Petal

Since our move, the blog has taken the backseat & my focus was to get settled in. When I did have time to blog, I knew the Lord wanted me to share our story so that's what I did in the wee hours of the night. (Really, I don't sleep anymore...it's crazy.)

Here are a few (a LOT) of pics to try & catch you all up on what we've been doing. 

This is the PRECIOUS sign (made by the youth) we came home to when we arrived.

The VERY FIRST weekend we were introduced to how Petal does a home football game. (Think college game caliber tailgating.) SO FUN! 

We are so blessed that one of our Search Committee friends own a custom shirt design store. They took care of us & made sure we fit right in with some great paraphanailia!

Our 1st moving priority was to get D's office set up & organized so that he could feel at home, have access to all his books, & so he could do what he does! The boys were a lot of help. :)

Our first Sunday after church, they gave us a "pounding." Tons of groceries, gift cards, & goodies. It was so wonderfully overwhelming. We are STILL living on the groceries & gift cards. Hallelujah! 

The Lord has blessed us so much by giving us wonderful churches who spoil us & go above & beyond loving on us. We know not all churches are like this. We are so very thankful!!

Speaking of loving on us...this man right here put in many many hours of work (before he even met us) building many bookcases (think: tree-to-bookcase) for D's office. Mr. David is a Search Committee friend's spouse, a contractor/carpenter, & sword fighter/buddy. (He played with Jax while his wife Jean was busy painting our pink room the day we moved in.)

On Jax's very first Sunday night his choir group sang. He decided he would sit & dance while the rest of the class sang. :)

John has a very fun Sunday School room! 

The boys love the worship room for the children. I'm really excited about all the great ministry opportunities they will encounter as they grow.

All of these exciting pics are from the Petal Center for Families. They have a preschool workshop every Tuesday morning. The last one was a all about Dinosaurs. It was right up their alley. I'm very excited to have all these preschool resources at my fingertips.

I was finally able to take the boys to the zoo last week. We went with some new church friends & had a great time! The boys favorite part was the splash pad. They had a blast!

We're finally feeling more settled in here & love the area. It's so exciting to start new relationships & be united in fellowship with the people God has given us to do life with.

God has been doing a mighty work in the lives of those at Petal-Harvey. We are seeing the beginning of revival & are praying for God to reign & have His will done in & through His church. D & I are so thankful for the revival that He has been working in our lives.

A few songs have ministered to me over the past year and a half as I knew the Lord would probably be moving us. One of them is, "Lay Me Down," by Chris Tomlin. It reminded me throughout the process that as a Christ-follower, my life is not my own. I was bought with a price & not only need to, but WANT to live out the plan God has for me. One line of the song says, "It will be my joy to say, 'Your will. Your way.'"  Leaving "home" & an incredible church was one of the hardest things we've done. But our Precious Father has absolutely made our following His will a joy. It's a joy to live in Petal, MS, to minister to PHBC, & it is absolutely a joy to live in the will & favor of Sovreign God. Thank You sweet Jesus for Your joy!!!

________

Here are the lyrics to Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin:

With this heart open wide
From the depths from the heights
I will bring a sacrifice
With these hands lifted high
Hear my song hear my cry
I will bring a sacrifice
I will bring a sacrifice

Chorus:
I lay me down
I'm not my own
I belong to Uou alone
Lay me down
Lay me down
Hand on my heart
This much is true
Theres no life apart from You
Lay me down
Lay me down
Oh oh oh
Lay me down
Lay me down

Letting go of my pride
Giving up all my rights
Take this life and let it shine
Take this life and let it shine

Chorus

Bridge:
It will be my joy to say
Your will
Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will
Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will
Your way
always
(x3)

Chorus
(x2)