God is GREAT!!!

Still trying to process all that God has done in us over the last few months of Shawn  being out of work, and all that he has done in the last few weeks with getting him work, and all of the work that has been going on in our hearts, minds, daily life when it comes to every aspect of our life! God is good, there really isn't any other way of saying it, actually there is, God is Great!! I have had a peace so beyond understanding that makes me just shake my head at my daily prayer of Phil. 4:6-7. God answered this prayer everyday and in every way in my life over the past few months! I'm still in a little bit of shock at how calm we were in the face of so many trials. Not just with his job and lack of money, but in our family issues as well, some major things came in to play these past months, things that threw our world upside down, and we just prayed, cried out to God and just rested in him no matter how hard that was. And God showed up in huge ways for us! God turning hard hearts soft, blessings of those giving us money, gift cards, etc so we could have a Christmas, those blessing us with meals and treats when we needed it most, others praying, I know, on an hourly basis for us, others just spending time with us, making us laugh, taking our minds of the hardness of our life at the moment. Then God showing up in such a huge way, placing us right where he wanted us at the right time, in the middle of the discouragement, to give us the gift of Shawn's new job. The newest pastor at Calvary Aurora, something that we have been praying about for some time now, just again proving God's awesomeness at knowing our hearts desires and fulfilling it in his timing!!! Shawn is so excited to start this new journey at church, to be where his heart longs to be, ministering to people, loving people, teaching the word. Amazing!! I am excited to come along side him, support him, love on people, pray for those in need, show my boys what is means to have a heart of Jesus for people in every way, more and differently than we have before!!
Just last night in church I was given great reminders of our God, and his awesomeness! We have to come back to that simple faith, that faith of just knowing God, believing his Word and resting in that. Back when we didn't know anything and we didn't try to fit God into our life box. We just received and followed, no questions asked. We can become so grown up in our faith that we begin to really question who our God is and what he can really do, "but God" becomes our favorite phrase. "I know his word says this, but God can you really, will you really do it?" We begin to lose the trust, why? Maybe because it's hard in our human mind to comprehend God showing up, or in our mind think we are so unworthy of his grace towards us, in our minds think he has better things to do than help us, but again his word speaks truth to all of these lies. "Are we not more than the sparrows, and they don't worry everyday about where to eat or to sleep" God cares for them, how much more so for us?!!!! Paraphrased of course, but look it up in Matt. 6:25.
Shawn and I are stronger now than ever, so crazy how trial will do that, bring you back to the place of your foundation. We are luckily built on Christ and this has just brought us back to our strong foundation, to just every moment of everyday come to our Lord in prayer, in his word and just be there, resting in that together. Life is so busy, crazy, demanding that we have to remember to come back, read God's love letter to us, spend that time with him, not just in the trails but EVERYDAY! We came back to that, we won't leave it again, we know that there are many hard days ahead as well as many great ones, and we are ready! Armed in the Lord for what ever may come our way.  I am a very lucky women to have a man of God leading our home, resting in God in every thing, and leading us to do the same. It makes the hardness of this life a lot easier to bare, I know that when we have a strong, God fearing man leading the way, it's very easy to fall into place and allow him to lead, pray and know that our God will never leave us or forsake us, even if when I have to battle that feeling in my flesh that tries to lie to me.
I wouldn't want to live these past months over and over again, but I'm so glad they happened! They were hard, trying, and scary, but also so full of God, and His grace, His word, His power, an intimacy with my husband that was beyond belief, a unity as a family that nothing can break! A bookmark on our life! There are only so many that come along, they are burned to our memory, both good and bad, and this will be one of those for us, for our boys, a time to always look back on, to cherish, remember, rest in and always be able to say God took care of us then, I KNOW he will care for us now. Amazing!! We can't wait for 2013 and all that God has in store for us, both great and not so great, but we will rest in our Lord every step of the way and encourage you to do the same! God's blessing on you in the year to come!!

333-342 365+1 2012

Bryce laughing at a whistling balloon. It was so funny! He had everyone laughing!


Show us how it's done, Shannon! A fun day at the park with good friends!


The very beautiful Neely!


James's flip at jumpoline. I can't believe I got him mid air, it's blurry, but still awesome!!


Zeke's birthday dinner of french toast bread cups, his favorite meal! I love making each boy their favorite meal on their birthday, a wonderful tradition!!


Do I see twins? Ximon and James showing off their soccer shirts from Audra. They were so excited to wear these!


Pinterest recipe! Pumpkin cream cheese muffins! These were such a huge hit in our house! The boys, both big and small, are already asking when I am making them again!


Corban is super star this week! This is him and Gerald goofing off! I love celebrating super star with each boy, making posters about our family, reading stories, taking care of the animals they get to bring home and of course making snacks for their friends at school!


Zeke at his birthday party festivities. This year he chose a plane birthday, and we were lucky enough to go to the base and look at all of the jets up close, touch them, see the cockpit, find out what all of the buttons do and just have a really fun, educational experience for his birthday!! Thank you for such great friends who work at awesome places!!


Happy 8th birthday Ezekiel! Him and his jet cake! It was such a great day celebrating our little man! He said it was the best birthday ever and the best cake!!