Fairbanks, Alaska

Everything is happening so quickly and life is about to change dramatically. After ALOT of praying and seeking, Zac and I have made the decision to move to Fairbanks, Alaska. WHAT!?! I know, trust me, I KNOW. That WHAT!?! goes through my mind everyday that passes. One month is not alot of time to get things in order and say your goodbyes before moving 4,100 and some odd miles away. Our peace and comfort lie in the fact that we know the Lord is calling our family to Alaska (I hope to post the whole story soon...it's long...and crazy). Despite the "knowing" it is still scary and we occasionally have thoughts of "are we doing the right thing?". Leaving your family and friends is never easy, especially when you can't come home in a days drive (or two or three...or four...you get the point) or without paying out the wazoo for plane tickets. If we think too long about all that we are leaving fear and doubt start to creep in, but if we fix our eyes on Christ the author and perfector of our faith excitement and joy abound! The Lord graciously allowed us to "spy out the land" before making our decision. Below are a few pictures from our recent trip.

Travels

Family

The faithful driver

Backseat drivers ;)

Avery LOVED the big city lights ATL

ATL traffic

Think I'll just have a snack while we wait

Beautiful mountains from the air

LOVE LOVE having this view

This is how we got through the flight

Beautiful sunset

Alaska Airlines

Big Boy Seat

Seattle Terminal

Fun can be had anywhere

More of those beautiful mountains

Mom I'm tired enough with the pictures already

Sleepy Boy

Seriously...again with the mountains...i'm obsessed

Such a good boy

Mom and me

Dad...struggling ;)

Look Dad I can read chinese, or japanese or whatever language this is

Lovin on Littleman

Family's First Flight

Adventure

It is 1 degree Fahrenheit in Fairbanks, Alaska today which is quite warm compared to the -37 that it was two days ago. Why is that important? Well, we will need to be prepared for the temperature change when we step off the plane next friday (we don't want an Avery popsicle). They say -20 is really like 10 degrees here so I don't think our skin will freeze in the first minute (which is the mental picture I get in my head when I hear -37). A couple weeks ago at church Zac was praying and worshiping and our pastor came up and laid hands on him and said "the word of the Lord for you is adventure". The last 7 months of our life have been quite an adventure, but I think what is in store for us will definitely top that. Who knows what God has planned but we are ready and willing for the "Adventure".

I don't know if you have looked up the definition of adventure lately but it kinda gets my heart pumping a little fast: an undertaking usually involving danger and unkown risks; the encountering of risks; an exciting or remarkable experience.

Adventure can be exciting but it has an element of fear to it too if you let your mind go in that direction. It's not easy stepping out in the unknown especially when you are not exactly sure if that next step is to the left, straight ahead, or to the right. I am thankful we have Someone leading us who says "you will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way, walk ye in it."(Isaiah 30:21)

This is only the tip of the iceberg...to be continued.

Knowing Him

"the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" Ephesians 1:17

Who doesn't want wisdom and revelation? But, could it be that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation is not given to those who are only seeking wisdom and revelation but to those who are seeking the Father? The Message says "to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life.."(Eph 1:17) Oh that we would know Him personally and intimately, and that knowing Him would become the chief desire of our hearts. I don't know about you, but I know there are times when my eyes are not focused or clear because they are fixed on my problems, or just everyday life, instead of fixed on knowing Him. What I get from this scripture is that if I would just redirect my engery to knowing Him instead of "trying to figure it all out", then as I get to know Him wisdom and revelation about Him brings everything else into focus and I would more easily discern what it is He is calling this family to do.

Getting Big

Just a few updates on "little man"

At 6 1/2 months

• He is sitting up by himself
• Starting to crawl
• Thinks he's big and wants to walk but he is not ready yet
• Eating real (if you can call it that) food
• LOVES his daddy
• No longer "hates" the car
• Has mastered falling asleep at naptime and bedtime without crying for an hour
• Still wakes up in the middle of the night
• Has less hair then when he was born
• No teeth but sure does drool alot
• Still the CUTEST, SWEETEST boy I ever did know :) (course I'm partial)