life

Life Update! Part I

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Littlest is PUMPED!

🦞| MAINE | 🦞

It’s our favorite vacation spot.
It’s the place we fell in love with after our first summer in New England. And now, by God’s grace, we get to live there!

A few months ago the Lord provided a sweet surprise—a job interview from a precious church located in a lovely little coastal town—-Bar Harbor. We never dreamed this could be our future, but the Lord has done it(more on this later) and Tyler starts work as the lead pastor of First Baptist Church Bar Harbor -1st Baptist Church Bar Harbor- FBC starting May 1st!

We are grieving the transition out of Vermont(as we’ve seen the Lord provide treasured friendships,opportunities and community there through East Randolph Baptist Church and Cornerstone Church Vermont. But we rejoice in what God is going to do and we move forward in hope!

I’ve been processing what it means to be transient(and hope to write more on this later) but since social media eludes me lately, I wanted to record this update before I forgot!

We’re so grateful to God for how he has provided, and we joyfully look to what will be.

He has ordained this and we are humbled to participate in what God is doing!

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭126:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 145:5-7

Welcome to December 2021

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This year I wondered if our annual “Welcome to December” brunch would even happen. I was 1 week postpartum and very deprived of sleep.

But I couldn’t let the first week of the month pass without ringing in the season! So…we opted for an afternoon tea party instead.

Thankfully, my sweet mom was still here to help! Instead of breakfast cinnamon rolls, I rolled triangled crescents in sweetened cream cheese and chocolate chips. We made a Christmas tree out of our delicious concoction and the kids inhaled it!

Dusted with powdered sugar [read: snow] of course!

Coupled with hot chocolate in our favorite Christmas tree pitcher, a pair of matching fleece pajamas(with an additional matching set for their dolls)—it was a sweet time together.

While the kids munched on goodies, I read two of my favorite Christmas books.

This year’s picks were…

The Spirit of Christmas has beautifully illustrated the wonder of the season. Nancy Tillman has written several of my favorites, and she has such an artful way of capturing whimsy while also pointing back to its Creator. The girls loved this one.

The Crippled Lamb is a spin on the original Christmas narrative. Children are invited to follow the journey of a lamb named Joshua who isn’t the most beloved in the herd(due to his disability) but ultimately realizes what a blessing he can be, just the way God made him! This one provides a great opportunity to talk about how differences from God are good because He intended them that way! It’s a sweet reminder that everyone is “Gods workmanship, created in Christ to do good works which God prepared in advance that they should do”!

Of course we ended our time talking about the reason for the season—Jesus! We discussed how this entire month is a birthday party for Him! That everything we do—hanging lights, decorations, giving gifts, etc—is in celebration of the Incarnation!

Happy Christmas, friends 🎄

Wordless Wednesday: July 4th!

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Still playing catch up with my photos…here are some more summer highlights! We celebrated our nation’s freedom by attending church, then hosting a bbq for friends. The night of the 4th we attended [probably] the closest fireworks show I’ve ever seen at another friends house! The fireworks were launched from the mountain where we were sitting—incredible!

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In This Job

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I often forget that this is the dream. In those long, awkward teen years, when I wondered if a boy would ever notice me, this is the man I prayed for.

And on the hectic, stifling college days when my dorm suite kitchen squeezed me in, this was the house I imagined.

It was enough for me to dream, to hope—to pray—that this would be my one day.

Of course those days were tearfully joyful and sorrowful with every emotion mixed in-between. It is not lost on me that the days of my youth were a sweet symbol of a season that will never again be.

But this life…this was the beginning of forever. It was my impossible prayer, my pipe dream; the dream within the dream.

So why then does my heart so easily forget?

And once again, Jeremiah’s warning that the heart is deceitful cautions my wayward heart…

They won’t be little forever, reminds my husband lovingly. And while he is right, sometimes—lately especially—this heart forgets. I become enraptured with other seemingly lofty thoughts—or even new dreams that have skewed my perspective. The caveat here is, naturally, that dreams aren’t necessarily destructive. But my placement of these dreams is.

This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.

Elisabeth Elliot

For me, this is the job. I could pursue more if God allowed but for this season, I am home. If I’m being honest, some days I wrestle with the calling. Of course I have career goals, and my days don’t always feel the most stimulating, but they are good because their Author is. And even when I’m feeling the moments are wasted [which is a lie permeating my thoughts all too often] there is so much joy in this quiet life. All of the sweaty kisses, carefully curated dress up shows, nighttime rocking rituals coupled with hymns and laughter, foraging adventures, tree excursions and every moment in between and thereafter. For now—for always—instead of a forgetful [read: discontented] spirit I can choose gratitude.

It is here, and not somewhere else, that I may learn faithfulness.

Oh Father, may my fickle heart ever treasure the beauty of these sacred, fleeting moments!

Wordless Wednesday

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THIS. IS. SIX! Another highlight from May was celebrating this girl!

I cannot believe that our eldest girl is 6 years old. I marvel daily at God’s grace-upon-grace in these moments of motherhood. It is all moving far too quickly.

Sweet Rosebud, you have smiled[literally] since day 1! I cannot believe that our biggest girl is 6 years old. I’m so grateful for your brave, kind and thoughtful heart. You’re my helper—the one who delights in anticipating the needs of others and rises to meet them. Your creative, colorful mind brightens our world and keeps us laughing. Thank you for loving us all so well. Your love for Jesus shines through your desire to love specifically and urgently. Thank you for being quick to extend grace to your parents as we’re learning to navigate parenthood. We’re so humbled to be entrusted with such a big heart. We love you dearly. Praying you will always know God’s goodness and rest in His faithfulness. Happy Birthday, precious girl! This is 6! 💜