2 1/2 years....

is how long we have been back in Oklahoma. No, this isn't a post to announce that we are moving back to Washington or moving in general. Its a post for our family to look back upon and remember God's goodness and faithfulness. It was extremely difficult for us to leave Washington 2 1/2 years ago. As much as I love my family and had the desire of being close to them, I had really grown quite attached to all of our family and friends in Washington. God used our time in Washington to grow my relationship with Byron's family. I am super thrilled that Marilee was able to be a part of Jackson's birth. Having a home birth with Jackson was the most incredible thing ever. I LOVED it! I am thankful God allowed us to be able to have those moments to cherish. Also, the friendships that developed into deeper ones with the "Nooksack gang" as well as the friendships that blossomed from our small group from NCCTK. It was very difficult to leave so many amazing families.

Of course, in any change through life you always have your mind set on how things will go. We go about life with a plan, but when you are a follower of Christ you need to be ready for changes to be made. Our family's spiritual life has been on a journey like no other over the past 2 1/2 years with the last 6 months being the most powerful. The journey by no means has been easy. There have been many tears shed throughout. Tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of heartache, and tears from just crying out to the Lord for His direction and plan for us. Its definitely been a struggle for us, but praise God that He has kept us as individuals, us as a couple, and us as a family in the palm of His hands. His grace has been sufficient for us and that His love for us has been unconditional. He has been faithful to see us through the changes and it has all been for His glory which is by far the best part of it all!!!

When we first moved back to Oklahoma we attended church where I grew up attending. The people are great, but it was difficult especially with 2 young children to be involved like we so desired to be involved. The driving time was 40 minutes each way. The closest friends we had from church (which they are still some of our dearest friends) Trey and Serah live 35 minutes from us. We stuck with it for a year, but felt that God was calling us away from there. It wasn't the right fit for us. So we tried a church in Duncan, which the drive was about 25 minutes from our house each way. That was really nice. We were there about 6 months, but we still didn't have that peace in our heart that this was our home church. Around the beginning of this year, God really began to stir mine and Byron's hearts. We had both come to the place that we knew we needed to come together on some things. We begin studying the Bible more, we researched things in great detail, and God used some great books to speak to our hearts as well. Through all of this God has built a firm foundation in our hearts on the grace we have received through faith in Jesus Christ. We have grown so much spiritually it can only be explained that God has been at work in our hearts. He also led us to an amazing church family at Immanuel Baptist Church in Duncan. Its a 20 minute drive from our house. The pastor and the staff are in love with God. They are pursuing Him with their whole hearts and leading the congregation to do the same. The people are caring and loving, and the messages are challenging. This is the right fit for us. The childrens' ministry is incredible. Both kids love it. God has blessed us already with some wonderful friendships. We have been there for only a short time, but we feel like its been our church family for a very long time. I am so thankful for God's faithfulness and His answers to prayer. Even though at times, I didn't think He was listening to my prayers, He was just saying "Wait my child. I hear your cry and see your heart. Its in my timing, not yours my child." How grateful I am that God's way is BEST!!! He knew exactly what we needed and even blessed us well beyond that!!!

In saying all of this, here are pictures of some of the wonderful families God has joined us with at IBC. My heart was overjoyed to witness God's answer to prayers for not only us to have such wonderful friends, but our kids to have them, too. This past Friday, myself and 3 other moms with their kids met at Haliburton Park in Duncan. It has a putt-putt golf course that we took the kids thru. After the fast and furious game of putt-putt was done we headed over to the playground area. Around 11:30 we sat down and had a picnic lunch together! It was a fabulous day with amazing moms and their babies!!! Thank you, Lord for Your goodness, kindness, love, and faithfulness. Thank you for caring for us and providing for our EVERY need!!!!








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