful God, who brought me up out of the pit, out of the miry clay, set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm, has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God (Ps. 40) He is at work all around me, without my knowledge, orchestrating things for our good. I know that there will be more ups and downs to come, but I just  can't wait to see what happens next....!