Hardest Thing I have ever done

We just said goodbye to the boys at the ball field-and I think that was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do..They are staying with a good friend of ours-and they will be fine, I know that...Just hard for me to leave them...Remember us in your prayers today as we travel-we should arrive in NYC around 430pm-will update my blog later today-for more frquent updates-check out my Facebook page...God Bless...love you all!

Here we Go!!!

The journey for us is finally beginning!!! We left this morning for Morganton,NC(where we are now) for Ian's baseball tournament...We spent all day in the sun,watching baseball and enjoying time as a family together with friends...Tonite the kids had a blast swimming at the hotel pool-with the entire team...Bright and early in the am-James,Macey and I are off to NYC! While the boys are staying here with some good friends to finish the tournament and then back to stay with Mamaw and Papaw for a couple of weeks....Remember us in your prayers as we travel...Will update the blog tomorrow...Good night-Should arrive in NYC around 430 pm...

Winding up the School Year

We have been very busy the past few weeks...with Awards day's, Recitals, Ballgames, and school parties....I have taken lots of pictures, but just haven't had time to upload them....So, this is a "random picture" post...mostly for the grandparents.....but here we go....

The first few pics are from a "surprise awards day" for Cade...He didn't know that the teacher had sent a note home to the parents of the kindergardner's who recieved 20 points or more in the Reading Counts program at school...There were about 8 or so students in Cade's class that recieved this award, and Cade was one of them...We were so proud of him....You can tell by the smile on his face-He was so happy to recieve this award....Mrs. Krantz presenting Cade with his medal for recieving 20 Reading Counts points....Mrs. Krantz getting a hug...Mommy and her little reader....=)Cade posing with Daddy

Macey took dance for the first time this year....and she absolutely loved it!!! So the recital was the big "finale" of the dance year...and Macey danced in three different dances-Hip Hop, Ballet, and the Father Daughter dance....She looked beautiful....Here are a few of my fav pics from the weekend....Macey smiling as she is getting ready for rehearsal....Her ballet routine was to the song, "I feel pretty"...She did a fantastic job...Ian with his little sister...I just love this photo...the ball player with the ballerina....so sweet....Then there was the Father Daughter dance...this was a Hip hop performance...and Macey just loved her daddy dancing with her...They had a blast!!! James really has some pretty impressive moves too...=) He always has been a pretty good dancer....He just showed us all how good he really is....Way to go Honey!!!Breaking it down!!!Doing "the Snake"Shimmy, Shimmy, Shimmy....Too cute...They are awesome!!! "I like to Move it, move it...."Then of course, there are the many weekends we have spent on the ball field...Here is Ian playing second base...He has done a great job this season, and really enjoyed this baseball season on the travel team.....Field day...Macey with her daddy...Me and Macey at field day....Macey and her good friends...Madison, Ellie, and Kelsey....Macey and Madison....This week, we are getting things together, packing for our trip to NYC...Macey and I are SO excited...just can't wait to see what God has in store for us while we are gone....Last Thursday was my last night at work, so it has been nice just spending time with the family, and getting ready to go on our trip....God is Good...All the time...

Many of you have asked if I will be blogging while in NYC....Most definitley!!! I have been slacking on blogging lately, just due to being so busy...but I want to keep everyone updated on our adventures while in NYC...so be sure to check out the blog....and leave comments when you do!!! We love comments!!! Let's us know that people are reading!!!

Well, I have been editing photos for the past 2 1/2 hours....gonna wind it up...Have been sick for almost a week....and got myself some antibiotics today, and cough med....and I am almost crossing my eyes due to the cough medicine....So, good night friends....God Bless....

Excuses?

I know that God's hand is in my life right now...Many of you know that I have turned in my notice for my current job. It is a l-o-n-g story...but to sum it up....Macey and I are going to NYC at the end of this month, and my current place of employment was unable to give me a leave of absence. (that is a story in and of itself-another time, another place)

I have three days left where I work now...Sad? In a way...I have really good friends here...I enjoy my job....but God has another plan for me. He had burdened me over the past few months concerning this choice that I knew I needed to make...but took a while to obey Him....Boy, how AWESOME is it to see his hand working-after we "do as we were told"??? I turned in my resignation 2 weeks ago, and since then, have gotten our apartment in NYC, cheaper than expected, and a possibility of 2 or more job opportunities...WOW!! And to think, I was AFRAID to follow his will, because of the unknown...the uncertainty...I now know, that I need to just trust HIM completely...He is HERE!! Right beside me...All the time...We do not know what the road ahead has in store...none of us do...but one thing I have learned through all of this, is that with God-I can do anything....

When I got to work tonight, I had the following devotion placed in my box, by one of my sweet christian co-workers.....that has truly blessed me...Blessed me to the point of a blog post!! So I can share it with my blogging buddies....=)

Here it is....

"Some of us have know exactly how God was leading us either to become a missionary or to leave our present vocation for another. Yet we have argued, resisting the changes that obedience would bring. Or we have hung onto the sin that so easily entangles us.

A hundred excuses may be given for ignoring the claims of Christ. We can think of endless reasons why we might say no to God's persistent call on our lives. But behind the facade is a fundamental unwillingness to be disturbed, a determintaion that our foundations will not be shaken, a stubborn disposition that does not want God to rule our lives.

Often God brings us to a place where we have to leave the familiar for the unfamiliar; we have to be pushed out of our comfort zones and take a risk. God loves to lead his people places where they have never been before......

When the King of Kings call us to come beyond the boundaries of our safety zones, every excuse must vanish. Standing on holy ground, we cannot argue with the One whose promises are with us and whose Spirit indwells us.

When God closes in, we must let Him draw us nearer to His heart. Obedience opens the door to deepening our relationships with Him. Nothing will us get closer to God that being forced to walk in unfamiliar territory-Erwin Lutzer"

Father, forgive me for thinking that I know what is best for me. I trust You that You know all the days of my life already, and that You truly know what is best for me and what will bring glory to Yourself. I purpose to listen to Your call and act on it by faith. Amen.

That pretty much sums it up for me.

God Bless....

Sunshine?

After all of the rain that we have had....when I saw the sunset.... peeking through the clouds.... it made me happy.......happy enough to get my camera out....=)

Worry?

" Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes...." Matthew 6:34 from The Message

I read these verses today...and it amazed me....When he speaks, all we need to do is listen......

The Motions

I attended the Extraordinary Women's conference this weekend with Macey...and we had an awesome weekend learning about how great our God is...and I think she and I both grew closer to Him this weekend....Matthew West is a contemporary Christian singer that performed on Saturday...and his song, "The Motions"....truly blessed me...It talks about how we need to stop just "going through the motions" of our lives...and truly live 100% for God...stop saying "We'll do it tomorrow", or "Let me think about it"....Just jump in feet first....and take off running!! For Him....

Here is the song...Be sure to listen to the words....Matthew West wrote this song when he was getting ready to have surgery on his vocal chords...not knowing what the outcome of his singing career would be....his story truly blessed me...and I hope this song will bless you guys.....

Here is a picture of Matthew West with Macey....She was so excited to get his autograph...and her picture taken with him....He told Macey she was the "cutest thing to come by his table all day"...So she was All smiles.....