Good Morning,

Whew, It’s been a very long time since I’ve sat in front of my computer without the sounds of three sets of feet running around. Today I have only one set, and he is actually parked, busy doing something.

Ahhhhhh the little things that bring a smile to this mommy’s face.

The past three weeks have been an emotional roller coaster as we headed home to complete an immigration process that began over two years ago. What we thought was going to be a slam dunk, an easy “administrative formality” took on a life of its own as we carved out a new precedent in immigration.

The details are not important but when we finally made it back to NC late Thursday night, without our luggage (but that’s another story) my honey and I felt like we had been through the ringer for close to three weeks, and we were tired, discouraged and quite frankly numb. 

It’s early Friday morning and my phone rings..okay never a good thing, you know the call where your heart starts pumping faster, and as you answer you are wondering what bad news awaits on the other side. This is where my mind was taking me when my friend anxiously says she has to talk to me but she would have to make it quick as she was at work! Ummmmm, now I’m really nervous. 

Let me back up….

Now I’ve never been a fan of “the puzzle”. Way too many small little detailed pieces waiting for me to sort and place together, so not a Tatum activity but our trip home was much like a puzzle and yet we played very little part in the actual formation of the finished product! Let me explain.

When we were home for our “extended” visit my girlfriends and I had the opportunity to talk to another friend who in our 9 years of friendship would never allow us to talk about faith with her. She was locked up like a vault friends! 

Anyways back to the story, the first Saturday night we were there we went out for a “girls night”. Little did we know that night was going to be a turning point in our girlfriends life. Due to circumstances in her life we were able to share who Jesus was to us, in a very personal and vulnerable way. It was an amazing night, we were thrilled to have had the privilege to chat with her and as I drove back to my parents home that night I said a big “thank you Lord” that He included me that night. It was an answer to a nine year prayer.

Fast forward eight days, I’m still home, again not my plan but the Lord’s. We go out for a second “girls night”. That evening we were able to chat again about faith, about life choices, about Jesus. As I hugged my girlfriend good bye there was no shadow of a doubt that the Lord had His sights set on her and in fact one friend said that to her……….she was being sought after.

Ring, ring it’s Friday morning, my friend who was so anxious on the phone had called to tell me the night we were traveling home was the night our girlfriend acknowledged her need for Jesus, his forgiveness, love , mercy and grace. THRILLING, can I write that again THRILLING!

As I read this verse I was reminded in such an “eternal and tangible” way how our plans our not God’s plans. He is the ultimate puzzle master, He holds all the pieces and on Friday we were humbled to see how one piece fit into another, and if I had had my way I would not have been there to witness God’s unbelievable power.

Isaiah 55:8 

So friends whatever life circumstance is staring you in the face, acknowledge that the “puzzle” that is your life today is being placed together by our Heavenly Father and only He sees the big picture!

Journey On,

Good Morning Everyone!

Well it’s Friday, you know the question that comes next…have you had your sweet treat to celebrate the coming weekend?

I was thinking about a line in a movie that we watched last weekend. The character in the movie, who I think was a bad guy but my detail deficiency is kicking in now said “character is easier kept then regained”. Good line hey?

This is the path my brain took me down. When I allow my emotions to control my responses, you know the ones I’m thinking about. The ugly, selfish, impatient responses that can so easily and quickly come spewing out of ones mouth. Well, after that response has been voiced, the action taken I have just allowed the opportunity for my character to be questioned. Once, twice my not come to anything but over time my chosen missteps, my ill behavior may then begin to break down and tear away at the fibers of my character that is so precious. Just as the line states, making the choice to keep my character is much easier then trying to pick up, dust off and rebuild ones character. I know once trust is broken with another I am not so easily persuaded to begin trusting again. When anger becomes a typical response from someone I know, I begin to retreat.

Please hear me when I say that emotions are a part of life, they are God given. However I can either choose to behave and respond in the moment of my emotion to either maintain my character or diminish it. Thankfully we are loved by a God who gives us limitless opportunities to maintain, rebuild and change our characters.

Don’t you just love the creative ways the Lord uses to remind us of the things that are important. Bad guy gets this girl to thinking! God rocks!

Proverbs 11:6 (The Message)

Journey On

Good Morning,

As I sit at my computer I cannot believe the month of July has come and gone. We have clocked so many kilometers on our van, visited with friends and family and now the reality of the school year is pressing in hard. 

It’s kind of funny to me that my last post was about our evergreen in Canada. Well the Lord has such a unique ways of reminding me that no matter where I am storms come and go but He is never changing. I’ll back up and fill you in.

We returned back to NC with my parents after being away for almost a month. There was an incredible storm that occurred while we are all out of the house. We arrived home to find the storm had blown down two evergreen trees in our backyard. One was cracked and dangling dangerous close to our home. The other evergreen lay flat, on top of our air conditioner, after taking out the eaves trough on the corner of our home. 

My dad had arrived back to the house with my two boys first. They scouted out the damage and then walked around the neighborhood to find many who had experienced true devastation as the back of their homes were seriously compromised. As the events of the day sunk in and night fell, my spirit was no where near being still and calm. The “what ifs”  traveled through my mind with lightening speed. The familiar doubts that Satan loves to thrown into my face about our decision to move arrived right on cue and this mama was not choosing to look for peace.

As the clean up efforts ensued the next day I heard my Heavenly Father’s still small voice remind me that the evergreens in my life, no matter what country I find myself in are under His control. The winds obey Him. If I truly depended on Him, my need to maintain control ultimately demonstrates my lack of faith. Ouch the truth of that stung and yet I was not feeling condemned as I know the heart of my God is instruction and correction.  Perfect timing, God’s timing.

As I gaze into my backyard, the stumps that now sit are a new reminder to me that God is God no matter what country I find myself in. Storms will come and go but He always remains the same.

John 12:27 (The Message)

Journey On