Always Surprising Her Momma

I found Avery like this when I checked on her one night, before going to bed myself. 

Was she planning her escape and fell asleep on the job?

Lately, her most requested song, especially in the middle of the night is 

"My God is So Big"

My God is so big!  So strong and so mighty.

There’s nothing my God cannot do..

My God is so big!  So strong and so mighty.

There’s nothing my God cannot do.

The mountains are his and the valleys are his

and the trees are his handiwork too.

My God is so big!  So strong and so mighty.

There’s nothing my God cannot do for you.

I couldn't agree more, Avery! Especially a good reminder in the middle of the night!

Hope

Hope is a golden cord connecting you to heaven.
This cord helps you hold your head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you...

Hope lifts your perspective from your weary feet to the glorious view you can see from the high road. You are reminded that the road we're traveling together is ultimately a highway to heaven.

Jesus Calling, Sarah Young

Seeking His Joy

I have been learning a lot lately, through God's word, but I haven't figured out a way to sum it up here. Then recently I read this, "As the Word of Life takes deep root into our minds, hearts, and souls, we are able to live as aliens in this temporal land. We are empowered to stand firm in the pain and mess of life with compassion and love, joyful and expectant of Christ’s return." found here

When times are tough, it can become critical to put my joy in my salvation (I have had to do that) or else I will have no joy, but to put my joy in my salvation when things are "good" allows for totally different fruit. I am seeing that now.

I am becoming more aware of the power of faith (in Christ's return)...the power and strength God provides when I remember my true inheritance. "An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for [me]" 1 Peter 1:4. This knowledge really does strengthen me to move forward with joy, not a superficial joy but a deep joy (peace-like) that is not dependent on my circumstances or other people. There is much freedom to be found and a peace that I find shocking at times. It's not because he takes away the pain and the mess, that we find joy, it's in the gift of Christ's return that gives us joy while we wait.

I wasn't sure how to use this truth in a practical way. Am I supposed to repeat it over and over in my head all day long, so that I don't forget? That doesn't seem to happen. How will God make this truth a reality in my heart? Well, just asking those questions to myself and a few special friends, has done just that. It's been in my head a lot (thanks to the holy spirit) and it is sinking in. It also helps that our pastor is doing an AMAZING series of sermons called "A Living Hope" from 1 Peter, find them here, it's well worth your time.

God is teaching me how/when/why to place my joy and peace in Him, in the the hope of my salvation, in the work He accomplished on the cross. Those truths are unwavering unlike most of the things I would naturally think to put my hope in. This may not seem like a new concept to some of you, but to "know" it and "feel" it are totally different.

It is more typical of me to sense God at work in times of despair in the valley not on the mountain top. I am thankful for this new vantage point

EJ and I on top of Graves Mountain, down below were trees with rotten apples which we had planned on picking. Seemed fitting for this post.

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:10-11

Preschool Pumpkins

We had a surprise guest come with us on Avery's pumpkin field trip. As I was heading out the door, I got a call from the school nurse. Ryan wasn't doing so well. His tummy. He has been SO happy about school for a few weeks but it was hard getting him out the door this morning. He is having some anxiety about certain things in school that he is slowly mentioning. I think it was mostly because he knew I was going with Avery to the pumpkin patch, but he didn't say that in so many words. I declared him a a mental health day and being on a farm was just what his little heart and tummy needed. Thankfully the big boys won't be jealous because they could care less about pumpkin patches now.

Visiting this particular farm makes me almost want to be a farmer. 

Maybe Ryan will own one someday and we can live with his family ;)

 My parents are such good sports. Avery doesn't "appear" to want them with her, but they come anyway. She is lucky her rejections don't keep them away.

I wish trips like this were fun for my girl, but they cause stress. Thankfully it's not that apparent to outsiders, but she and I both know. She wasn't keen on visiting with the animals today, maybe next time. I can't help but smile when someone takes my picture, but there is a lot going on behind that smile. Anxiety has a lot of faces, for her and me. It's not so much about wishing she were different but about wishing I could truly understand. I suppose we are a lot more alike than I think. Both of us have learned to "cope" in the normal day to day, but in new settings we are both learning how to walk forward and sometimes more attached to each other than I'd like ;)

 I did capture a glimmer of a smile.

Last Ones Picked

We learned a lot from our first square foot garden. We are eager to correct our mistakes and try again next spring. Thankfully our garden provided just enough excitement to make 1 very proud farmer. We even had an Eggplant Parmesan dinner, one of our favorite meals.