Prayers and Encouragement

This is our neighbor and friend, Ms. Susan. We got word yesterday and that she has suddenly been diagnosed with advanced stage of lung cancer even though she has never smoked.  We are praying for peace, comfort and healing for Ms Susan and for wisdom for the doctors.

Breanna helped Ms Susan on her farm with her rescue horses for a few years and now Maddy spends a lot of time with Ms. Susan. They share a love for animals but especially the 7 rescued horses behind our house.  Maddy told Billy last night that Ms Susan was sick and she broke down in to tears for her friend.  Breanna held Maddy in her arms last night while she sobbed.  All the kids got together and prayed for her that God; our Great Physician, would help her to feel better.

Ms Susan has become a very dear friend to our family, she encourages the kids and allows them to join in the difficult work of caring for 7 horses with special needs.  Maddy knows the diets and special treatments each of the horses needs and loves to spend time at "the horse farm" helping out along side her friend.

I am including a picture from the other week of Maddy and Ms. Susan along with a sweet letter Ms. Susan wrote to Maddy. Will you pray for her and even send her a quick email of encouragement   msusanlee@centurylink.com

The full post of this picture is here

Marbles Museum Trip

This is Maddy and Logan's last week of track out. They had a long track out this time with 4 weeks out of school. We are all ready to be back on a schedule, however, I have enjoyed only having one car pool time with Breanna for the past few weeks. This will be there last track out ever due to starting traditional schools in PA. All the kids will be on the same school schedule next year.

my "sweet pea" performing (notice how Logan is so proud of her, they have a special bond)

Well...Olivia was playing in the pet center and she said that the dog had to potty.

No one lost any fingers or any other body parts! The last time we went to marbles Maddy stabbed herself with scissors while cutting material in the craft center. I was so happy to get out of the "real tools" play area.

If sports are to be found, logan will find it. He came out sweaty and happy.

We spent a lot of time building a huge lego house and Olivia had fun tearing it down in a matter of a few seconds. 

not perfect....BUT

I have been plugging along reading through the the New Testament and I'm currently in Luke.  I stopped in chapter 5 and read it a few times through out the day. A few verses that stuck out were:

 ²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, ²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Several times in scripture people instantaneously, without questioning, "Follow Him".  Levi  immediately got up, left everything and followed without assessing the risk. Leaving his job, possibly his comfortable home, friends, everything he knew to follow.  As I meditated on this scripture I thought, Following your calling doesn't mean assessing the risk. Focusing on the risk leads to being paralyzed in action and disobedience. I'm not talking about being reckless but when the Lord places specific direction in our lives and we spend time trying to plan for all the uncertainties we only get hung up on all the unknowns and are paralyzed, missing learning opportunities through the process.

Later that day, after having a house full of kids, numerous training moments, evening activities, empty boxes in the living room that needs to be filled, an endless to do list without anything checked off, a child crying herself to sleep with a headache, a mound of laundry, a van that is rattling and sputtering, dinner, baths, dealing with an issue with the realtor and Billy out of town . It should be time for bed but, a thunderstorm rolled in and I have a house full of sleepy, scared little kids snuggling in my bed and not  to mention a dog that needs anxiety meds during a storm. At the end of myself, clinging to the truth that Jesus is enough regardless of circumstances. I'm reminded of the lesson learned today, this is all part of the process and I pray that my heart is tender, pliable and I may not miss the learning opportunities through the process.

Keep pressing into Him, when circumstances are not perfect BUT God is and He can use everything for growth. When our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak He is enough....He IS enough.

this and that.....

The kids organized their very own parade. Since we have year round schools that means there are always kids in the neighborhood ready to play year round!

,Playdates over trackout are a must! Here are two active boys and they have been close friends for a few years. Logan enjoys playing at "M" house with all the boys, lots of wrestling and playing sports.

Maddy had a play date with "O", they look forward to their track out play dates.  

We headed out for a girls weekend. We watched several bands such as Sanctus Real, Flame, Jimmy Needham,Casting Crowns. This is a picture of the crowd holding their phones in the air, as a visual.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it John 1:5 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14. What a great picture of how darkness can not overtake light.

Logan just can't get enough of sports.  From basketball, baseball, football, golf and now asking to play hockey again.. I'm not so sure he has enough time in the day to fit it all in!

We spent the afternoon at the park today, it was a nice spring day to pick weeds, dance (sorry folks you missed our dance show!) and a few bumps and scrapes.

ohh and there is so much to do..... Maddy and Logan are tracked out so the boxes and the to-do-list will wait because time spent playing with the kids is more productive than the frustration of accomplishing these big tasks with a house and yard full of kids.

Beautiful

For days now I have watched the flowers bloom on this tree.  I can see it through a few of the windows from the house and it is nothing less than beautiful.  It is mind blowing to observe nature and to ponder all the intricate details that it takes for this single tree to bud.  It's easy to look past nature and not see the amazing things around us.  Have you ever been overwhelmed by an ocean that stretches beyond what our eyes can see, a rushing waterfall, a thunderstorm that takes your very breath away or a peaceful untouched field covered in snow...  What are those examples you have seen?

When I admire the beautiful things in creation they remind me of a Creator, a God of order, a God of power, a Creative God that is detailed, precise, and perfect.  The splendor of His creation is to draw our hearts to worship and be amazed at the design and beauty of the very One who created it.  

I was looking for a music to place on this blog post and came across this video that seems to express these thoughts from scripture.   

This and that....on the move!

We have started to pack a few boxes and will gear up in the next few weeks. This is Billy's last week at Pepsi and he will start his new job March 28th. We have an appraiser here this morning and we are praying for a smooth closing on May 4th. We are plugging along with daily life in the midst of major transitions. Here are a few pictures of the past few days...

Maddy and I headed out to the track meet to cheer on Charles our neighbor (he is wearing the pink socks) . He is incredibly athletic.

Breanna took Maddy along with her to serve at the food pantry at church. It was rainy and cold!

Girls night out at the Anita Renfroe and Mandisa concert.We had lots of laughs but my ears are still ringing!

Maddy and Logan started baseball and softball! It's great to be back at the field watching the kids play ball. Logan was super excited when he cracked a homerun hit over the fence.  

Always a yard full of kids and not to mention always on the move!

Video from Sunday morning's worship service as our youth wrapped up their Disciple Now weekend. This is one of the largest youth events at church with over 200 kids attending. There is something very special to watch a youth group fired up about the Lord!

Logan took me out on a date Sunday night. He is going through the coupon book to see where he wanted to take me. His first option was to Sheetz to get a hot dog. We ended up going to Chili's then to Adventure Landing, he was a gentleman holding doors and requesting seating for us at dinner.  We had a great time and he talked non-stop. He woke up this morning and said "Mom I really had a fun time last night"

No Fear!! - By Billy

Have you ever been to the airport and stepped on one of those moving sidewalks?  When you first step on it jerks a little bit and whisks you away down the terminal.  After you get your bearings all you have to do is walk normally but in reality you are moving much faster than the other people walking along beside you.  That's how I feel this past week or so has been for us.  We stepped on the moving sidewalk by putting our house on the market and pursuing a new job opportunity in PA.  Thirteen days after we listed our house we signed the contract and will close on May 5.  Just 2 days later I got confirmation that I got the job in PA and will begin March 28.  With those big events behind us I feel like we can start to walk along this process again when in reality we are traveling faster than before toward Harrisburg.
I gave my notice to my Sales Manager Monday morning and thanked him for the opportunity to work for Pepsi.  I have been there nearly 9 years so parting that company is bittersweet for me.  I enjoy my job and the people I work with.  When I began as a weekend merchandiser 9 years ago I had no idea what to expect.  I just needed a job to support our family, Maddy had just been born a few months earlier and our family had grown to 4!!  (Seems small now)  So a dear friend got me in the door at Pepsi and I was able to begin my career there.  I worked a few other positions over the years before I was promoted to my current position where I have been for almost 5 years. 
For those of  you who have never been afforded the opportunity to see my company vehicle you are missing out!  I have a 2008 Toyota Prius, sounds pretty sweet doesn't it?  Not really, unless you have seen it.  Its wrapped with graphics from one of our products, No Fear Energy.  So my little blue Prius is actually black and red with a big skull on each rear quarter panel and NO FEAR written down the sides.  Its always fun to drive around because people do a double take to figure out exactly what is plastered all over my car.  Its sort of a rebellious outlet for me, little do people know the driver of such a beast of a vehicle is wearing khaki pants, a polo shirt and listening to KLOVE radio on the inside.  After I gave my notice yesterday morning I was walking to my car as I have done for so many years and it struck me as a reminder of what God is doing through this process.  "No Fear," I thought.  I am about to go get in my car, the seat is set for me, the radio is programmed to the stations I like and I know how the car handles and drives, but soon I will be giving it up.  Soon I will walk to another vehicle in another state for another job.  My prayer is that the message will remain the same, NO FEAR!
God has been so gracious to us through this process, even when its seemed difficult.  Michelle and I have grown both individually and as a couple.  He has strengthened our relationship with our ministry partners Shawn and Lisa.  I count them as friends whom I love that I get the opportunity to do ministry with.  As we are travelling down this path toward Harrisburg and planting there we are being moved along quickly by the timing of things but just like those sidewalks in airport, God allows us to gain our balance, learn to operate in the pace He has set and enjoy the ride.

Busy Week!

It has certainly been a whirlwind of a week! Billy went to PA on Monday and came back late Tuesday night, more news to come about this trip. Our house went on the market 13 days ago and we received an offer Wednesday evening. Yesterday papers were signed and we are under contract!!! We have celebrated yesterday with the Shays and we want to celebrate with all of you who are following and have been a part of this process. Please pray for us, our kids and our neighbors as we begin to make this next transition.  Our closing date will be May 5th. We will keep you posted and will let you know where "home" will be after we close.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

Here are a few pics from the week!

Olivia knocked out! She hasn't taken a nap for months and here she is asleep on the day of our first showing so I had plenty of time to get the floors clean and the house ready for the showing.

Lacey and Bre doing the last bit of painting!

The sun is shining and it just seems like it's time to start planting flowers.

Logan purchased a basketball with his birthday money (yes he has waited for a while and thought carefully about what to purchase) He slept with his ball and woke up the next morning to tell me he had a nightmare that he popped his ball.

Logan has noticed that I carry with me a stack of index cards with Bible verses on them and I found this on his dresser.  He had made his own cards with some of his favorite verses on them. 

This is from John 1:1 " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

The girls raised money this week for the Rescue Horse farm in our neighborhood.

Ms. Susan was very excited and said that is one of the nicest things someone has done for her. She takes care of seven horses through the United States Equine Rescue League and Maddy loves to help on the farm.

Olivia hanging out in the neighborhood with her friend

Today the kids took over the neighborhood on their bikes.

It has certainly been a busy and eventful week but a great week too.  These pictures are just a snapshot into some of the relationships that we have developed over the years.  We love our neighbors dearly and will miss each one of them deeply.

More news to come Monday!!!!!!!