Blessings!

Big changes are coming. Justin received an offer from BP last week. We have discussed it thoroughly and have prayed incessantly about it and all the ramifications of such a change in our family's lives. We both believe strongly that this is the place that the Lord is leading us to. It will mean us selling our home, uprooting all that Claire has ever known, changing jobs, churches, etc. Where are we going? West Houston. Where are we going? West Houston. Where are we going? West Houston. (Sorry, Dora the Explorer song slipped in there) The job is exciting for Justin as he will get to work for a huge international company and have lots of opportunities. It is exciting for me as I begin to look for a new home and job. Claire doesn't really understand our excitement but she does know we're excited because she keeps walking around the house saying, "You're happy Mama!" It sorta makes me wonder if I've been a grump for a while now. Not really, but it's neat to see that she picks up on that sorta thing. Sensitive sweetheart. It also means us finding a new church home (thanks, internet) and a new school/day-care for Claire. Since she'll be 3 we're looking at mostly preschools rather than daycare centers but we're excited for the change this will all bring. There are some drawbacks however as with any move. We've really made lasting friendships at our church here and right now we're 10 minutes away from Justin's parents which we truly enjoy having them so close...Claire does too! So there will be some sad moments through all this. But West Houston is only about 2 hours away so we will have frequent trips back to visit, I'm sure!
One of the strangest things about this move is where we're moving to. I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. When I was 8, my parents uprooted everything my siblings and I had ever known to take a church pastorate in West Houston. We moved there and lived there for 3 years. After that, we moved back to Michigan. During those 3 years is when we found my mom's cancer that prolonged her life 7 years. I also was able to witness the beliefs of my parents and their trust in the Lord first hand as they moved us cross country, financial struggles, health struggles, church struggles, and probably more struggles than they let on to their youngest daughter. I truly believe those 3 years have impacted my life greater than several other years of my childhood. It also was another reason why Justin and I are together. When we first met, one of the things that truly attracted me to him was the fact that he was from Texas since I had lived there and had such a positive experience there. Even though he wasn't from the same place I had lived, it was somewhere I could relate to a little better and was interested in. And now? for Justin to receive this offer close to 20 years later after the first move to West Houston and it be 10 minutes from where all those memories, influential people, and life changing moments happened is simply unbelievable to me. I never would have dreamed in a million years that I'd end up back there through the Lord's guidance. I guess that is one of the biggest reasons why I believe so strongly that this is the Lord's will for us at this point in our lives. I cannot thank the Lord enough for all of His blessings. "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord" Psalm 149:21a

Puggles!

Our church does a program called Puggles, which is for older 2 and younger 3 year olds to do before they go to Cubbies. It is part of the AWANA program which is excellent! Claire fits perfectly into this age group. Since her birthday is in October, she is 1 month shy of being able to be in Cubbies, but she is still old enough to sit still for a short, SHORT, lesson, and to color, do a craft, and play. It's designed to teach the little ones about God. A puggle is a baby platypus which to me is just the cutest name ever. Anyway, during the summer, when they were recruiting AWANA workers, I found out about this program at our church for Claire's age group. I was so excited. However, they told me it was only for children whose parents worked in AWANA. I haven't worked in AWANA before due to choir practice on Wednesday evenings and our crazy schedule throughout the week, I was hesitant to add one more thing on my plate. But I really wanted her to do Puggles! Justin and I were talking and he asked who taught the Puggles class? I answered that I didn't know. So I asked, and they said they didn't have a teacher. I volunteered. Not only does Claire get to do Puggles, but she gets to do it with me! I am so excited about it! She is even more excited about it too! She asks every time we go anywhere now if I'm going to be her teacher. It is only an hour long, and in that hour we do a 5 minute lesson, a craft, a snack, songs, and a coloring page. The rest of the time is just play time. She is really enjoying it.
The other reason why I am excited is that I remember my mom teaching in my Sunday school class when I was 2 or 3. I don't really have a lot of memories, but I do have a few that are vivid and now that she is gone to be with Jesus, they are precious to me. Especially since she was taking the time to teach me about Jesus when I was that little. So I guess that I hope that when Claire is older, that she might remember a few of these times we spend together at Puggles and that I think teaching her about Jesus is the most important, since that truly is the most important thing I can teach her--ever.