God's timing

For those of you who don't know my hubby is the pastor of our church. When we first started attending this church there were about 10 people in the pews and they were all older. So, I really did not think this was where I wanted to be. However, I knew God wanted us there. Over the course of time we have had more members join, we've seen some people come to the Lord, and we've seen members become active in the church. During this time the Trunick family joined us. They were a total blessing to our family. Since we were the youngest couple here and we were the only ones with children at the time, we were excited about them joining us. They were young, in love with the Lord, had two boys the same age as ours, and they were excited about the ministry. They helped us establish a "children's ministry" as well as many other things.

Last weekend the Trunick family moved. (job opp. closer to family) This was devastating to me. Carrie and I grew very close and we were truly that "iron sharpening iron". I was probably the most sad for my boys and the ministry. So lately I've been really depressed. I have really been fighting it, knowing it was self pity, and I needed to be filled with the joy of the Lord. Knowing things and doing them are two very different things.

As far as ministry goes, yes it hurt us. We need people! We need people that are devoted to the Lord. We need couples, families, young people that are willing to step out of their comfort zone, take a risk, and serve the Lord so that we can win more souls for Christ. We need people who are excited about what Christ did for them. We need people who are ready to use their gifts in music, in teaching... It's hard to have a great youth/children's program, or a wonderful music ministry if we don't have the people.

Most of my friends are in churches were the preaching is great, the "programs" are great, everything is just GREAT!!! I often get jealous of this. Then God reminds me how easy it is to get comfortable in those churches. Through our church, God constantly reminds me, He's in charge. I don't know what He's doing in Parkwood, all I do know is He's working on me.

Well I originally wanted to tell you about what has happened since the Trunicks left. Last Sunday a church in the area had their VBS. They are a wonderful church that has kindly donated there stuff to us for the last three years. (praise God for them) We decided this year to let our kids go through their vbs. We took all the children plus one. When we got there, to my surprise they take children from babies up. So we enrolled them all. (except Tabitha) The boys have never been away from us like that, so they were a handful all week. Martie was able to stay with me to help until he had to leave for work at 7:30. (it was over at 8:30) During this time we realized there was a women's bible study going on. I was so excited. Martie mentioned it to me, and I was like yeah I know. I kind of shrugged it off. I'm terrible about meeting new people. I need to step out of my comfort zone.

Day 2 of VBS, we took the kids in and Martie hurried me off to the bible study. Much to my disappointment the door was closed. I AM NOT GOING IN THERE!!! So I paced around until my sweet, loving, dedicated, and DETERMINED hubby found me. He so kindly opened the door and gave me a little pat. I do love that about him. Inside I was glad he made me, my pride was just to big to open the door myself. Well, inside I met a bunch of really nice women. One girl who had spoke to me the first night was in that bible study. So we talked some more and agreed to exchange numbers. She is a pastor's wife, mother of two toddlers, she is wanting to homeschool, and get this she has 21 siblings. Her parents are very big into adoption. How cool is that!!!

I was telling her about the church and about the Trunick's leaving and she looked at me and said, "well maybe God's timing is perfect". How true is that? God is always working, and His timing is perfect. He knows what I need, He knows what my family needs, and He knows what Parkwood needs. God is working on me in so many ways. I have been so convicted of my sin. That is a painful process, but a good one at the same time.

No, I cannot make anyone join us in ministry, nor can I find the perfect friend for me and my family, but God knows what I do need. He will supply what I NEED. The thing I need to concentrate on, is my relationship with Him. I need to focus on Him and His word. I need to be a doer of His word, and not merely a hearer. I praise God for my hubby who "pushed" me into that bible study, I praise God for my new friend, and I praise Him for that bible study.

I've been tagged!

I'm not sure how this thing works, I'm still new to the "blogging" world. The Mouro family tagged me, so now I have to come up with a six word memoir.
The pressure to perform is on!
Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it to your blog including a visual illustration if you would like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blog sphere.
4. Tag 5 more blogs with links.
5. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

The story behind the "tag" is as follows: "This meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. It’s a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were, “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.”

Here it is my six word memoir:

RUNNING WITH ENDURANCE, EYES ON JESUS!

Now I tag:
Tablet of our hearts
a note from carrie
The Painter family

Garden update- "The Gospel Garden"

So this is an update on the garden. I can't believe it's doing so well. I tried to get everything planted before we had Tabitha. We had some set backs. First, we had some friends over and we don't know who, but some of the children dug up two rows of squash. Then we had some insects eat away at the plants. Then I had the baby. So, we did buy some plants and planted them along with planting some "new" seeds. Since then everything is looking and growing great. So far we have growing cantaloupe, watermelon, field peas, cucumbers, bell peppers, okra (remember we are southern), tomato's (cherry, Roma, and regular), and squash.

I love working in the garden and it is so rewarding. My family really loves to watch everything grow at all the different stages. We will hopefully have a lot of fruit and veggies this summer. Martie has named the garden "the gospel garden". We will have enough watermelon and cantaloupe to give away to neighbors. (along with the gospel) See even your garden can be ministry.

The full view

Taylor planted some more squash and this is a picture where a watermelon seed must have fallen right beside that squash.

It's a watermelon! (well, almost)

Our first cherry tomato (yummy)

This is the goofy gardener. (I was forced to take this pic.)

2 week update

Ethan and Tabitha after church

Andrew loves to hold Tabitha

Exactly 2 wks. old in this pic.

Getting some love from her big brothers

Taylor's last game and HOMERUN hit!!!!!

So, Tabitha was 2 wks. on Wednesday. We've had some set backs. I had to take her to the doctor Weds. for thrush. (which is no biggy) The doctor decided to do an official billirubin check. Since the previous doctor appt. she had only gained 1 3/4 oz. Thursday morning the doct. called me and said that the newborn levels had dropped, but these "other" levels were elevated. She sent us over to the main office for extensive blood test (which required a needle in the arm), and then over to a radiologist for an ultrasound of her liver. Not to mention I had a doctor appt. at 1:30, and we had a member of the church die. Not a good start to my hubby's day off.



After all the tests came back we discovered different billirubin levels. The second tests revealed it was more of the "newborn jaundice". So the doctor wanted to consult with the specialist at UNC. After talking to that doct. they both agreed to go by the second results and no more poking my baby for a couple of days. They want me to supplement with soy formula to try to get the jaundice to go down a little quicker. I have another appt. Sat. morning for another weight check, and billirubin check.



I know that sounds like a lot, but really I'm o.k. with everything. I think she's fine, she is doing better. Each day her feedings are getting better and she's awake longer. So, we'll see, the appt. is at 9:00 in the morning and the memorial service my hubby is preaching at is at 11:00. Taylor has her first swim meet. We have a friend taking her. She understands us not being able to come. You can't plan when someone dies, and we'll be at all the others. (Lord willing) The boys are going to hang out with papa and nana!!! Yay for them, they're going to have the most fun of the day. (playing and swimming)

Thanks to those of you that I've already talked to and have been praying for Tabitha! I think God just healed her in between lab tests, and that's why the second came back so different! Praise be to Him!!! I fill you all in later!!!