Two Chairs.

Community has been a big buzz word around our house for the past few months. Ryan has been enthralled with living our lives missionally right where we are. Engaging our neighbors. Committing to our church. Intentionally loving others as Jesus loves us.  He has been super inspired by Soma Communities.  At first I thought this was some weird compound living, hippy lifestyle thing, but it isn't. Check out their video.

 

So anyway. Back to our situation. We are starting small. We are just trying to be more intentional about talking to people. On Valentine's Day, Ryan bought us two chairs to put in our front yard. We choose to sit out there in the evenings so we can run into our neighbors more frequently.

 

I have been trying to open my home frequently to others. I have been putting my comfort level aside and saying YES to social opportunities with people I am not super close with. These are not mind blowing things. We do not go above and beyond. We are starting small. We haven't seen any insane things happen due to these things, but I believe this is the way we should be living. Missionally. Right here in our home.

I want to live out this verse...

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:44-47

 

 

 



Fingerprints: The Sequel

This story will keep you on the end of your seat! Our renewal biometrics appointment did not go anything like the first time. Lets start at the beginning.

We got an email from our Family Coordinator that we needed to have our fingerprints renewed. I finally got around to sending in our application (paperwork just is not as fun the second time around), and we got our appointment for a Friday in April. First problem. We already had plans the Friday before that to go see our friends adoption in a different city. Meaning Ryan already took of work, so we couldn't do the original date. No big deal right? Just call for a new appointment?...Nope. You have to mail back in the original form then wait for a new appointment. Awesome. So the wait begins...

A few weeks later I got a letter from USCIS with just *my* appointment. It was in the middle of the week in May in the middle of the day. All I could think was great. How am I going to pull that off with the baby and where the heck is Ryan appointment letter? I started second guessing if I even mailed off his reschedule form! Thankfully a few days later we got Ryan's form and his was the day AFTER my appointment! Uhhh...Two trips to Houston?? Well this is the first God moment. We remembered that Ryan had a work trip in May in Houston...Yes. It was the same week!! What a relief! Ryan doesn't have to miss work, and I don't have to go alone with Adelyn!

We head off to Houston and notice that our hotel is literally 1.5 miles from the biometrics place! Whatttt???? That was sooo God because obviously He knew how much I was dreading driving in Houston with Adelyn. (Ryan had to stay at his conference for my appointment). Here are the thoughts going on in my head...It really could not have been playing out any more perfectly. God must really want us to be doing the adoption! He couldn't possibly been more present in this situation...

Dunnn Dunnn Dunn...

Long story short: We get to the hotel, start to check in a realize we were at the WRONG hotel. OUR hotel is about 40 miles away. Awwwwwwwwwesome...

You would think the story ends there right? We just have to drive about 45 minutes to get to our appointment. Well that would be right, except when I get to my appointment after Adelyn screamed 90% of the way I forgot my ID...Yep.

You can't get your fingerprints without an ID. I cried. The super wonderful nice supervisor was so kind and told me to just come back the next day with Ryan and get them done together.

Very long story all to say that we got the fingerprints done together at Ryan's original appointment and it all worked out okay!

MOPS.

I have officially become the newest Steering Team Member of our local MOPS group. If you have a MOPS group near you, I highly suggest joining! (Mothers of Preschoolers...aka pregnancy-5th grade kids!) I am VERY new to the group, but I can already see so many benefits attached to the group. Being surrounded by a group of stay at home moms is the best part. I love that I can come in frazzled and late and they all understand. I can have a crying baby and need to nurse and they all understand. It is just nice to around like minded mommas! PLUS the crafts are super cute. I have actually only been to meetings that had crafts, but I am sure the speakers are equally as amazing. Anyway, like I said I am a Steering team member and I will be organizing the Moppets. Basically making sure we have enough volunteers to watch the kids, so moms can participate and their babies are being loved on! I know this is a big job with big responsibilities, but I can't be scared away because of the responsibilities. I know God has placed this in my heart to accomplish! He has given me the preschool background, the leadership background, and friendship with other Steering team members in my life! I know He will provide for me and I will be able to do this :) I'm excited to use my ability to stay home to advance His kingdom through this position!

Check out MOPS....http://www.mops.org/

Seasons.

* images from pinterest

 

Seasons is a word that has been resonating with me so much lately. I think it is because this season I am in is so new.

• New mom
• Stay at home mom
• Housewife

This season has actually been one of the hardest times of my life. It is a weird feeling not working anymore or having any obligations outside of my house. I have been struggling to find my identity in Christ and not in what I "do" or don't "do". However, as hard as it has been, it has also been showered with amazing moments.

 I want to embrace this season. I want to love on as many people as I can, I want to cherish the time I have with my baby being a baby. I want to embrace the little things and be satisfied with who I am. I want to make sure I am living my life and not just wasting away the days.

I was motivated today to start back on the blog train. I want to start sharing how I am going to make the most of this season of being out of the 'corporate world'. I want to share my adventures in living life missionally for Christ. I want to share so that maybe someone else will be motivated to live a life worth living!!