From the Heart ♥

Today I'm going to do a more personal entry, because it's what's been on my heart lately.  We traveled to Wisconsin this last weekend for a family reunion, but before we went to the reunion, my husband had meetings up North.  So we made a fun family trip of it.  We traveled up North with him, stayed in a Bed and Breakfast with the kids, and when his meetings were over, we traveled a few hours down to the reunion.  It was a very relaxing, much needed small vacation!

A beautiful trail, the kids and I hiked, while up North in Wisconsin

I've mentioned before how my husband's job has caused us to move quite a few times in the last few years.  We moved from Iowa to Wisconsin and lived there about 6 years.  We thought we would live there forever and raise our family in our nice little farmhouse on 3 acres.  We loved it there.  Then in 2007 my husband had a chance at a job in our hometown, where we grew up, in Iowa.  We now had 5 kids, ages 7 and under and jumped at the chance to live near grandparents.  We were sad to leave our home, the only home any of our kids knew, or were old enough to remember.  But, we felt God leading.  Since then (2007) my husband has been transfered or we've chose to move from WI to Iowa, over to Indiana and now to Illinois, where we hope to stay. So from 2007 to 2012 we've lived in 4 states!   It's been tough emotionally at times to pick up and move, but mostly it's been good, and we've made great friends along the way. 

My babies in 2007, the summer we moved from Wisconsin

Now, I wanted to give you that background to understand what I've been thinking about lately.  I don't know what the future holds.  I would love to stay here.  I love it here, my house, my flowers, my apple orchard, my church family and friends, the small town community.  I don't want to ever leave, but I've felt that before.

Okay, now back to the family reunion :)  While visiting with one of my husband's Aunts, who we see once every few years she asked me a question that caught me off guard.  Now you see, she is not a friend of mine on facebook, and doesn't read my blog.  We catch up every few years, and only hears about our family through my mother in law.  She said to me "What get's you through it, every time you move.  There has to be one thing that gets you through moving so much?"  I stood there for only a few seconds, and it's as if I had been studying for this question, I responded "God has always provided".  These words, they just slipped off my tongue, without even thinking about it.  Her response to me was "You truely are like the Proverbs 31 woman, creating a home wherever you go, for your family"  Wow!  What kind words, I felt so undeserving of. 

This got me thinking that, that is exactly the example I want to be, when others look at me.  I want them to see me as a supportive, encouraging wife to my husband.  Because now days, that's not really the popular thing to do.  This is what I've been wanting to teach my children all along.   My job is to set an example to my children and hopefully to other women, that as long as my husband has a great job and is supporting our family, why would I have anything to complain about.  I am so proud of my husband's accomplishments. He is determined, persistent and has a very strong work ethic. Every move has been a step up for him in his career and again, I'm so proud of him!   I love my life, staying home taking care of my children.  No matter where we live, it's always felt like home, because we are together, love and support one another.  Nothing else matters! God has always provided.  Sure, there have been some tough times.  We were down to one car, I was stuck home during the day's,  and we were short on money for almost a year in one of our moves, but in the end God had a plan.  He was making a way for us to move here, to Illinois, to this beautiful home, I couldn't have even imagined that 2 years ago!  It reminds me of the verse:

 " Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God"  Philippians 4:6-7 

God hears our prayers, he is listening and hopefully we are coming to him with Thanksgiving.  I have nothing to be anxious about, but oh, so much to be thankful for!  If moving around the midwest, is the worst thing to ever happen to our family, then we are truely blessed.  We could be fighting sickness, cancer, death, etc.  God has ALWAYS provided!  We have learned alot in each move, about ourselves, our family, and became closer to each other, as we were "alone" at times, but God has always been there, each step of the way. 

It's always nice to get a little encouragement, and to know, people are noticing the example we are trying to live.  God knew I needed that, especially this weekend.  You see, when I mentioned my husband had meetings up North, he was actually interviewing with his company for another position.  I don't know what the future holds for my family, but I do know, as long as we follow God's leading, we will be okay, and have more then enough.  We have each other!

♥  Shannon