Looking back at 2013!

 Last year, on this day, I got a text from one of my best friends, Miriam: "Yes I know. We've been praying a lot about that (me visiting them in the Summer) too and looking forward to when God says 'It's time!' One day we will get to work together, like a way long time. :) I really love you, Rachie!"

Who would have EVER guessed all that God would do in 2013?!

Let's just say that 2013 did not begin in a very hopeful way. Along with all the difficulties of wondering where I should be, etc...the year started off with the realization of Anna needing a second skin graft surgery on January 9th. All the difficulties of watching her go through so much discomfort and questioning...it was almost too much to handle, BUT God helped us through. Each day, each hour, He gave us the grace and strength to keep going. 

Anna's birthday froyo! :)

A few journal entries:

January 9, 2013 : "Also to have lots of text messages and comments on FB statuses...we are so blessed and loved. It's going to be an interesting next few weeks. Lord, please sustain us."

January 10, 2013: "Wondering what God is preparing us for?"

January 11, 2013: "I think God truly is taking me to a place of greater, deeper surrender. [..] God knows exactly what I need to be doing. Perhaps this is exactly it. 'For such a time as this'?"

January 17, 2013: "God is doing something good in our family. I know it. Although I don't know what--He will be faithful to complete the work He started. Now matter how hard--it will come to an end. I don't know what 2013 holds, but God does. He will work everything out for my good."

(Anna recovered slowly, but surely! yay! We are so thankful that this Christmas did not involve any trips to the hospital!) 

goodbye party.

Highlights:

• Mom & Dad celebrated 30 years of marriage.
• Anna was able to sit, walk, stand normally, etc... Things we take for granted became blessings!
• Anna and I took a trip up to Mass. to say goodbye to our friend who joined the army.
• Anna turned 20! 
• I was a bridesmaid in three weddings.
• We stayed a week at the cabin! (I drove a jetski for the first time!)
• We went to PEI for a 10 day vacation! (and got to meet new baby Hope!)
• Char turned 13! *sob*
• The SKY family came for two, week long visits (one in April and one in September!) 
• God released me to go back to PEI to work with them. :) :) 

one of the many weddings this year!

more journal entries:

January 26, 2013: "Out of the blue, dad says to me that he thinks I should go back to Canada [um, beg your pardon?" 

March 25, 2013: " Everything is changing. I wonder what will be next, though I dare not ask."

April 24, 2013: "When I got home I told mom, "I want to work with the SKYS." She replied, "Duh!" I laughed. I told her it just felt like home. [...] it was one of those stomach-clenches-up-in-excitement-is-this-really-happening kind of moments."

August 12, 2013: "If God calls, I must respond. It is my duty and joy to obey. It's not my call. It's not up to me to ask questions."

On October 5, 2013 I left my home to go to where God called me. It wasn't easy BUT it was a time of great JOY! :) God did it, utterly and completely, in such a way that I could never doubt it was Him! We had an incredibly blessed semester, and I'm looking forward to returning next week.

me and hope :)

All in all, 2013 was full of unexpected trials and surprises. I am so so so blessed by all that God accomplished and look forward to all His good plans and purposes coming to pass in 2014.

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R!

Blessings,

Reunion :)

The SKY Family came the second week of April to do some shows in the area. Wow. It was an amazing time. Not only did God bless all of the shows, but He gave us (what I think) was probably the sweetest time of fellowship and laughter together that we've ever had. There really are no words....at all.. God is so good--so faithful... my cup overflows...

Here are some pictures they took and sent to us!

We surprised them at their first concert in VA.

Dinner afterwards. So happy to be together.

Two of my best friends. ever. These girls are gems.
(on the way to Lacrosse for a concert Sunday morning)

At Grandma & Grandaddy's Cabin on the lake!

Hanging out before the last VA concert, after we set up.

Brother and Sister.

Seth and me. being goofy, per usual. 

Our last day together-Hanging out at our favorite Starbucks in C'ville.

We got to visit Grandmother Pat and eat dinner together! So sweet!

EWWA and our essential coolness. (with the tags still on.) HAHA!

Two weeks later we went up to CT to get Anna AND go to a surprise baby shower for Tai (more from that later).
WE got surprised by Chris and Tracy being there. yaay!

Lots of sweet fellowship and sunshine!!

We are so blessed with friends who are like family! There really is nothing quite like it. :)

"All good gifts around us, come from Heaven above. So thank the Lord, yes thank the Lord, for all HIS love" ~Godspell

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall came to thee...

God has been so good to me.

I just got home Friday night from a two week visit with my dear friends from Canada. They were touring around New England and the Lord provided for a plane ticket to meet them up there! Woah. I was just...blown out of the water (is that an expression?) by His goodness. The way He worked through the details, the timing, every single concert, every single conversation--it was incredible.

My heart was leaping for joy the whole. He brought healing and restoration on so many levels. Once again, I was reminded of the TRUE reason why Christmas brings joy.

It is not the gifts.
It is not the food.
It is not the idea of family being together without drama (which basically is impossible).

It is time with the Prince of Peace Himself. The giver of all joy. Jesus.

My heart is so easily turned to other things, yet nothing satisfies the emptiness, the longings, etc.. like time with my Savior.

Wedding Preview!

Two of my closest friends got married last weekend...to each other! Craziness! Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend. Enjoy!

Sweet Emma doing my hair for me!

The lovely bride and bridesmaids.
(Most of my closest friends are in this picture!)

The goofiest Bridal party you will ever meet! You should've seen our hilarious antics.

So in love! It's been a long Summer.

The beautiful centerpieces!
(I just had to add this because...well...they're beauitful!)

The morning after the wedding we all had breakfast together.
It was so nice to relax, talk, laugh, and have true fellowship for a couple of hours with people I love!

I miss you all so much!


Over all, it was a wonderful weekend. God is so good. I am thankful beyond words. :)

Joel & Sarah

These are two of my favorite people....in the WORLD. And, once again, two of my favorite people are getting married. I am totally excited because I get to be in the wedding. (Joel's brother Gabe got married to Tai Sophia last year-- two more of my favorite people--and I was in their wedding too!)

Their love story is amazing. Sarah is hoping to write it down soon, and I want to post it here. *sigh* God is good.

Here are some pictures I took while the SKY family was in the area a few weeks ago. (I still need to get the others off Aimee's camera.

AREN'T THEY SO CUTE?

How I Became a S.A.H.D.

Hello Everyone!

I am finally going to write about how the Lord brought me home. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was a very hard and painful situation because God had to show me how HIS will was different and better than my own.

To begin this story, I need to give a little background, so you can have some better understanding of this situation. The past two years, I have been working with a ministry based out of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. A family, several years ago, gave up all to follow the Lord whole-heartedly. In the process, they began a music ministry where they present the Gospel through music, and through preaching, at concerts. They travel all across Canada and the US, playing concerts, leading Bible studies, and doing evangelism as well. It is SO neat. God has given them a very creative outlet to preach the Good news. A few years ago, they came and stayed with us, playing concerts in our area. They invited me to join them for a few weeks on PEI, and then to come be part of their Unashamed Ministries Bible Institute (UMBI). God has let UMBI remain small so that we can feel like family, hold each other accountable, and be more transparent when dealing with issues and sin. I grew so much during this time-- really developing an understanding of God, the Bible, the importance of Evangelism and prayer, and many other things.  Those years will always be a treasure in my heart.

This past Fall was my fourth and last semester at UMBI. Usually, during this time before graduation, the students are invited to join as Staff to lead ministry outreaches, Bible Studies, teach classes, pray, administrative duties, and many other things.  I was asked to join the ministry. At the time, I couldn't see any reason why I shouldn't. There seemed to be no opportunities for me back at my home town, and to be honest, I didn't want to come home...AT ALL.


When I came home for Christmas in December, God had already been on the move in my family, I just didn't know it yet. A few days after I arrived home, my mom sat down with me to talk about a few things. Through scriptures, and by confirmation from dad, the Lord had showed her that our family needed serious healing and reconciliation. [My dad had been a pastor for 17 years, and at the end, we had all been so hurt that we never fully recovered from it all.] In order to reconcile, that meant I needed to be home. It was a hard hit for me. "Lord, You want to do WHAT?" "Can't you see I'm working for YOU, Lord, and you want me to come home!?" 
As you can see, I was perfectly incredulous. The questions ran through my head, over and over again. I cried, I got angry, and I didn't want to talk to anyone about it. I just wanted to KNOW it was God's will for me to be home-- for HIM to speak to me about it. That time of wrestling was probably some of the most intense times of fighting, pleading, and praying I've ever experienced.

Finally, we decided to get a dear lady we know to pray with me. Mom and I drove to her house early one morning, and we ended up staying for almost 3 hours. During that time she talked with me, prayed with me, and helped mom and I to have some reconciliation. It was amazing. God gave me PEACE. The peace that passes ALL understanding. The peace that helped me to say, "Lord, I don't understand, but Your ways are better than my own. I will obey what you have said. I will stay. I will love my family. Forgive me for fighting against You." At that moment, I felt free and filled with joy. The joy that comes after a storm, after a time of wrestling, and after someone has surrendered to the Lord.

So, you may have questions like "What are you doing now?" or "What has God been doing in your family?" God is good, all the time. Our family is the closest it has been in a long time. We are doing the Bible study "Experiencing God" together every Sunday afternoon. After dinner, our dad reads a devotional to us, which has lead to good conversations. We are communicating better, and are able to talk through issues we are dealing with. IT'S AWESOME.

As for me, I am:Being discipled by a lady from our church. (it's such a blessing, as it also means I get time with her darling kiddos!)

• Participating in a Ladies Bible study from church on Wednesday nights. (Another blessing!) 
• Teaching my youngest sister Spanish. :)
• Helping with cooking and cleaning around the house.
• "Polite traditions"-- we meet with a friend each week to work on crafts, sewing, and other things.
• Doing babysitting when the opportunity arises.
• Each week I meet up with different friends for dinner or coffee. (It's a great time of encouraging each other!)
• Trying to walk each day with God--asking Him to show me who to talk to, write to, or call so that I can encourage/bless them.
• Working every day to try to love my family (in their particular love languages.)

I might not have a REAL job, but, let me tell you, I am SO busy.  From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, I am always doing something.  To the world, it may not make sense, but I know, this is where God wants me. 

{You might be wondering about the title "SAHD." That stands for "Stay At Home Daughter." I learned that term from another girl's blog, you should check it out. www.stayathomedaughter.com .She has been a real encouragement to me!}

Have a wonderful day! Remember, no matter what the circumstances, God is always working around you.

One of my Favorite songs!

This is sung by my dear friend! :) I just love this song... it lifts my thoughts. Hope you Enjoy!

~Rachie