Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Apple of God's Eye

A Day at the Apple Orchard in N.C.

It's so hard to believe it's Fall already here in N.C. and with that comes the joy of apple picking with our boys.  After we finished up our ICC training we felt that we needed some time away as a family to regroup and refresh.  We planned a last minute vacation to Ashville, N.C. and rented a cabin for a few days.  Well, with two little boys it's hard to find time to REST....but we did enjoy our time there and breathing in that fresh Mountain Air.  Here are some pictures of our time on Vacation.
Stopped for a picture around the Lake at the cabin.

Our last morning there....Family breakfast photo!
Our First Day there...we thought it was going to RAIN all day..we Woke up to the Sunshine...very Thankful..and took a walk around the lake that morning with the boys! 

Had Family Game night.....Joshua and Daddy playing a round of "Break the Ice" 


Cody thought this bike was cool....it was for decoration!....JUST LOVE THAT SMILE!



After the boys took their bath in the Jacuzzi tub...which was like a pool to them...we snuggled up and watched a movie before bedtime.
The cabin we rented...what a beautiful place to come away and be refreshed!


On the way home we stopped at an Apple Orchard for some Fun Family Apple picking time.  This orchard sat on top of a mountain top.  That's why it's called "Sky Top Apple Orchard".  The pictures don't do it justice for the beauty of God's creation.  

Cody and Joshua you are the Apple of God's Eye!
This was Joshua's first time picking apples...He enjoyed eating instead of picking!
Mmmmm......Good!
Joshua following HIS BIG BROTHER.  Of course, eating his apple!
Cody is a pro at picking apples.  What precious MEMORIES!
Daddy helping Cody REACH HIGH for apples!
During our time away we praised God that we were all breathing and feeling so much better...that Mountain Air did wonders for us all.  Jim and I knew we needed to move out of the house we were renting at JAARS.  We had done a Mold Test a few week into ICC, but knew that we couldn't make a move in the middle of our training time.  There just wasn't anytime for moving out!  When we returned back at JAARS, when we opened the door of the house we could smell the must pouring out into the car port.  We had known all along that we needed to move, BUT WHERE.  Before we had left for vacation, we were told that there wasn't any housing available on grounds at JAARS until the beginning October.  That wasn't going to work for us, so we started searching off center, but most places weren't furnished.  We know God can move mountains and also knew that many of you were praying for this whole situation for us.  God answered prayer.  The very next day after we returned, the housing office told us an apartment came available long term, so we were encouraged to move out as soon as possible so we could get feeling better as a family.
In the mist of it all, we REJOICE in HIS PLAN even though we can't always see what he's doing, and why he allows us to go through such rough waters, but he's working in us for HIS glory!  We are resting in HIS PLAN for us.

ON THE MOVE AGAIN September 9th, 2011
Good Bye Elim HOUSE
Packing up the kitchen AGAIN!

Going to miss the larger Kitchen, but not the smell!

More PACKING!

Good Bye Cody's OLD ROOM!

Good bye Joshua's Old Room

Good Bye....Mommy and Daddy's Room...this room smelled for 3 weeks like a dead MOUSE..it was nasty!

Cody was a big Helper packing up all his books again for his NEW HOUSE!





HELLO NEW APARTMENT:   Bethel C8 (OUR NEW HOME)

Mommy and Daddy's Room
Great LONG Hallway...but we are an upstairs apartment....its kind of hard for the boys not to run up and down...we have neighbors now!
Our Dining Room....all open into the living room
Galley Kitchen
An upstairs apartment.  It's been rather interesting with a toddler and doing laundry on the first floor.
The play ground is close by the apartment Huge PLUS!
Great open space!
Cody was thrilled to have a Bunk Bed AGAIN...and this one had a railing on it...the first night he slept on the TOP for the first time......since than not interested anymore....using the top as his Roof where he does Quiet time.

Something we've learned to tell Cody in all the transitions we've been through,..."that wherever the 4 of us are together (FAMILY) that is HOME".  That has brought such comfort to Cody and me (Heidi) as well in these past few months of all the changes and moving for us all.  There have been many tears shed these past few months..but God has been our Comfort and Strength in the mist of Adversity and he's held us up, even through all the sickness during ICC training...HE IS OUR STRONGHOLD!
The very last day of our training we did Stones of Remembrance as a time to reflect upon what God really spoke to us personally about during our time of ICC.  The entire month it seem that God was tugging on my heart...that there were things that I thought I surrendered to Him, but was still holding on too.  The song that came to my mind over and over again "I Surrender All"....my daily challenge is to give over to the Lord the things that I seem to want to have control of...and realize HE"S GOT IT ALL UNDER CONTROL...that's why I think I had such peace even in the mist of moving again.   

One evening they had Family Talent Show night during ICC.  Cody for the first time played his guitar with mommy singing "HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD"....Daddy introduced us...and shared a passage of scripture before we sang. 
So Proud of Him...he was so brave!
Stone of Remembrance Celebration
We studied the book of Ephesians throughout the month of our training....Who we are in CHRIST!
Ephesians 1:18  "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may Know the Hope to which he has Called You, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."