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Blog of a Darkmoon Carnie: The Story of a Life. Beautiful! Note to readers: bring tissue.

Blog of a Darkmoon Carnie: The Story of a Life: Her skin is soft and pink. Her eyes are closed gently as she sleeps in her mother's arms. She is brand new and has no idea what kind o...

...Count it all joy...

 

(This post was started last Saturday night)

Last night, we had some wonderful house guests. They are friends who we have loved for many years and it was the first time they've been here to our house since we moved into this one. They are the ones who came whenever DH's Mom passed away and we had a memorial service. They came from so far away to show us love. They have been such an epic part of our lives and they always seem to be there for us whenever we need them, even when we don't yet know it. Last night was one of those nights. We are so grateful they were here.

As dinner was being served to the little ones while others were playing cards still, the phone rang. It was business. One of our guests was having fun with the person on the other side of the phone as is his way of having fun. I got the phone and passed it on to DH. It was for him anyway. Then things turned ugly.

As of last night, through an email, DH is no longer employed. The 3rd owner of the bookstore since he's been there decided to cut him loose. He'd been there eleven years. It was an angry thing to watch play out. It was stressful with phone calls and emails back and forth.....


Fast forward 10 days: other things have come to pass since then. Accusations. On my part, fear of an unknown future. My family's name being dragged through the mud. Nasty things said from people who I thought not likely to say such things. My poor girls have been broken hearted and felt betrayed by friends. It's been an ugly situation. But in all of this one thing comes blaring out - screaming in my soul:

In. Every. Thing. Give. Thanks.

I posted this same thing a while back when I was dealing with a physical ailment I'd recently discovered. You can read about that here. I still have that, but the Lord has helped me have peace about it.

Is there anything in life worth panicking over? Is God suddenly not on the throne when trials come? Is He ever taken by surprise by anything that happens to us? Was He shocked when Job was suffering greatly at the hand and will of Satan? Never.Has God sent us the Body of Christ to walk with us through all of this? Yes, and in ways I never thought we would need. It is an amazing thing to watch Christ move people to care for and love others in the Body. I cannot fathom the thought of His goodness to me! He has sent beloved ones to be here for us in our time of need. Most importantly, He has made a change in my husband's heart that is wonderful! He has given us time as a family to worship with others in the Body, which is not something we have been able to do in years. 

James 1:2-8

 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 

 

Courting

It's been a while since my last post. I have been very busy with some very important people. My dear seventeen year old daughter, the one who was sure this past summer that she would never marry,  has evoked the attention of a young man who has seemed to change his plans for his future to become their future. Right now, they are "Courting." Let me be specific in my definition:

"Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. During courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement." (from Wikipedia)

To state this more within our definition: chaperoned dating with the purpose of getting to know one another in a controlled environment. Today, it's not a popular idea that a young couple be supervised. In fact, it's considered archaic and borders on arranged marriages to some folks. It's none of that actually. It's a protection for the young couple. It helps protect purity, especially in the case that things don't go towards engagement and later marriage. Why in the world would anyone expect young folks to keep themselves from sexual immorality (which incidentally, doesn't start with the body at all but in the heart and mind) by leaving them alone with one another? Voddie Bauchum sums it up here:

We love our girls, and honestly we love the young man who has come to ask permission to get to know her better. We love them enough to help them get to know one another while guarding their hearts from folly.

Life has become very different for us in practice. These are the things we have taught our girls, and now, this is where the rubber meets the road. This is where we have to believe what we've taught about relationships and God's best rather than just giving these young folks over to hormones, emotions, and worldly expectations. We absolutely believe that this is the kind of protection God intends for unmarried people... the protection of their fathers and mothers to navigate correctly while  getting to know someone of the opposite sex. Yeshua said it best in Matthew 5: 27-28: Adultery begins in the heart and that God considers it so even if it's in the mind only!

So, if you have a concern about us....have read on Facebook that Jasmine and Nathaniel are dating and worry that it is unknown to us, or that somehow we've just suddenly taken away our parental protection, just know we haven't. If you see them out in town somewhere, just look for Scott or me, because we're not very far away. Thank you friends for loving us enough to be concerned. :)

Blessings!

My 17 year long blessing

I have been very blessed for the past seventeen years. When I was pregnant with Jasmine, I didn't expect a daughter. I had been a tom-boy and just thought I would have a son. I was surprised by having a daughter. I had no idea what do to with a daughter!! I was expecting to throw baseballs and go fishing! It was what I had practiced for. God had other plans.

It seemed that she was born with lace on. She was so lovely and as she grew, she loved more feminine things. It was a challenge to dress her in anything that wasn't velvet and lace. She loved cleaning. That was something I had always known some people had been born with. She was organized. Again, something I lacked. She grew and loved following rules. I thought they must have given me the wrong child at the hospital. She craved order to things and to be told right from wrong, and most of all, she longed to please me and her father.

Jasmine and Carousel

Over the years, she has grown into a God loving young lady. Her zeal to please me and her father has translated into wanting to live in a way that pleases our Heavenly Father. I love that. Today, I honor my dear sweet Jasmine for blessing us with her presence for seventeen years but more importantly, I thank YHWH for the time I have had with her, learning to be the Mother of Daughters and living out the plan He has in spite of my own expectations!

Happy 17th birthday to my sweet and gentle eldest daughter. May God continue to bless you and you continue to be a blessing to all who's lives you touch!

 

Blog of a Darkmoon Carnie: My Mostly Normal Day (with just a dash of Neil Gai...

Blog of a Darkmoon Carnie: My Mostly Normal Day (with just a dash of Neil Gai...: Hello Blog readers! Thought I might blog about my day today. :) So first of all, I got up waaaaaay earlier than I wanted to. My sister cam...

Preparing Our Children for Marriage

I read this great post this morning. This is what we have been trying to teach our girls these things all their lives. :) I hope it's a blessing to you too.

Preparing Our Children for Marriage