I mentioned a while ago that Clint received some awards at work and was the only one in his division ever to receive five. Well, he received praise and recognition at the corporate level for his outstanding achievements too! God has blessed him for his steadfastness and integrity in the workplace. Some of his ideas for the company were implemented also which really meant a lot to him. He has continued to receive offers of employment from other companies. One of them was in our county. It is a very rewarding time in his career, and all of his family near and far are very proud of his success.
Clint and I enjoyed our travels and visits in March and April. We thank EVERYONE again for the wonderful hospitality, fellowship, meals, and gifts. We had so much fun and enjoyed it all very much! Our plans to leave for the next adventure were altered slightly, but we leave again this evening. Excuse any typos. I'm coaching children what to pack and making plans with a teen to pick up a grocery order as I type.
Clint and I enjoyed our travels and visits in March and April. We thank EVERYONE again for the wonderful hospitality, fellowship, meals, and gifts. We had so much fun and enjoyed it all very much! Our plans to leave for the next adventure were altered slightly, but we leave again this evening. Excuse any typos. I'm coaching children what to pack and making plans with a teen to pick up a grocery order as I type.
Brandon has the potential for a very big door to open up for him. We are asking the Lord to keep it closed if it is not the right move and to open it wide if it is. He has ordered the stuff for his new roof. He's made some changes to his Mustang, and he has continued adding to his fence. We may use his 3D printer to make a prosthesis for Lil' Dude's shell. Brandon has new neighbors with young children. He took the family one of Caleb's oak birdhouses as a housewarming gift which they seemed to enjoy. Brandon's old neighbors gave him their nearly new riding mower for $300 which covered some of their moving expenses. Brandon is very thankful to have it.
Amanda has had some great feedback at work. She has also had a shift change and is working with new people. She resolved a complicated issue earning the respect of her co-workers and bosses. She is still asking for God's leading in an important area of life. She was recently given Ethan Allen dining room table and chairs, side table, coffee table, and entertainment center. A young woman is moving home with her parents, so she gifted it all to Amanda. Amanda has some really good things going on in her life, but I can't share much of it until we see where God is leading. We are very, very proud of her!
Joshua was given keys to the restaurant and now opens it for his bosses. He has been arriving before they did anyway, so they let him go in and start the equipment. He and Caleb are the youngest who have ever had keys there. He loves the Saturn he purchased and gave his old SUV to Bethany. He is very good at seeing the connection between life and faith in the workplace and often shares with us some insightful stories.
Caleb has several orders for the items he is making with his lathe. He is also helping a friend restore a boat. The friend is older but does not have the skills necessary. So, Caleb is going to teach him as he works. An older man Caleb works with is giving him some tips on making and selling furniture. Because of that, Caleb now has plans to build a dining room table and chairs to sell. At work, he was told he will be opening and closing (different days) and has started to train new hires.
It is hard for us to believe, but Bethany is enrolled in college at 15! She settled on General Business to keep her options open. She has finished her Driver's Ed course and will take her test for behind the wheel instruction soon. She is very thankful to Joshua for the gift of his SUV. She is shorter in stature than most of our family, so the Suburban might not be a good fit for her to learn with like our other four drivers have.
Emily saw Bethany and I drawing in our sketch pads. I later saw she made her own with construction paper and staples. So, I purchased her and Hannah one of their own which made them smile big. Em has shot up in height and is taller than Bethany. They wear the same sized clothes which made the seasonal clothing purchases easy. Emily has really matured lately and has some good character qualities shining brightly. She has also become a very thoughtful helper to the family. I so love hearing the beautiful music of the swingset creaking while she and Hannah chatter and giggle together.
Hannah is growing and changing too. She is "all arms and legs." She is maturing and growing more responsible too. Her cooking skills are expanding as I let her do more and more in the kitchen. She and Emily have been enjoying the themed paper dolls sets I have been buying for their homeschool studies. She, Emily, and Bethany helped bless a home with 350 daylilies last month. We had them planted in an hour! Clint made the holes in the ground with the shovel, and we girls stuck the plants in and closed the holes with our feet. The homeowner was very appreciative. *We went back and planted another 50 for a total of 400!
Me..I've been Christmas shopping for the family and have quite a few gifts already, thank the Lord. They were paid for by Clint's and my Swagbucks and MyPoints and the receipt apps I use. Clint's income has increased over the years, but I continue with the frugality learned during the leaner season. When I have been home, I have been working on giving some of our rooms an uplift and refinishing some old furniture. I've also been propagating more grapes, blueberries, figs, mulberry trees, apple trees, pear trees, and poplar trees. That self taught skill was hard won, but it has turned into a small way I can help others. The plants should bear fruit and flowers for the homeowners who receive them. Please pray with me the spiritual side of this will eventually bear fruit for God's glory.
Thank you to all who are encouraging and cheering us on in our family life and in our ministry. There's more going on, but it isn't prudent to share right now. I share some of the things I do just for our special family and friends so they will know how their prayers are being answered and also so they will how to continue to pray for us. May God have the glory for all!! ALL of this is HIS doing!! We just get to have a small part in it, and for that, we are thankful..and excited! We still need prayers for God to soften Mr. R's (elderly man with cancer) to the gospel.
Thank you to all who are encouraging and cheering us on in our family life and in our ministry. There's more going on, but it isn't prudent to share right now. I share some of the things I do just for our special family and friends so they will know how their prayers are being answered and also so they will how to continue to pray for us. May God have the glory for all!! ALL of this is HIS doing!! We just get to have a small part in it, and for that, we are thankful..and excited! We still need prayers for God to soften Mr. R's (elderly man with cancer) to the gospel.
We came home from one trip to discover a family of minks is living near a ditch that flanks our driveway. We hope to get to observe them and learn more about these small mammals. Isn't it is peculiar that some women covet the fur of a mammal that looks a lot like a rat and lives in filthy places? especially when one considers the women wearing the fur would probably run in fear from the mink?
Dear Reader, send us an update about you and yours. We love hearing about what God is doing in your lives!
Take heed to the verse below because so much of your life depends on how you take those thoughts and motives captive. Be brutally honest with yourself; don't make excuses or vain arguments; and pull, pull, pull those weeds! Work on those wrong attitudes so you can point others to the hope that is in Jesus in all you do! Live in unity with all believers while pursuing peace and mutual edification so you can show the love of God to everyone who is watching!
Dear Reader, send us an update about you and yours. We love hearing about what God is doing in your lives!
Take heed to the verse below because so much of your life depends on how you take those thoughts and motives captive. Be brutally honest with yourself; don't make excuses or vain arguments; and pull, pull, pull those weeds! Work on those wrong attitudes so you can point others to the hope that is in Jesus in all you do! Live in unity with all believers while pursuing peace and mutual edification so you can show the love of God to everyone who is watching!
Above all else, guard your heart.
For everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
