Wrap up July and So Much More!

To say that July slowed down, or that after baseball - summer slowed - would simply be a LIE!  It didn't happen.
In fact, as I looked back over the July calendar today, there were not more than 3 days without something going on.  That's craziness, yet that is our life, I guess!


Not all the things were "busy" kinds of things.  Some were fun things.  Mini Vacations with grandparents, Birthday Parties for Great-Grandma, All Star Baseball Tourney's, Babysitting a 3 month old, lunch with friends, girls day out and many more!  Busyness is just the norm with 6 people in the house, especially when we Pastor 2 churches.

Today not only wraps up July, but it also wraps up 5 years here at Ney.  WOW!  That's seems crazy.  We've been here 5 years!  We thought it would be 2, now here we are beginning our 6th year.  

A lot has happened in 5 years.  We've added a baby girl, who is now 4 years old.  Maddie's reading and loves learning and has hair down to her bottom and is so tall (and getting taller) and just so fun.  Eli has grown from a tumbling toddler to a tumbling big boy!  He has probably shown the most change in his face.  He's lost the baby face and baby fat but still has the most adorable dimples and HUGE eyes and just is so cute!  Then there is Nathaniel who has grown from a little 5 year old into a 9 year old (next month).  His abilities has more than multiplied.  His athletic skills have just become so dominate.  He continues to be rough and tough, but has also kept that sensitive side that loves to hug his Momma!  Then Ronnie, just having turned 6 when we arrive in Ney, he was beginning Kindergarden.  Now in a few weeks he will be a 5th grader.  Is is possible that middle school is only a year away?    Still the little boy and yet growing and changing before our eyes!

 Wow what changes and those are just the kids!  Five years has brought changes in Ron and I too.  Very green when we began this ministry.  Desiring to love the people of this community and really not knowing what we were getting into.  There have been times that we would rather forget, difficult times and struggles.  There have been times of pure joy!  Times we have laughed and cried together.  We have learned so much about ministry and yet sometimes we still feel so new to this.  Ministry is difficult, ministry is fun.  Ministry is challenging and rewarding.  Ministry is something that Ron and I walked into somewhat timidly, not knowing what to expect.  We wanted to love the people of this community and share Jesus with them.  We have hopefully been successful in that and yet there is so much more we can share and do and show!

In five years we have grown to love this community!  We love the people who make up our church family!  We love our ministry to them!  We are so Blessed to be able to serve here in this community and to these people, truly Blessed!

We really don't have a clue how the next 30 days will all play out, let alone the next 5 years!  Jesus knows and we continue to trust in Him, just like we did 5 years ago this week!

Jesus thank you for guiding us, for walking beside us for teaching us and showing us.  Thank you for your love and grace and mercy and kindness.  We pray that, as a family, we would continue to follow YOU and Your leading for our lives and our ministry!