A Simple Compliment...

Or was it??
This week I did my first drop off at a consignment store. I had a truck load of stuff so 2 of the boys stayed home and one went with me. As soon as we pulled into the drop off zone, my kiddo jumped out of the car and immediately started unloading. The lady stood in shock as my boy unloaded all kinds of things. The lady said "My my my, I NEVER see children helping! This one even looks like he WANTS to help!" I didn't think much of it because my boys do always want to help!
As we pulled into the second unloading zone, she made another comment about him helping! She asked if she could hire him to work for her! Of course, he blushed and then giggled! After we were done unloading, she said one more time that she was so impressed with him! I smiled, thanked her and drove away!
Later that evening God reminded me of these compliments so I pondered them for a while! I DO expect my kids to help out, alot! Because I expect it from them, I don't really think much about it! God reminded me that I do expect them to help but the boys give me so much more in the servants attitude! They don't have to help with a smile on their face, but they do! They don't have to go above and beyond my expectations, but they do! They don't have to like helping me, but they do! And for those things, I am SO very thankful!
God has given each of our boys the same servants heart that their Daddy possesses! I pray that they will always want to serve others!
A simple compliment?? No, rather a gentle reminder of how wonderfully made my boys are!

We jumped...

and it certainly didn't end like I thought it would! I was SO sure of God's leading! SO SO sure!

Shortly after finding out that things were not going to turn out as they seemed, a friend started a chat on Facebook! I have known her since my kids were we little ones and she is an amazing woman of God! Even though we don't talk very often she always starts our conversations with "What is God teaching you?". In the midst of my pain I knew God was telling me to trust Him! That was the simple answer, I am always supposed to trust in Him!

But over the last 24 hours as I have begged God for understanding, He has reminded me that "Even if He doesn't, that doesn't mean He Can't!! So, Miss H that is what the Lord is teaching me!! Thank you Miss H for being my friend and allowing God to use you!

The Big Jump

My last blog entry was about Levi's Big Jump off the dock and the diving board! SO proud of that guy!

Well, in the week since Levi's Big Jump, the Lord has brought our family into the MOST UNIQUE situation I have ever heard of! I truly stand in awe of HIM!!

Brian and I are SO full of questions and we have very few answers! Brian asked me if I was willing to jump in feet first on faith alone! I told him, yes as faith is the only thing I have! 36 hours later Brian told me that he was willing to jump in feet first too.

So now our Family is taking a BIG JUMP into the most exciting adventure of our lives!!

Freedom on the 4th

Levi has struggled with fear all his life!
Since moving to NC three years ago, Levi has been scared to death of Thunderstorms and we get some absolutely amazing thunderstorms. Growing up in England, Levi had never experienced a thunderstorm. When the weather is gloomy, Levi used to check the weather forecast hourly! When a storm rolled in, Levi would get his PJ's on, jump in my lap, plug his ears and go to sleep no matter what time of the day it was!
Levi has always been deathly afraid of dogs! He says "I am phobic of dogs which means I have an irrational fear of them". We talk about how it is irrational and yet he is still scared.
On New Years Day we started praying that this would be the year that the Lord would give Levi freedom from his fears. In the last 6 months Levi has grown by leaps and bounds and is doing so much better with dogs and he does amazing during thunderstorms. He still sits REALLY close to me but I am OK with that!
Well, over 4th of July weekend Levi tackled more of his fears! Our friends live on a pond and for 2 summers now, Levi has watched his brothers jump in the pond but he was too afraid to even climb down the ladder to get in the pond. On Sunday Levi woke up and said "I AM jumping off the dock and into the pond today!!" I encouraged him to do it but I didn't think he would. He asked me to pray that God would give him freedom from his fears so that is what we did. And within minutes Levi was JUMPING in the pond!! I SO wish I could have seen his facial expression!! He jumped and jumped and jumped the rest of the day!

The Jump

The JOY!!!

On Monday, the 4th, we went to the pool. All summer Levi has wanted to take the swim test so he could jump off the diving board. He practised and practised and I honestly didn't think he could pass the test. The lifeguard told him that she had been watching him and she was certain he was ready! That gave him the boost of confidence he needed. He swam across the pool and back and then had to tread water for 1 minute. The final part of the test was to jump off the diving board and swim to the ladder! Levi got right up on the diving board and didn't even hesitate to jump!! I was overwhelmed with joy for my littlest man!! Levi spent the rest of the day jumping off the board!
As I sat and watched him, I was telling the Lord that I am so in awe that he loves Levi so much that he is willing to give him Freedom on the 4th!! Freedom to Worship Him, freedom to live a life happy, freedom to pursue his desires and today the greatest gift was to have FREEDOM from his FEARS!! Levi feels like he can conquer the world now! Thank you Jesus!

The swim...

Treading water

Preparing to jump...

Letting loose!!