We have officially finished our freshmen semester here at NTBI! I can't believe we'll be sophomores in January... I cannot say enough how amazing this experience has been. We are so blessed.
The last few weeks of school were pretty busy with finals and reading and homework. I meant to get to this sooner but it just didn't happen. We are now enjoying a bit of a break from the craziness. The kids have a full 2 week break from school as well. Randy has been working at the tree farm quite a bit. They have been very good to us there. On Friday we took the kids there and they all got cookies, hot chocolate and an ornament. Boy did they pick some ugly ones.... I love it. It just goes to show that it doesn't take much to please a child.  Lucas picked a pink felt birdhouse ornament. He was so excited about it that he had to sleep with it that night. It reminds me of the "working woman" keychain I got for my Dad when I was in kindergarten...

 

After that we went to the Nite Lights in Jackson. The little guys are especially excited about all of the Christmas lights this year. Then we had our weekly smoothie night. They all love this. Fridays have become their favorite night of the week.

 

 

Then we have this little girl.... she will not walk. She refuses. I know she is capable, she stands in one place just fine for long periods of time... and if she's barely touching my hand she will walk... She'll get there. In her own time.

 

 

 

Ok time to get serious... what am I learning here????


It's one thing to know something, but something completely different to KNOW something.... and while that may sound like a ridiculous statement I am learning the truth of it in our time here. Having the head knowledge is not the same as having the heart knowledge. Growing up in a Christian family  I learned when I was a little girl that Jesus loves me... and as much as I hate to say it, it's a truth that I took for granted. I've had God in a box.... I'm learning that I need to be conformed to God's ways and not conform God to my ways of thinking. There are so many things in this life that I don't understand. Things that I am still struggling with from our past and even though I can't be given the answers for the suffering I can rest in the fact that God is good, and He can use ME with all of my brokenness, imperfections, and failures for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Him. And for that I am thankful.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!