It’s been a long time since I updated my xanga. I only have access to the internet at work and they locked us out of certain websites for awhile and xanga.com was one of them.
Anyway, I’m back now and I have a lot to say…for anyone that might stop here to read. Life has been really crazy, really hard and really good since Faithwalkers. I never even had the opportunity to share my thoughts because of our internet lockout. I’ll try to do a recap of the past few months.
December 2005:
Faithwalkers was amazing…it far exceeded my expectations and I was so glad that John and I were able to be there after missing it in 2004. It was good to be home…because it really felt like a slice of heaven those 4 days together. Worship was incredible. And the messages were equally as amazing. I thought the gauntlet was really laid out for us this year if only we choose to jump on board. I can’t wait for all that God wants to do through this movement of churches and I am SO proud to be a part of it. I’m a lifer.
January 2006:
We had our second miscarriage in 6 months. We were heart broken and angry, trying to figure out why God would allow this to happen for a second time when we want so badly to have children. It was a long month, but God brought us comfort and we made it through. It’s still hard, but I know that God is sovereign and the He loves us. He has a plan for this and one day, we’ll find out all the “whys”. For now, we just need to rest in Him. Psalm 112 has been a great comfort.
February 2006:
Jessica’s health has been pretty rough. She’s still struggling with yeast problems and it feels like this is a never ending thing. We’re holding on to hope that she will continue to gain more strength and make progress on her road to recovery. She’s on the right track, it’s just going to take some time.
We got a puppy! His name is Linus and he’s a Cock-A-Chon (Cocker Spaniel/Bichon Frise) mix. He’s perfect! Right now he’s about 11 weeks old and he’s growing bigger every day. He will only top out at about 20 lbs or so – which is perfect for an indoor dog. He has brought us a lot of joy in the midst of the pain of the last few months. We are thankful that God brought him into our lives!
March 2006:
John’s SPRING BREAK is coming up in about two weeks and I can’t wait…we’re flying out to Boston and then driving up into Maine, along the southern coast, and then up into Canada. It’s going to be so nice to spend some extended time with my husband and just get away for awhile. We’re visiting Prince Edward Island which is home to Anne of Green Gables and I love that movie so much! I can’t wait…it’s going to be a great trip!
I read this devotional two days ago and it greatly encouraged my heart.
March 8, 2006
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." ~ Acts 14:22
"God's people have their trials. It was never God's plan, when He chose His people, that they should be untested. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen for worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality were never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements among the things to which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our experience; they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. As surely as the stars are fashioned by His hands, and their orbits fixed by Him, so surely are our trials allotted for us. He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them. Consider the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had trials, and facing them with faith, he became the father of the faithful. Review biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you will find that each of those whom God made vessels of mercy were made to pass through the fire of affliction. God has ordained that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal insignia distinguishing the King's vessels of honor. But even though tribulation is the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has walked it before them. They have His presence and sympathy to cheer them on, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach 'the kingdom', it will more than make amends for the 'many tribulations' through which they passed to enter it. " ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
Be blessed friends! | 
I still can't believe this is actually happening. We stayed up late last night trying to make ourselves tired so that we can sleep on the plane tonight. We'll see if that works or not. We'll probably have so much adrenaline running through us that it will be hard to sleep. Once we get back, I will try to post a few pictures from our journey. 
