Seeking Joy

"The JOY that The Lord gives you

Will make you strong."

- Nehemiah 8:10

We find ourselves in the midst of yet another transition -- newly moved into a 3-bedroom house at the recently dedicated Stillwater Catholic Retreat Center.
I am beyond grateful for small moments of joy and sure signs of strength and stability:

• Matt bringing home a redbox movie everyone is excited to watch (If you are a Beatles fanatic like our kids, Yesterday is a worthwhile watch). 
• Our intimate Wednesday morning discipleship prayer followed by a playdate for Daniel and John Mark.
• All four girls cheerfully climbing aboard the school bus in the pre-dawn hours & cheerfully returning home without a mountain of homework.
• A road trip made to the Appalachian Mountains with Amanda for a real taste of autumn, debriefing retreat and heaps of praise & worship to fill our soul
• Sunday swims at the pool and breaking bread with new friends
• Losing my voice cheering at the circus with Matt, Mallory and Gloria
• Going to the local high school to see a friend perform in Beauty & The Beast
• Matt playing co-ed soccer on Sunday nights
• Pushing Daniel on the swing and chasing down Sergio the duck
• Canoe rides with Matt, bike rides with Mallory
• The girls still elated to spend hours rollerblading 
• The girls setting up their bedrooms with special momentos Sara brought back from Haiti for us.
• Baking banana bread, making soup, sipping tea
• Teaching the girls how to iron and hanging new curtains in the retreat cabins
• A long lost library book miraculously (Matt says its only a minor miracle) returned while we are out of town

"I have told you this

So that my joy

May be in you,

And your joy may be complete."

-John 15:11