outdoor fun

God alone

I find myself looking around at my surroundings and thinking, "I don't deserve this!".  When we began our search for a place to live in this area, we were told that with our budget we would have to look in the city or settle for a very small house or an apartment.  One look on craigslist and we were thinking the same thing!  It was a painful and frustrating process.  The timing of it all was in our faces.  We had been asked to be out of the home we were living in by April 1 (after that date came and went they gracioulsy changed it to June 1) and Brianna was coming home from college. Matt was determined to find a place and I was trying to figure out where we'd put all the kids once Bri was home!  Then, God did something that amazed me- but when I did some reflecting I realized it was not the first time He had done it.

God used something we considered bad to fulfill His purpose of giving something good.  Our van broke down.  Money was tight and we use our van regularly to transport kids from the city- not to mention our own famliy!  It was stressful.  Matt took it to a mechanic that was really close.  Even after someone gave us the name of a Christian mechanic who would look at it for free, Matt felt like the Lord wanted him to leave it where it was.  (He is almost always listening to the Lord!)  Through small talk, Matt mentioned to the mechanic that we were actively looking for a place to live.  Turns out that the mechanic had a friend who was selling a house,  but it was empty and maybe he'd be willing to rent it.  The story gets complicated here as there was hope, then flat out refusal, and then a change of heart.  Bottom line is, that with our budget we are now renting (with a portion of the rental going towards a down payment) with the option to buy it at the end of our lease.  When people came to help us move, they were stunned.  They could not believe what we were getting- and within our budget!  The reason?  God.  Alone.  

After Matt signed the lease agreement, our family came to the house, we gathered in one room, called Brianna at college, put her on speaker phone, and Matt prayed and committed this house and all that is done in it to God to be used for His glory.  It was a special moment.  

As a family with a ministry to kids in the city, we see a lot of darkness.  We see families that are broken, dysfunctional, addicted, depressed, and desperate.  We see kids that don't have any idea that two people get married and stay married.  They don't understand love, kindness, happiness, joy....  They don't have a relationship with Jesus.  We desire to be a model for them of what a life committed to God looks like.  A life that looks to God's Word for truth and compares everything to that in discerning right from wrong.  We want them to see that even when bad things happen, God blesses His children, gives joy and peace, and NEVER leaves them.  (Most of the kids we see have experienced the pain of a parent leaving them.)

We are committed to using what God has given us to fulfill the goal of making God's name great and known. God gave us this home.  He gave it to us to use for HIS glory and we are praying that we will be found faithful.

mother's day

I am so happy to have all my babies home~  That alone is the best Mother's Day gift every!  

Finally.....every chair filled....

tadpoles

It was a lot of fun to have a visit from Nanny and Grandpops the other day.  Nanny needs a special award for gathering tadpole eggs with the kids!  They loved it :)

where to begin

I have been way off track with blogging.  Lack of blogging does not signify lack of blogging material!

So, I am going to just post some "bullets" in an attempt to cover a few things!

• Andrew and Leah completed their CC year and had their closing program.

• Caleb finished Challenge A and one huge accomplishment was learning to draw the world from memory!
  

• Alissa finished Challenge B and concluded the year with a Mock Trial.  She played the part of an expert witness and did an amazing job as she was directly examined and then cross examined!
  

• Cameron completed two of his required clinicals for his EMT class (and took Driver's Ed!)
  

• God is blessing Hope for Kids incredibly.  Here is just one answered prayer.  Shelving and bins to label and store our clothing donations!!  

• God gave us far more than we could imagine when he worked out a new house for us!  God is good- even if we had ended up in the small ranch on a busy road.  We are so thankful (beyond words!) for the fact that He decided to give us something as wonderufl as this home.  We are committed to using it for Him!  The lighted court?  Just plain fun :)

• If you know me well, you know I LOVE wood stoves.  And- there's not one, but two working woodstoves!
  

• Leah's first night at the new house

• A beautiful evening sky

The sun comes up; it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I worship Your holy name

-Matt Redman