Movement

Wow. It is absolutely amazing how incredibly fast a month flies right on by, isn't it? The world around me seems to just non-stop be at 100mph and at times I find it so hard to keep up. I feel bad that I haven't been able to write as much as I'd like, but I suppose it is for good reason. This past month has been filled with so many blessings. We have celebrated accomplishments, overcome trials, spent time with friends and even met many new friends, and most importantly, my relationship with God has been anything but stagnant. There has been major movement and stirring in my heart, for which I am so incredibly grateful.

There are so many things I want to cover in this one post and my thoughts are literally all over the place, so forgive me if this post reflects that. Bare with me, what I have to tell you is important (well, it is to me anyway!) I am going to start with as close to the beginning of the month as I can remember.

This month, Hudson turned 16 months old. This age for us is what I would like to call the "fire-cracker" stage. Hudson was always the most chill, relaxed, and easy going baby. I constantly heard from family, friends, and other strangers what a "good baby" he was, and not to brag, but he was! He still is! Of course I love my precious angel more than anything else in this world, and 99.9% of the time he really is the most wonderful baby, but man. This toddler/independence thing has really come on strong, and practically over night. While it is difficult at times, I am so incredibly thankful. I am thankful that my patience is put to the test, because it is not something I have a lot of, especially when Hudson does his high pitched scream (anyone who has been around us the in the last month knows EXACTLY what I am referring to). Absolutely ear piercing! But I am so thankful that he has a strong personality and can articulate his desires. Sure, the way in which he behaves to get his point across is a little dramatic (okay, a lot), but how many times when we are upset do we not feel like doing the exact same thing and just rolling on the floor kicking and screaming? Maybe it's just me, but I really wish sometimes I could just vent as a toddler does ;) He's an absolute fire cracker and I love it. Every minute.

This month, I implemented a new cleaning schedule which I can actually keep up with and Jeff is happy with how the house has been kept up. I feel accomplished and don't feel bummed out a lot of the time when I couldn't meet the standards of other schedules I used. Through my prayer and bible study time this month, God has revealed to me that being a "Proverbs 31 wife" is going to look different for everyone. While the pressure is very strong to stay home with one's children, be the perfect housekeeper, and do absolutely everything exactly by the schedule, I was constantly feeling like a failure and like I wasn't meeting God's standards or requirements as a wife and mother. I know that I am not a great housekeeper and I am surely not a perfect stay at home mother. It was so wonderful when God revealed to me that it is okay that I don't look exactly like this as a wife and mother. That who He has called me to be and who He has called others to be as a wife and mother is going to look very different and that He is pleased with me, for who I am. This has been so important to me. To know that God is pleased with me. He is pleased with YOU as well. Maybe no one ever told you that. Maybe you aren't thanked enough or appreciated, or maybe you feel like a failure when you read the blogs of all these "perfect" housewives. Please know that Your Savior, the most high King, is PLEASED with you. You are enough.
 

Last night, Nana and I put on the IF:Pray (find more information at www.ifgathering.org) event in which women all over the nation and even in some other countries were praying over our relationship with God, our communities, the world, and over each other. Four of us came together last night, ate a meal, and let me tell you, the presence of God was so incredibly strong as soon as we sat at the table. The Lord just annointed us with his spirit and we spent a good solid hour just in prayer. Earlier that morning, I had gone on a walk just Hudson and I so I could prepare and pray over the evening. When we got home, Hudson went down for a nap, and I immediately had to put pen to paper. I just wrote and wrote and wrote. When I was finished, I had a prayer covering needs for people and things I had no idea about, but they were going to be prayed over. Such a special and sacred time. I will never forget it as long as I live. I feel so blessed to have strong mentors and women of God in my life. For all of us, the key word of the evening was "movement". Movement in our walks, movement in our ministry, movement in our hearts. It is so important not to settle in and get too comfortable. When this occurs, lonliness, sadness, jealously, and discontentment occur within us. If you are feeling 'stuck' in your walk with God, or just wondering 'what next?' I am praying movement for you. That you would have courage to move. Gravitate toward Him, He's waiting for the desperation of your heart and for you to give up whatever it is preventing you from stepping forward and moving.

This month has been filled with MOMS Club activities, family get togethers, and Jeff and I even had a really nice date night. I am so thankful for this full life we currently have, such a blessing to have an opportunity for so much fellowship and fun. We went to a Grizzlies game this month, had a couple play dates, Me n Eds Field Trip, drove to Sacramento for my graduation, had my party in Kingsburg, and today went to the zoo. I have been doing a lot of sewing and getting quite a few custom orders which has been fun as always. In October I have my first weekend away from Hudson for the SouthPoint Women's retreat at Old Oak Ranch. I am so looking forward to spending the quiet and intimate moments with the Lord. I know Jeff is a little nervous about keeping the little guy alone for two nights, but he is such a great father, I know they will both be just fine.

This is the ring Jeff got me for graduation. It has both of our son's names and birthstones on it. Such a treasure.

Blessings,
Kaila

Cell-Phone-Less-Ness

This past Tuesday, after spending a wonderful weekend in Reno visiting my mom, step-dad, brother, and other family members, Hudson and I took a little adventure to Bakersfield to visit Kay Kay and Martin. Jeff was unable to go due to work unfortunately, but having traveled alone with Hudson several times, I was confident we would have a great time anyway. I was very excited as this would be Hudson's very first train ride. As Jeff and Hudson walked around the train station waiting on the train to arrive, I snapped some photos and scrolled through Facebook.

We boarded the train and took off, snapping a photo here and there, updating statuses, and texting the entire train ride (as much as Hudson allowed anyway) to keep myself entertained while Hudson peered out the window, ate snack, and played throughout the two hour train ride. We arrived in Bakersfield and I called Jeff to let him know we arrived. Kay Kay and Martin were there to pick us up and we headed to lunch. We brought out our phones and more photos were taken and the next few days would be full of fun, laughter, pictures, and of course, status updates and phone calls or texts. We were having a blast. Wednesday afternoon came and the phone calls, Facebooking, and texting came to a hault as I lost my cell phone when we were leaving the outlets at Tejon Ranch. It was a huge bummer and at first, I am going to fully disclose the fact that I literally felt as though a part of me was missing. I would get the urge to take a photo and couldn't. I would get an urge to check Facebook and couldn't. I felt a little lost and anxious at the fact that this disconnect from the social media world was happening to me. I then realized that my cell phone was an addiction for me! Honestly!

This was/is a little embarrassing, but incredibly eye opening! Not having this little device truly has opened my eyes to what I am missing--and I'm not talking about missing out on social media. For example, so often I view my son's life through the lens of my cell phone camera. Rather than enjoying the moments in time and committing them to memory, I focus on capturing them to my cell phone and rely on it to remember the moments. I do this with lots of things--meals, vacations, date nights. I think back and feel like I don't really truly remember all of the details because I was too bust snapping photos to post on Facebook and Instagram. Even going and getting a pedicure, I would sit there and scroll through playing on my phone rather than just letting my mind relax. Today, I went and had a mani/pedi without the distraction and it was so relaxing! Without my phone, I have been able, for the last few days, to enjoy the moments with my family and with Hudson. I have been able to fully engage in conversation without the urge or distraction to check in to social media. It has been one of the most amazing things, I must say.

I have come to realize that cell phones and social media are truly a blessing and a curse, for me personally anyway. Sure, they are wonderful in the sense that people are now made more accessible in the case of urgent matters and that long distance relatives now have the ability to keep tabs on what we are doing via social media, but in my personal experience, the hold it has...or the priority it has on me I should say, was something that of an addiction. My phone was literally attached to my hand at all times. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, e-mail, and photo-taking/sharing consumed a lot of my day. To be so fully consumed with something just isn't okay with me, because it means my focus isn't where it should be. I am so glad that my phone is gone right now because none of those things feel as important!

It just seems obsessive and I really don't feel God is happy with how much this habit consumes me. I feel now that I waste a lot of my time that could be used for doing other things to serve the Lord or my family rather than be on social media or my cell phone. Does this mean I think they are "bad" or that I won't be using them anymore? Absolutely not! But my perspective on just how much I used it before has really come into the light for me and have inspired me to make a few changes:

1. When I do get my replacement phone, I am not going to download social media apps.
2. Before checking any social media on the computer, I must read at least ONE Bible verse AND my daily Bible study must already be complete.
3. Before checking any social media on the computer, ALL housework must be complete for the day.
4. Limit myself to taking FIVE photos per day.


Again, this post is fully from personal perspective and experience, but if you are one of the millions who are on your phone quite a bit, I would urge you to try to cut back some; you may be surprised to find out what you are missing out on back in real time!

Blessings to you and yours,
Kaila

Monkey Tails

DISCLAIMER::: Random Vent----This post is all over the place....I warned you!! But just some thoughts...

For the past 5 Summers that Jeff and I have been together, we have watched the, erm, "not-so-Godly" show on CBS, Big Brother. While the show has its definite moments of worldly and not at all kid friendly attributes, it is quite entertaining if you can keep focused that the some (most) of the situations in the show are what NOT to do ;) Despite knowing this show isn't the best when compared to the 700 Club, we really do look forward to watching it season after season. This is mostly because of the fact that it is guaranteed time together, 3 times a week, where we can sit down after Hudson is asleep and veg out on our little vice of a television show. Jeff particularly loves Sunday nights of Big Brother because I traditionally make Monkey Tails, or dark chocolate dipped bananas, frozen---DELISH.

If you have never seen Big Brother, it is a reality show where 16 house guests enter a home closed off to the real world for 100+ day with no outside contact, no family communication, no nothing. Just the people in the house, and the activities provided by the producers. They are fed well and get to stay in a great house, have a small pool, and fitness area, but that is it. Cameras (big brother) watch and see everything they do...EVERYTHING. Except go to the bathroom. YIKES. Each week, individuals are nominated by the Head of Household to go up on the block and basically fight via competitions, both mental and physical to stay in the house another week, with the goal to be the last house guest in the house to win $500,000.

Now, don't get me wrong...I love this show. It is high energy, the drama is entertaining, and there's always a great test to keep you coming back for more. Plus, it airs three times during the week, so you don't have to wait an entire week to find out more. However, this summer, I have really paid a little more attention to what is really going on here. Each house guest chosen comes from a varying background, age range, culture, orientation, etc. The show, mostly for entertainment purposes, selects house guests that are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum as far as lifestyle, personality, etc. This specific season, there are three individuals that are parents. One woman is a recently divorced mother of three young boys. One is a young father of a two year old little girl. And the other is a young father of a nine month old baby girl.

Now, like I said, I love this show, but as a parent this season, I am just flabbergasted at these house guests and their ability to go through with something like this. I am not at all judging, and each of them have said multiple times that their ultimate reason for being there is to better the lives of their children, however, remember what I said about being cut off from the outside? It's serious. Not even a photo of their children is allowed unless they happen to win Head of Household, and even then, they only get three or four photos of family and a letter. This absolutely breaks my heart. It breaks my heart that these individuals are leaving behind their families for the slight chance at winning money, not even an immense amount of money, not that quantity matters in this situation. It breaks my heart that these parents felt that by missing several months of their children's lives, leaving behind their spouses, and basically disappearing from existence in the eyes of the really young ones, that it would all be 'worth it'. It breaks my heart that a mother who is alone with her baby, three little boys who are missing their mother, and a small little girl are all at home watching their parents/spouse lie, cheat, and deceive others, all at the mere possibility of winning $500,000.00 (which likely ends up being about $250k after taxes and fess). When I started thinking about it, all I could think was that I really can't imagine doing this. I am in no way saying that these people are "bad" or "horrible parents" or anything to that effect. I am just saying that I am so sure that my place is with my family, and with my husband, playing outside, wrestling and tickling on the floor, and eating monkey tails on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. This is such a hypocritcal post, because like I said, I love the show, but I just realized that these people we watch each week are real. Real people, with real lives, and real families, who made real choices to come on this show and participate while leaving behind the most important people in their lives. It's so heartbreaking. :( It may sound funny, but I am planning to pray over the hearts of  the house guests for the rest of the season and to help heal their hearts, that their children and their spouses would be strong until their return, and that upon their return, they realized what is most important in life next to God--Family.

Confirmation

The past six months have been an absolute whirlwind; I have been finishing up the last few courses I needed to complete my Bachelor's degree (complete at the end of this month), Jeff was on a two and a half month TDY (temporary deployment), I participated in a weekend long craft show, spent lots of time with family, and Hudson, who is now 13 months old, has had a birthday party, started walking, and is now enrolled in both My Gym and Swim Lessons. Needless to day, we have been a very, very busy family, hence the lack of posts!

As I mentioned, I am now wrapping up my last course before my degree in English is complete. I am so ecstatic to have finally reached the goal I thought I would never be able to obtain. It seemed so far out, and so many obstacles seemed to hinder ever reaching the light at the end of the tunnel, but here we are! In fact, my cap, gown, tassel, and graduation announcements arrived in the mail last week which really made all this feel real. As this course becomes closer and closer to completion, Jeff and I have begun the, "Now what?" discussion. Do I go to work? Do I stay home? This is an answer that may come easy for some, but for me, I have literally been sick over it.

Well, on my knees I went, and have been. Daily. Some days, going back to work seems incredible. I look around my home and realize, I'm not a very good housekeeper anyway. As a matter of fact, there is a pile of dishes in my sink at this very moment. There is also laundry to be done, and my floors are sticky. Just yesterday, I would have enrolled Hudson in daycare immediately if I had a job to go to as he threw himself on the floor of Target having a fit while I tried to shop for toilet paper, and then at home, allowing me zero moments of rest because he refused a nap. There are days I long for "adult" conversations. To arrive at the office, dressed nicely, where I can sip my coffee (while still HOT), and not have to clean the spilled milk off the floor or change a diaper, or have anyone attached to my boob or grabbing my leg 24/7. Yes. That life DOES appeal to me. SOME TIMES.

The fact is, God has called me to be at home, and that is something I realized. Literally, TODAY. Sure my floors are sticky, I suck at folding towels, we eat out at least once a week, and my husband comes home some days to a living room piled to the ceiling with every single toy Hudson has because I gave up trying to keep putting them away. But the fact is, my son is happy. My husband is happy. I am happy. I get to serve my family in a way many do not. I truly believe one must be called to do this. Homemaking is something that is NOT for everyone. I truly did not for one moment think it would be for me. I am definitely not the perfect housewife. I am not good at keeping house, meal planning, or keeping a strict schedule. However, I know this is where God has placed me. I struggled for so long with the idea of "wasting" my hard work and degree by "just staying home". But after a nice walk with a friend this morning, I realized that it is far from a waste. I finished what I started. I worked hard to accomplish a goal. How wonderful that I get to instill that same thing into my children. Being called to serve as a homemaker not only satisfies my family, it satisfies God's plans for me. As a mother, as a wife, and as His daughter. I have spent days and hours crying out, asking for God to please help me with what I should do. His answer: my place is in the home. There is no need for me to work. We don't need more money. We don't need another car. What we need is for me to be home, to take care of things here. To raise my son and future child/children up knowing the Lord and to continue to serve in this way.

Perhaps someday I will return to the business world. And if that is in the plan, I am not opposed to it. But for now, I have received confirmation that I am to serve here, and I am happy to do so. I do realize this is NOT the ideal lifestyle for everyone, but it is the right choice for my family and myself at this moment, and I am happy to do so, regardless of the 'sacrifices' I may be giving up.

Bless you,
Kaila

Home Sweet Home

Sometimes Jeff and I like driving through the neighborhoods nearby in which the homes are, well, out of our price range! We like to just look at the beauty and gawk at the size of the home, the beautiful land surrounding them, and talk about how nice it would be to live in one of them. One day a couple weeks ago, we decided to go for a drive around one of the neighborhoods. As we drove through, staring at the gorgeous homes, I began to feel very convicted. How dare I envy someone else's home when God has provided us with the home He has? I asked Jeff if we could please go home and explained my feelings. He agreed, and we haven't been back.

Now, please don't misunderstand me; I am not at all saying that looking at houses is a sin. I am saying that losing sight of what builds a home and becoming discontent with what the Lord has provided for you and your family most definitely is a sin. As soon as I lost sight of the fact that the home we have ''built" wasn't good enough and began 'wishing' we had one of these mansion homes, I was immediately convicted by the Lord and brought back to the Truth (thank you Jesus for that!).

You see, enormous sized kitchens, granite counter tops, and only the best furniture from Ethan Allen and decor from Pottery Barn do NOT build a home. The Lord says that in Proverbs 24 that Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge are what builds a home. For reference, this is the specific verse I spent time meditating on today (I study out of NKJV):

"Through wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all pleasant and precious riches." ~Proverbs 24:3-4

-Wisdom refers to the ability to take the knowledge we have about God concerning life and applying it in a practical and successful way. This includes wisdom about godly marriages, raising children, finances, friendships...all of it! Taking what we know as the Truth about the Lord and applying it, daily, in our homes. It takes this wisdom to build a godly home-period.

-Understanding refers to discernment. The ability to be discerning in building relationships is so crucial. We need to be able to discern who is allowed into our lives, the lives of our children, and who we allow into our homes. This includes who on the television and radio we invite into our homes. One of the things mentioned by Courtney Joseph in Women Living Well was that her parents did not allow her to watch movies rated over PG. Her mother explained it as, "If you wouldn't watch a couple having sex on the couch in the living room of our house, why would we want to watch it on T.V.?" It makes sense to me! We just need to be able to have this understanding, this discernment, to build a strong foundation in our homes.

-Knowledge about God enables a woman to fill her home and relationships with "pleasant and precious riches" as the verse states. A woman with knowledge about the Lord can encourage and support her husband, lead her children, and be an absolute light in her home and daily life.

These are the building blocks; this is what builds a home. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or a 5,000sq ft mansion on 40 acres, you do not have a godly home without these attributes as the foundation. The wonderful thing is, it is not too late to begin applying this verse and using these tools to tear down the old ratty ways and rebuild, doing it God's way. Trust me, I know it's possible from experience! The Lord has helped me rebuild my home, and let me tell you, we started from scratch! Oh but my God is faithful! He has held my hand every step of the way, and placed a covering over my home, holding it up for me until I could catch up on building it His way. It's truly His way, or NO WAY, isn't that the truth?? How many times does it take for us to realize that our way DOES NOT WORK! LOL!! <3

He just loves you so much. So, so, SO much! He wants you to have a home built on wisdom, understanding, and knowledge so that you may live more like Him! It is truly life changing when you begin to walk with Him, really listening to everything He has to say.

I want to encourage you to read Proverbs 24:3-4 for yourself today. Maybe write the verse down on a few sticky notes and put it on a few walls in your home that you walk by frequently. Then begin to pray that God tear down the walls of your home and guide you as you begin to rebuild His way; He's there, all you need to do is be obedient and ask! <3

Blessings on your day!
<3 Kaila

REAL TALK: Spiritual Warfare and Generational Curses

Just the terms "spiritual warfare" and "generational curses" are frightening to me and knowing how very real these things are scares me even more.

I don't know a lot about the inner-workings of how spiritual warfare and generational curses occur and how much God will allow to occur, but I am studying the Bible more and more and lately these topics have really grabbed and pulled at my heart. So please, I'm not an expert, but I want to simply share what I do know.

A long time ago, my grandmother, my NaNa, was at a women's retreat or luncheon and during one of the days, a speaker was present. I don't remember where this occurred, or who the speaker was, but something amazing happened that I won't ever forget. The speaker began talking about my NaNa, telling her that God plans to use her, her children, and her grandchildren. That God has spoken and breathed Life into all of us, and that we would be serving a great purpose for the Lord. WOW. How amazing to have something so incredible prophesied over yourself, your children, and your children's children! My NaNa bought the cassette tape of the conference after the retreat, and let me listen to it. I must have been no older that 9 or 10 when she let me hear what the speaker had said, but I was old enough to know that this was BIG. That God chose ME. That God will use ME.

Now, although this sounds like all hearts, stars, and horseshoes, clovers, and blue moons...life in the earthly world as a follower of Christ and a child of God can be an incredibly difficult, and at times, a scary place to be. I have had friends tell me their personal spiritual battles against Satan, demons, and pure evil through dreams and even physical experiences. I have heard of Christians being beaten or threatened or having their faith tested by numerous battles and obstacles. It seems that those who tend come under major attack are those who have a more 'open' connection with the spiritual world, who are very strong in their faith and are maybe pushing further into the calling God has for them. Also, those who have a new-found faith where their spirituality is fresh and tender tend to be under attack. We must continuously fight against evil and stick to the Word we know as fact and truth.

God never said knowing and LIVING His Word would be a cake walk. BUT the good news is, if you KNOW the Lord and you have full faith in His WORD, you cannot be broken. Your salvation cannot be taken from you. Your place by His side cannot be taken from you. Holding tight to that is what I do know I have, despite the real life spiritual war that is taking place in the present. I can't say I have been under major attack in my walk, but I do know that I am now growing stronger in the Lord than I ever have, and very well could be the perfect candidate for an attack. The good news: I'm armed. How? I'm armed with scripture. I'm armed with prayer. I'm armed with full blown faith. Nothing can break that shield.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

 ~    .   ~   .  ~

Generational curses may sound like an excuse; it did to me until I began to learn more about it. It may seem as though these 'curses' could be a thing of "monkey see, monkey do", however I now believe there is much more to it than that. I have chose to break the chains on several of these issues/curses if that is what they are.

Some things I believe to be possible generational curses that I have made a vow to break:

-Divorce
-Being a contentious wife
-Alcoholism
-Infidelity

Are these generational curses?? I don't know for sure. But I do know that these are commonly seen, or common patterns in several parts of my family, and I have made a point to cut off and end these things, starting with myself and my family, Hudson and his family, and so on and so forth. The reason I feel these things may be generational curses is because the attributes are seen so often throughout my family, and that I have had multiple struggles or temptations in all areas. Scripture says that the Lord will punish the children and their children for the sins of their fathers...and if no one breaks the curse, it just continues, does it not? I am still educating myself on generational curses and what it all implies and where it comes from, but I know that the sin of one's parents can grab hold and poison their child with the same attributes one's family has if the pattern/curse is not broken. I am still studying up on this, as I really don't know much yet, but I think it is important to consider. Whether it is a curse or not, I am choosing these things which will not be allowed to occur to me or my family. I am hoping that by setting this example for Hudson, he in turn rejects negative attributes such as these.

Exodus 34:6-7
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

Ephesians 6:12

Verse Concepts

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

Blessings~
Kaila

Ephesians 6:12

Verse Concepts

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

Ephesians 6:12

Verse Concepts

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

There's No Place Like Home! (Finding a Church Family)

It's true, isn't it?

The warmth and comfort we feel when we are 'home' as opposed to anywhere else?

I cannot explain the feeling in a word, other than 'blessed', when you finally find a church 'home' after searching and searching (and sometimes staying home on Sunday whining about it).

There's just a moment when you know you have entered the House of Worship God has planned for you to be a part of. It feels like 'home'.

If any confirmation was needed that South Point Foursquare Church was the place for me in my walk right now, well, today I got that confirmation.

I attended South Point in high school and for a short time after and have always 'liked' the church, but during that time in my life, I wasn't necessarily attending for the 'right' reasons. I loved worshiping and learning about the Lord and the Word, but I was concerned mostly with how cute I dressed that day and where my friends and I would go for lunch afterward. Nevertheless, after years of falling into a rut, choosing to live in the world and not in the Light, and then 'church dating' for many years, God told me to visit South Point again. By this time, I had fallen, and fallen hard MANY times. Without the Lord, everything was a struggle: my marriage, our finances, parenting...you name it, it was HARD.

When I walked into church my first Sunday back at South Point, I just knew it was where God called me to be.

As most of you *do not* know, Jeff and I have been struggling financially for quite some time (about 2 years). We have made some bad, and by bad I mean DUMB financial descicions in the past and we are paying for them now and learning the hard way, as I usually tend to do.

But one thing I have felt since my walk in the Lord has been 're-charged' this year is a sense of peace and grace. God has provided us with the love a father gives to his child when they make mistakes and has handled our situation with such grace and tenderness. While we are having to 'pay' for these mistakes, (no pun intended) which has been difficult no doubt, we could not be happier in our marriage and our hearts are full.

Today's message at church was all about a new beginning, a fresh start, which is exactly what God has allowed for us: confirmation. South Point is hosting the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University to help with that area of our lives: another confirmation. We studied Isaiah 43:18-19 today: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert.": confirmation. At the end of service, Pastor Keith got up on the podium and introduced his 'friends'...Pastor Don and Debbie Boles, retired pastors from Exeter who are doing some Pastoral counseling at South Point now...Pastor Don is the one who MARRIED Jeff and I! After service, Nana, Papa, and I went over and began chatting with them and South Point is their new home: another confirmation. 

There is just so much more than that, but today just confirmed for me that I am where I am supposed to be. Hudson loves playing in the nursery as well, and I am so excited to teach him about God's word and for him to begin learning about the Lord in Sunday School. I am continuing to pray for the salvation of Jeff and that he begins attending as well. I know it can and WILL happen in the timing of the God and have 100% faith in that. God has been so faithful in restoring my marriage, my hope and peace after losing Hayden, and restoring the relationship I have with Him every day. 

If you are struggling in finding a home church, know that I am praying God leads you to it very soon. Be in prayer about this yourself, and ask God to take full control over this area and that your spirit would feel full when you have arrived. I will continue to pray that over you as well.


Hebrews 10:24-25:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…"


~Blessings~
    Kaila