Brandtly Douglas

Well, yesterday, my little boy turned 10. I can hardly believe it. He said something so funny yesterday. He said, "wow, I can't believe it's only be 10 years." Oh kids. Their sense of time and the things they worry and think about are so simple and precious. I pray that they remain simple and innocent for as long as possible. We took a minivacation the last couple of days so we were gone on his birthday. We spent the day at a park hiking in the woods. We got to see a snake, a huge spider, natural caves and a beautiful, although small, waterfall. It was perfect.

Of my three children, Brandt has taught me the most. He's a strong willed child, which I had never even heard of before I had him. He can be so difficult to deal with at times. However, he is also the sweetest and most sensitive of my three children as well. We were walking yesterday and came and walked with me so we could hold hands. So precious that he still does this at the age of 10. I treasured it because I know it won't last much longer.

So, Happy (one day late) Brandt Douglas Jones. I love you so very, very much and am so thankful for everything you taught me as a parent. I look forward to the next 10 years of being your mom.

The Story of the Wind Chimes

I'm so excited to tell this story. It's been in my mind for at least a month, if not a little longer. I read these verses in Joshua and it formed the idea in my mind.

Joshua 4

The Memorial Stones

1 And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying: 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’”
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

After reading this passage I really wanted to do something similar. I wanted us to have something here that we would take with us to Fishers as a reminder of how God called us out of Pekin and into our very own "promised land", so to speak. I could never figure out just what I wanted to do. I told Doug about the idea and he agreed with it. We've been talking about it for a long time and just couldn't decide what to do. I thought about maybe a large rock and we could put our address here on it and then put it out at the house there. I thought about doing smaller rocks, one for each member of our family, and stacking them up here and then taking them there. I just wasn't sure if I was in love with either of those ideas and wasn't really sure what else we could do.

We had a showing on our house last night. I told Doug that we should go to Menards during it and walk through the garden area and see if we could come up with any ideas. As we're walking around everybody had their own opinions of what we should do. I saw some cute mushrooms or a bench that I thought would work. Doug liked the huge lion statue, the boys liked the idea of a water fountain and Jazlyn wanted to play in the park they have there. I prayed that God would help us find something that everyone agreed on. I want this to be a family thing and not just my thing. Then I saw the wind chimes. Everybody agreed that that was what we should do. We didn't see any we liked there so we ended up going to Big Lots. We found the perfect set and they are hanging on our shepherd's hook in the front flower bed.

Now every time any of us hear the wind chimes it will be a reminder of God's call on our lives. As time goes by and our story unfolds, they will be a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision during our journey. My prayer also is that people will comment on the wind chimes and it will give us a chance to share our story. Our very own story of the miracles God has and is going to perform in getting us to Fishers.

In the Waiting

It's so hard, this time that we're at right now. For so long after we were called to Fishers, we were so busy getting ready. We had to finish our house so we could get it on the market. Then we did some "staging" so it would look it's best. Now our house is on the market and we're just waiting. Waiting. Something that is so easy, yet so hard. I mean, what is required of me right now? Nothing. I just wait. Oh but how much goes into waiting. Patience. Trust. Faith.

I have no doubt that we'll make it to Fishers. The problem is, when? I really thought we'd be there by now, or at the very least have an offer on our house so were actively moving that way. Well, here we sit, waiting. I just have to keep reminding myself that God's timing is perfect. He has a buyer for our house, in His time. He has the perfect house for us over there, in His time. He also has the perfect job for Doug, yep, in His time. I get frustrated, especially when I hear of others that felt called after us and they're already there. I give it to God and trust Him and it seems like a couple of hours later I'm thinking about it again.

I read Habbukuk today. I felt that's what God wanted me to read. I came across these verses. I think I'm going to write them on an index card and carry it with me. I'm sure it won't take long to memorize with how many times I'll be reading it. But let the words be engraved on my heart. God's promise to me and my family. It will come, we just have to live by faith in the waiting.

Habbukuk 2:2-4

Then the LORD answered me and said:

“ Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
4 “ Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith