What Is Next, God?

We have been consistently and sometimes urgently been praying about something for over 5 years. 

When I say consistently I mean daily.  It's one of those things that's never far from our minds.

 We have learned to give it over to God and have resigned to just asking Him to lead us and show us what He has for us in this area.  Trust me, when I say, early on, we were not resigned to anything.  We would pray, but our prayers consisted of giving God ideas and options.  He was patient with us, but didn't do any of the things we laid out for Him to do our way, but what He did do, is teach us to trust Him.

We have learned to submit our will  to His, and to honestly given it over to the Lord.  

It didn't happen all at once....it has seriously taken 5 years to get to the point that we are now....in our hearts and on this road.

This week, we should have some answers.  We have been on the same road for 5 years and now  we are coming to a bend in the road.  

Knowing that we are nearing the corner, we have decided to set aside some extra time this week and really focus on praying for whatever is next.  

We have prayed that we will follow His lead and that we will recognize God's voice and direction so we don't go off road.  

We have been "off-road" before and it's just unnecessary roughness.

This week during my time with the Lord on this issue, I have asked for a sneak peak as to what is around this bend for us.  

I have asked for this glimpse into the future before, and He hasn't given it to me, but I figured since we are down to the wire, it wouldn't hurt to ask some more.

He still has not told me, but what He has shown me so clearly this week,  is the road that we have already been on. 

 He keeps showing me the ground we've covered vs. showing me what's ahead.

 It plays like little movie clips in my mind, and the theme is clearly how God has been completely faithful in the last 5 years of praying and seeking the Lord on this issue.

He has not only been faithful; He has been generous.

He has provided abundantly.  He has met every single need and beyond,

 ON TIME EVERY TIME.

  

He has grown us as a family and as individuals. 

 He has given a bit more wisdom and understanding. 

 We have learned to trust Him more.

Here's the thing that stands out to me as I think about how God has been so faithful in every area of our lives, but especially in this area that we have petitioned  before Him for 5 solid years;

 He has not only been faithful and provided along the way, 

HE HAS BEEN GENEROUS.

He has been generous 

TO US AND THROUGH US.

He has been generous to us in His provision, right in the midst of what looks like a hopeless situation.  He has also been generous to us through others and their generosity toward us.  He has even been so extravagant in His provision that He has allowed us to be generous to others and share everything that He has provided.

So even as we are coming to the corner and we don't know what's around the bend, I know He has brought us to this point and no matter what is around the bend I never want to forget what I have learned along the way, what He has done, and that my God can be completely trusted.  

When I had Cellie, I was given a fresh reminder of how much God loves me and what it means to be a child of God.

It hit me as I had just delivered Cellie, and

 I loved her fiercely,

  I would have jumped in front of a train for her, from that first moment.

 I knew without a doubt that I would do anything for her and she was mine forever.

  I would do the very best I could to love her well and take care of her every need.

This is how God feels about His children, but

INFINITELY more,

 an ETERNITY longer,

 and PERFECTLY accomplished.

It blows my mind

Cellie did nothing to earn my love. She was simply "born". 

 Actually, what she "earned" was a big fat spanking.  She caused sickness and heartburn and "discomfort" for 9 solid months and THEN she topped it off with the grand finale of birth.

But all I could feel was an overwhelming sense of 

LOVE and JOY!!!

I realized again how I did nothing nothing nothing to deserve or earn the love of God and YET....he LOVES me and calls me His child and He died on a cross for me, so I can be with Him for ETERNITY!  

Celebrating Cellie Joy and Easter 2015

Today our little Cellie Joy is 3 weeks old. 

 The time has FLOWN and been full of JOY!!! 

  Lashae, and Maubry and Shawnie got to come and spend almost 2 weeks with us, celebrating our Cellie Joy and celebrating our risen Savior for Easter.

When Moo and Maubry aren't fighting they are the best of friends.  

 My oldest and youngest.... they are twinsies.  It's funny but they look the most alike.  

  Shawnie and her auntie baby.  :)

Grumpa's job was to rock Shawnie to sleep every night.  They are good rocking buddies.  

 Feeling like one blessed Mama and Nay Nay to have all these together for Easter.

  Easter was especially sweet for me this year. 

I am humbled and overwhelmed by all the blessings God has given to me.

He saved me, which would have been enough, but then He just keeps pouring out His love and blessing on me.

It always amazed me that when God adds to our family, He always GROWS the Love for each one even more.

  In my earthly thinking...I imagine having to spread the love and time a little thinner to include more, but it works the opposite, the more we love the more love we have to give.  Since God is the author of LOVE, it doesn't work like we think...it works according to HIS KINGDOM.

  It grows, it does not spread and thin...it MULTIPLIES and GROWS.

Crazy as that seems, it's true. 

 I was thinking even my time would be less for each one, but what happens is a new baby brings everyone together and there's even more time, because we shave off a lot of the extra stuff and are much more intentional about our time and how it is spent.

Psalm 103:17-19English Standard Version (ESV)

17 

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

    and his righteousness to children's children,

18 

to those who keep his covenant

    and remember to do his commandments.

19 

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

    and his kingdom rules over all.

We spent Good Friday night having dinner and  communion with family and friends.  

Kole led us in a teaching and then communion; it was such a sweet time.

On Sunday our church had  3 incredible worship services and then a huge egg hunt for the kids.

Hauling in the goods from the egg hunt.

We finished the day by having a great dinner at my parents' house with more family and friends.
 It was a wonderful day!!!

Cellie Joy Brewer

Cellie Joy Brewer

March 19, 2015

12:34pm

7 lbs. 12 oz. 20 inches long

Psalm 33:3New International Version (NIV)

3 

Sing to him a new song;

    play skillfully, and shout for

 joy.

Psalm 33:3The Message (MSG)

1-3 Good people, cheer God!

    Right-living people sound best when praising.

Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs!

    Play his praise on a grand piano!

Invent your own new song to him;

    give him a trumpet fanfare.

Cellie has already stolen all of our hearts.

Her name is our version of my late mother in law's name.

  Her name was Marcella.  

We tried to get creative and make something that "fit" and yet reminded us of Marcella. 

 So the C is pronounced with an S sound.  

I have a fun little story that gives me hope that Cellie may have some of 

Marcella's talents:

My favorite number is 333, and Charlie sends out a Bible verse every morning to around 140 people.  

The morning after Cellie Joy was born Charlie sent out Psalms 33:3 because it speaks of JOY and it's my favorite number!!! 

 When I looked it up in The Message version it talks about playing praises to God on a grand piano.

  

My mother-in-law spent her life playing praises to God on many different  pianos, and now I know she is spending eternity with Him playing praises on the most amazing grand piano.

I have always wanted a piano playing child.

 I hope with the name and the verse this is prophetic and 

Miss Cellie Joy

 will take on her name sake and learn to play the piano and sing praises to HIM!!!

We are praising HIM like crazy for bringing such amazing JOY to our lives in this little perfect beautiful baby.

  I can testify that when you ask God for more Joy in your life,

He DELIVERS!!!

Baby Update

Baby update:  All is well....just a few extra aches and pains and peeks at baby, due to my age.

I have been pregnant 3 times in my 20's, 2 times in my 30's, and 2 times in my 40's. 

 Let me just tell you......the 20's are great because your body is so youthful and you are too young to think about long term anything.

 In your 30's it's all good, because you have more confidence and experience and  you just know the drill.

 In my 40's...........not a lot of words for this stage.............. this was the closest explanation I could find.

I'm just thankful the Lord has blessed me with Moo and 2 beautiful grand-daughters in the same age range and gender of this baby to raise her with, so she won't feel like her parents are old and scary. 

 I'm mostly thankful that God has the confidence in me to bless me with this JOY! 

 When I feel like the face above....I just rely on His strength and confidence.

Baby has a whole bunch of cord right around her little head.....I think she has been trying to learn to rope in the womb and she is a bit tangled up.  So she needs to mellow out in there and leave the cord alone, so she can "head out"  without a bunch of rope in the way.  :)

 Kind of a funny fact....when Luke was born he had a complete knot in the cord.  This is very rare and did not cause a problem, but it showed how wild my babies are even in the womb.  

Colossians 1:11-12English Standard Version (ESV)

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

 (emphasis added by me...this verse just spoke to me tonight).

I'm Ready!

Well, I'm officially ready.
 I have diapers and binkys and now I know baby can make her appearance at any time, and I am as ready as I need to be.

We have had a lot going on in the last month since we got home from Uganda.
 It's not that 
I
am so busy
but all my people are.

Mik, Esther, and Luke have had basketball on a team where they all 3 get to play on the same team.

 Luke has also had wrestling and Esther has had volleyball.

I have been a bit of a hermit.

I was wondering the other day.....what my problem seems to be....I am peaceful and plenty rested and I feel fine...

( I mean, as fine as a pregnant Nay Nay can feel)

 but I just don't  feel up to "engaging" much outside of these 4 walls...or however many walls are in this house.  

And then it hit me....
I have a graduating Senior, which is awesome, 

AND

 a baby on the way, which is also awesome,
 and everything in between.

 I know when my older kids graduated, it took a lot of adjustment, in my thought process.  It also took extra time and energy to let the Senior process thoughts and ideas about all the upcoming changes and decisions of their future.

Whenever you have a person a comin' or a goin', 
it causes everyone to ADJUST to a new norm.

My current Senior has been my wife right hand for so many years and I can feel her gearing up to take flight.

Even if they don't leave the nest for awhile or leave and come back for a season, it is not the same, they are in a different role in the house and family once they have graduated.

  My Senior is being a Senior
(anyone who has had one, knows that the plans of life change every 30 minutes days.)

 I know that this process is normal and totally necessary, but I just jump on one train and it's already off those rails and headed on a whole different track. 

 I.am.in.no.condition.to.be.doing.ANY.sort.of.jumping.

I remember when Lashae and Chaney were getting married and I was 8 months pregnant with Moo, I had the same feeling.  I didn't have a lot to offer outside of the immediate family at the time.  It was as if, all my body and emotions were so busy trying to do and process what needed to be done and still enjoy the moment...that everything else went on the back burner. 

 When the kids get home from school, they (mostly Mik, poor kid hasn't learned yet) will often ask me what did I do all day?? 

**I mean to him, it is a legit question, because it appears nothing is different from when he left the house 7 hours earlier.**

And my new answer is:

I grew a baby!!! 
I mean seriously, isn't that enough for right now.  

By the grace of God alone, it's been very quiet around here, and honestly I'm not that busy, I spend a lot of "down time," and I don't even feel too bad about it
because I know all too well what is coming and I know the "down time" thing will soon be 

O.V.E.R. 

I have to say, now that I'm on the tail end of this pregnancy, in hindsight, it has gone by super fast and uneventfully.
It has been one of the hardest things for me, and also one of the biggest and best blessings of my life.

Brenda - Uganda 2015

One of God's greatest gifts to me on this last Uganda trip was
Brenda!

I love this lady!
We have known each other for many years; we live in the same community and have a lot of the same friends, but we would just see one another once in awhile and usually at a sporting event, or in passing.  I knew she was a sweetie and had wonderful kids and a nice hubby, but I hadn't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with her.

Just weeks before our trip to Uganda, Brenda did a Beth Moore bible study with me and a whole bunch of other women at our church.  In the last session she told me she wanted to go to Uganda with us.  I kinda giggled because it was only about a month before we left, but I could tell she was serious.
She was very serious, she purchased her ticket the very next day, and of course it wasn't without the typical obstacles that come with going on a mission trip, but it did not detour her for a minute.
She knew this is where God was leading her and she was not only stepping out in faith but
LEAPING
out in faith.

Brenda was an especially sweet gift to me because when Charlie hits the red soil of Uganda, he is in his element and he likes to go and go fast.
 This trip, I was slower and also had several kids to manage and even when they are moving fast, it's not necessarily in a forward direction.
Brenda was my teammate, she did everything with confidence and a smile and acted like whatever pace we happen to be going, or whatever we were doing was exactly the pace she wanted to be going, and the thing she wanted to be doing.
 She adjusted to every situation with such grace and that beautiful smile.  She was "thrown" into some unsure situations without warning and nobody would have ever known, as she took it all in stride.

Brenda, is one of those ladies that just has a sweet and quiet spirit, but she also loves large and fiercely.  

She loves the Lord, and her family and everyone God puts into her path.

  I watched her come to tears many times and also burst into laughter. 

 She is an observer and just steps in where she sees the gaps without ever saying a word. 

She was a blessing to our entire team.

She saved my kids from many horrible things, I am positive of it.....she used about a million wipes and a tube of Cortaid on Reece.  He would have surely itched holes right through his skin if it wasn't for Brenda keeping "itchy cream" on hand.

Thank you Jesus for giving us Brenda to go with us to Uganda, and thank you Brenda for saying YES,

when God laid it on your heart to go.  

I love you my friend and I hope we get to go and do more life and more mission together with you!

Luke 10:1 (ESV)

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.