"Discipleship & Discipline" Webinar by Sarah Mae & Sally Clarkson: Only $17.99!!!

When I asked a friend recently what books she has read that have encouraged and challenged her heart as a woman & mom, "Desperate" by Sarah Mae & Sally Clarkson was top on the list. I have a confession: I had never heard of either author, but after purchasing the book on Amazon last week, I have a feeling I am going to be soaking up books from both women for awhile. It has been an incredible drink of fresh water for this season of life for me right now! I long to embrace who I am as a woman, continue to discover the type mom God created me to be, create a home that shows my husband and children the love & grace of Jesus on a daily basis, and build our family with intentionality (is that even a word? If not, I'm using it anyway).

God's timing is perfect... right after being introduced to these two humble, godly women, I saw that they will be having a webinar called "Discipleship & Discipline" this week (Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 10th-13th). I am so thirsty to walk life with other mothers of young children, and learn from older women who have walked this journey before me! In this webinar, which will be from 9pm-10pm EST each night, they will discuss (and you can read the full descriptions of each session here):

- Laying a Foundation of Love (Sally Clarkson)
- Loving the Wild One (Sarah Mae)
- Dealing with Our Junk So We Can Parent with Clarity (Sarah Mae)
- Heartfelt Disipline/Your Parenting Questions Answered Q&A (Sally Clarkson)

Along with getting to attend the live webinar every evening (and then having "on demand" access--that never expires-- afterwards if you can't make one of the sessions), you will get:

• Four days of teaching & conversation with Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae via live Webinar

• Five daily emails with inspiration, key readings and other resources

• The opportunity to ask Sally your parenting questions

• My 24 Family Ways PDF Packet (I'm assuming a pdf of this book?)

• The UnWired Mom eBook

• Core Lies eBook

Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae want as many moms as possible to be able to be encouraged & challenged, so they not only removed the time restrictions some of us have (by making this online versus just a physical location), but they have made registration only $17.99 a person. 

Are you looking to be encouraged, refreshed, challenged, and given hope in your motherhood journey? That is what my heart is crying out for, so I am so excited to be able to attend this this week, and want to share it with as many of y'all as I can!!! If this is some of what your heart is longing for as well, you can sign-up here.

Enjoy your week!

* This post contains my affiliate link.

Hearts for Building

This week a new friend shared an article on Facebook that encouraged my heart and made my eyes mist over because of the truths it contained, the encouragement it gave me as a *young* mom (I just recently faced a monumental birthday... eeks!) You can read the article here, but basically, it was written by a mom of five children to moms with one or two who wonder how in the world she does it.

The last 10 years has held a lot of various seasons for me personally: graduating from college, working in ministry as a single female, getting married, learning to be a wife, learning to be a pastor's wife, being involved in youth ministry and womens ministry, having two children, moving states, and walking alongside my husband while he job searches, while longing myself to enter ministry once again.

All of these "seasons" have been so full. Crazy times, exciting adventures, packed out weeks, moments when I can't wait for what is coming, and other times when I don't know how in the world I will hang on through the next thing. These seasons keep pushing me to Jesus. I've had some incredibly encouraging friends walk by my side, and some other encounters with fellow believers that left me hurt or discouraged.

This week at a small group training meeting, our pastor shared that sometimes women can have a difficult time being honest with each other. So much comparison and insecurity goes on, both inside and outside the church.

And for me (as well as probably a lot of you), the "little" conversations lay the groundwork for how safe or open I feel like I can be with women/people around me. I'm finally recognizing how some the "normal" statements made on a pretty regular basis to women sharing something about their life are actually not encouraging, bonding, edifying, or really actually a godly response. Here are some real conversations I've experienced or personally witnessed (typically when a woman is brave enough to answer the question "How are you?" with a real answer):

Young mom: "This has been a really long week. Neither of my toddlers will nap at the same time, and the baby keeps waking up all night. I'm just exhausted."
Other female: "Enjoy this season, it's so special, they grow up so quick. This is a precious time."

Young Mom: "Things have just been crazy. Sick kids, messy house, husband is working long hours..."
Other female: "Honey, wait til your kids are older. Then you'll really know what busy is."

Single Female: "Doing ok. Been some tough things the last few weeks."
Other female: "Your mom just told me about your boyfriend. It's ok, God has someone better and more handsome for you. This wasn't the right one."

Married Woman: "This year has been rough. Our work schedules have been really different and my husband and I haven't gotten a lot of time together. And finances are just so tight."
Other female: "Wait until you add kids to the mix, then it really gets crazy!"

And the list could go on. You know the moments I'm talking about, when you leave a conversation feeling like you're a failure or not spiritual enough and you have to be older, wiser, have more/less kids, work more/less, etc, etc... And after awhile, when someone asks how you're doing, you answer "Great, good, fine" and keep on walking or change the subject. There are truths in those statements, but they aren't always the right time to share them... Like it is true that the first few years of having children is precious, it does go by quickly, but it's also grueling, exhausting, and I've never met a mom who loves changing diapers, thrived on a lack of sleep, or enjoyed the painful adventure of grocery shopping with three small kids.

God is teaching me to listen. Say a whole lot less (and yes, I do love to talk!), and think through something before I say it. And part of Ephesians 4 has become the standard I want to live...

 "29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Such powerful words. If I respond with "-----", will it be helpful or good for this person? Will this encourage them? Will this show compassion to them? Will my words lift them up while they are down?

I don't know the heart behind some of the responses I mentioned above. On the surface, they seem harmless. But yet there is an edge to them that can cut (not always, but often). It might just be the "church/godly" answer (like a better man out there), it might be a longing that they had chosen differently, it might be unresolved bitterness or anxiety about their own current season, an unidentified mentality that everyone has to endure certain seasons, or it might be they just have had their own exhausting week and didn't think before they spoke. I know the heart usually isn't to hurt. But we are all human, we are all sinners, and sometimes we say things that are not edifying, encouraging, or compassionate.

And since we only get glimpses of each others' lives, we don't usually get to see the big picture of what's going on for the person sharing with us. They might have gotten a scary lab result back from the doctor that week and don't know how to share it with anyone yet. They might have an incredible career or ministry, but have secretly been going through infertility for years. They might long to be married, and are hurting because God hasn't placed them in that season yet. Or they could just be so exhausted and worn out they don't give themselves credit for all the wonderful things that they ARE doing. God might have called them to have five children, or only two, or has blessed them with one, but not any more yet... We just don't know what's going on in their hearts.

Some of the times that have been so encouraging and redeeming for me have been times when I have been told, or heard someone else told, things like:

"Hang in there. This infant phase is rough... it's ok to let some dishes go, and cuddle with your baby for a nap. And you know what? It's ok to cry. I remember crying a ton. Those crazy hormones!"

"That does sound crazy. Need a hug?" (saying life only gets busier is NEVER encouraging to someone who is already stressed)

"If you need to talk, I'm here. Or if you need to just laugh, I can bring over a comedy one night this week or we can go shopping?" (thrift stores are a fun place to find ridiculous clothes to try on for laughs, and frozen yogurt places are great for the heart)

"I'm really sorry to hear that. I'll be praying for you." (And follow that up by checking on them later in the week)

"That does sound really overwhelming. Can I pray for you right now?"

"What can I do to help?" (hold a baby for an hour, fold some laundry, play with kids outside for an hour, give a gift card for a date night...)

"I don't have answers for you. Just keep leaning into Jesus. Keep taking it to Him."

I know this was long, but this has been on my heart weekly for quite awhile. Let's keep encouraging each other, let's build each other up. Let's keep listening to one another and become women of God who can be honest and open with each other, and it be safe. We have plenty of not-safe relationships in our extended families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and more, but let's keep fighting the fight as sisters in Christ that we can be safe together! Listen to someone's heart share a piece of their life. Give a hug, offer a shoulder to cry on, lend a hand in a tangible way so they don't feel like they are walking alone, and most of all, pray for them. Keep taking them to Jesus. One of the most incredible things I have learned from my husband is to push past the awkwardness of being in the middle of somewhere, and be willing to ask that crucial, "Can I pray for you right now?" question. But oh how sweet it is to stop right then and there and take it to Jesus.

For all of us who have chosen to follow Jesus for life, we are on a journey of becoming more like Him. Whatever "season" we are in, single, married, divorced, single parents, college age, retired, parents, longing to be parents, working outside the home, working at home... we keep our eyes on Jesus!

Summer Longings

"Longings" is the best word I can come up with to describe what has been going on in my heart this summer.

As each week is passing, I feel like I am coming more and more alive in this *new* culture we are living in (yes, I was born and raised here, but so much has changed, and I've lived away for so long). God has been stirring up joys, passions, and longings that have kept me verbally processing with a close friend during our weekly FaceTime phone dates.

On a Sunday morning when my husband plays his guitar and leads a local group of believers in corporate worship (like in the video above), my heart rejoices and longs at the same time for him. I see him monthly growing in this spiritual gift he's been blessed with, and can't wait for what God has in store for him. I don't know what it is or when it is, but each time he leads, my heart is reaffirmed that this path we are walking in faith is what we're supposed to be doing.

During the week as I tidy up the kids toys in their play area, or adjust to cooking with someone else's things (ladies, you know what I'm talking about, there's nothing quite like your own kitchen items), or tuck my son to sleep in his currently purple room, I long for the day to come that we are once again in our own home. I dream of my home with four bedrooms, one for each kid, one for us, and one for any guests visiting or local people needing a place to stay. A home with a kitchen window overlooking a backyard, so I can watch my kids play outside in the sunshine (our old home didn't have a kitchen window, or really a backyard...). And it will be like Christmas getting to open up all my kitchen things. Who knew a woman could love her silverware, pots, and dishes so much? :-)

Needless to say, these things are challenging to talk about. The last six weeks (since my last blog post), I have been pondering how to put into words some of these thoughts & emotions. They are not easy to verbalize, and don't fit quite into the normal "this is how we're seeing some awesome things God is doing!" update. Yet He is doing some great things. Some of them tangible, some of them only heart stirrings.

The friend I weekly try to FaceTime with (she teaches English in Europe) shared with me something she has been learning... to ask "What is God calling me into? What is He inviting me into?"

Then this last Sunday, our pastor put before us the question, "In what ways am I making myself available to hear from God?" (and I might not have gotten the wording quite right, but that was the gist of it)

I have loved walking alongside Nathan as we've served the Lord together for almost six years now (whoop-whoop!). This has been an exciting, long, painful journey of seeking what is next. And day by day walk into the unknown in some ways. Some days are filled with so much joy. Some days have tears and anxiety. And some days are both joys and longings for what the Lord is going to do in our lives next.

I am near family. I have been weekly reconnecting and spending special time with my parents, sisters, and grandparents that I have lived long distance from for so long. I have two healthy, energetic toddlers, and a humble, godly husband who is working so hard to provide for his family.

God is faithful to provide, He has been faithful to lead, and He continues to be faithful in working in our hearts. These longings remind me of the woman Hannah in the Bible who longed for a child, or the Hebrew people who longed for their own land, or King David who longed after God. So I will keep on taking these longings right back to Him. I will daily ask Him to open doors for us. He is our Hope.

Will I laugh during these fun family memory-building times? Will I give God praise at the very visible, very tangible ways we see Him taking care of us? Will I rejoice with friends who are seeing answers to their prayers? Will I sit and soak in His presence and peace during the quieter times? Yes yes yes and yes.

Will I long for our future, to see my husband once again daily using his gifts of musical worship, teaching, and discipleship? Will I long for my dream home?  Will I cry on days that are hard? Yep, and sometimes it's all of those things on the same day... :-)

The best way I can say it is that this is a sweet and painful journey all at the same time.

Summer Joys

The heat & humidity of a Gulf Coast summer has finally settled in the Houston area, meaning more indoor play time and lots of pool time.

Levi had fun taking swimming lessons in June, and conquered his HUGE fear of getting water in his face. He now jumps, slides, and any other way he can think of, makes huge splashes in the pool. Still not completely swimming on his own, but getting closer and closer. He also has gained several pounds and grown out of an entire size of clothing, which God provided for by an awesome summer clearance store. He is now restocked with running shorts, tshirts, and a few short sleeve dress shirts.

Eliana is just about as adventurous in the pool, trying to keep up with everything big brother does. She daily amazes me with her curious, active, adventurous little personality. Well, big personality in a pint-size body. She is getting taller and slimmer, but still in the same clothing size, so we also went shopping for some new clothes during the summer clearance for her. Her other summer clothes are getting so faded and stained being worn for so many months (and were from garage sales themselves).

Nathan has stayed very, very busy working as a manager at Chick-Fil-A, mowing a few yards, and leading worship several times a month at the church we're attending.

This summer we have had fun as a family visiting the local Houston zoo (pictured below), attending the Ringling Brothers Circus (courtesy of ChickFilA), picking fresh strawberries at a local farm, and over course, eating & playing at Chick-Fil-A! :-)



And I have stayed busy keeping up with those three! Last week Nathan and I had the joy of a 48hr. getaway to the "Hill Country" of Texas (about 3 hours away). We celebrated both of our 30th birthdays this summer by visiting a winery, going to a huge waterpark for a day, touring a cavern, and tubing/floating for several hours on a river! The kids got extended time with my parents while we were on our adventures. And we just had a wonderful time. So, so good. Just a refreshing time for our marriage & friendship! We both agreed it's one of the best trips we've ever been on.

This is Canyon Lake, the beautiful lake we stayed on (thanks to a Groupon voucher!)



These are just some samples of the blessings we've had as a family this summer. Our continued focus has been building memories together. And we definitely have built some to last for a lifetime! Can't wait to build some more!

"Resting" in the Lord

"My soul finds rest in God along, my salvation comes from Him" - Psalm 62:1

This verse plays through my head because of the upbeat rendition called "Never Be Shaken" by Seeds Family Worship (we listen to "Seeds" regularly).

And towards the end of June, we got to experience the "resting" in God in a way that still brings a soft smile to my face and a bubble of joy inside.

To make our big move down here, we really simplified what we owned. We had several garage sales, sold items online, gave things away to friends, donated items, etc... In the case of our queen size 13 yr. old mattress, we simply put it out for the garbage men to collect. It was sadly sagging in the middle and we had been saving up to purchase a new one this year. My parents had a full bed in the guest room, so why take up truck space bringing an old mattress with us, or haul a new one 1,300 miles? We added "queen size mattress" to our prayer list for God to provide in the future.

So our first month living in Texas went by, and we learned a full size bed is not-so-fun when a couple is 6'2" and 5'7". It works for a short time, but not my favorite thing long-term. Memorial Day supposedly has the best mattress deals of the year, so we started researching and looking at our budget for buying a mattress.

The weekend came, and we started looking at the sales, and for some reason just didn't feel a peace that we should buy a mattress at that time. I was really disappointed, because I couldn't wait to stretch out in a queen bed once again! But I also knew that Nathan and I have learned over the last several years to not push past hesitations when making a purchase (of any size!).

At the end of June, we were having "family time" outside, clearing & burning brush on my parents 5 acres. I went inside for a quick drink break, and my mom told me that a friend of hers in the neighborhood had just called, and wanted to know if we would be interested in a a queen size mattress set. So I automatically said sure, could we get more info (age, price, type, etc...). Mom replied that the mattress was less than two years old, had only been slept on for a month or two, then made into the guest bed because the couple bought a king instead. To top it off, they wanted to just give it to us.

Stunned, I walked outside and shared the news with Nathan. He stopped what he was doing and just about cried.

Within an hour, we were returning home with a *new* mattress, and that night, slept on a queen size bed once again.

When we arrived at this lady's house, she told us they had bought a top-of-the-line mattress to help with their back/joint issues. But quickly decided to upgrade to a king size for more room. And it's been sitting unused since. She apologized for not being able to give us a frame or sheets, she needed to keep those. And when I tried (through tears) to tell her what a blessing she was, she said WE were a blessing to HER.

Definitely confused, I asked "how?" And she replied that she felt the Spirit telling her for several days to call us about the mattress, instead of listing it for sale online. Our having an exact need for that mattress was confirmation to her that she had been listening to the Lord. What an incredible perspective. She had only heard through my mom that we had moved down here and were looking for a ministry position, and we had not previously met her. Yet here was God providing one of our biggest needs through an almost stranger.

During our journey of following the Lord right now, this was such an encouragement. Not only did God show us in a huge way that He is providing for us, He is going above & beyond our "need" (we couldn't have EVER afforded this mattress). He blessed us with an item that has been a daily reminder that He is taking care of us, and we can "rest" in Him.

And in the last six weeks, Nathan and I have noticed our chronic lower back pain (Nate) and hip pain (me) completely go away.

So we continue to seek Him. And continue to find our rest in Him.

An Undivided Heart: Catching Up w/ Nate & Jess

Since we've been in Texas for 9 weeks, that means Nathan has completed 7 of his 8 week trial period at Chick-Fil-A. It has gone really well so far, with surprises along the way, as well as some long weeks there, too. Nathan was promoted to a manager after completing two weeks. They are still working on what his responsiblities will be after the 8 weeks, but have already started having him invest more in the people around him. He works with so many high school and college age students, and they have really embraced having him as a manager, and he has had opportunities to listen to things going on in their lives, encourage them, and pray for them. We continue to be amazed at the way God provided such a good fit for him to be able to work full-time, provide for the family, and also get to invest in people around him. (for fun, here's a picture of Nathan on one of his first days of work, since Chick-Fil-A has a no beard policy...)

But to be honest, these are some long days right now. He has been working the 2pm-close shift, so he's gone about 10 hours four days a week, then 5pm-close his fifth day. His body has gradually shifted from being the morning person I've known for so many years, to being more of a night owl. I'm so glad we get mornings together as a family, but getting the kids ready for bed without him just isn't the same, in so many ways. Finding time together as a family and as a couple is taking some creativity, because when he is home, there are normal life things to catch up on, not to mention continuing to job search for a pastoral position. And his heart longs for it. He has led worship several times at the small church plant we've been attending (their worship leader is going through chemo, so Nathan helps when needed), and my heart knows he's supposed to be doing that on a regular basis. So we keep our eyes on Jesus. 

Yesterday we listened to a sermon where the pastor challenged fathers with "an undivided heart of worship is the heart of a godly leader". In 1 Kings 11, God warns King Solomon to not marry foreign women because they would turn Solomon's heart away from God. But Solomon chose not to listen, and over time, his heart became divided and was turned away from God. And the effects were devastating, changing the course of the entire nation of Israel.

That really stuck with me. I know it was aimed at the fathers & men*, continuing to challenge and encourage them in their leadership, but it also spoke to me during this season when I have been continually challenged to keep my eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2). As a mom to two toddlers, living with my family, having moved 1,300 miles to a new location (and yes, Texas does feel new in many ways because so much has changed and developed around here), my husband working long hours while still searching for a ministry position, with my own heart also praying to be involved in ministry again... So many reasons I can get sidetracked and start worrying about other things. But I don't want my heart to be divided. I desire to build a deeper intimacy with God, I thirst after Him. This weekend I've been challenged in various personal ways of how I need to keep on fighting the fight for my heart. Not to let "small" things creep in and turning my heart from God. Regardless of what is going on around me, I want to follow the Lord completely, as David, Solomon's father, was known for (1 Kings 11:6).

Right now, Nathan and I are on a journey, having some new adventures. We're not sure what God's time table is for a future ministry position, but we're taking it one step at a time, seeking Him, and trying to keep our eyes on Jesus. That is how we can run this race (A portion of Hebrews 12:1-2 says: "And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus"). As I enjoy the sunny warm climate where flip-flops and wearing cotton skirts/dresses is a norm for females, my heart will continue to hope for our future. I know if you're following these ramblings and blog posts of mine, you love our family and are praying for us. We so greatly appreciate it. Here are some of the things we would love to have covered in prayer:

- Nathan's ongoing job at Chick-Fil-A, that details continue to get worked out regarding his position, and for opportunities to continue to arise where he gets to share the Lord with others.
- For me as I stay at home with the kids for long, long hours, investing, training, disciplining... Some days are awesome and some days are wearying. Also as I start to build relationships in the area, that God would provide both some friends, and some women to invest in.
- For Nathan's future pastoral position. We know he is gifted and called to lead worship, teach, and disciple others. He has been regularly applying for jobs over the last 8 months. We know God is faithful and has a specific place He will place Nathan to use those gifts. This waiting period is hard though!
- For us as parents, that God would continue to teach us and lead us in how to parent Levi & Eliana well.
- For our future home... I know one day soon we will again be living in our own place. This has been a special season with family and the kids are getting to bond with their grandparents in ways that wouldn't be possible otherwise. We are so thankful that we have had the opportunity to do this. Yet we still long for our own home once again.
- Most of all, that we have undivided hearts of worship and keep our eyes on Jesus!



* This is completely unrelated to the post, but since yesterday was Father's Day, I wanted to share one more prayer request. Father's Day (as well as all the other holidays) is a wonderful and special time to celebrate as a family, but my heart was burdened with also wanting to pray for the families that it might have been more of a time of mourning. Pray for the dads who have lost a child, for the children (young or adult) who no longer have their fathers with them. The godly single men who desire to have a family one day. For the couple who has been walking the road of infertility and have faced another heartbreaking month. And pray for the godly men who have chosen to invest in younger men like they are their own sons. 

Time is Flying By... (catching up with Ellie & Levi)

It's hard to believe that we've been in Texas for 9 weeks now... The summer heat and humidity is in full swing. Levi and Eliana don't seem to mind it at all, and still want to spend most of their time outdoors. I spend most of my time following their adventures & mishaps. Here are some of the highlights:

- A 24 hr. trip to the beach, staying in a hotel, feeding sea gulls, & swimming in the hotel pool. Levi even had a queen size bed all to himself!
- Once a week family dates to Chick-Fil-A (enjoying the employee discount)
- Going to an Astros game in Houston
- Traveling to East Texas several times to spend time with their great-grandparents, exploring their 12 acres, paddling a boat on the pond (Levi), and picking squash, zucchini, & cucumbers
- Visiting a local strawberry farm and picking 8lbs of strawberries (they couldn't be left with the buckets or the strawberries disappeared as fast as we picked them
- Going to the Lufkin Zoo (in East Texas)
- Hanging out with a bunch of crazy aunts! (my sisters all live within driving distance)
- And this Friday, going to the Houston Zoo!


Eliana is 19 months old, and wants to explore, climb, or get face down in the dirt to observe (or taste) something new. She continues to amaze me because she seemingly has no fear. I often have to redirect her from not-so-good things like fire ant beds (she likes to stomp the dirt to watch them crawl all over), beetles (whether it's dead or alive, and yes, she put a live one in her mouth last week). We have found only THREE things she is scared of so far: toads while they're hopping, dead spiders (live ones she likes?), and mushrooms (they grow in the grass, but haven't figured out why they freak her out?). She loves to follow around Levi and they are starting to play together more and more. She even has put on some weight and grown into her 18m clothes! :-) She is really a toddler now, we took the side off her crib this week to convert it to her "big girl" toddler bed.

It also feels like Levi has taken a huge growth spurt... today I bent over to look him in the eye to tell him something, and realized I didn't have to lean down as far as I normally do. He has grown into a great protector of Ellie, keeping an eye on her during their different adventures, and has saved her more than once from possible injury. He stays in constant motion: driving race cars, pushing his trains around, playing various sports, exploring outside, watching wildlife, "helping" dad or PaPa work on projects around the house/property. I have been challenged as a mom to continue to let him be a boy: problem-solve on his own, give him space to try new things, say "yes" to more of his ideas when exploring outside, and encourage his heart that wants to help others. It's easier to keep things routine or structured, but long-term I know he needs to be able to start growing in who God has created him to be.

This morning on a family date to Chick-Fil-A, Levi came to me in tears, and wanted a hug. After a hug and a pat on the back, he told me "One of the boys had called me... (and my mommy mind was already brainstorming ways to explain some unkind word) ... a little boy. And mommy, I'm not. I'm a big boy!". Oh how I wanted to laugh (from relief of what he had potentially been called), but also saw how his heart longs to be affirmed as a young man. And he's only three (and the boy involved was four... his mom talked to me and we both had a good laugh together).

Some of the ways I'm seeing God work right now are in the daily moments where I desperately need more wisdom, patience, grace, and with two toddlers, energy! In the midst of the craziness, I realize often He is carrying me through, leading me step by step. We laugh together, they sometimes put me near tears, and I'm amazed by the things I learn as we experience life together. God continues to weave His story in our little family.

And some days, a double time-out helps, too. :-)

God Blessed Us With Spring :-)

Since we moved in mid-April from Ohio to Texas, we knew we might completely miss "spring". It was still hovering around freezing in Ohio, and a normal April in Texas is in the mid-80's, gradually reaching 90.

The weather here the last four weeks has been just one of the many ways we're seeing the awesomeness of God. It has been beautiful and unusually cool Spring days. Several days have come close to breaking 100-year records for lows. And we have loved it. Sunshine, 60's & 70's, powerful thunderstorms... God blessed us with Spring.

If you're wondering if we're getting settled in down here, the answer is yes and no.

About a week after we moved here (that crazy week where Nathan had two huge job interviews), my parents had new granite flooring laid to finish out the new addition to the house (the back porch closed in to form a sunroom/playroom). The living room & dining room were also laid in the same stone. This is a project that has dragged out for three weeks now (hopefully will be finished this next week), and so we have gotten to spend a lot of time outdoors, visiting local playgrounds, and made several trips to my grandparents in East Texas. So physically, we haven't had a lot of time to "settle"---we still have been living out of boxes, and I can't wait to unpack so I can actually access my normal everyday things!

This has drained me personally as a mom quite a bit, and many days I'm at my wits-end on how to keep my kids occupied while still trying to keep up with life things like paying bills, grocery shopping, cooking, and laundry. I continue to focus on the day, and remember this is just a season we are going through and things will get better soon.

On the other side of things, I am continually amazed by how God is taking care of us. Nathan has been working full-time for almost two weeks now and progressing with his job at ChickFilA. Tomorrow he will get to be a part of the worship team for the second time at the little church plant we've been attending. And when he hasn't been at work or practicing guitar, he has been hired to do landscaping type projects for someone. So he is busy-busy, but we're so grateful for the way God is so quickly providing for our little family.

Levi and Ellie have been such amazing troopers throughout this entire adventure. After the unrest of packing up a house to move, then traveling to Texas, adjusting here to new friends, new church, and daddy's new work schedule... They continue to adapt in incredible ways. They have their days of pushing each other's (or mommy's) buttons, and testing new boundaries, but overall they are just loving this new life (probably because they get to spend most of their time outdoors).

I also have been caught off-guard by how quickly my heart has become attached to this part of Texas. I was born and raised in the general area, but my parents didn't move to Magnolia until I was a senior in highschool, I only lived here a few years. I am loving the sun, the people, the food, the community courtesies when out and about, being able to spend time with family in person, and so many other things. So I keep giving all that over to the Lord as well, that if this is the region of Texas we're supposed to end up in, He opens the doors for us to stay here.

That's about it for now. Continue to pray for us as we adjust to this new life. I specifically ask for prayer for me that I get some times of encouragement and get refreshed soon. God is carrying me day by day for sure, but right now I feel like I'm wearing out a bit.

Love from the Sliters in Texas!

The Sliter Migration: Part 3 (getting settled & a job!)

Every time I start to write one of these blog posts, I try to keep it short. But there is so much to say, so many exciting things happening, or just plain craziness, so I have a hard time keeping it short.

I've shared our decision to move to Texas as we continue our search for our next ministry position. And a few weeks ago, we were a scattered family as we moved our physical possessions 1,346 miles from one state to another.

Monday, April 15th, we were rejoined and got to enjoy the insanity of merging two households. Another God-moment in all of this is the blessing of moving in with my parents while we get our feet on the ground in a new state. They are "empty-nesters" as of this year, so got to enjoy that for about nine months before once again having a daughter living upstairs. And it's been about 18 years since they've had toddlers living at home. But they're loving it. Before coming, my mom and some local ladies helped prepare the bedrooms for us. While Nathan was making the drive to Texas, my dad and I worked on cleaning out and rearranging the barn and some storage space upstairs to hopefully fit all of our things so we didn't have to rent a storage unit. Once again God made things possible, and all of our things fit in the house/barn!

The inside of the house is a little crazy this last week though... new flooring is being laid in the main living areas, and it's taking longer than anticipated, so we halted unpacking and have spent a lot of time outside on my parents' five acres, or visiting my grandparents and sisters...

The exciting news in the life of Nathan: He has a job, starting tomorrow! Nathan had his first job interview down here on Wednesday, April 17th. Yes, you did the math right, it was less than 48 hours after getting to Texas. A few weeks before that, while looking on snagajob.com for a transitional job down here, he saw a posting for an assistant manager position at a local Chick-Fil-A (my parents live in the country, and this is only 15 miles away, pretty much as close as you can get for a job) and applied. Got an immediate call for an interview, but obviously was too far away. Called back the week of the move, and they set up the interview for the 17th. Nathan worked for Chick-Fil-A in highschool/college, so he thought maybe this would be a good fit.

That interview took two hours. Two hours of me anxiously awaiting word of how it was going. When we loaded up the moving van, he had to set out his suit on top of boxes in the van just so we knew he had it ready to go. He called me once the interview was over and we had our first Texas God-moment: both managers at the store really liked him and shared their need for a manager-type person to oversee team-building and employee care at the store. They wanted him on the team if they could work out a position for this. Thursday he was called back in for a meeting with the owner on Friday.

The meeting with the owner went really good as well, and it should have, because it lasted almost three hours. So more praying and fingernail biting (well, I don't really bite my nails, but I would have!). A three hour meeting is a good sign, right? The owner really liked Nathan's resume, especially his heart for encouraging and investing in others to see them reach their potential and would like to see him in management as well, but needed to figure out details. He is a believer and shared that a big part of why he owns the store is to invest in the workers and people who come through the doors, and he wants his managers to do the same.

So this last week Nathan got a call to go back in to discuss the details. For right now, he is hired for an 8-week trial period and will be learning the ropes of every aspect of working there, from the cash register to cooking the chicken. The route they would like to take is putting him on the fast track to learning the store inside and out, while not telling everyone he is a potential manager, so they can see how Nathan performs, as well as see if he meshes well with other employees. At the end of 8 weeks they will promote him in leadership. We're not sure at the moment what that next step will look like, or what the time frame might be, but are blown away that in the two weeks we have been here Nathan already has a job. It is full-time and will pay more than a normal retail/food chain position and will cover our monthly expenses right now.

I am just still amazed. We have been job searching like so many others for months now. And to have this happen so quickly as we took this blind step of faith is incredible. God provided a job at a local place (no long commutes), somewhere that is closed on Sundays so we can get plugged into a local church & also are available to candidate somewhere when those doors open, will financially cover our monthly expenses, and on top of all that, the owner and managers want him to encourage and invest in others, even share his faith with others. Yeah. Wow moments.

God is at work!

The Sliter Migration: Part 2 (Scattered Family)

For those of you who want to hear the details of our 1,346 migration from Warren, OH to Magnolia, TX here you go... 

Our official move date was Saturday, April 13th, which meant we loaded up the moving van on Friday, April 12th. As I mentioned before, having two active toddlers and packing was CRAZY, so God provided in a cool way: My dad used some frequent flyer miles to fly my mom and her best friend up to Ohio the weekend  before a whirlwind "girls trip" to Amish country, then to take our kids back to Texas with them to allow us some time finish packing.

So I enjoyed a 24hr. "break" from the insane house packing in Amish Country (Holmes County, OH) with my mom and her friend Friday-Saturday. The kids got to spend one last weekend with "Uncle Tim & Aunt Tina", a wonderful couple from our church who "adopted" our kids this last year and became like family, taking the kids for one night a month so Nathan and I could have some alone time. Can't even begin to express what a blessing that was without any "real" family locally... Just lots of "adopted" family & friends!

Sunday, April 7th, we attended our church one last time. It was bittersweet, seeing faces of fellow believers we may not see again this side of the Throne. But so encouraged by so many of them as one person after another shared their excitement for us as we take this step of faith (which is another motivation to continue to blog our "migration" so we can share what God is doing with our Ohio church family). It was definitely one of those days when I'm not sure why I even bothered to put on mascara, waterproof or not! :-)

Sunday afternoon was spent packing up my kids for their adventure to Texas. I talked to Levi about what the next few days would look like for him. Riding in a car with "Tink" (my mom), flying high in the sky in an airplane, playing & sleeping at Tink and PaPa's house... He was so excited to go, he wanted to help me pack. I should have taken a picture of the suitcase he packed... It was filled with cars, planes, and trains. Not a single piece of clothing. We know what is a priority to him!

But that night as I prepared the medical release stuff to send with my mom for the kids, checked the details for the hotels & flights the following weekend, etc... I saw how far away my two precious children were about to be: 1, 346 miles. And I could barely keep it together. I attached the map above so you could see. We were truly migrating from the north to the south, and I was not going to be in the same state as Levi & Ellie for 5 days.

The Lord has just continued to be present. Calmed my fears, gave me peace, and in this story, has also given those same things to my handsome boy and beautiful girl. Thank-you so much for your continued prayers for us. My mom and dad (PaPa and Tink) sent me pictures throughout the week, as well as daily set aside time for us to Skype/FaceTime, so I got to see for myself that my kids were loving their new home, as well as verbally tell them we were coming soon!

 

(playing at my parents' neighbors)

(enjoying a Texas rainstorm & their new umbrellas from Grandma Tink)

So thankful that my dad had enough frequent flyer miles to bless us this way (one-way tickets were RIDICULOUS, and he said he didn't need the miles now that we moved to Texas) and for modern technology that allowed me to see my kids and know they were doing well.

The remainder of the week flew by as we did the bulk of the packing without the kids underfoot, had some wonderful dinners with friends at the end of long days, and then the miraculous happened... we had condensed enough of our possessions that we fit into a 26ft. moving truck with the help of several men & teenage guys. It only took three hours to pack the entire truck. They were loading so fast that at one point I had to finally just say, "Take a break. There's only one of me and eight of y'all..." They were carrying off things quicker than I could finish packing, or asking for more tasks. I had a lingering fear throughout the move that we wouldn't fit, and I would have to choose what to leave behind. The months of selling things on a local facebook garage sale and giving things away paid off.

Saturday morning I flew out of Cleveland to join my kids in Texas, while Nathan and another friend (Scott) started the three day drive to Texas... Once again, another huge blessing. It enabled me to fly to join the kids sooner without having to give up those valuable packing days. To make another God story short, after many frustrating hours of trying to plan the details of flying the kids to Texas, God opened the doors for the frequent flyer miles route to cover the kids flights, and because of that, I realized I could use my own miles to cover my flight to Texas, as well as fly our friend back to Ohio. Cost? $2.50 one way. And look at what met me at the end?


Monday, April 15th, our entire family was once again joined together after a safe journey... And Nathan & Scott had a good (tiring drive). They stoppped at a Cabellas along the way, as well as touring the National Corvette Museum. Scott had never been this far South and was treated to Texas barbecue (brisket, ribs, sausage, and chicken) at the end of the long journey.

These are the details. But God has been doing so much more. The things that have happened, the experiences we have had, they have been part of a bigger story. We don't know all the details of our future, but this has definitely been a time in our life where we will look back and say, "See how God met those needs? He is faithful and will do it again."

Right now if you're in a season of not knowing what is next, take heart. "Keep your eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) and talk to God about what you need (Phil. 4:5-6). And keep on praising Him. This journey has been exciting but also scary. I have cried, laughed, worried, hoped, gotten really excited, and plummeted... And sometimes that is all in one day!

If you made it all the way to the end of this, I know you're a friend who wants to check on us, hear what's going on, and also probably praying for us. Thank-you. Thank-you so much. We feel your prayers and are so blessed knowing that the body of Christ knows no physical boundaries. Whatever part of the US or beyond you are, thank-you. Our story goes on... We will keep our eyes on Jesus and keeping walking where He leads!

The Sliter Migration: Part 1 (the decision & God-sightings)

(Written on April 13th while flying to Texas)

It has been a while since I've sat down to write a new blog post about the adventures in our little household. At the end of February, we made the decision to move to Texas as we continue to pursue where God wants us to serve in ministry next. The last six weeks have been a whirlwind of preparing for this next step in our life adventure.

For the last year or so, Nathan and I have been reading from the New Living translation of the Bible, and Philippians 4:6-7 reads "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." 

For those of you who know me well, I love to plan and organize the details for events and trips. "Just winging it" is definitely not my style. Right now our little family of four is walking by faith in a new way that daily requires me to choose not to worry, trust that God is working out the details of our life, take my "needs" to Him, and praise Him for the ways He is working. On days when I don't know how I will get done, Hebrews 12:2 keeps coming to mind... "And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

The simple story of where we're at in life is that we've been actively job searching for our next ministry position for over five months now. We've felt the Lord calling us to the Texas region to be nearer my family, so we're moving down there to do more searching in person, and will be living with my parents while we get our feet on the ground.

The God-story going on in our lives is so much deeper... From the very beginning of this decision (about six weeks ago), we have seen God in such incredible ways big and small. We wrote down our list of "needs" to physically make the move and started praying for them throughout our days. Within a week, our financial cost for the move was reduced by more than 50% in a variety of ways through a variety of sources. It became almost comical when we made phone calls to a company to take care of certain details or checked our mail and found unexpected letters from friends & family. These "needs" were being met by our incredibly faithful God, and greatly encouraged our hearts. 

And because I'm such a detail-oriented person, the second half of that verse is what surprised me the most... A peace literally filled me in ways I can't even describe or understand. When I shared our decision with friends and family, I remember thinking almost every time "I sound a little crazy... This decision doesn't make rational sense, yet here I am excited and walking forward in it!" 

But let me say that while I have been filled with a peace that has motivated me towards our unknown future, there have still been many (many!) days of craziness in the Sliter household. Packing up an entire household with a beautiful 16m old daughter who loves to climb EVERYTHING and a 3 year old son who thrives on routine/consistency has had many challenges. And I have surprised myself with how emotional I have been some days. This was our first place to live as a couple, this is the house we brought two newborns home to and watched them grow... We love our neighbors and were involved in a small group with other couples in similar life stages. I have walked alongside many teenage girls in our youth group through their junior high and high school years. 

But seeing all the ways that God has been working, all the doors He is making FLY open, we are filled its anticipation for what is next. We have continually felt God leading us to new ministries: Nathan to lead corporate worship and preach more, and myself to get involved in teaching/discipling women and hopefully planning community ladies events. We know that's what we're being called to, and leaving the details of where, when, and how for the Lord to reveal to us in his time. That's where Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds me daily of how I can keep walking forward in the midst of unknown things and the craziness of transition with toddlers. The only way we can do this is by "keeping our eyes on Jesus".

This was a little long, but this is my heart right now. Continue to pray for us. Find us on Facebook or write us an email. Here are a few prayer requests for the next couple of weeks:

- for all of us as a family to settle into my parents' house and experience our new home for this season. Especially for the kids who probably don't understand that there is no going back to Ohio...

- for Nathan as he is applying for transitional "secular" work in the area

- for both of us as we continue to seek where God wants us involved for future ministry... Whether its neighbors, coworkers at "secular" jobs, and eventually a church or ministry organization, we want to follow where God leads us and not pursue something out of our own desires

"March Madness" for the Sliter Family

Our little family of four is about to enter into a month of craziness: we are officially packing up everything we own to move to Texas at the beginning of April. We made the final decision a few weeks ago, and now enter a time of madness... While the rest of the nation may look to the NCAA for excitement, we will have to go no farther than our living room!

After five months of job searching, we have realized our hearts are to eventually end up in the South, preferably somewhere near my family in East Texas. It has continued to be a journey of faith, seeking God daily, and learning to listen to His voice. A few weeks ago we felt the Lord calling us to make the faith step to move down to Texas, even though we don't have any job leads as of yet down there (transitional or ministry positions). For anorganized planner like myself, this sounds CRAZY. But God has shown Himself in some very visible ways that we should pursue this, even though we don't know what is on the other end.

Almost immediately upon making the final decision (you know, where you stop straddling the fence and just jump in), God impressed on me to just start praying for the details of what such a HUGE move--1,300 miles-- will entail. And within an hour (yes, 60 minutes), He already started taking care of things. For the last ten days, we have had continual "wow" moments from God as He takes care of one thing after another. I have had more peace & joy since "jumping" into this craziness than I've had in a long time. Which makes no sense to a detail-oriented person like myself, but yet it's wonderful at the same time. 

The packing has already started, and Levi is daily asking a lot of questions... and we have learned how observant our 3-yr old is! He wanted to know where the pictures on the wall went (and described the pictures to us to make sure we knew what he was talking about), figured out that if mommy took pictures of something it meant it was disappearing (for Craigslist/Facebook garage sales), and that we're "sharing" some of his clothes (that he has outgrown) with other little friends. 

Eliana has been my biggest challenge... she loves to "help" the packing process by removing items and redistributing around the house. She also climbs anything remotely climbable so boxes and storage tubs have been her delight (and my chagrin!). We also realized that we owned no warm weather clothes for her. But again, within a day of praying for that need, God provided a full summer wardrobe for her!

Hopefully by starting the packing process now, we can also savor moments with local friends in our remaining 6 weeks in Ohio. So give us a call or drop us a Facebook message. 

Here is my guess as the most popular questions...

When are you moving? The 2nd weekend of April

Do you have a job or any job leads in Texas? No. I know, it's crazy. but we confidently feel like it's also God. We have had some great conversations with pastors in Texas to start the networking process going.

Where will you live? For a season, we will live with my parents, who are empty-nesters with several empty bedroom upstairs. They are looking forward to getting to spend quality time with their grandbabies! :-) I also look forward to reconnecting with my family, sisters, grandparents, and other friends. Nathan will look for a transitional job as soon as he can.

As we start this "March Madness", there are several verses that have been coming to mind over and over...

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

and Hebrews 12:1b-2a says, "And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus..."

The First Half of January

The month of January has already been an adventure, and it's only half over! December 30th, Nathan led worship for the last time at our church. It was wonderful to get to see him do what he loves to do, but very emotional that a chapter in our lives has come to a close. We will still be attending the church semi-regularly since we will continue to live in the area until we know where we're headed next, but it definitely will be a little different in some ways.

We planned on celebrating New Year's Eve with some local friends, but Eliana woke up from her morning nap running a fever of 102. By that night, her fever spiked to 104.9 and we had to call the pediatrician to see what we should do. With ibuprofen, lukewarm baths, popsicles, etc... we kept her hydrated and as comfortable as we could. She ended up running a fever for 6 days (so we did end up taking her to the doctor just to make sure everything was okay), and graciously shared her sickness with mommy and big brother, Levi. With two cuddly, feverish kids who wanted only to cuddle with their mom, and that very same mom sick herself, we had some rough moments but God pulled us through. Nathan and I spent time Saturday praying over our kids, and Sunday morning both of them woke up fever-free and full of energy! Our God is definitely our physical Healer!

It took me a little longer to bounce back, but life is full of smiles around this house! Levi celebrated his 3rd birthday on the 13th, and God provided 62 degree weather for him to get to ride his new bike (or red motorcycle as Levi calls it) outside. This is a very rare occurrence in NE Ohio in January. But so wonderful.

And our "Elle-Belle" is 14 months old going on 16 years old. She is all about her accessories, "bling", & shoes. She daily loves to pick out bows to wear in her hair, put on as many necklaces as she can find, and wear sparkly shoes or boots. Along with her sweet smile, she has the grit & determination of a southern belle, climbing anything she can just barely reach, taste anything that fits in her mouth, and play "tackle" with her big brother and daddy. 

Nathan has been aggressively job searching & applying for jobs when he wasn't playing nurse (he did an excellent job taking care of us while we were sick!). He also finished packing up his office at the church. Right now, we have applied for several positions, but haven't heard anything back and don't have any other leads. We continue to pray God shows us one step at a time what He wants us to pursue! We have also started "networking", seeing if any friends or fellow people in ministry know of any openings that might be something like what we're looking for... We know a lot of positions are found this way. If you know of a church looking for a full-time worship pastor, associate pastor, etc... (basically, someone looking for a godly man to lead worship, preach, and/or do discipleship), definitely let us know. 

Well, that's about it for now! Continue to pray for us as we seek God in our day to day life!