I know it's been a while since I last posted. Honestly, life has been so busy that I've just not had time to sit down at the computer. So much has been going on!
Jonathan has started talking in sentences. I'm not always sure what the entire sentence is, but he's putting words together now, which is huge! He babble/talks constantly now, which is great. His speech therapist did some further testing last week and this week we should get a new plan of attack to overcome his apraxia.
Keith moved into the office at Arbor Baptist and is so excited to (for the first time ever) be able to have all of his books out where he can see them all at once. Our shelf space at home was limited, so he only had the most important, most used books unpacked and everything else was in boxes in the storage closet. Now, he's surrounded by them! I'm looking forward to "decorating" the one wall without shelves, and putting a tiny bit of my touch in his office. (I'm not sure why that's important, but it just is!) Things are going well at the church. We truly love it at Arbor! The people are so kind and loving, and we are so excited to see what God will do in the days to come. So many have expressed a desire to see the "fire from Heaven" and that is what we pray for... that God would just push us out of the way and allow us to see Him work in a might way, whatever that may be.
With Keith being the pastor, we have had major schedule changes here at home. Sundays are great, but long right now. Because the commute is about 40 minutes to the church, we pack up the van on Saturday evening and just camp out at the church all day on Sunday. I was amazed that Jonathan actually took about a 2-hour nap there- but thankful! I actually enjoyed the quiet time to think and pray and crochet. At home, I feel like I have to take advantage of every minute to clean something or cook something or do some laundry or one of the other endless tasks of life. At church, there's none of that... just quiet, which is good. The rest of the week has been very full, too. Jonathan has adjusted better than I thought, though I can tell he's really missing his time with Daddy and is more clingy to me when I'm around. He loves spending time with MeMe and Pop on Mondays and Bessie on Tuesdays and Thursdays... but his routine is different and will take some adjusting to. Still, I am SO thankful that we have such wonderful caretakers for him and that we are able to keep him at home.
I turned in my resignation letter at work Monday, and was oddly a little emotional about it. I've been at the same company for 14 1/2 years now and seen it grow and change a LOT over the years. I'm thankful to have worked with such great people for so long and it will seem odd (for a few days) to not be there. For so long now I have ached for the day that I could retire and be at home. I am so thankful to have that opportunity now! I'm counting down the days till June 30 when that will become a reality!
We are in the process of shopping for health insurance. I was excited about Individual Blue for a while, until I read about their 365-day waiting period for any condition or symptom you've been diagnosed with, treated for, etc in the past 2 years, even if you've had prior coverage with no lapse. -And there's no maternity coverage whatsoever for 365 days. Basically, they just want to collect premiums on people they won't have to fork out any money on. (Yes, I am a little bitter about it!) So, I've got to pour over the SBC options and search the web this weekend to see what else is available. It just shouldn't be so expensive to be insured when you don't work for a large company.
So, we're adjusting. Life is good, but not easy right now. We knew it wouldn't be until everything was settled with our transition. It's ok though. God has it all under control, even when I feel like hyperventilating, and He can handle it! There's a light at the end of the tunnel. We have a wonderful church home. Keith's joy in finally doing what God has gifted and called him to do delights me. Jonathan's clingy-ness equals lots of hugs for me. God is good ALL the time!
The Rays
PCB trip -September 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
"It's either the beginning or the end."
This weekend has been monumental in the life of the Rays. Last night we shared a covered-dish meal with the folks at Arbor Baptist Church and then had a Q&A where we told them our stories and invited them to ask any questions they wanted to about us. The food was unbelievable, and in great abundance!
This morning, Keith preached on Psalm 23. We all think we know this passage, but there is so much more there than we can even imagine! I'm not sure I've ever heard him preach like that. God's word opened and explained brought tears to my eyes and made me breathless at times. I am so thankful to know the Good Shepherd... so thankful that He not only cares for me but calls me His! I was also blessed by having Jonathan in worship with us this morning. The children come in for the beginning of the service and leave for Children's Worship after the Children's Moment. This was his first time in "big church" and he did a really great job! I loved watching him sit, spellbound, as he listed to the music. And I cried when he walked right up to Bro. Norris during the message and nodded to all that he was saying about God's love for us, pointed to himself when asked "Who wants to pray this morning." Oh what a blessing!
After the service, the three of us went back to the office to await the results of the church vote. As we sat down, Keith looked at me and said, "Well, this is either the beginning or the end." Thankfully, it is the beginning! Arbor voted to call Keith as their pastor! We are so humbled, excited, thankful, overjoyed... there aren't word to describe how we feel right now! Keith will spend this week moving into and setting up his office. We felt it best to allow their Interim Pastor the chance to have his last moment with them without us there this evening, but we will be there as pastor and family beginning next Sunday. This is a blessing beyond our imagination. I just want to laugh and cry all at once! Thank-you Lord!
This morning, Keith preached on Psalm 23. We all think we know this passage, but there is so much more there than we can even imagine! I'm not sure I've ever heard him preach like that. God's word opened and explained brought tears to my eyes and made me breathless at times. I am so thankful to know the Good Shepherd... so thankful that He not only cares for me but calls me His! I was also blessed by having Jonathan in worship with us this morning. The children come in for the beginning of the service and leave for Children's Worship after the Children's Moment. This was his first time in "big church" and he did a really great job! I loved watching him sit, spellbound, as he listed to the music. And I cried when he walked right up to Bro. Norris during the message and nodded to all that he was saying about God's love for us, pointed to himself when asked "Who wants to pray this morning." Oh what a blessing!
After the service, the three of us went back to the office to await the results of the church vote. As we sat down, Keith looked at me and said, "Well, this is either the beginning or the end." Thankfully, it is the beginning! Arbor voted to call Keith as their pastor! We are so humbled, excited, thankful, overjoyed... there aren't word to describe how we feel right now! Keith will spend this week moving into and setting up his office. We felt it best to allow their Interim Pastor the chance to have his last moment with them without us there this evening, but we will be there as pastor and family beginning next Sunday. This is a blessing beyond our imagination. I just want to laugh and cry all at once! Thank-you Lord!
Friday, March 11, 2011
When It Rains, It Pours
This week, that statement has been soooo true in Birmingham, AL. It rained ALL night and ALL day the following day on Tuesday. There are still literally rivers of water running down our driveway to prove it!
This year, that statement has been very true in the life of our family. The biggest downpour has been in our family's future. At the end of last summer, Keith sent resumes to churches and associations in every state in the southeast. We began to hear from some almost immediately, but then it came to a screeching halt over the holidays. Once January hit, we began to hear from several churches a week, it seemed like, that wanted to know if they could check his references or get a DVD or wanted to meet with us. That has all been such an encouragement. The really exciting part is that this Sunday, a church will vote on bringing Keith as their pastor! We are so excited! After meeting with the search committee about a month ago, Keith preached morning and evening services there last week. Tomorrow night, we will share a covered dish meal with them and then they will get to ask us questions to get to know us better. Sunday, Keith will preach the morning service and then the congregation will vote.
This is huge for our family! It means that Keith will finally be able to do what God has gifted and called him to do. It means that we will finally feel like we have a real church home for the first time in a long time. It will also allow me to quit work in a few months and be a stay-at-home Mommy--my lifelong career goal! Keith and I have felt for a long time that we are in the "wrong" role. He has been the stay-at-home-Dad, while I went to the office and worked all day. This is not what we wanted, but was necessary because of insurance concerns and Jonathan's health. It will be such a blessing to be able to be home with Jonathan during the day and do the things I feel like I'm called to do. I know a lot of women abhor the June Cleaver model of wife and mother, but I can't wait!
God continues to rain down blessings. I told Keith last Sunday afternoon that I guess I've been underestimating God. I kind of figured that, when we were called to a church, it would be smaller than we're comfortable in, with a mostly non-existent music and children's ministry, etc, etc. This church is "exceedingly, abundantly more" than I even imagined. When I saw all the children, and learned that they are diligent to teach even the younger ones about the Gospel...when I heard the choir sing and the pianist play... when I saw how usable the facilities are... when experienced how friendly and genuine the people are... my reaction was, "Seriously, God?!? You would give us all that as a bonus?"
There have been other showers of blessings this year. Jonathan turned 3! This is totally amazing, considering how little and premature he was when he came into the world. He continues to be a blessing to us. -And he's recently made great progress with his speech. We still have a long way to go, but the progress is so encouraging.
We've also decided to adopt. We've always wanted more children and still pray that God will bless us with another biological child. But, not long after the earthquake last year in Haiti, God began to work on our hearts about adopting internationally. We've talked and prayed about it for almost a year, and finally talked to a local adoption agency to get some questions answered. We feel that one way God wants to further the Gospel is to increase our family with hopefully two children from Haiti. It will be a long, faith-filled journey, but we are so excited to begin it once things are settled with being at a church.
There are other blessings along the way... too many to count. Usually, we think of all the bad stuff that happens when we say "When it rains, it pours," but sometimes it is how God pours out His blessings on us... in showers that just keep coming, leaving us refreshed and encouraged.
This year, that statement has been very true in the life of our family. The biggest downpour has been in our family's future. At the end of last summer, Keith sent resumes to churches and associations in every state in the southeast. We began to hear from some almost immediately, but then it came to a screeching halt over the holidays. Once January hit, we began to hear from several churches a week, it seemed like, that wanted to know if they could check his references or get a DVD or wanted to meet with us. That has all been such an encouragement. The really exciting part is that this Sunday, a church will vote on bringing Keith as their pastor! We are so excited! After meeting with the search committee about a month ago, Keith preached morning and evening services there last week. Tomorrow night, we will share a covered dish meal with them and then they will get to ask us questions to get to know us better. Sunday, Keith will preach the morning service and then the congregation will vote.
This is huge for our family! It means that Keith will finally be able to do what God has gifted and called him to do. It means that we will finally feel like we have a real church home for the first time in a long time. It will also allow me to quit work in a few months and be a stay-at-home Mommy--my lifelong career goal! Keith and I have felt for a long time that we are in the "wrong" role. He has been the stay-at-home-Dad, while I went to the office and worked all day. This is not what we wanted, but was necessary because of insurance concerns and Jonathan's health. It will be such a blessing to be able to be home with Jonathan during the day and do the things I feel like I'm called to do. I know a lot of women abhor the June Cleaver model of wife and mother, but I can't wait!
God continues to rain down blessings. I told Keith last Sunday afternoon that I guess I've been underestimating God. I kind of figured that, when we were called to a church, it would be smaller than we're comfortable in, with a mostly non-existent music and children's ministry, etc, etc. This church is "exceedingly, abundantly more" than I even imagined. When I saw all the children, and learned that they are diligent to teach even the younger ones about the Gospel...when I heard the choir sing and the pianist play... when I saw how usable the facilities are... when experienced how friendly and genuine the people are... my reaction was, "Seriously, God?!? You would give us all that as a bonus?"
There have been other showers of blessings this year. Jonathan turned 3! This is totally amazing, considering how little and premature he was when he came into the world. He continues to be a blessing to us. -And he's recently made great progress with his speech. We still have a long way to go, but the progress is so encouraging.
We've also decided to adopt. We've always wanted more children and still pray that God will bless us with another biological child. But, not long after the earthquake last year in Haiti, God began to work on our hearts about adopting internationally. We've talked and prayed about it for almost a year, and finally talked to a local adoption agency to get some questions answered. We feel that one way God wants to further the Gospel is to increase our family with hopefully two children from Haiti. It will be a long, faith-filled journey, but we are so excited to begin it once things are settled with being at a church.
There are other blessings along the way... too many to count. Usually, we think of all the bad stuff that happens when we say "When it rains, it pours," but sometimes it is how God pours out His blessings on us... in showers that just keep coming, leaving us refreshed and encouraged.
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