Provision

So as you may or may not know Brad needed to find another job for next year, so he worked really hard, and God provided a great opportunity for him.  He’ll be teaching at the middle school in the same parking lot of the high school where he’s been teaching.  He is going to be teaching sixth grade math, and he’s going to be great at it!!

Also I ended up resigning from my job in hopes to get into public education.  There are lots of reasons for this, but ultimately this was the best decision for me and my family, and I felt it was the decision that God wanted for me.  So, I resigned without having a job for next year.  I had a couple interviews, and was really hoping to get a job.  It was an uphill battle for me because I am provisionally licensed, but I got a job that I am SUPER excited about!! I’ll be teaching sixth grade science for Botetourt County.  I actually saw the job posting on their website, and told Brad that would be my “dream job”. 

It has been an awesome season of provision in our lives.  We have really felt like God has been holding us in the palm of his hand, and telling us just obey me and I will take care of you.  I was totally at peace with resigning from my job because I knew that since I was faithful to obey him that he would provide for us.  I can’t even tell you the different ways God has provided for Brad and I since we’ve been married, but it is insane.  God is still in the miracle business, and I have seen them happen first hand.  Since I know that some of you are in a position where you too are unsure of your future, or that you are in a position where things are getting “tight”, I just wanted to remind you guys that our God is a God who provides.  Hope these verses will encourage you :)

Matthew 7:11 
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Luke 12:7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed
Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

And my favorite song by Hillsong (Desert Song):

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
And weakness or trial or pain
There is faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me lord through the flames

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on his promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Happy Father’s Day Brad!!

This is how Emery feels about her Dad…she obviously isn’t old enough to type it, so she had some help there :)

My Daddy is a coach, a REALLY good coach. Sometimes it means that he has to stay out late for practice or a game, or sometimes it means that he has to go on a Saturday, but that’s okay because I know he’s doing what he loves and what he’s good at.  Even though he has to spend some time away from me, I know how much he loves me because he tells me all the time, and when he’s home he is always playing with me or loving on me! I’m not exactly sure what it means to win or lose, but I think it’s good to win and bad to lose, and that’s good because this year daddy’s teams won lots of games.  I always hear my mommy talk about how proud she is of daddy, and you know what I am too because the boys on his teams really seem to look up to him just like I do.  It’s cool when your dad is a coach because that means you get to stay out late on game nights while all of your friends are home in bed, and when you go to the games everybody always tells you how cute you are! Of course mommy dresses me up and puts a big bow in my hair, which is another reason I like going! When we go to his games I really like to watch the boys play basketball or soccer, play with my toys, eat my dinner, try to walk, and just hang out with my mommy. We have so much fun at daddy’s games!

My Daddy is a husband, a REALLY good husband. I see him help my mommy do things around the house that my other friends’ daddies don’t ever do. I like when he loves on my mommy, I think it is so funny. When I grow up I want my husband to be just like my daddy. It’s great when your mommy and daddy love each other because it makes me feel safe and secure.

My Daddy is a friend, a REALLY good friend. He is funny when he’s around his friends, I know they have a great time making up games, watching sports, and just hanging out. I want a good friend like my daddy when I grow up and have friends of my own. I know he cares about other people, and I love that about him. He’s always willing to do anything for anybody, especially his friends. My mommy and daddy have told me all about God, and I think the way my daddy loves other people is just how God loves people.

My Daddy is a teacher, a REALLY good teacher. This year he worked so hard all year in order to get a permanent job. He is going to teach middle school math, and I am SO proud of him. I saw him working on his computer, writing papers, and going to take tests all just to get a job. I know he thinks it’s really important for him to provide for me and mommy, and he works really hard to do that. I’m sure he’s a good teacher at school because I hear mommy tell him what a great job he does to help all the kids pass the tests they have to take, and one day we went in to his school and he was helping a girl study extra for a test. I hope my teachers in school work as hard as my daddy to help me because he is an awesome teacher!

My Daddy is a coach, a husband, a friend, a teacher, and so many more things, but most importantly to me My Daddy is my Daddy, and he’s a REALLY REALLY great Daddy!! He spends all the time he can with me, he changes my diapers, he sings to me, he reads to me, he helps me walk, he takes me outside to swing, he plays in the floor with me, he feeds me, and he dances with me. I’m so lucky to have a daddy that loves me as much as he does. My favorite thing that my daddy does is pray for me before bed. He always says that I’m a blessing or a gift, and that makes me feel so loved! He tells me how pretty I am, or that I am his princess, and other sweet things like that and he makes me FEEL like a pretty princess. I can’t wait until the day that we get to go on dates just the two of us, and we will make mommy stay home! When it’s time for me to choose a boyfriend or husband, I won’t settle to be treated any different than my daddy treats me, and it’s going to be VERY hard for a boy to match up…I wish I could just marry daddy, but mommy already did. I love you Daddy, and I hope you have a GREAT first Father’s Day…you are the very best Daddy in the whole wide world!!

Small Group Fun…Whiffle Ball Style

Last weekend we had some friends over to have a cook out and just hang out…but the most notable event of the evening was the highly anticipated Whiffle Ball game.  As you may or may not be aware, I am the most competitive person on the face of the earth!  So naturally I changed into my tennis shoes and put my hair up in time to get serious.  We might have painted bases and baselines in our back yard. 

Team pictures

Donny, Chris, Linz and Myself

Lincoln, Brad, Emily and Charley, Amber, and Sam

The game got really intense actually I just tripped over the small ridges in our back yard, and I fell down on what I’m pretty sure was the first play of the game…as you can see it was absolutely HILARIOUS!!

Amber was LEGIT!

Brad played with one arm…

Donny tried to even things out by also batting with one arm.

Sam was the other team’s MVP…for sure

Although Emily did give him a run for his money as far as that award goes!  I believe the quote was “You can’t handle the heat” directed towards Chris :)

There was some throwback to my rec league days of pitching

Linc brought the heat, but we totally handled it

We appreciated Chris’s effort…all out!!

Linz brought back her high school softball skills, and hit home the winning run…

And I may or may not have scored the winning run :)

In case you couldn’t tell my team won we were just playing for fun and winning didn’t matter!! Seriously though I love love love spending time with my life group…they are the most fun group of people to be around, and its so fun because we are all pretty much in the same season of life…

Sissy and Emery…I could eat this picture UP!!

Miss Maddie…look at those big baby blues :)

Didn’t get any pictures of Don and Debby babysitting all our kids while we talked smack and played, or sweet newborn Isabella and her parents, Kim and Dale, or Layna Bug…but don’t worry there’s always a next time :)

11 months…

Really?? Are you sure?? Positive??  I cannot believe my sweet little girl is eleven months old…where has this year gone?  First birthday plans are in full swing, and I’m so excited to celebrate her first year, but I also want to just yell “HOLD THE PHONE!!! TIME PLEASE SLOW DOWN…BETTER YET…JUST STAND STILL, AND LET ME PAUSE IN THIS MOMENT!!”  But I know that I need to be thankful that she’s growing and healthy and yada yada yada, and yes you’re right but all you other mamas out there know what I’m sayin :)

Here is a little bit of what you’ve been up to this past month…

When we tell you “No, No.”  You look down and say “Ooohhh”.  It’s adorable.

You  have the old lady face down pat, and perform it on command.

You no longer take a bottle at all, but you were not a fan of milk, so we have to give you strawberry milk…don’t judge me…I know strawberry milk is better than no milk :)  You pretty much eat whatever Mommy and Daddy eat, which is making Mommy eat a lot better!!

You can “love” anything…a baby doll, a stuffed animal, mommy, daddy, etc.

You have taken five steps on your own, but you would rather crawl because its faster.

You cried for the first time when we dropped you off at nursery last Sunday, but hopefully that was a one time only deal…but you are definitely becoming more attached to Mommy, and Daddy too.

You’ve started shaking your head no and its really cute!

You say: mama, dada, baba, woah woah woah, and you can “bark” at Lucy (and other dogs).  Daddy has taught you how to give a high 5 :)

You had your very first temper trantrum today…you literally screamed at Mommy when she tried to put your shoes on, and you preceded to swat at me, and kick and scream and try to rip  your shoes off…oh boy…

You are still an extremely easy baby (and yes I will probably still call her a baby even when she’s like 10)…you are just a go with the flow, hang out, smiley little girl and we love it!!

Can’t believe you’ll be one in just a short month…someone give me some medication please!!!

P.S. These pictures are a hint about Emery’s birthday party…thanks for the high chair idea Sarah!!! Can’t wait to share the invites with you…I’m slightly obsessed…and don’t worry I didn’t share the two pictures from them :) 

Dogwood Festival 2011

Yes, I am aware that the Dogwood Festival was 2 months ago…oops.  But, this is what happens when you have entirely too much going on…blogging takes a back seat to playing with Emery, spending quality time with Brad, and yes even housework. 

Anyway, I digress…Emery and I went to the Dogwood Festival in good ‘ol downtown Vinton with the Dowdys and the Millers while Brad took his middle school math praxis….WHICH HE PASSED with flying colors (of course…he is so smart) :)  We had a great time.

Miss Charley

My little cutie

The cutest little boy EVER with Emily’s his favorite Ellie dog :)

Surprisingly Emery is the one in Charley’s business in this picture because its usually the other way around haha

All of the kiddos and the three strollers

Emery and I

Lindsey spent 90% of the time we were there putting sunscreen on Layna…but hey she didn’t get burnt :)

Emery spent half of the time sleeping

Emery and Chris became bff that day…and Emily no longer allows Chris to hold Emery…we think it gives him baby fever.

Emery loved the parade…especially the horses.  She must have thought they were just really large dogs because she was barking at them.  After the parade she crashed as we walked around and checked out all the vendors.  Thankful for a small town and great friends!!