New Venture

Today starts my newest venture in my life. God has answered so many prayers for our family in recent days. We found our new home, ALL the kids are excited about moving and going to thier new schools, Sarah made Varsity cheer at her new school and to top it off I got promoted to Campus President at the Arlington campus. God truly is GREAT! This past year has been a humbling expierience with all that Ben and I have faced through court battles with kid's moving to a new State, taking on new jobs and just feeling totally isolated from family and friends. Somehow in the midst of all that we have gone through I am reminded that God has a plan and everything comes on is time table, not ours.

Today I can only shout out praise and thanks to my Lord and savior for all he has blessed our family with and am so thankful for having such a wonderful family to share my joy with.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Each Day I reflect back on what I have to be grateful for from the day before. We had a beautiful, record breaking snow yesterday of 27 inches. Now first waking up this morning at first glance I had a hard time feeling grateful, one, trying to figure out how we were going to dig out one, to finish shopping and two, are we EVER going to make it home to TN?!?!?! I then realized I really am home! It is right here with my husband and children. Now with that being said, I surly miss my Tyler and Hannah and can't wait to see them.

Today I am so grateful that the Lord has given me a wonderful husband and beautiful children!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

Catching up

Today is the first day I have posted in a very long time. It seems that the world around me has gotten so busy, that I have lost track of how wonderful it felt to journal my thoughts.

I was sitting in Sunday school today and couldn't stay focused for the life of me. I have crammed so much in my life, that I spend every moment I can to pre-plan the next moment. How is it that we get so busy that we can't find time to slow down and enjoy the beauty around us that God has made. I am so grateful for having a good paying job, however it consumes my life and I find myself wondering how much am I sacrificing my time with God and my family, just to pay the bills and live. Is there a way out without going broke? Today I will pray for the answers that will bring some peace of mind to our family.

Tomorrow I will spend some time blogging about our past few months and our wonderful Thanksgiving with family.

A New Beginning

I often wonder what a new beginning means anymore, is it starting over, changing something existing, or scratching all that you know and begin a new journey. I believe at some point over the past few weeks I have felt at one point or another all of these descriptions have fit my life. Moving certainly is never easy and Ben and I have been tried in every way possible. It has been very tough with all the challenges that we have faced each day.

I seem to have good and bad days with all my medical issues, but I am determined to find the answers and move on with my life. I am frustrated about not being able to do everything I want and am determined not to give up! I will finally get to see a specialist next week and get some much needed resolution! Hopefully! Fingers crossed.

As far as the kido’s they are having a blast meeting all the kids in the neighborhood. Even Sarah has made some new buddies. I pray for her daily and her ability to see that she belongs here with Ben and I, rather than Clarksville with her dad. It is my desire for her to have a Christian home to thrive in; I ask that each of you continue to pray for our transition with Sarah. Court will soon be coming up if she doesn’t decide to stay. The emotional and financial burden our family has been immense! God is good and I know there is power in numbers of prayer.

On a work note, I just got back from the CCA convention in Florida and I will start traveling next week back and forth to the TN area. Talk about a new change, WOW!

I am going to end with a scripture that has been on my mind this week:

Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Although everything around us is constantly changing, his love for us remains constant! What comfort that gives me in times of need.

Christi

Will being cool!!!

Kids at the National Harbor

Headed to VA...

What a nightmare four weeks!!!! Ben and I have faced some complete nightmares over the past four weeks and believe it or not, we are ALMOST on the other side! RAINBOW in sight!!! As I look back I know my faith in the Lord, lot's of prayers, great friends and family have allowed us to make it through this experience. Yesterday was an extremely trying day for us, we closed on the house and spent the day in fear that an emergency restraining order would be signed to prohibit us from taking Sarah from the state of TN. Thank the Lord, for what ever reason that did not take place and we were able to leave. I feel as if I need to just fall to my knees in prayer, thanking God for allowing us to have our daughter. This has been an emotional roller coaster for us and FINALLY we are beginning a new life together.

Thank you to each of you for all your prayers and concern. God is so wonderful and through his love all things are possible!


"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"
Philippians 4:13

Moving Day

Today is a bitter sweet day in our journey! I came home last night to everything packed up in the house and realized the final day has come. I have spent most all of my life in little ole Clarksville and the transition to the "big city" life is going to be one of an adventure and new beginning for Ben and I. I never imagined I could go through just about every emotion known to man within a few hours, but I I believe when the movers showed up this morning and started loading the truck, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Tyler, came up the steps and asked if he could keep the clothes rack in his room. I just about broke out in tears, realizing, my baby is graduating today and he is starting his on journey in life. It seems they grow up so fast that you hardly have time to enjoy them when they are young, because you have to work so hard to care for them. I always wondered what it would feel like letting go of my first child, I am not sure you can prepare for the sick feeling in your belly that comes with that day.

As I reflect back on the past years, I find myself very humbled and blessed. Today, as my Tyler Steven walks across the graduation line, I will wear a pink ribbon for Tyler Steven Dossett, who you will remember lost his life in April and will not have the chance to walk across that line. My family was very shaken by his loss and we will remember and honor him as well today in our prayers and thoughts.

My hopes are that I have been a good example for my child and as he goes off on his journey in life, he will remember what he has learned and keep Christ close in his life

Proverbs - Chapter 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

As Ben and I leave next week from Clarksville, we are beginning a new chapter in our life and look forward to the joys that the Lord will bring us.

This picture was taken in Florida a few years ago, it was one of my favorite memories of our family together... I will miss Tyler soooooo much!!!

VISIT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY

Today just seemed to drag on forever. I went to the doctor around noon just to be poked a little more and do more blood testing, one specific test was the ANA test that will officially confirm the diagnosis of Lupis. While at the Doctor today they also mentioned Erythmia Nodosum, however in reading up on it I have learned that your white count is normally elevated and mine was pretty low. I have a follow up appointment on Wednesday to get the result of those test and will be meeting with the Rheumatologist next week.

When I started this blog it was to track Ben and my walk in faith with Jesus, I never realized I would come under attack by so many things in life, let alone my health. I am slowly realizing walking with God means you really must be pretty tough and have a understanding that no matter what happens to you, MY GOD IS ALWAYS there for me! I have recently become attached to a song I hear every morning on Way FM, it is called: Something Heavenly, by Sanctus Real. This song TOTALLY describes what is going on in Ben and my life and I know that the internal struggle inside is a sign of Something Heavenly going on and it is pretty exciting!!!


Something Heavenly

It's time for healing time to move on It's time to fix what's been broken too long Time make right what has been wrong It's time to find my way to where I belong There's a wave that's crashing over me All I can do is surrender

[Chorus]

Whatever you're doing inside of me It feels like chaos somehow there's peace It's hard to surrender to what I can't see but I'm giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestoneTime to begin againRevaluate who I really amAm I doing everything to follow your willor just climbing aimlessly over these hillsSo show me what it is you want from meI give everything I surrender...To...

[Chorus]

Time to face upClean this old houseTime to breathe in and let everything outThat I've wanted to say for so many yearsTime to to release all my held back tears

Whatever you're doing inside of meIt feels like chaos but I believeYou're up to something bigger than meLarger than life something heavenly

Whatever you're doing inside of meIt feels like chaos but now I can seeThis something bigger than meLarger than life something heavenly

Something heavenlyIt's time to face upClean this old houseTime breathe in and let everything out [ Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)