You Are More....

As I was driving to the store this morning one of my favorite songs came on KLOVE, "You Are More." I feel like that could be my song. It's as if I could have written it. It starts with "There's a girl in the corner, with tear stains on her face", yes I was her! Note I said WAS her, past tense. God is so awesome, he took me from that place and really transformed me. I tried really hard to hide, but man, you just can't hide from God. "How did I get here?, I'm not who I once was." Through my three years of living in the pit, I often asked myself that same question. I wondered could God really return me to "who I once was?" I can say he has not only returned me to who I once was, but he has actually made me into a better version of my former self. I am not saying this because I am arrogant, I just know what God has done. "But don't you know who you are, what's been done for you?" I can now say, "I know who I am in Christ and what He has done for me." "Cause this is not about what you've done, But what's been done for you." It's not about my past or anybody's past for that matter!!! It's about what's been done for us on the cross!!!!! "You are more than the choices that you've made, you are more than the sum of your past mistakes, you are more than the problems you create, YOU'VE BEEN REMADE." That just sums it up. I know I have been remade and I want everyone to feel the freedom that I feel. I realize that it doesn't matter how bad you mess up, there is a God that forgives. Sometimes we are our own worst critics, but when you listen to the words in this song you realize, "You've been remade." I never want to forget what God has done for me; after all I've been remade:)

Surprise from Josh:)

It has been two weeks since we dropped Josh off at school and we are starting to adjust pretty well. He actually came home on Friday and totally surprised me, as I was expecting him on Saturday. When Caleb saw him he wrapped his arms around him, not about to let go, I saw his little face and there were tears. He is so close to Josh, so we knew it would be hard on him.
I began my first Phase of school last Tuesday and had completed it by Thursday. They allow two months to complete it and I was excited to have finished it so quickly. The next Phase will be a lot more intense, I know I was just blessed to have done so much of Phase 1 ahead of time. I took my first Childbirth class on Saturday and loved being around those cute little pregnant mommas. I can't say I really learned anything, but I enjoyed hearing what I already knew. It just reiterated why I am going to become a midwife. I can't wait to give more women the choice to birth the way God made their bodies to do so.
Zach and Hannah start school this week and I will miss having them around, even though they aren't going away to school, they will still be gone a lot. Family dinners will be fewer and farther between now. We did manage to have a couple of family dinners this past week, this is a huge accomplishment for us because everybody's schedules are so crazy. Sunday's are the day I am shooting for, this seems to work well with everybody.

Times Are Changing

This new year is going to be a year of changes for us. It started last weekend with taking Josh to College. He has been attending JCCC and chose Sterling Christian as the next step for his education. He will also be running Track, which is definitely his passion. It has been an adjustment for some of us, as we are used to having him around. The little guys and myself are really feeling it. I know this is only the beginning of what is to come, as we will watch 6 more kids head off to College over the years. Zach and Hannah are attending schools close to home; however they both will probably be going to different schools in the Fall. I think Caleb will have to live with us forever:)
I am beginning midwifery school this month, which has been a passion of mine for years, actually since before I started having kids. I know that this is my calling, I just had to wait until the kids were all old enough for me to begin this phase of my life. With me being in school that puts 4 of us in College, wow that is a huge burden for Ray to take on. We are blessed with Ray's business which allows all of us to go after our dreams.
I am trying to plan family dinner night, which is a huge challenge, as all the schedules don't coincide. Five of the nine of us were home last Thursday and actually all sat down together, we had a great time. Here's a little bit of the conversation between Matthew and Hannah. Hannah asked him, "Are there any cute girls in your class?", he responded, "No...wait, yes there are 2!", we asked who are they are, he was giggling and reluctant to tell us in front of his little brother, beings they go to the same school. We were all laughing, because Matt never talks about girls. We never did find out who they are. I look forward to a lot more of these family times. I guess it is the little things in life that make me smile.