Opened, Closed, Answered

I've been reflecting on our time in this wonderful state of SC. I'm remembering a couple of very specific prayers we prayed when we first arrived here. The first was that God would open and close doors that no man could open or close for us. I think we focused far more on the first part of that prayer in anticipation of all God would open up here in SC and I don't think we really imagined that doors would actually be closed. God is so faithful though and He knows what we need and what is right, even when it involves closing doors.

God truly has done both opening and closing doors on our behalf. He has closed doors for Caleb's career here. Since two weeks into the job when Caleb's original position was dissolved and he was moved to a different location within the company. Next, he was offered a promotion within the company that never came to fruition. In fact, the man never even contacted him again after making the offer to him. Very strange! After much frustration and Caleb even confronting the man, we found out the funding wasn't there after all. I've come to the conclusion God simply closed that door.

God now has opened doors for us to return to the NPS and to AZ. We are so excited to be near my family again (yay grandparents!) and Caleb has a promising and exciting career waiting for him. Caleb also never really got rangering out of his blood. Even when we first arrived here in SC, there was a sadness everytime he spoke of being a ranger. It was almost like he couldn't talk about it because he missed it so badly. We're so thankful that the NPS has welcomed us back so open-armed. They have been better to us than necessary, to be sure.

So far God hasn't opened the door for our home to sell but I am absolutely trusting this too is from God to somehow bring something good. Perhaps to grow our faith and glorify Him? Perhaps to keep us close and dependent on Him? Perhaps to strip us of putting our hope in material possessions? Perhaps to keep us from being prideful? Perhaps all of the above and more? He is for us. He is faithful. He continues to reveal His presence in our lives and even when it's a closed door, I will trust Him.

I will continue this post over the next couple of days on how God has answered prayer in our life during our time in SC. This was Part 1 of 3. Stay tuned...

Trophies

Bryant has taken up widdling.. you know like carving wood or in this case, soap. Recently, he presented me with this trophy that he created without me knowing it. I thought he was outside widdling a stick but instead he was creating this "Best Mom Award" from a bar of Zest. How sweet is that? (On a side note, I am such a believer in the 5 Love Languages and clearly one of Bry's top languages is "Gift Giving". For an 8 year-old, this is quite a gift, even if it did come out of a box in the linen closet.)

As much as I appreciated his shower-fresh token and the lofty title he gave me, I appreciated even more a conversation that happened between us earlier this week. It went something like this:

Bry: Mom, I think you mispelled that word. 'Sign' is spelled, S-I-G-H-N
Me: I think you might be thinking of the word 'sight'.
Bry: No Mom, when I learned how to spell 'sign' in 2nd grade, it had an 'H' in it.

At this point we began to teeter on arguing because he was pretty certain he had learned to spell it with an 'H'. As I was reaching for Webster's Dictionary, I was getting a little irritated but still kept my cool. I remembered this too could be a teachable moment. Then, the neatest thing happened. He completey stopped himself in his tracks and changed his entire demeanor. This is what he said...

Bry: I'm sorry, Mom. I'm not going to argue with an adult. You've completed all the grades and I'm just in 3rd grade. I believe you.

That's it? I didn't even have to talk with him about this first. He showed such maturity and completely made my day. If you know how strong-willed Bry can be, you know what a big step this is for him.

I couldn't have been more proud of that kid! That, to me was a trophy of a moment.

Overwhelmed

By the title of this post and the amount of stress factors that are a current reality in my life, one might assume that I'm overwhelmed with the pressures of this upcoming move. Actually, strangely enough, I'm at peace, at least for tonight, with all of the (uncertain) details in our life. No, we haven't sold the house and I'm not sure how the next months will play out as we begin our life out West, but I am trusting that it will be good and good will come from even our struggles. So then, what am I overwhelmed about?

I'm overwhelmed with emotion because of the friends I've quickly come to love here in the Charleston area. We had a wonderful get together tonight with some of these people. I stayed somewhat shallow in my conversations because there was a deep pool of emotion that could have easily gushed forth if I even began to acknowledge the truth about how I was feeling. I didn't want to turn even slightly in that direction, for fear that it would be a downhill fall landing right in a puddle of the hidden things in my heart. Things that would cause me to get on a gratitude soapbox and cry an ugly cry. -You know the kind when you risk snorting, looking really ugly and inevitably regret later because somethings are just too tender to speak.

I'm reflecting tonight on my first fearful MOPS meeting and how April made me feel so welcome. How Robin can make anyone laugh and lets everyone know off the bat that they are part of "the group" and she wants them there. How Marca gave me her number and took the initiative to start a meaningful friendship with me. How Karie invited me over for a play date and from then on, her southern voice became a sound of comfort for me. How the Magners became such kind friends, sharing even their own families with us, inviting us over for countless meals and even letting us be a part of their Christmas Eve festivities. Meeting Angela and spending afternoons with good talks and good books. Kathy, the crazy and fun friend who inspires me to help more, give more and simply do more. Time with our old small group and looking forward to Monday nights with them. Our GKGW class that was an 18 week commitment but took our group more like 22 weeks and honestly, it was so worth it! Dear friends like the Young's whose house feels like home because everyone is welcome there. Craft day at my house last Fall and having Cassie stay all afternoon, until hers was finished because the time together was valuable to both of us. I will always laugh out loud when I think of Theresa that night on the pier and also when she took off in a sprint on the bridge- that girl can move!

Other things I will never forget... Tailgating at the Clemson game with the Magners, the Murder Mystery Party, dancing on the pier, Deeper Still weekend (Celeste, Roxie, Randi, Marca, Michelle & Jen you know my whole story- thanks for letting me be me and loving me just the same), walking the bridge late at night with a bunch of fun women that I love so much. Special, special times in my memory bank. Special, special people to share it all with.

Simply put, THANK YOU friends! You have meant so much to me. I don't have adequate words to say what I would like to say, I hope you understand. I love you all so much. I will miss seeing you on a regular basis. I will miss being a part of your wonderful lives! Thanks for letting me be a part of it all for a season.

Craziness and Wisdom

Lately, DJ has been showing early warning signs of boy craziness and let me just say, I'm not liking it one bit. Last month is when we first noticed. We were visiting with some friends who have a son in junior high. He is such a great kid, very handsome and fun. Caleb & I saw how DJ completely lit up when Dylan was around. She went further to continuously hug him. Finally she declaired that she would in fact marry him someday. What on earth???? Last week the neighbor kids were at our house(like most days)and we saw it again. The oldest one is 12, very kind and just an all around great kid. Apparently he was more worthy of DJ's attention than anyone else on the block. After he went home, she informed us that she would be marrying him now instead of Dylan. This morning she began talking about another boy (at least this one was her age) and how she wanted to marry him. What is your deal child?

I over heard her conversation with Bry, the wise older brother and this was his response:
"No, don't plan on getting married yet! There are lots of other men out there just like there are lots of women who will want to marry me someday. You only get to pick one so wait and pick the best one."

May it be so! I think he will make a fine husband someday. But..."There are lots of other MEN out there"? Where do they come up with this stuff? I'm cracking up and loving the fact that Bry is so confident about the stockpile of women who will be beating down his door, begging to be the one that gets his ring on her finger! But I am somewhat impressed that he sees a little bit of the big picture.

Elle Turns Two!

It is hard to believe that it has been 2 years since that beautiful day in Flagstaff, Arizona when our family was completed with precious Elliotte Cathryn. It has gone fast, yet we've done more things than I ever thought possible in two years.

How could life have ever been without our Elle-girl? Could we have ever imagined how wonderfully sweet and delightfully charming she would be? I don't think we would have guessed how hard she'd make us laugh or how deep our love would grow.

Thank You, Lord for two wonder-filled years with this precious gift you have given us. May we have many, many more years with this sweet child. May we honor you as parents and love this child the way you would have us to. May we never forget how blessed we are. We thank You for her.

Seasons

I shouldn't be blogging right now. I have so much I "should" be doing.

(BIG Sigh....) I love this time of year! Fall is by far my favorite season. I love the unexpected coolness in the air and the wind in the trees. I'm just thinking about change and life and a bunch of other things.

I am so thankful that seasons change. We are on the brink of a new season ourselves as we plan to make our way back to my home state of AZ. I am so moved by the good and kind people we have met here. I will miss them so much. They have made us feel very loved and we will never forget them. We've made friends that we will always be in touch with. I am sad that I won't get to watch their children grow like I thought I would. I am sad that I only get to go to one more MOPS meeting. I'm sad that we won't be in our "normal spot" on Sunday mornings after October. I'm sad that I won't be able to visit one of my absolute favorite places in the whole world, Downtown Charleston, whenever I want.

I am excited, though, that my parents will get to see my children grow like they hoped they would. I'm excited to connect with a new (actually my old) community and see how God wants us to serve there. I also am excited to wake up to mountains, open air, cactus and the land I know as home. I am trusting that God wouldn't ask us to give up so much great stuff here if He didn't have something somehow better planned there. I realize it's probably not all going to be as I think it "should be". But I trust that it will be good and actually better than my own plans.

I'm getting ready for a new season.

Little Bitty Thing Called the Love Bug

I always thought the love bug was something that existed only in a George Strait song. Found out today that I was wrong. This is how the conversation went in the van after we had just seen two bugs "stuck" together, flying around.

Bryant: "Mom, did you know there is a bug that exists with two bodies and two heads?"
Me: "Oh yeah? Where'd you hear about that?"
Bry: "Claire (his friend) told me about them. She said her parents told her and if they bite you, you'll fall in love."

Caleb and I chuckled in the front seat because he was convinced that this was a particular species of bug with two heads and two bodies and that if it bit him, he'd fall in love.

Later this evening DJ brought up the subject again and said:
"If you get bit by a love bug, you'll fall down in love!"

So keep an eye out for those love bugs and be sure not to get bit by one of them. First you might fall down and then you'll be in love for at least a year, according to my kids. And for some reason those love bugs tend to only come out during certain seasons. Strange.