Motor boat, motor boat, step on the gas....

Since the beginning of August, Brandon and I have watched Aubrey's "growing up" go into full acceleration.  Maybe parents of older kiddos out there remember that happening to their child around the age of 7.  While much of it is super fun and exciting (especially since much of that maturing is related to her spiritual life), it's sad for me to see her really growing up, yet at the same time, I've looked forward to aspects of this "growing up" that might make my life a little easier...I'm somewhat regretting that desire...it's happening right before my eyes....oh oh, slow it down a little please....

August brought Aubrey's first day of first grade at Bethesda Christian School.  The story of how God provided this opportunity is a whole other blog post, but, we are super excited to have her there.  It was, however, very difficult for me as she is now gone all day 5 days a week.  I'm so thankful to have been home with her these last almost seven years...man I'm grateful.  

For those of you who know her, it wouldn't be surprising that she has made some sweet friends, memorizing scripture, learning SO MUCH, and enjoying EVERY moment of the school experience.  While we miss her each day, the other two and I have done some pretty fun stuff (that's another blog post too :).

Shortly after school started, Awana (Wednesday night kids program at church) began and both girls have been enjoying that.  They each have a lesson to work on each week with accompanying memory verses.  In the last several weeks, Aubrey's reading the Bible ON HER OWN, and going through her Awana book and memorizing her verses on her own.  I sat down with her last night to go over her next lesson and she had already read and memorized 3 new verses.  Holy Cow!  In the midst of this, Aubrey made a decision to accept Christ as her Savior.  With no prompting from anyone but the Holy Spirit, she, with a child like faith and awe of the sacrifice, prayed through tears to Her Maker.  I had the privilege of being present,
thank you Lord Jesus.  
Since then she's asked to use birthday money to buy Bibles for people who don't know about Jesus, "because, that's what we're supposed to do, right?"  She's so on fire to learn more and more, and Brandon's been taking her (and Adelynne too) though the Bible as well, focusing on character qualities.  I was reading Proverbs 1 at breakfast one day and she said, "Where's that in Bible? I want to read that too."   She prayed last night, "Please Jesus, help Adelynne and Nolan to know that they sin too and that they can't get to heaven without you.  Help them to accept you as their Savior too."  Her zeal and passion are sweet, awesome, and exciting....convicting, humbling, and make me want to be better...growing too...with her...
thank you Jesus for calling her to You!  
Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the Lord, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."

Aubrey turned 7 on October 7th, and we celebrated Fancy Nancy style.  Even daddy went all out.

Man am I thankful for this girl!!!

Even with all the changes, God stays the same.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8
The same Jesus that is pouring out blessing after blessing after blessing lately is the same Jesus that has walked us through the saddest and most devastating times...and the same for whatever may come.

"To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.  You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.  You, O Lord keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless."  Psalm 18: 25-30

Have your way in our family Lord.  For your glory, we're yours.

Motor boat, motor boat, step on the gas...I'm praying for full speed acceleration for Jesus!