AWANA!!

Last night was the last night of Awana for my boys. This was our first year ever being a part of the program. They both really enjoyed it and they did a GREAT job!!:-) Last night as we talked and prayed about the year as a family, they were both bummed that it was over. But fall will be here before they know it!

I was also amazed to look back over the year of Awana and to once again be reminded of God's faithfulness, His answers to prayers, and His loving kindness...

Just 1 week after moving across country, I was devoted to finding a place for my kids to get "plugged" in. Since I am home-schooling the boys, having something on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings for them to do is important to me. We did not know where we would be attending church at this point, so I asked some people from the seminary about church's near where we lived that had Wednesday night programs. Of the recommendations given, I chose the closest one with an Awana program.

The church is located in the middle of downtown! At first, for this small town girl, this was intimidating (exciting too!)...the church is one (two maybe with the school?) entire city block and the children's education building is 7 floors. Drew was on one floor and Sam another. So parking, getting them there, being okay with leaving them there, etc. took awhile for me to get used too! Also just getting to the church and back I would get turned around, until I got used to the street names and the one ways!!

All of these challenges aside, after our very first night, I knew that this was an answer to prayer and that this was where we would continue to take the boys. You see Sam had just the sweetest teacher that first night. I knew that upon meeting Tiffanie that she was a great personality match for my Sam. Drew does well pretty much anywhere...but my Sam can be much more timid, so this was so reassuring to me that he had a good teacher match up!!

Then when I dropped the boys off the next week, Sam's teachers Tiffanie and Michelle (this was when I learned that he had 2 great teachers:)), asked if I home-schooled. They had thought that I had said this. I of course said that I did and then they asked me if I would be interested in being a part of a small co-op of home-schooling families.

Let me back up for just a second. So here was the situation last fall...I am home-schooling the boys, I just had a baby (Abby was 10 days when we moved), I just moved across country, Brent just started seminary. The weeks and months leading up to this, one of my main concerns for moving was for my boys. Would they meet friends? Would we be able to have some network of home-schooling people? Would I have the energy to find out about these things? How would I make time for this? What about, What about, What about?? Do you get the picture of what was happening in my heart and mind?

Well thankfully I didn't have to carry this on my own. But instead, I carried it to the Lord. And I had some faithful women praying every week for me and for my family! I was a part of a Moms In Touch Group and each week that we met, those women prayed for our family, my kids, the transitions. They prayed specifically for home-school connections, birthday party friends, girlfriends, etc. Thank you, thank you for praying!! And thank you Lord for being so faithful in answering!!

Okay, so back to their question about would I be interested in being a part of a small co-op of home-schooling families that they wer just starting. Would I be interested? Would I be interested? Would I be interested? Yes, Yes, YES!!! Honestly, even as I type this, I am awed. God did that for us. He had a group find us, when there was no way I could have found them. Oh how I encourage you to pray! He does hear and answer according to His perfect will.

I have told these women how amazed I am that this happened. But I really don't think they know what an incredible blessing it was to be welcomed into their group.

And, as I said, Drew and Sam really enjoyed Awana. Drew's favorite thing was dodge ball, but he definitely LOVED collecting the jewels and worked really hard on his verses. He had good teachers too! And Sam liked it all. I am grateful. God answered our prayers in ways I could have never guessed or orchestrated! I am thankful. Did I mention that already?

Thank you to all of you who prayed and continue to pray for our family! We are humbled and honored and thankful! Here are the BOYS...






"Humble your self under the mighty had of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7