Double Trouble

Like ripping into a Wonka Bar and finding a golden ticket, I discovered Julia has been approved for insurance when I picked up the mail on Saturday. The timing couldn't have been better because it turns out she has a double ear infection. We're off to the pharmacy and the chiropractor this afternoon. Thank you Lord for providing for us! Rachel, probably the best writer I've met in person, talks about God's mercies being new every morning in this post. I couldn't agree more Rachel!

* Treat yourself today and hop over to Good Knight Baby. Rachel's writing and well as her heart for the Lord will warm even the coldest winter day!

A change of scenery

No snow here in Minnesota....yet (at least the kind that sticks to the ground. I did see a few flakes swirly in the wind earlier in the week.) I couldn't help but change my blog header to reflect our current situation and upcoming holiday. I took this picture back in March when we got over a foot of snow. We learned this week that the road less traveled is not the one for us. We are not meant to move our family five hours away and live in the Northwoods. Which road is it going to be then? Only God knows. Until He lets us in on His plan we'll do our best to find joy in the journey.

Here are the words that Michael Card sings in the last song of my play list:


There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
and freedom for those who obey.
And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind.

To all who have been born of the spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in in time
and of struggling with sin.

Forget not the hope thats bid for you
and never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost.
There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
and freedom for those who obey
and freedom for those who obey.

Now what Lord?

I never thought I'd have to write this post. Honestly I had a completely different one composed in my head for when we got the phone call from Voyageurs National Park but....I was the one to get the letter from Voyageurs in the mail that said they gave Brian's dream job to someone else.

It's going to take a while to not feel anger towards a place I used to love. The place we had such fond memories. The place we fell in love. The place we wanted to raise our family. The place we wanted to share with friends and family who would come to visit. The place we wanted to grow old together.
**sigh**

The big question is what will do now? We don't know so please, please don't ask. This is all we know for now: We will still sell our house (read- give away our house considering the price drop). Brian will continue to look for a better job so he doesn't have to plow snow this winter or break his back landscaping in the spring. I will continue to grow my business as much as possible. We will trust the Lord to lead us and sustain us wherever that may be.

FootPrint Photography is open for business

This is a dream come true for me! In fact it still feels like a dream. Purchasing a new camera in the midst of Brian's career change definitely was a step of faith. Having the potential to bring in additional money obviously was a big selling point, but I have to find clients to make that happen. We prayed and talked about whether this was the right time or not and the very day Brian gave me the thumbs-up, I "happened" to read a story during my devotional time that talked about taking risks. The last paragraph went like this: "Now, how about you? Are you willing to take a risk (even if you're not the best in the field) and learn (not yearn for) a new skill, set a new goal, or help a dream come true?" How's that for an answer to our prayers?!


For more pictures check out my new site - www.fpphotography.blogspot.com

A day off

I woke up with these words in my head: "Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
God has been laying on my heart that I need to turn everything over to him. Sure I have been waiting somewhat patiently for an answer on where we are suppose to live and work, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't do something to move us closer to somewhere. Let me explain: I spend nap times looking for job postings and thinking about ways to get us out of this mess we're in. This means I don't get myself recharged and ready to spend the rest of the afternoon with the kids with the most positive attitude. I have searched every corner of the state for a career opportunity for Brian. We've filled out numerous applications and now we have to wait for a phone call. Waiting is hard - especially when I am out of things to sell on the Internet to make extra cash. I have been ignoring that still, small voice that has been gently telling me to let HIM do the worrying. The other area where I feel convicted is in the amount of time I spend on the computer. Granted, I need the computer to look for jobs and to advertise our open houses, but I spend way too much time trying to escape my life by reading about other people's. So.....today I'm turning off the computer. I might turn it on after the kids go to bed or I might not. It depends on when Brian gets home from work. (Have I mentioned that he's doing some landscaping work for a company he used to work for right after we were married?) He's been working very, very long hours which means he's tired when he gets home and I'm exhausted from a 14 hour day home alone (without a car) with 2-4 children.
Today is about my kids. We have school today, I might take them to window shop at a nearby toy store, maybe we'll go to the mall's playland, maybe we'll watch planes fly over our house, make a fort to read books in, or perhaps we'll venture to the airport to watch the planes land. I don't know exactly. But what I do know is that I'm not going to be spending any time reading blogs, checking email, or job hunting.

Today this song is my prayer:

I cast all my cares upon You.
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
And any time I don't know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.

Amen

Exactly 11 months ago right now

I was meeting our baby girl for the first time. The vivid memories of that moment have faded a bit, but the love for our daughter has only grown with each passing day. I feel bad that I don't have more time to be there for her as we try to sell our home and make some sort of transition to a simpler life. In the end it will all be worth it. We will get out of our financial woes, Brian will find a job, we will sell our house, and we will find a new place to live. We might not know the time line for all these events, but we do know that we'll be together as a family - a family that sticks together and will be stronger in the end.

As I sit here waiting for people to come to our second open house, I am reminded of what it was like to bring our children into this house we have called home for over four years. We have so many memories here.

What does God have in store for us next?
Time will tell. Until then we'll hold tight to each other and most of all our Lord and Saviour.