Not my ways

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
                                                Isaiah 55:8-9


We started this journey of getting back to France as church planters in 2005 when we first got back from our year-long stay in Beauvais.  We never would have imagined it taking us so long, but we know that every step has been God-ordained and His timing is perfect.  Brandon and I brought in the new year by watching "A Year in Provence" (winter season).  This series was recommended to us a long time ago by our good friends.  Brandon actually found it online and bought it as a part of my Christmas present.  I absolutely loved hearing all the French as well as laughing at all the frustrations of an English couple living in France for the first time.  It brought back so many memories of our fun France experience, the good and the bad.  Our goal of getting to France by this summer is obviously not looking good, but Brandon and I have decided not to change our goals just yet.  We choose not to limit God.  Maybe He has bigger plans than we could ever imagine.  Maybe those plans include us getting to France "right on time".  Maybe they include something else we have not even considered.  Maybe our timeline will be delayed once again, but we trust that He has called us there and He will get us there in His timing.  We are getting back into full gear now that things have slowed down a little after the holidays, so if you would like to know more about how you can be a part of the process, please let us know.  We are looking to meet with small groups and or churches, so if you have a group that we can meet with, please let us know.  Other than that, we wish you a "Bonne Annee!" and we can't wait to see what 2012 will bring!

A trip down "Memory Lane"

This weekend we had the opportunity to share our heart with Barkers Chapel Baptist Church in Crockett County, TN.  We drove in on Saturday night and spent the night with "nanny".  Nanny is Brandon's grandmother.  She has always been very influiential in Brandon's life and since we have been married, in mine as well.  Brandon used to visit her as a kid and has lots of memories of those visits.  He even mentioned to me on the way to her house that he remembers her taking him to her church to shoot hoops.  We don't get there as often, but our kids absolutely loved visiting with her.  She had mentioned a while back that it would be great for Brandon to come and speak at the church sometime and we finally made a point to connect with them and set something up.  It was a weekend full of craziness as is the theme of life with three littles under four years old, but we had a great time.  Brandon sang a couple of songs and then preached the message that morning.  Along with that he shared our story (the brief version) of how we came to missions and specifially missions in France.  All three children sat in the service with us, so I must say I was a bit distracted trying to keep Micah from army crawling under the pews.  However, it was a neat experience to all worship God together and I loved that they got to see their daddy in this role.  As a friend reminded me, this is most often the way it is in France, everyone worshipping together, "sans nursery".  Maybe God is giving me a glimpse of what is soon to be the norm for us.  Everyone at the church was so welcoming and so encouraging to us.  We have already received some financial support and lots of prayer support.  We are so thankful for this church family and for nanny who continues to be a positive influence in our family. 

  Ok, so Micah is not crazy about pictures these days, but everyone else looks great!