The Couch Clan is full of JOY all of the time... We aren't particularly "happy" all of the time, but JOY is everpresent. Moments happen between Sam and I or with the boys that don't fade away, they seem to linger. When I see something or hear something from one of the boys... my "happy tank" fills up. When Sam loves me the way that only he can do... my heart just swells.
After a date one night... we walked into our room to find the three big boys in our bed... Colby in his full baseball uniform. Gotta love the day you get your uniform!!!
I think I've been caught!!! I was watching Max play around in his bed before falling asleep one nap time. All of a sudden, I felt like he discovered that I was on the other side of that camera. FREAKY!!
Colby had made some "unwise decisions" in the bath one night to which Sam let him know that he would get a spanking once everyone was all clean. Colby asked to be cleaned first and then he bolted out of the bathroom. To our amusement he runs out of his room with 4 pairs of Jackson's pants on and said.."I'm ready for my whoopin'!"
Max is turning 1 in 23 days. Well, since he's our last baby... Grammoo sweetly calls him our "caboose." The end of the Couch train! Properly enough, Jackson thought we should have a train party for his first birthday! We went to an old Caboose downtown and had a little photo shoot with him!!! Happy early birthday... Maxi-moose the Caboose!!
As we all know... happiness isn't forever. There are times of great pain intertwined within our good days. I am so thankful for the JOY that is forever in my heart... even though I may not be feeling particularly happy during a tough time. The hope that my God promises me will forever be the basis for my constant JOY... even when I hurt...
ALL THAT TO SAY....
When a friend comes over to help you clean out your flower beds and lay fresh mulch...
When a mysterious, sweet man appears to dig a hole in your yard and plant a post...
You can probably bet... WE'RE SELLING OUR HOUSE AND MOVING!!!
Yep... that's right... we're moving... here is the letter we read this past Sunday morning to our amazing church family that we have had the honor of serving the past 4 1/2 years ... Sam read the beginning and I read the end...
"One of my favorite country songs states that: “Love, you’re the simple truth, and you’re the biggest mystery.” Well, our God is love, and His purpose and ways are, for the most part, simple, yet often mysterious. So, as we come to you this morning, we have tears in our eyes, but smiles on our faces. Our God of love has mysteriously placed a simple truth on our heart. Mysterious in the fact that He, yet again, is providing something beautiful through a challenging situation.
For the past 4 ½ years, we have seen God shine bright and glorious through three specific situations that could not have ever happened without an Awesome God and the loving support of this church family which He blessed us to be a part of.
First of all, Ali has been working the Children’s Ministry with 2 children, then three children, then four children. God has been so amazing to protect her from feelings of overload, guilt, or frustration juggling the job and family requirements. Even on difficult days, God affirmed her through voices of encouragement and truth from our wonderful Westpoint family.
Second, God has taught me so much while working in many different arenas while living here in Florida. From Athletic Director and Coach, to Youth and Children’s Pastor, to Warehouse Employee, to Coffee Maker, to Family Pastor. I have attempted to be a vessel at his disposal to do whatever work He has called me to do at any given time. Although I have not been specifically working jobs that perfectly match what I am wired by Him to do, He has taught me so much and grown my spirit in ways that I would have never experienced had I not answered his mysterious call to follow Him to Orlando. He has surrounded me with people that assist me where I am weak, and has taught me life lessons that I will always carry on. He has used me to impact lives for Him in many unexpected ways and I will remember these relationships forever.
Finally, we have not had family any closer than 7 hours from here, yet our hearts have been so full and our life so supported. When asked about family, we always respond, “Yes, we have family here. They are friends, but they are family.”
So, as we stand here with you this morning, we are letting you know that God is using another challenging situation to provide something beautiful and glorious. I hurt my back about eight weeks ago and did nothing for two days, causing Ali to solely focus on caring for me, the boys, and our home. In this two days in which nothing else in the world mattered other than ministering to our home, Ali felt God prick her heart. She felt Him leading her to give all of her focus to our family and home. As she shared this with me, the feelings that I had been having privately for months of God leading me back to teaching and coaching were all beginning to make sense. For my girl to get home to minister to our family with all she has, I would need to be teaching and coaching to provide for the family. What a beautiful moment it was to see God bring two hearts together for His purpose. During this decision process, we both had an overwhelming peace about doing whatever necessary to get Ali back in the home and me ministering and leading in the school arena again. Even if it meant that we would need to move. In the decision of moving, we see God in all his simple truth and mystery. Using the extremely difficult situation of leaving you, our Florida Family, for something beautiful and glorious for this new season of life God is calling us into.
Although our eyes are filled with tears because we are leaving you, we have smiles on our faces because the joy that is leaping in our hearts of following God’s lead excites us tremendously.
So, we thank you for being the church to us and we will always cherish our moments of doing life together. Births of children or loss of family members. The joys of a day or the pain of a moment. Watching your child come to know Jesus or watching your teen seek to know Him in their own unique way. Playing softball and scrapbooking. Digging deeper in God’s Word together or simply just having silly moments living in the freedom of Christ.
To all of you from myself, Sam, Jackson, Colby, Bo, and Max… we must echo the beautiful words of Paul the Apostle… “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers.”
So... although we are full of JOY on a constant basis... our heart bleeds to leave our amazing "family" here in Florida. We are sad to leave, but ecstatic to go and pursue the amazing dreams and passions that God has put on our hearts.
Can we take our neighbor, Laura, with us???!!!
They love to run up the slide moreso than sliding down...
They love to swing higher and higher and higher...
They truly believe they can tackle their daddy...
They love romping around in the grass...
over and over and over... no problem...
They are absolutely adorable in jeans...
They seem to claim anything pretty that I have in our home into little boy storage...
They adore each other...
Although they have distinct differences... you can tell they are brothers...
One look from each one of them... and their charm makes my heart flutter...
They are all gonna be men one day wearing a tux on their special day... and I'm gonna remember these little days when they were just mine and Sam's. I can't wait to share their charm and joy and little boy hearts with four beautiful ladies one day.
Wheels and Tracks
And away he goes...
