Lessons

I've been thinking a lot about how God teaches us lessons. I know we should never ask God "Why ..." and question Him but it's so dag on hard to ask God instead " What do you want me to learn from ...?" I feel like once I get things figured out something bad or unexpected happens and God uses the shepherds staff and brings me back and once again, teaches me a hard lesson. Do you ever get to the point to where you really don't want to learn anymore lessons?! Hey God...I think that's one of the reason's I decided not to go back to school! I know this is the place where He wants us...where we grow and mature...but I tell ya, it's hard! Here's a couple verses that I read this week that changed my attitude (work in progress!):

Self-pity has been thrown in the recycle bin. In it's place, I'm wearing the song that my Father sings over me. Zephaniah 3:14-17

The backbreaking garment of guilt is no longer slung over my shoulders. Instead, I'm clothed with His promise of newness. Isaiah 43:18-19

The wandering imaginations of my mind have been restored with the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

That unstoppable pride, the heaviest load of all has been thrown away. In it's place I'm putting on the humility of Christ himself. Philippians 2:3-7

November

Yes, I know once again I haven't written in eons but again so much has happened that sometimes you just want to soak it up. God has been working in amazing ways that I cannot put into words what I'm feeling. Things are slowly progressing but a day doesn't go by where I see God's finger prints. Aiva is doing well in school...actually her teacher says that she's doing better than some of the other kids. She should really be in Kindergarten! I knew there was a reason we didn't send her on ahead! She loves school and loves that her teacher and her husband has the same name as Mamaw & Papaw. She thinks it's so funny. She amazes me how much older she seems every day. Tonight we cut her hair and I could hardly believe how much older she looked. She kept telling me not to cut it like her cousin's. She said that's way too short and kept me on track with keeping it long. Ana is doing great. Talking up a storm and acting like her sis everyday. A little more stubborn than Aiva so I know we'll have our hands full. It's so fun to sit and watch the girls communicate and play together. WOW...does time fly or what? I am so blessed to have two wonderful girls who are growing to be more like God every day. It's so funny to see them fight to see who is going to pray first for our meals. Nate is doing well. He's trying to figure out a routine for the girls during the day and he's looking forward to the day when he'll have some Nate time when he can do something that he would like. His disability kicks in in December so he's looking forward to having a couple days to himself. We recently started a couple's small group which we love. We're studying the book of Song of Songs. We're really enjoying digging into the word and meeting other couples our age! Just in October I got to meet my favorite author Karen Kingsbury and it was such a shining moment. But at the same time it was such a reality check. I came to realize that I put her so high up on a pedestal that when I actually met her she was just like me. Normal...married, mom, Christian, friend...the list goes on. Don't get me wrong...it was a surreal moment but I had to remove myself from my body and look at the big picture. God has been working in me in great ways since that encounter! I'm in this bible study and we're studying the book "Can We Talk" by Priscilla Schrier and it has been such a God thing. God has wanted me to open my eyes to so many things but it wasn't until a few things happened that it was actually able to happen. I wrote a story for our Women's Newsletter about our Journey of Faith and I know I wouldn't have been ready had it not been God shoving me to do it. It was like it was His way of saying that I've had time to move on...now it's time to heal and help others. It was so much like God. Since then, I've been able to share and encourage others who are living in the valley. I can now tell them that they need to put their trust in God and that He will give them the strength that they need to get to the mountain top. That they need to choose JOY instead of sorrow. For some reason...actually I know the reason. God has laid a verse on my heart for the past week. It was one of the verses in Can We Talk. Habakkuk 3:17-19..."Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!" Isn't this amazing! Even though we have times that are rough...there's the unknown...the heart ache - we can praise the Lord for he is our strength. We don't have to carry our load alone! He lets us stand on mountaintops! Not only was this verse in Can We Talk but Thelma Wells talked about it at the conference I went to where my fav author was at AND in Today's Christian Women, Thelma has an article about choosing Joy where she quotes this verse AND I just got reading a blog of an acquaintance and she listed the verse as well. Can it be any clearer??? We need to find joy in knowing that God is too wise to err and too good to be unkind! Praise God!

October

Yes I know it's not October but between October and November I love them both! I'm just getting into the mood of typing it! I see it's been a month and a busy one at that. I only have a few moments before my lovey get done with his shower so I'll catch you up on life. It made me laugh when I saw that last month at this time we were waiting to hear about Nate's disability and yes...we're still waiting! Last week I called and they said it should be a day or two. Let's see how long it REALLY is. We both have good attitudes about it so I think we're OK with the delay. We know God will work it out so whatever happens happens! Aiva has started school and loves it. She's already learned about the letters B, T & N. She has share day every week and I can't remember what she shared for the letter B but for T she shared her gymnastics trophy and for N she shared her nail polish. Just for the occasion today we had to do her nails. She really does enjoy it! She was the helper on Monday which means that she helped the teacher all day with attendance, putting an apple on the day of the week, and all the other stuff that a "helper" does. Today they had a fire drill and Nate and I ran to see how she was going to react. We watched from afar as she walked out with the rest of her class in a single file line with her hands covering her ears. Such a typical Aiva gesture. She's got sensitive ears but she did great! It makes for a funny store when she tells it. She just got done with gymnastics last weekend which she had a great time. They had a "Gymnastics Olympics" day and they all got trophy's. Aiva's event was the balance beam and she excelled like a star. We were so proud of her. She wants to be a little grown up it's not funny. Just tonight she made the comment after putting cheese on Nate's spaghetti that she thinks she's just about there. We both laughed and rolled our eyes but I know it won't be too long. Ana is doing well too...talking up a storm. Today was her first day of Stories in the Park and she had a great time. Nate took her and they both had an "apple" of a day. That was the theme for this time. They got little apple puppets with a cut out for your finger to make it look like a worm was in the apple. It was cute and Ana loved it! She wants to be a big girl like Aiva and does everything that Aiva does...I mean everything! I try not to laugh but it's hard. She's becoming her own person and I'm not sure if she's going to be more of problem that what Aiva was or what but I'm crossing my fingers that she grows out of what she already has become! I can thank Aiva for that! I'm kidding of course but she is a little spit fire! I love her little hair cut that I just gave her...makes her look more ornery than what she already is! As for me...I just started full time and I love it. Keeps me plenty busy but, oh well! I'm getting use to Lorien being gone and getting into my own routine but it changes daily so we'll see what happens the rest of this week. I'm enjoying it though! I've been in this small group on Monday mornings and I love it! It's extremely early in teh morning but it's worth it. I'll talk about it in my next post...I promise it won't be another month! OK...Nate's done so I have to quite for now. Hope all is well with those in blog world. Good night...sleep tight!

Fall

I am so anxious that fall is right around the corner. It's one of my favorite times of year...take that back. It IS my favorite time of year! There's just something that sparks when you say the word "harvest". I love the colors and all the changes. The smells, the sights...did I mention the colors?! It's no wonder that we got married in the fall. It was such a beautiful time of year. To catch you up to speed on what's been going on in the Jacobus household I'll give you a little update! We're still waiting got hear about disability for Nate. I just called today and they're sending Nate's case to another psychologist for further evaluation. I'm hoping that's a good thing. I get to call in two weeks to see how things are coming so more on that then. We're just praying that he gets it because it would really change things for us. Aiva, Nate and I are going to preschool on Friday for orientation. She is so excited! Actually I don't know who's more excited, Aiva, me or Nate. She is so ready to learn more that it's been so hard to control her. Aiva and I are going shopping on Friday for some new school clothes and then we're going out to Friendly's for dinner. It's a mommy/daughter date. I try not to talk too much about it because she gets frustrated that she can't go NOW! Sound familiar moms? We just took Nate's truck today to trade it in and we finally got the check for the buy back. We got a little over 11 thousand for it. Amazing...it's truly a God thing. He's totally been blessing us! We test drove some cars today and Aiva and Ana made their choice for a new car well known. They picked the Honda Odyssey which has a DVD player with headphones in it. Wonder why they picked that over the CR-V??? I think we're going with the CR-V though. We like how it rides and we like the MPG. We're waiting for the check from Nate's truck to clear before we purchase anything though. Hopefully next week. Nate's already in mourning from his truck. He sounds quite pathetic. He's already asking how he's going to hull hay and a dear if he gets one. If he thinks he's gonna put it in the new car he has another thing coming!! I'm getting ready to switch to full time in two weeks which I'm so stoked about. I know when the time comes I might not feel the same way but with Aiva bouncing off the walls I'm more than ready! Things have been going great with the job. I've made some changes and implemented some new things so I'm looking forward to what's next. OK...I think that's it for now in our little world. More updates soon. Please keep Nate and this disability thing in your prayers. We would greatly appreciate it! Have a happy fall!

August

Well it's been too long since my last post so I have a lot to update you on. Nate is currently able to drive now. He had an EEG and it came back fine. The meds seem to be working just fine so praise God! He enjoys staying home with the girls but I can tell he's getting antsy! He's ready for something else to do besides childcare! We're still waiting to hear about disability. He had an appointment with a doctor for an interview for disability benefits so we're just waiting to hear if he qualifies. More on that later...We did find out that his truck is being recalled and Toyota wants to buy it back from us! Yeah!! We're in the process of trying to figure out what car we want to replace the truck with. I love having a car almost all paid off! Aiva is doing great. She is really looking forward to preschool. Every time we go to church she always asks. She is so pumped. Two more weeks and counting. She's also excited that her school is at my work. I think that makes her feel like a big girl that she gets to go to work with mommy! She's had a good summer. Nate took the girls to Nashville to see Grammy & Grampy for a week and had a ball. She looked so much older when she came back. I couldn't believe it. I almost though, "Where is my little girl?!" It was good to have her back though...did I say that out loud? I'm kidding. It was nice having a week to myself. And boy did I live it up! I had a ball...if I get the chance I'll fill you in! Ana is growing like a weed and talking up a storm. Her favorite word is no...surprised?! She is going to be pistol! I think Nate is looking forward to spending time with just her by herself. She is becoming quite the big girl too. She has almost caught up with Aiva in clothes. Hard to believe but true. OK...I must go. Olympics and Michael Phelps is on...More later!

Summer

I can hardly believe that I haven't written since May. Where has the time gone? Things have been busy with trying to get things figured out with Nate's medication and all the on-goings with his seizure activity in his brain. He is temporarily unable to dive but we're hoping and praying that with next weeks doctors visit comes good news of being able to drive. Aiva starts preschool in about two months and she is so excited. She just completed her first year of VBS and she loved it. She said she didn't want to go back to her blue church but wanted to go to VBS and gymnastics. News flash...they all take place at the same church! I'm just glad she had a good time. Ana is growing like a weed, She's been talking up a storm and she's finally turning into a little girl...although her favorite activity is tackling Aiva! Work is going great...busy but great. I took the day off yesterday so Nate could go paintballing with the youth group. He had a blast. He didn't get pelted like last year so I guess it was a success! My car's in the repair shop getting the breaks done so I'm finally squeak free. It was so embarrassing pulling into a parking lot and having heads turn because I'm so squeaky! OK, Aiva is going to pull down the TV so I must go. Her DVD isn't working so I need to assist! Hope you're summer is going well!

Light

We're finally at a place where we can finally see the light. Things are progressing and each day is a little easier to face. Here's the progression so far! 1) Got out of credit card debt. We only have to pay a hospital bill for Nate and we're done! 2) Got money from a certain uncle. 3) I got the go ahead that I'll be working permanently at church through 2009 and on. 4) Aiva is starting preschool in the fall. We meet with her teacher next week! I just knew that May was going to be a month of change. Here's to more good things...or should I call them God things! Now...if we can only get Nate set up with a hospital job. He's miserable with the job he's at right now so he's been applying for tons of jobs at the local hospitals. He had a call back yesterday so we're hoping something great comes from that. I'll keep ya posted! More later..ta ta!