Thoughts...

Huge announcement: I think we have decided on a church, most likely...

It's the first church we went to when we arrived (literally we rolled into town around 9pm and the next morning we were at church at 11am) called Indelible Grace Church. It's a PCA church which really talks a lot about grace. The biggest thing though is that it models grace. We have been to churches that are really fun for kids, but with all the rewards for correct answers or attendance charts it modeled works. It was a church that modeled: If you work hard enough, get enough rewards, and come to church you will know God! Although churches talk about the heart, it is so easy to make sure your heart is right before God, and quite honestly as a sinner, it's not right unless God does the work.

But, at this time of transition, I am part of a MOPs group at Redwood Chapel, a Women's group at Neighborhood church, and attend Indelible Grace Church on Sunday morning. We also send Hannah to base camp at Neighborhood church because it is fun for kids, and the church we like does not have any kids programs...yet...

 So I guess you could say we are church hopping, but next year will look different for sure. We are right now praying about the school we will send the girls to. Although we like the school which is close to us, if I were completely honest I would say that we are not content with the education the girls are receiving. The bulk of instruction is not targeted to their academic level, and the girls usually follow models for writing or activities rather than create their own work. And technology...Kate watches lots of Youtube shows...does that count? So Jeff and I are praying about what to do next year. So for now I am content to be part of two women's groups knowing that next year will look different: I will only join one group or I may homeschool through a local charter school...we shall see.

But as I study the book Celebration of Discipline that my women's group is going through I am reminded of the need to seek after God's heart in everything. I read this week about the discipline of prayer and he said that our prayer should be motivated from compassion, and if we are praying for something out of fear or judgement then we are missing God's heart and should put aside praying for that and trust that God will call someone else to pray for that need. I started to think of how often my prayers are motivated by fear. I pray for my girls, fearful that they will not understand the great love of God, or that they will remember the hard times in out family and not the fun ones, that they will befriend difficult friends, or date untrustworthy guys. I pray for my sister with fear, and doubt that God's healing will happen in our family. So I pray, but my heart in prayer is missing the heart of God. Even my prayers are full of sin and doubt. I am so thankful for a God that understands and has compassion on my fearful state. I am also thankful that He is teaching me to seek after His heart, one of love and compassion. God is good, and during this season of change in our lives He is doing good things. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Final Christmas of 2013

When we returned home we had one final Christmas celebration: just as a family of 5. We read the last few cards on our advent calendar, opened presents and then everyone began playing with all their new toys and things. It was very quiet, and just want we needed to recover from all our traveling.

Cousin Sleepover

Before we headed back to San Fransisco we had one last sleep over with the Pine cousins. There was lots of chatter and excitement and very little sleeping...the perfect recipe for sleepy kids and a long a car ride!

Familiar Friends...Ahhh...

One of the highlights of the trip was traveling down to San Diego and attending church at our old church and seeing dear friends. As we settle in and begin to make friendships I find myself a little more guarded than I am when I am with familiar friends. Did I talk too much? Did I show enough interest in them? Did I complain about how cold it is too much? Did they agree with my parenting choices...this list of questions goes on and on for me. It's rooted in my insecurities, and I get that, but I recognize that this is an insecure time of life...security in Christ is constant, but my friendships are insecure now... But I digress...when we were with friends we talked candidly, comfortably and we laughed genuinely. It was great. And our kids played together just like old times. It was great!

One more visit to the Tide Pools

Before we headed to San Diego to see the extended Murry family and some friends, we made one more trip to the tide pools. The two older girls loved it there, and Nate and Drew seemed happy as well, but Rachel Lee refused to go on the rocks. She said the rocks were too scary. I think she was more likely just getting tired from all the activities, but either way, she and I hung back and enjoyed some quality time just the two of us while the rest of the crew explored the pools. And all were happy.

Beach Bums

Southern Californians has an image as beach bums. And really, if you have a beach and the weather is nice, I honestly see nothing wrong with enjoying the beach, even in January! So call me a bum all you'd like, it made for some really fun times together...visiting the seals, touching and exploring at the tide pools, and beach volleyball. Great day being a bum!