God is so very Faithful

I am a worrier by nature. I try (at times) to stop worrying and hand it to God. I have gotten better in some areas, Randle and the girls, but when it comes to bills, it never fails. I can make myself almost physically sick over it. Since we lost the job at Potawotami last year, God has been showing me that really my worrying really coming from my not trusting and having faith in Him. I just love it when He shows me things like this. I say that honestly and sarcastically. Honestly, I love that He cares enough about me that He will show me ways to grow. Sarcastically, I think, "like I didn't have enough to worry about!" This is not all that He is teaching me, but right now it is the strongest. He has supplied everything we have needed.

We, Randle and I, wanted to stay together rather than me come to AL early to find a house, but couldn't make it work. The night were moving Randle said that he just couldn't stay in IN by himself. So we packed a moving truck at the last minute. That night, as we were finishing up, my mom called. She had found a house that was perfect, no lease, $400 a month (that is $200 cheaper than anything we had found) and it kept us in the Shelby County School System. GOD GAVE US A HOUSE RIGHT AT THE TIME WE NEEDED IT. He didn't' give us planning time, or wiggle room, He gave it right at the right time. WOW!!!

Randle had unemployment, but it really wasn't enough and we were going through our back up money really quickly. Randle got a temp job, that pays just enough to keep us afloat. GOD GAVE US A JOB RIGHT AT THE TIME WHEN WE HAD TO HAVE IT!

Randle started working with Campus Life. We have to raise our own support. Through that Randle was able to have a side job when the temp job ended. AGAIN, GOD CAME THROUGH RIGHT IN TIME.

The side job ended, and the temp job began. AGAIN GOD LINED THINGS UP.

We got behind on a couple of bills. We were, embarrassing as it is to say, in danger of having the phone, and power turned off at different points. I cried and stressed and worried. Through different ways, GOD SUPPLIED EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED.

I am really trying to learn these lessons. God will always give us what we need. He knows before we ask, and He hears our prayers. God also has perfect timing. I am hoping that I have these lessons now. I am apparently a lot more stubborn than I even realized.

God is amazing, and will ALWAYS care for His children. All we have to do is have faith, ask, and then wait patiently. I will now sit and practice patience, b/c I know that God already has lined up what we will do next whether the temp job will end at the beginning of the year or not. He will take care of our family. We just have to wait, and I will keep looking at all He has done for us up to now, and know that He has a plan, and it will all work for good in the end! PRAISE GOD!!!!

Crazy Christmas Schudules

Today started our many family Christmas parties and gatherings. The morning started with Randle and I teaching the High School Sunday School Class for the first time. Then KOR (Kids of the Rock) did their Christmas program. It was really cute. We had so many people come to see them. My mom and dad, Randle, Brenda and Julia, Mamaw and Pawpaw Catfish, Mamaw Foster, and even Miss Harris. I was so excited to see Miss Harris. The kids did an excellent job.

Then we headed straight from church to my Aunt Lib and Uncle Mickey's lake house for the Adams' Christmas gathering. I got to see several aunts, uncles, and cousins that honestly I haven't seen in years. It was nice. We ate lots of GREAT food, and then did a craft with the kids. We took water bottles and filled them 1/2 full of chicken feed. Then Randle read the Christmas story, as he read we had the kids put in items from the story. They put in a baby, an angel, 3 crowns, music notes, a gift, a nail, a light, etc. Then we put more seed in to fill it about 3/4 of the way. It ends up being a 3D I Spy game. They really seemed to like it. Each family also got a printed copy of the "Christmas Story" and a list of the hidden items. Then we went in and the kids opened their gifts. After we got that all cleaned up the adults played Dirty Santa. It was a lot of fun. After we got most everything cleaned up we headed home. The girls went straight to bed, with lots of excitement about playing with their new toys tomorrow.

This is the first of our Christmas Gatherings. We also have a Foster Gathering, Chapel Gathering, Zbinden Gathering, Christmas Eve at my Grandmothers, Christmas Eve breakfast with Randle's Dad and Brenda, as well as sometime with my mom and dad and Randle's mom. Lot's to look forward to. I know the girls will love meeting all of their cousins.

Well, we made it through another very busy weekend. We started out at Westover's Christmas Parade. It was really good. After the parade they had hot dogs, chips an drinks that they were handing out. So after the girls ate a hot dog we headed to the Christmas Party. This time it was the Foster Christmas gathering. The girls had a blast playing with their cousins again. This time their were five girls (including mine) and one little boy. They pretty much stayed outside with the dog, or upstairs with the toys. It was a lot of fun to see everyone again. We played Dirty Santa again. After the party, we were supposed to go to Randle's Nana's house and help get out Christmas decorations. She was tired from a busy night before and cancelled. So we went shoe shopping for the girls instead. Both of them were wearing shoes that were too small. We found great deals at Target. Harley's were actually only 3.50. I was super excited about that. Then we had to run back to Shay's house b/c I left my moms camera and needed it for the next day. We got home around 8 or 9 and got ready for church the next day. Sunday the girls and I went to see the Nutcracker at the BJCC. It was really good. Harley liked all of it except the last 5 minutes of the girls dancing with the toys. After the ballet we rushed to meet Randle in Chelsea and headed to small group. It was a nice night. We had two new families come and we talked about how to keep Jesus in the center of our kids minds at Christmas. Then home to try and get ready for the coming week.

Well, I lost time and didn't keep updating after or gatherings, but we had another parade and then the Zbinden gathering. We were late for the gathering and didn't' get to see everyone, but had fun seeing those we did. We got to see Nana a bit more than normal and that was nice. We had Christmas with Randle's dad the Monday before Christmas. The four cousins, Natalie, Harley, Carson and Micayla, had a blast playing together. Randle, Jessica, Michael (Jess's boyfriend) and Randle Sr. and I played LRC. It was a great night. Harley got to go to her Ballet class party. We had Christmas with my mom on Christmas Eve around 3. I don't think either one of my brother appreciated this, but we wanted to spend Christmas day at home with the girls. After that we went to Family Communion at New Life. Then to my grandmother's for her Christmas. The girls got to play with Victoria and LOVED that. Christmas day we did our family tradition. We get up eat breakfast and go to church. After church (the local Lutheran church) we come home eat lunch (usually hot dogs and sandwiches) we read the Christmas Story and open gifts. We stayed home all day and let the girls play with all of their new things.

December had become a very rushed month for us now that we are near family again. While I miss the quiet nights around the tree and relaxing on the weekends, it is nice for the girls to play with cousins. I have irreplaceable memories of running after cousins and playing all kinds of games at family gatherings. I hope that my girls get to remember it both ways. We are heading back to normal life now, with school starting Tuesday. I have to say I love having Natalie at home and hate to have school starting back. We are now officially in 2010 and I can't wait to see what it holds for my family.

"I feel like I'm 10" Natalie says

Today I had to take Natalie to the doctor for a cough. I try not to be THAT parent and run in every time they sneeze, but Nat's coughs have been an alarm for upcoming trouble since we have been down here. Anyway, while we were there Natalie wanted us to talk to the dr. about deodorant. She had asked a few days before, saying that some of her friends were wearing it. I had told her we could talk to the dr, because I didn't know how it could affect her. She wanted me to ask the dr, but I told her she had to ask. We talked about her cough and her asthma and the dr was leaving the room. I told Dr. McAfee that Natalie had one more thing she wanted to talk to her about. I was of course smiling so she knew something was up. Natalie got all embarrassed and was trying to cover her face. Before she could say anything, Harley blurts out, "She wants to know if she can wear deodorant." Dr. McAfee asked how old she was and if she has started smelling any thing when she was hot. Honestly she (Nat) doesn't smell that bad when she gets hot, but it is colder now. The dr. said she could start, but to put on just a little bit. Natalie was ecstatic. After we left the dr office she couldn't wait to go to WalMart and buy it. We stopped at the Mission Possible in Irondale, Sams (for lunch) , the Bank in Chelsea and finally Wal Mart. We went straight to the health and beauty department. After several minutes she decided against the sparkly Teen Spirit for the Degree Girl. She loved that it was a tropical smell. She couldn't wait to tell her Dad, and called him at work to tell him before we even left the store. While we were walking around she kept saying how she felt embarrassed, scared, excited all and the same time and didn't know how to describe it. She finally said, "I feel like I am 10 or something!" She then asked how I had felt when I first wore deodorant. I told her that I couldn't remember, but that I would blog this for her so that when she was a mommy, she could look it up and tell her daughter. After Randle got home she showed him her new deodorant and put some on. She was very cute. She is certainly growing up and loving every minute of it. I love her so much. Watching all of the changes take place is amazing. She is way too smart for her own good, and I can't wait to see what God is going to do with her life.

The Excitment of Christmas Coming (Harley's Understanding of Christmas Decorations)

Today while Natalie was at school I pulled out the Christmas decorations. I don't necessarily have that many, and they aren't fancy, but they are mine. Some are from my mom or Randle's aunt and Nana, some are things I received as a child from family, and others we have added. My absolute favorite is our Advent Wreath. Randle and I went shopping after Christmas last year and got it on a great sale. It is beautiful. I can't wait to start it next Sunday. I hated to decorate without Natalie, but once I started pulling out boxes the excitement in Harley started bubbling out. Her eyes got even brighter, if that is possible, and she started jumping up and down. She helped me carefully unwrap, and clean each piece, then clean and pack up our regular decorations. She was adamant that we keep it a secret from Natalie and surprise her when we got home. Natalie in return for not getting to help with all of the initial decorating got to set up Thier Nativity on the coffee table (Little People) and got to pick which stocking she wanted to use this year. I love the excitement in the girls as Christmas approaches. What made today so special though, was that while we were pulling out all of the decorations Harley said, "Mommy, I know why we decorate the house and make it special pretty." When I asked why she replied with an amazing answer. "It isn't because we get gifts, or anything, it is because we decorate for Jesus's birthday. We like banners at our birthday parties, but He likes trees, and ornaments, and lights, and pretend Him's to decorate His." I said "Your right, we do decorate to celebrate Jesus's birthday, that is the whole reason for the celebration, without him it would be just an ordinary day, and a very sad life. But what is a "pretend Him?" Her reply is classic Harley, "Mommy, your not supposed to ask questions if you know the answer, remember? It is the baby in the nativity (which sounded more like mapivity), they didn't have camera's then!" My little girls have the truth in their hearts even if it is jumbled in their heads. I LOVE IT. Natalie was very excited to find her "surprise" at home and loved setting up the Nativity. I love this season with the girls!