Anticipation

Last night, (Christmas Eve) after we got the kids all tucked in and ready for bed, I did something I hardly ever do. I decided to sit on the stairs hidden from the boys and listen to them talk and laugh and try to go to sleep. It was funny because they were just so excited about all that would take place today that they didn't want to close their eyes.

Jayden, obviously was the most excited, listening for Santa on the roof. With every sound that the wind made or that they heard from inside the house, he asked his brothers if that might be "him"! JohnMark was so funny the way he kept telling him he better go to sleep or Santa wouldn't come at all!

I listened for what seemed like forever when finally they began to quiet down and go to sleep. I heard Jayden ask Jackson one last time to make sure and wake him up as if that would be a problem. Then there was silence. I sat there for a few moments before heading down the stairs as quietly as I could.

Anticipation is a wonderful thing. It is defined as a pleasurable expectation. I spend so much of my life bouncing from the anticipation of one event to the next. I think that is why we have started celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving is even over. The anticipation of it all seems to be where we get so much of our pleasure. I guess it is only natural that the day after Christmas is such a depressing day for so many.

God has really had to work on me and my heart in this area over the last few years. He is teaching me that even though it is wonderful to have things to look forward to, my anticipation should be for Him. Where is my joy coming from? When there are no dates scheduled on the calendar for a fun night out with my husband or a girl's night out can I still find joy in the Lord? When I have 10 loads of laundry sitting at my feet and three boys are fighting continuously can I still find that joy?

Christmas is officially over on the calendar for this year but I'm going to anticipate seeing Christ in each day of this new year to come. He is there in each and every moment we live. Find Him in the opportunities that present themselves each day. Whether it be the woman in the checkout lane at the grocery store that just needs a smile or your neighbor that you know is going through a hard time. Let's anxiously wait on Him just as the boys eagerly waited for Christmas to arrive last night and see what He does!!!

Thirteen Years

Today Michael and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary. Man I sure do love him! It amazes me how you can fall in love with the same individual in so many different ways throughout all the seasons of your life together. You start off with that attraction that brings butterflies and causes you to lose your breath. (I love that part!)

How blessed I am to spend a lifetime with someone who loves me with a love that is neverending. It is so rare. I find myself at times, when we're both in a room full of people, just staring at him and REALLY taking the time to see him. Do you know what I mean? I realize again how handsome he is. I realize how genuine he is and I fall in love with him all over again.

This past summer while we were at Disney, Mike and I were standing in line for a ride with two of our boys. I looked over at a bench nearby and saw the sweetest sight. This adorable couple was sitting there whispering in each other's ear and sharing with one another. She was wearing Mickey ears and he looked at her as if it were their first date. I remember thinking how timeless the two of them were sitting in the midst of all the craziness around them. I felt myself staring so long that I thought, "Go ahead Rebecca, just take a picture!" So I did!

This Season

Okay...I am totally stealing this from my friend Susan! Thanks Susan!!! She had posted it on another website but I loved it! It speaks for itself so enjoy my lack of rambling! (Oh...don't forget to pause the BEUUUUTIFUL Christmas music before you start the video)

The List

Okay...I'm taking a break after cleaning up breakfast and I'm pretty sure half of the HUGE dinner is already prepared. Man, I'm sure gonna miss my mom! She knows how to make holidays WONDERFUL! She creates these amazing spreads of food that are unbelievable. I wonder if that gene will ever kick in with me?!? The parade is on and the boys are all playing foosball with their dad and pawpaw. I love the sounds of family playing together! I decided to make a list of all the things I'm so blessed with so here goes...

I'm Thankful for:

• A husband that places the needs of his family above his own at all times. (Plus he's amazingly handsome)
• Parents who taught me of a man named Jesus and ALL He has done for me.
• A mom who loves to serve others and give so graciously to everyone around her.
• A dad who stands beside my mom to wash dishes that have piled up and never forgets to acknowledge me any time I walk into a room.
• JohnMark's thoughtful way of caring for people who have less than he does and sharing his faith with so many people!
• Jackson's curly hair and guitar SKILLS! You've got to hear him play!!!
• Jayden's laughter and joy that can turn a bad day into a great one!

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,

and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

Psalm 50:14

Giving Thanks

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

Psalm 105:1-4

It just hit me yesterday that JohnMark will be in college in seven years. That means Mike and I only have seven more years to have him under our roof. Seven more years to look at his face at the dinner table EVERY night and seven more years to train him up and teach him all the things he's going to need out in the world on his own. OUCH! That just hurts my heart to think about. But it only gets worse. His two brothers will follow him right out that door just a couple of years later.

I don't think seven years would seem so bad except that I realize my "baby" is six now and it feels like yesterday that I was changing his diapers. Children sure have a way of making time go by fast, don't they? If we could just make time stand still! Watching them grow up these last few years has been priceless and I wouldn't want anything to keep my three healthy and handsome guys from growing into the men God has created them to be. But oh to squeeze them and cuddle with them the way I do now for just a little longer.

This Thanksgiving, I'm going to try and really embrace each and every moment with the people in our lives that we love so dearly. I realize that this might be the last Thanksgiving for a few years where we get to be surrounded by many of our loved ones and we have so much to be thankful for in our lives. I am thankful for seven more years to love, hug, kiss, embarrass, teach, wrestle, and play with my sweet JohnMark! Don't forget to share about the greatness of God's love at your family dinner table this week!

In His Time

We have received all of our information and details for the upcoming Conference! It's hard to believe it's only two weeks away. Everything has been so busy lately that time seems to be flying by. How exciting it is to think that God has brought us to this point. What a long journey it has been and we are just now watching everything be revealed in His timing.

I've been reading a book called The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. Our pastor had recommended it last summer while we were in Brazil and then again recently during a sermon. It is such a good book and I highly encourage you to read it if you are feeling led by God to live out a dream in your life. I am so grateful that God puts desires in our hearts that only He can fulfill. He has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives and sometimes the plans include things you would never imagine for yourself. The Book describes how in order to fulfill our dreams we will almost always have to leave our comfort zone. I sure am relating to that right now!

As I pray for our home to sell and God to ready our family for the work we are about to undertake, I feel amazingly calm. Why do I say this? I guess it's because so many times in the past as things changed in my routine I sorta freaked. Why am I not stressed this time? According to "our" time-table we have 3-4 months for our house to sell? I know that if God puts us off a few months, then it's His doing, and His doings are best! This market is not seller friendly right now. EVERYONE reminds me of this...I mean everyone! The only way for all of this to unfold is for God to unfold it! What peace that gives me!!! Nothing feels greater than resting in His hands and knowing that He holds my future and the future of my family. Sure takes all the pressure off of me!

Sacrifice

You know how right before you go to sleep...you lay there and think about things. Whether it's just thoughts of the day you've had or all you have to do for the next day. Last night as I was drifting off to sleep, I began remembering the favelas (slums) we had seen in Brazil. All of a sudden, I felt as if I was there looking at them but I couldn't get away. I couldn't get back in the car to go back to my normal life. I was sorta paralyzed and it was very surreal. Anyway I felt myself began to tense up and panic. I just wanted out. I wanted to escape. I obviously woke myself up out of whatever state I was in. Feeling sort of ashamed of my feelings, I quickly pushed it aside and went back to sleep.

What do you think that was about? I am pretty sure it was a spiritual attack. I get these every so often. Everything will be going great and then all of a sudden I begin to realize what we, as a family, are about to undertake and I feel SCARED to death. Does God know that I'm having these feelings? ABSOLUTELY. Does He get angry at me for feeling like this? I sure hope not.

1 Samuel 15:22 talks about how our obedience is greater than our sacrifice. God does not NEED ME to do anything. Who am I, after all?!? I am not capable of doing anything on my own. He only wants us to be obedient to His voice when He tells us to do something. If I focus on my circumstances and all the THINGS that I have to give up in order to be obedient to Him then I'm likely to go nuts. I HAVE to focus on the command He has given our family!

What is God asking you to do? Is there something He has told you to do but you're holding back? Don't focus on what He is asking you to give up. Our obedience to God is greater than ANY sacrifice you or I could ever offer Him!

Just getting started...

Well...the title of this blog is The Story of Our Life In Brazil. We're not quite there yet. As a matter of fact, we are still living comfortably in our home in Kentucky. I felt it would be easier to get this blog up and running now before things get too extraordinarily CRAZY. This is the continuation of another blog I did very sporadically over the last year. I'm hoping to be more diligent in my posts. We'll see!

We are hoping to move to Brazil by the middle of next year. We feel that God has called us to share His love with the people there. I will attempt to update you as we go through each step of this amazing journey. Pray that we sell our home, get rid of LOTS of stuff, mentally and spiritually stay focused on the task God has set before us & prepare three little boys for the adventure of their lifetime!