Iowa....Freezage....!

Just the beginning....

Numbers6:25 "the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you"

This was a very fun trip. The people of Pleasantville truly blessed us. Thank you to Rhonda Stubbs for taking pictures and capturing this moment in life. Thank you Geenie Gilderbloom for the cake mints that no one in Texas has heard of or have been able to taste the greatness of. Thank you to my parents who had the heart and thoughtfulness to throw this engagement party for us.

The Family!

Cheek to Cheek!

I don't know if I have ever seen my dad so happy! His friend Lyle is next to him. Lyle got teary eyed when telling Justin to take care of me.....

I have been waiting a year to meet this precious little girl, Blayke. She is the daughter of one my good friends from high school (Mitch). Justin and Mitch hit it off, I knew they would. They both have the commonality of photography. Justin seemed to find great comfort with Mitch and his family!

The girls of the family. From left to right: My cousin, Charlynne (charlie), My mom, My aunt Dee. They were all such a big part of making this party happen. Thank you ladies. Love you!

This is Anna-mae and Merle. They are my dad's mom's cousins. They came in and I just started to cry. She just kept telling me how proud grandma was of me and how she would have loved to have been here. They were backyard neighbors to my grandparents who I spent a lot of time at their house. She smelled (good) just the same and it brought so many good memories! It was the best surprise of the engagement party.

The new In-Laws for Justin. I am not sure if you can tell by this picture but my dad is a large man, and half way through the trip Justin told me how terrified he was of him. He really is just a huge teddy bear. For those of you who know Steve Chandler, he is a replica of him, Justin agreed.

It was a great time in Iowa, Thank you for your prayers. The Lord really did miracles on our trip up there and we were able to reflect and praise Him more!

Am I blogger yet.....?

Am I a blogger yet is the question? I think I look at the page and wish how I was better at this. Then when I have a lot on my mind and heart, I am never around a pen or paper or a computer to write down my thoughts. Once I get in front of this computer my mind goes blank (even though, everything I just said, I thought of in the shower...so I am getting there :) ) Please be gracious with our efforts to be a faithful blogger. God remains faithful in sanctifying us and showing so much about His love and grace, even though we do not publish it to the world.

Recently, I have been walking around with this ongoing tape that repeats over and over saying "Kels, you are a redeemed child of the King, the almighty God, who has been faithful to you, you must walk, talk and act like it." The past few weeks have been very trying for me by getting sick and having all of the realities in life hit me at once. They are all good, and I praise God for giving me joy for once through my sickness and knowing He is allowing it all to happen for a reason. I find peace and rest in the fact that everything that happens must past through His hands first to get to me. Thank you Jesus! In these days of reflecting on what God has done in my heart with the topics of repentance and forgiveness, my desire for the Lord has increased. I appreciate His discipline and his kindness that leads me to His throne of grace.

Psalm 67 that is on our picture above has been such a picture of my desire for Justin and I. I pray this for us as He prepares us to go to the nations Lord willing but even for the times He has left to bring us to here in Denton. This weekend we will be going to Missouri and Iowa to meet my family. This Psalm has been heavy on my mind and heart the last few days and my desire for everyone we encounter to see His face, His love, His glory and that we will not hide what He has done for us. Our story is truly from Him, He is the perfect author and is in control of everything. Verses 1 and 2 say "My God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, (so) that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations" When I first read this, it increased my desire to go to the nations and have His name be known. Recently it has mentored my heart for this nation, for my own family, for the people I see every day. He is so good to be gracious to me to allow this realization. I see it as a sign of maturity and forgiveness. I see it as a representation of His heart for all people to come to know Him, to love and adore Him the way that my heart has been moved to do so.

When you think of being cold, please remember Justin and I as we trek up to Missouri to see friends and then onto Iowa to meet family. We will be attending an engagement party that my parents are throwing for us with 70 people. My momma has been generous to do this for us, I am thankful. We will also need prayer on the anxiety level, of Justin meeting 70 new people. He is going to do great and God will be faithful, we definitely covet your prayers!

Much love!

Kels