Lunch Date or Family Reunion?

It's become our tradition on Friday's to have lunch with the kiddos at Allapatta.

This past Friday the Daddy's had the opportunity to join us.

It was quite the family reunion ~ I mean lunch date :)

Brian with Ethan & Madison

Brian and Ethan

Coral with her *favorite* Uncle (I can type this because its MY blog :)

Sadie, Madison and I

Sadie & Coral

Coral with her Daddy

Coral with her Mommy

And me with me little sister :)

***YES! I KNOW its tacky to bring your camera to your kids school and snap a bunch of photos. BUT I'm a mom who can't help but capture all those precious moments. However, I promise you and my kids the camera will STAY at home this Friday :-)

"Cane's" 1st Game

We played HARD
We played LONG
We played WET

But after a 2 1/2 hour lightening delay our game was called and sadly despite our efforts we took a loss.

But NEXT WEEK it's GAME ON!!!

Go 'Canes

Today is the first "offical" game of the season!

We've Got The Team!

We've Got The Spirit!

We Just Need The VICTORY!!!

Go Hurricanes!!!

More Thank You's

I really want to Thank all of YOU who have stayed with me throughout the week as I shared my heart and my growing pains.

It has been a blessing to my soul to read your emails, comments and posts.

You have encouraged me, cheered me on and rejoiced with me.

THANK YOU!!!

Many of you have emailed privately and shared your own personal struggles with me. Please KNOW I am praying for YOU!! And I am truly looking forward to rejoicing with you on the other side.

I have two verses to share with you in closing:

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86-:15)

My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1: 2-4)

Friends, THANK YOU for allowing me to be transparent and honest and to truly ~ without fear of rejection~ share my trials with you and thank you Lord for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.

I am blessed!!!

Thank You

I owe a HUGE thank you to my 3 dear friends (Stacy, Sarah and Dawn) for praying me through this excruciating time.

I specifically chose these 3 women for many reasons. They Love and Fear the Lord. Their life reflects their walk. They aren't "feel good" friends. They didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear.

In fact, all three of them are actually private and/or Home Schooling moms. So the fact that I ended up in Public School still puzzles me :-).

Actually it doesn't.

It reflects their desire to see me submit and honor the Lord. Even when it sounds CRAZY! Even when it goes against their personal convictions. Even when it scared me to death.

They prayed with me. They counciled me. They held me accountable and they supported me.

Ladies, I love you!!! You are awesome women of God. Amazing friends. And truly walking disciples of Christ. My heart overflows with gratitude and unmeasurable respect for all 3 of you!

Never Say Never (Part 5)

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you already know the rest of the story...

My worse fear ~~~became my reality!!!

However, I'm happy to say (contrary to my prior expectations) WE SURVIVED 2 WHOLE WEEKS of Public School.

I have no idea how long this season will last or what the ultimate *plan* is.

It could be as simple as learning to step out of my comfort zone or just getting right with my God. There was A LOT of junk inside me that the Lord exposed this summer. Stuff I didn't even know was there ~ pride, self-righteousness, stubbornness, little faith, anger...just yucky yucky stuff that He needed to clean up.

It could be just that but it could also be something bigger ~ something as grand as a revival within our school.

I honestly don't know.

Whichever it is. Regardless of how small and no matter how large I know that I can not slack off in my walk with God at all!!! And I realize there may be "battles" ~especially spiritual battles.

This is NOT anything I would seek in the flesh. I am scared, unequipped and I feel completely vulnerable.

And I know there is NOTHING in me that can pull this off. NOTHING! I need God to show up and I know that HE WILL...

Never Say Never (Part 4)

I began to accept the whole Public School idea on the outside but on the inside I still secretly hoped both Brian and the Lord would see things My Way.

Instead, the Lord brought families to me who were in the Public School System. Families who thrived in their walk with the Lord, families who testified that some of their proudest moments of their children were in the Public School System because they saw their kids openly share Christ with others.

He also brought my sister from PA whose daughter would be going to the same school. And He moved a friend from Palm Beach Gardens to PSL and 2 of her children would be attending the same school.

He also opened doors and got us into the exact school with the exact teachers and principal He revealed to Brian weeks prior.

I could not deny the work of the Lord.

He continued to draw me close to Him and hold me tight as my childlike kicking and screaming melted into a weak, humbled and surrendered child of God. In His embrace I felt my heart began to slowly soften...

And I began to fully accepted His will. I no longer fought Him or my husband.

That same week He put Brian and I on a plane to Peru with 23 other individuals from our church.

It was supposed to be a mission trip for the Peruvians. But it turned out to be a mission trip for my Spirit.

It was in Peru that the Lord revealed so much more to Brian and I. He revealed my sin, my complacency, my staleness. He revealed my potential. He revealed His great love for me. He revealed His love for ALL people. Far and near.

He reminded me that there are mission fields everywhere. There are people all around us (even PSL) that do not know Jesus. People that don't know that the Lord is alive and active still today. People that don't know He IS coming back. And He will claim those that are His.

He reminded me that HE has been far removed from the Public School by our Government. And that the mention of His Name has become Taboo.

He revealed to me that His only way into that "mission field" was through Christians who were called and willing to go.

He asked me if I would pop my protective bubble, step out in faith and boldly seek first Kingdom of God and His righteousness....

He asked me if I would follow Him. If I would trust Him...If I would be obedient....

(the rest tomorrow)

Brian...and his other "loves"

Molly and his Blackberry :-)