Wonderful Weekend!

We had such a wonderful weekend here as a family -- I told Steve last night that I didn't want it to end! We were 'home' for the most part and just enjoyed life together. We played games and more games and laughed a ton! We got our Christmas tree and decorations up and watched a couple sweet, family movies together. Plus, the other night Steve and I ran to Target just by ourselves. It was like a 'mini date' and we laughed so hard, being totally 'dorky' with each other in the store. I realized just how many times I've gone to Target all alone since we moved and how fun it was to go with my husband, who is also my very best friend in the whole wide world, and just enjoy it together! We looked at everything and just laughed, laughed, laughed. It was like we were teenagers again! Over the past four months we've gone to Target together; however, with this there was no rush and we took an hour to get 4 things, but most of all - we slowed down and enjoyed each other and I LOVED it! I'm such a 'quality time' love-language person, so this totally filled my love tank!

Steve has really been working a LOT since we moved. Like, upwards of 60 hours many weeks. This UMKC project has really taken a lot of thought, responsibility, and he has put in many, many hours. However, this weekend was his first weekend of getting off at 2pm on Friday and having NO OVERTIME! Wooooooohoooooooooo!!!!! Although, overtime creates nice paychecks, we are so thankful for a break from that! It's been hard for me, personally, to be going through so much transition and loneliness and having him gone so very much, as well. We had planned for about 45 hours a week, not 60! But, I also knew that there was a huge time crunch on this project and 'now is not forever', so I tried so hard to be patient and understanding, knowing that he didn't like the hours anymore than I did. But, he'd leave about 5am and not get home until about 6:30pm and then be in bed by 8pm many times, and with supper and a shower thrown in there, we didn't get a lot of just 'hang time' together in the evenings. And, work Saturdays, and of course, after church on Sundays, he'd be ready for a nap. Neither of us liked the schedule, but knew it was the way it was for a few months, and just tried to get through it. AND NOW..........the end of that has finally come (atleast for this project!) -- yeah! He only worked 47 hours this past week! LOL But, it was totally different and we had the entire weekend to just BE together as a family and as a couple. We all LOVED it!!!! And, it was so 'refreshing' after the last long 4 months! It was like the Lord just blessed our weekend and multiplied our time together!

And, church yesterday was awesome! The worship and 'sermon time' were great, but beyond that we all just felt like we 'belonged' finally. We still don't know hardly anyone and have no idea where we 'fit' in such a large crowd of people, but we are so convinced that we are right where we're supposed to be. We do not understand it all, but yesterday our hearts were content, knowing His faithful leadership is gently leading us along one step at a time. We are so grateful to be a part of IHOP/Forerunner, even if not in a full-time capacity!

I have to share a 'funny', though -- Brennan came out of his youth class at the end of church and was so excited. One of the youth leaders had taken him aside at the end of class and just started talking to him and getting to know him. (That's one of the things that's been so hard for Bren, too, is just not really knowing anyone there and not knowing how to meet people there.) So, we were so grateful to hear that one of the leaders had taken the initiative to get to know him. Well, this guy was asking him a lot of questions about himself and in the course of the conversation Brennan mentions that he plays guitar and even plays some 'Misty Edwards worship songs' (she's a well known worship leader at IHOP). And, so this leader begins to talk to him about the Tuesday night youth group and how they have homegroups and if he'd ever want to come help lead one of the jr. high youth small group worship times at one of the homes, etc., and Brennan is STOKED! He's sooooooooooooooo excited and talking non-stop on the way home about this and how this leader wants Brennan to start helping to lead worship in January, if he's interested! You can see he feels wanted, valued, etc. and his wheels are turning with excitement over God using him in one of his passions -- guitar!

We are so excited for him and encouraging him, and yet also wanting to bring a little 'reality' to it. So, after awhile, I asked, "Brennan, you told him that you can play some Misty Edwards' songs, but did you tell him you've only been playing for a couple months and really don't know a lot yet?" Of course he smiled and his response was, "Uh, no........but, Mom -- it's not until January, I have plenty of time to learn!" LOL

Later Steve and I were alone talking and we were laughing so hard -- we love, love, love Brennan's heart and his enthusiasm. He has such a passion for worship and playing the guitar and he has been pretty much 'self-taught' these last few months and yes, he CAN play a few songs and has even written a few of his own. BUT.......it's totally choppy, he sings off key, and he's DEFINITELY NOT ready to lead a group of others yet! LOL But, he thinks he's the GREATEST 13 yr. old guitar player ever! LOL I love that! Yes, he's immature in his playing ability, but he is so convinced that he can play with the best of them -- why? Because his focus isn't just on himself, but rather he is focused on Jesus and the fact that his heart is to worship. He's feeling the passion and looking at it from a 'heart perspective', rather than just a technical perspective.

So, while Steve and I were laughing at his 'naivety', our hearts were also struck with the realization that he still 'gets it'. Somewhere along the line, when we become adults, we begin to focus on ourselves and what we can or can't do. Seeing Brennan's excitement brought back to me the realization that even in our weakness and our immaturity God loves us beyond words. He's cheering us on and seeing in us, things we don't even see. He had dreams in His heart for us and plans and purposes that He will fulfill. We just get to be weak and dependent, with our eyes ever on Him! YEAH! Why is it that we lose that 'naivety' as adults and become self-focused and lose that desire to be 'great' and do great things for God? Oh that our hearts would be focused on Him alone and not on ourselves and our weaknesses or limitations!

(.....and just so you know, Brennan WILL be getting guitar lessons......it doesn't hurt to have some technical abilities to back up the heart! LOL)

So, anyway -- last night, as we went to bed, my heart just felt so 'full', so 'complete'. Our house felt like a home and everything just felt 'right'. After four very LONG months and the most difficult time I have ever personally gone through.......last night there was peace, contentment, and the tears began to just fall from my eyes as God began to show me that He has seen everything and He has been faithfully carrying our hearts. He knows all we've gone through, He knows the tremendous transition we're still going through....He sees it all. And, in the midst of it He is keeping our hearts soft and tender towards Him. He's drawing us closer into the depths of His heart, which is where we long to be more than anything. I felt His love just envelope me and my heart rested secure knowing that my Faithful Father is fully in control of our lives....His leadership is truly PERFECT!

Ok............that's the end to our wonderful, quality-time weekend! Thanks for listening to me 'babble'! :)