Thanksgiving!

I originally wrote this post on Monday, but we had a pretty eventful week so I am just now posting. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We are so thankful to be able to spend the holidays with family this year. I(Cassi) was able to take both kids down to West, TN a few days early so we were able to spend a full week with family. We split our time between my mom's house and Bryan's mom's. They are always great host and make us feel so comfortable. We are spending as much extra time as we can since we may not be there next year during the holidays.

We had three delicious dinners and Bryan was able to golf a couple of the days we were there(his Uncle owns the golf course). I went black Friday shopping and got the deals I wanted to get to save some extra money this year. We had lots of relax time. It was just what we needed.

As we ate each meal I couldn't help but think of all of the families here in the US and all over the world who probably were hoping for anything to eat or a family to share it with. I can honestly say that I have not had one Thanksgiving where I didn't have multiple meals with family and an abundance of food at each one. I am so very thankful for every blessing I have. God has truly blessed me. I want to reach others for his glory. I want to make a difference with what God has given me. I do not come from a wealthy family, but when you look at the big picture there are ways for all of us to dig in and help. We all have been blessed with individual talents and personalities and I am guilty of not using mine like I should. The scripture below has been on my mind a lot lately and as we all prepare for the Christmas season let us remember the true reason for the season, the birth of our Savior. Let's remember to love others like Jesus does. We should not overlook the opportunity to give of ourselves and help others It may not be easy or convenient and the timing may be horrible, but God doesn't promise us that following him will be a bed of roses. Loving others where they are at and encouraging them in a time of need is what it is all about. I know the Holidays are so very busy, but I challenge each of you to take time out and look at your surroundings and see if there is one life you can make a difference in this Christmas.

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Passports

We have officially ordered the kids passports! What a praise! As an adoptive parent I cannot express the excitement I feel inside to be able to go and get passports for my children. I know it probably sounds silly, but when you are fostering for a long time and there are restrictions on your travel it is a really nice feeling to be free and know that these are YOUR children. God has really blessed us in a HUGE way.

Now that we have their passports ordered we can start collecting documents for our VISA. I cannot believe we are finally to this phase. Two years into the process it is nice to know we are getting so much closer. It is hard to describe how you feel when you are in preparation/transition for so long. We aren't in our own home right now so it is a little different with the Holidays and how we would normally celebrate putting up the tree and opening up gifts. Also since we are working diligently to get moved we will have to cut back how we spend at Christmas time this year. Right now every holiday and family dinner is extra special because it may be the last one you attend for a while. Currently our entire family is sharing a Master bedroom and bathroom. It is very cramped! All that being said. This is another way God has provided for our family. We are happy and thankful to be here. It is helping us in a big way to get to where we are being led. I will not sugar coat it. I will be thankful to get settled into an apartment in Belgium that we can make our own again. With everything being so unsettled for the past two years I am so ready to get moved and dig in to the ministry there full force.

I have posted the kids passport pictures below. I must say I think they are pretty cute. :)

Provisions

Every single step of our journey to Belgium continues to blow me away. With every exciting moment or hardship along the way I have learned to lean on and praise God no matter the outcome. Times when I least expect it God shows up with a provision at just the right time. I know God is with me ALL of the time. I am never alone and I know that, but I am also thankful for those moments of weakness when God shows up in a big way!

Support raising can be a bit stressful for me, but also an exciting opportunity to partner with friends and family for a God driven mission. I read on a friends blog recently that "it is againt our nature to ask for support" and that really hit home with me. I was raised in a family where we are to be strong and independent and work hard for everything we have. That being said it is also biblical to partner with other believers to do the Lords work. Being a faithful servant is what we are so passionate about. We want desperately to share the gospel with those who have not been fortunate enough to grow up in an area where there are active growing churches on every corner. In Belgium there are many cathedrals, but they are all being used for tourism and some are even being turned into clubs or Mosques. When I stood in those breathtakingly beautiful cathedrals and saw where the wood was worn at the confessional booths it really broke my heart to know that all of those people turned from God at some point. You can tell that they use to be visited frequently and now they are empty and cold. I was so full of sadness I cannot put it into words. I knew long before that trip we were being called to Belgium, but at that moment I felt a new sense of urgency. We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to do what the Lord is leading us to do no matter what. Even if that means moving to a different country and raising support to work and plant a church in an area that needs to hear the love of Christ desperately. Since we have begun this process of support raising it has grown new friendships. We have felt love and support from others like never before. It truly is a partnership. We could not do this without those that God is choosing for us to partner with. We hope that those of you who partner with us through being part of our prayer team or financially supporting us will visit us once we move to Belgium. We would love for you to get your feet on the ground there and see what is going on first hand. We would also love to fellowship with you. We mean it! It is a team effort and we thank you.



"5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord,[a] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[b] 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth." 3 John 1:5-8

Is the Bible the Complete Word of God; Part II

This is a dangerous subject. Until my words are written clearly and the message is clearly conveyed, I am going to hold off on answering this question. I did attempt to answer it but I fear it was certainly inadequate for such a huge question. Give me time. If I feel I can do a better job than what was posted I will reengage the question.

Halloween

So we really debated on celebrating this holiday and we are still unsure if we will in the future. The kids had a blast and we had fun and fellowship with friends so I am glad we chose to this year. This was Bryanna and Jacksons first year to trick or treat. Bryanna was a princess and Jackson a football player. This holiday season is extra special because it will likely be our last in the States for the next few years. I am so thankful for our family and friends. God has truly blessed us with a support system out of this world! I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween.

Trick or Treat

Jackson our little football player

The kids playing before hand

Bryanna our little princess