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. :-)