....giving thanks

As we begin to celebrate such a special time of the year I can't help but feel the blessings through my bit of sadness.  So many new things to get accustomed to, new traditions to make, ...and I'm totally a "traditions" girl, new and different reasons to feel joyful and certainly many reasons to pour out praises to The One whom we should give ALL our thanks.

I am most grateful for my salvation.  I am a yucky sinner saved by grace and I can never be more thankful than knowing that Jesus took my sin debt to the cross and today stands as my righteousness before our holy God!  He has brought me out of my own messiness many times and continues to shape me and grow me into what He desires me to be.  I am beyond thankful to have a wonderful husband that loves Jesus and has put himself and our family in the centre of God's will.   I am thankful for two of the most precious blessings, Hayden & Gracie.  I am thankful for my extended family who do so much for us, none of which goes un-noticed.  I am beyond thankful for girlfriends that stand by me, forgetting the fact I'm thousands of miles away.  FaceTimes, texts, prayers and calls..  they mean more than anyone could imagine.   I am so thankful for Vertical Church.  The leadership, the passion to share Jesus and the friendships that have welcomed us in with open arms!  I pray that we take nothing for granted.  

As we spend this Thanksgiving so physically far from people that are closest to our hearts, we trust and hold on to the fact that God's plans are greater than ours.  He needs us here.  Someone here is crying out.    Someone is in need of salvation.  They need, in their life, the greatest reason to be forever thankful.  Lord, continue to give us ears to hear.

It's been a month....

We arrived in Canada one month ago today, on October 25th!  It's hard to believe it's been a month and here we are.  We certainly have most of our settling in done..  And we're a little more adjusted to this Canadian culture!  Even dressing a little warmer and maybe a few layers!  

Jason and the other leaders at Vertical are doing great and I'm SO beyond blessed to physically see God changing Jason, making him the man God has called him to be.  This has always been my pray for him, not necessarily realizing what God had as His bigger plan.  I am filled with true joy as I watch.  Seeing my Jason truly be able to lay it ALL down for the sake of JESUS!    Trusting and being obedient as we take each new step.  Allowing God to change us and grow us in ways we would have never imagined.  

We are involved in several Bible studies, both individually and together, even through our small group.  Our home is open as often as we can offer it up.  We feel blessed to be here and what we have "on loan" is not ours anyway, we want what we have to be a blessing to others.  We are building relationships and finding ways to reach out into the community.  I pray specifically that we would come in contact with others and that seeds would be planted with each meeting and circumstance.  Let us take nothing for granted.  Let us make MUCH of Jesus!

The months will turn into years and we are here until we know God is leading us away.  Please continue to pray.  Pray for Christine, she does not know Jesus.  Pray for relationships.  Pray for Vertical Church to be a light in Cochrane and for God to use us in ways that would bring Him glory.  Pray for the Leadership, that God would pour Himself out and give them His wisdom and His knowledge.  Pray for hearts to be ready.

...give me Your eyes.

With each new day, there could come a new challenge.  The calling has been placed and we respond in simple obedience.  We want to be broken and poured out, used for Jesus.  Clean vessels, listening and making the most of every opportunity.  We continue to pray that the people of Cochrane be broken for Jesus!!   

Anytime we answer God's call on our lives, we pray and listen for His direction.  He will call us out of our comfort zones and to go beyond our biggest fears.  We must continue to take those steps of faith.  Faith is believing, not seeing.  Jason and I want, whole heartedly, to be intentional about every step and every encounter.  Even blind with our own eyes knowing that He has given us His eyes, even if it's just for one second.  Even when we're not "comfortable".

Yesterday's appointment left my heart sad.  I found a new "friend" through a mom's Facebook page here in town.  She and I had previously met and she stopped over yesterday about an order for a few Christmas Scentsy bars.  Ending the conversation, I simply invited her to our ladies Bible Study that we are fixing to begin.  Her quick response is where I found sadness and a sense of urgency.  She said "I am not a spiritual person, but I'll be happy to let others in my neighbourhood know."  I will see her again and made arrangements before this came up.  I will have more opportunity to be with her, more time for Jesus to make an impact in her life.  Pray I make much of Him, even when it gets hard.  Even if I'm out if my comfort zone.  Please pray for Christine.  She needs my Jesus and I know He had a plan for our paths crossing.  I know He has a plan for her.

Please pray for the ladies Bible Study that will begin in our home this week. Pray for Light to shine so bright, others around would be drawn in.  Pray for salvation needs that only He is aware of.  Pray that we continue to see with His eyes.  He knows where there is true need.  

...to show me You are with me!

LOTS of thoughts today as we start a brand new week.  A life back to normal, yet so far from what normal meant to us.  I can't help but feel blessed beyond measure through all that has happened and God continually draws me to Himself.  He calls and then He strengthens. He shows up and He goes before!  Last night, I truly felt His presence.  He knows just how to reach His children.  

As I was getting into bed, Jason tells me that we can look toward the North and see the Northern Lights.  I had certainly heard of them before and knew a little about them, but never anything more.  Not even exactly sure of what to look for!!  We began looking out our bedroom window and we were both caught by such surprise!  It was simply amazing.  There were shades of green that grew brighter and danced in the sky.  They moved, they got smaller and larger and streaks of green would often shoot out.  We heard from Chris, as he also watched, that they were the brightest he had seen in a few years.  We quickly made a decision about 11:30 to scoop the kids up out of bed and head out of our neighbourhood to a dark country street, just a couple minutes away.  It was awesome to watch and we were so thankful to experience it.  I thank my God for His handiwork! 

This morning as I was getting ready for our day, Jason had music playing downstairs and The Afters just happened to come on shortly after.  I was quickly reminded that He is with us, after what we had just experienced.  If you have not heard the popular Christian song, The words directly from the song say, "You light up the sky to show me that You are with me

And I, I, I can't deny

No I can't deny that You are right here with me

You've opened my eyes

So I can see You all around me

You light, light, light up the sky

You light up the sky to show me that You are with me."  

This morning I stood in awe once again at our God, as I thought through last night and worshiped!  ...And it gets better!

So after our experience, Jason did a little research!!  If you know me well, you know I LOVE to worship my God as a God of DETAIL....  He brought us here and now He's gonna show us His amazing creation- ABOVE and BEYOND the beauty that's already here on a daily basis!!!!  So this is what Jason found out...

       "According to NASA, 2013 is 

       prime time viewing for the 

       aurora borealis. The sun’s 11-

       year sunspot cycle reaches its 

       zenith (Solar Maximum) at the 

       end of the year. This means the 

       best northern lights viewing in a 

       decade is yours to discover, 

       especially in November and 

       December."

Tonight's another peak night.  No guessing where we will be around midnight!

He'll open your eyes. He'll light up the sky. He'll show you that He's right there!  

Feeling like home...

It seems more real than ever.  These last three weeks have gone by so quickly.  Mom has come and gone and she has been such a blessing, at our old home and again here.  She has gone above and beyond and we are forever grateful.  The kids are beginning to get settled and our "Canada home" is beginning to feel like our real home. We are so thankful to have our Canada phones, ever how silly that may sound.  We are able to talk with family and friends again.  This is a huge blessing for me and keeps me close to those dear to me!!  

This week has been trying, yet I know that Jesus never said it would be easy.  We had to wait a couple days to get an Alberta license.  Once we were able to get them, they kept and CUT UP our NC license!!   Such a little thing, but that hit kinda hard! The sweet girl helping offered to make a photo copy, but I let it go!!  Oh, the little things.  We had to go into Calgary several times and it's a pretty huge city!!  That was an adventure each time, whether we had Chris with us or not!! ;)  All necessary things that we had to take care of to live in Canada.  Thankful that we have them done!

We continue to covet your prayers.  Pray for the people of Cochrane to have open hearts to hear the Good News.  Pray for Chris & Gemma as they hear from The Lord and lead.  Pray for Jason and I as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Pray for finances for our family as well as for Vertical Church.  

There are many needs and we trust in The Lord completely and know that He will provide every need.  He always goes above and beyond.  Again, we are grateful.  

What a ride...

What a crazy ride it has been.  Packing, leaving, driving and more driving (corn and more corn ...just ask Amy)- finally arriving and saying goodbye to the last friend I could hold  on to.  Running around Canada, trying to prepare for a life here, missing my sweet friends and a coffee date more than any of them could imagine, all while anxiously awaiting the arrival of our two babies ...to finally today, being back together again.  

I had not planned for it to be so hard. I know and trust without 1% of question that this is where God placed us.  Things have worked out and fallen into place as only His plans do.  For that, we are grateful.  We are so thankful for what God has here.  We are beyond blessed to have Chris & Gemma and to know that Jesus wants us to love on these people in Cochrane.  He will continue to pour Himself out.  He will continue to give Jason and I strength each day.  We certainly need your prayers and we covet each one spoken!