A New Season...

Fall is officially here! I love this time of year when leaves change colors! That's my favorite thing about fall, actually. I've always been a fan of this season! I love getting out the hooded sweatshirts & my jeans. Actually going outside to get fresh air, not muggy air! It's one of those times where you dread what's around the corner (winter), but know that everything will be fresh & new again. I guess it comes with living in Goshen. Winter can really be the pits, but I remember loving it when I was young. My girls can't wait to go sledding with Dad again & that means alone time for Mommy, too. When Nova is old enough, I will actually buy winter boots & go sledding with them, but for now, she is a good excuse to snuggle where it's warm!

Just an update on my girls... Lexi & Petra got to go to Grandma Ruth's house for the night. I love having a break, but today as I babysit a 2 month old baby boy & play with Nova, I realize how quiet the house is without them. No one telling me every 10 minutes "I love you Mommy" or giggles coming from their bedroom. No fighting (that's a plus, I guess) & no one needing me to kiss their ouchies. Also, no tripping over toys in the living room (another plus). I miss 'em like crazy right now. The best part of them going away overnight is having them come home! It really makes me love them more!

I haven't done much updating on Chris & I. We are doing well. We have ups & downs every week, like any marriage. We are looking forward to celebrating our 7th anniversary on Monday. That seems like such a long time, yet so short when I think of a lifetime together. With so many major bumps in the road these past few years, I wonder how we ever made it this far! God is so gracious & forgiving. I read an email yesterday that perfectly describes God's protection in our lives. It is from the verse Malachi 3:3 "He will sit as a refiner & purifier of silver". The email talks about the process of refining silver as a very tedious job. The refiner sits in front of a very hot fire until the silver is done. He doesn't leave the silver & go do something else. He doesn't watch from a distance because he knows if he leaves it a second to long, the silver is destroyed. A refiner of silver knows the silver is done when he can see his image in it. It is a great reminder of how God tests & refines us. He doesn't take his eyes off us for even a second when he is refining us. He will not let us be destroyed by the fire, because he is perfecting us. He takes us out of the fire in perfect time! So, in this time of transition, searching & healing, God is perfecting our marriage & refining us until He & others can see His image in us! Please continue to pray for us.

That is all for now! We love you & hope you see God's greatness & blessings in your life!