That Good Feeling!

Jason, Nora and I have been in a church transition. After making the decision to leave our home church to grow our Hispanic ministry in Roswell we found ourselves wondering what else was out there in the world of churches.

A church in Roswell became interested in our ministry and was exploring ways to become some what of a partner with us. Jason and I decided to visit a few times just to explore what they were all about. The first Sunday we visited we were shocked how much we liked it! Everything was so professional and the people were so warm and welcoming. There seemed to be so much life around the church and so many good programs and projects. We were very impressed with the preschool department and how organized they were. It seemed to be a fun and safe place for Nora to learn more about Jesus. The Pastor had such a warm and friendly spirit about him and he taught the word of God with an object lesson! I love object lessons! Our family was very impressed with this church and it was really the 1st church we had visited since we left our home church. We went a few more weeks but felt like we should probably visit some other places.

We did visit a few but just didn't make a connection. One of the things that I was looking for was a good children's ministry for Nora. I wanted to make sure that they valued their children and that they showed it by offering a strong bible based program for the kids. I was also very eager to teach a class and be a part of what Nora was experiencing at church. I just wasn't finding that anywhere but I did feel like the church in Roswell did offer that.

About 2 weeks ago I got a call from one of the children's ministry directors at the church in Roswell inviting me to teach a 3 year old small group this fall. I was so excited! Jason and I talked about it and we felt it would be a good way to see first hand if this is the place for us. So I emailed her and said yes. Even though I said yes I was still nervous that we might end up hating it. I prayed and ask God to make it very clear to Jason and I if this was not where He wanted our family.

So yesterday I attended the teacher training for the new school year. After the lunch they served us the children's director began to share with us their vision for the children and each stage of their life. As she unfolded the value and importance of teaching our faith to our children I began to fill the Lord moving in my heart. I had tears in my eyes because I knew that in this moment as she spoke that I was in the right place. The Lord was confirming it in my spirit as she shared that "This year we are going to be more intentional about the eternal in our children". This was everything that I stood for, everything that she said I agreed with. I could see how passionate she was about the children and the Lord. I could see how she had fought for the children and how she welcomed change and new ideas for the children's department. I was impressed with the program that they were starting this year, small groups for 2, 3 and 4's. Then those ages groups would attend a large group time that would consist of live praise and worship as well as a creative storyteller each week. They are even building a new stage area for this large group time.

I just knew that this was the best place for Nora to grow in the Lord and friendships. I just had the Good Feeling again! I felt like I was finally at home. I am excited about where the Lord is taking us in this new chapter of our life. So far, it has been all good!

If Nora Had A Blog

If Nora had a blog she would blog about...
1. How she loves being a princess!!! (she only wants to wear dresses)
2. Her prince. (daddy)
3. Her stuffed animals.
4. She would make a video of herself singing Kum Ba Yah my Lord. (her new favorite song she sings all over the house)
5. SHOES! She already has a shoe obsession at 3 years old. Today in Target she tells me she needs new shoes. Yea,right.
6. Make up, another obsession that she already has.
7. Her new princess lunch box she got today for school.
8. All her grandparents and how they give her anything she wants!
9. How she really wishes that she had a doggy or kitty. (she asks for one all the time)
10. Mooseys or Movies.
11. That she is a Big girl not a baby.
12. How she knows best!
13. Her new performance: dancing, singing, acting.
14. How her mommy and daddy are always telling her what to do, as she rolls her eyes.
15. Miss Donald's, as she calls it.

I am sure it would be very interesting to read a 3 year old's blog.

Friday Favorite

One of my favorite places to be is in the woods. I love being surrounded by tall trees and birds singing. Today I went walking at a local park that has a walking trail right in the middle of the woods. It was so refreshing, and so inspiring to be surrounded with all the beautiful things God had made. As I walked I was remembering me as a kid and how my favorite place to go and play was in the woods by the big creek. My friends(Jamie, Amy and Carrie) and I would go there everyday if we were allowed and we would walk through the water forever. One direction of the creek would take us to a horse pasture, so we would stop to watch the horses. If we walked the other direction then we ended up at a huge swimming hole of water (none of us ever went swimming in it). We would spend hours in the woods playing house, playing boat, just exploring whatever came our way. Those are some of my favorite memories also. Today I walked without those friends but I remembered them and the fun times we had together on McCleskey drive right where the Super Walmart is now on Hwy 92. I wonder how if you can even get to that creek, or if it is still there. It is crazy how life changes. I am not that little girl playing in the creek anymore, I'm 27 (which is not old) and as I walk through the woods today not only do I think of old times but I am also filled with emotion towards God. Being surrounded by the things that God has made fills me with an emotion that I can't get anywhere else. I feel so connected, so close to the Lord when I am standing in His creation. My heart becomes so overwhelmed with love and awesomeness towards the Lord and I am thankful for times like that.

Pictures from zoo ATL

Wordless Wednesday

Buzz about South Georgia

So Nora and I spent a week in Pinehurst, GA last week. My Mema (grandmother), dad, his wife Marcia, her son Noah, uncle Johnny, cousin Rachel, two aunt Beth's, and cousin Haley all live in South GA. It is a different life there. My Pop was a farmer so now my uncle Johnny and dad have taken over the farm. They grow cotton and peanuts. It has been a hard year for all the farmers in their area because they never get any rain. Pinehurst is a very small town that has nothing. But it is one of my favorite places in all the world! I was born in Cordelle GA which is 30 min. south of Pinehurst and I lived in Pinehurst until I was 3 years old. Then my mom and dad moved to Atlanta. Even though I have lived here practically all my life Pinehurst is still home in my heart. There is a child like excitement that I get when we get off the exit at Unadilla, Pinehurst and drive through the small towns. And my heart beats in my chest as the car enters the drive way of Mema's house. And every time the car exit the driveway to go back home I still have to fight back the tears 27 years later. Now I can also see this same excitement and same tears in my own daughter. She loves to go to Mema's house. And she cries when we leave. It's quite, it's small, it's nothing like Atlanta but it is home to our hearts.

Yesterday was our 1st day back and I was cleaning house and missing my Mema very bad. I imagine she was missing us the same too. But I am so thankful for the time we had this past week and can't wait to return.

My Cousin Rachel is in the pictures above and she is awesome! We had so much fun hanging out with her! She is so good with Nora and so much fun to be around. I hate that we live so far away but I am so glad that she is my cousin. She is extremely talented! She is in tumbling, she takes voice, basketball, acting and she is an honor roll student. She is good at it all. She is a social butterfly. One cool thing that she does with her mom is they have started a peppermint club. What they do is visit elderly people on their birthday's and bring them peppermints. What a fun idea! I just love that they do that together! I can't wait until next summer when hopefully she will save a week in her busy agenda to visit us at our house.

We had a great time in Pinehurst, Georgia!

onething...

I went to some of the onething conference this weekend with some friends. It was awesome! I am sure that you know but if you don't this conference is done by IHOP (International House Of Prayer). The conference was free and was held at Victory World Church. They had awesome worship at each session that was an hour long and the speakers were great! This conference focuses on being intimate with God. Having God fill that God shaped hole in us. Being in constant worship to Jesus. That we were created to have intimacy with God. The long worship times really help you focus in on that intimacy and really make you search your heart towards God. It was so refreshing.

One of the scriptures they focused on was Psalm 27:4 "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple."

It was exactly what I needed. I needed to be reminded of the Lords beauty.
If you want to check them out go to ww.IHOP.org/onething

I am off to South Georgia to visit my family so I will not be blogging for a whole week:(