Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday started as a beautiful day outside. We were greeters at church and the girls went to Sunday School, which they love! They go in and recite their verse, learn a new one and do activities around that verse. They also earn Bible Bucks based on this ability and bringing their Bible each week, which they get to go shopping at our "store" at church. Today was extra special because Gretchen was performing, which always makes me so proud of her. They performed (sing and hand motions) to 2 songs with the adult choir. She loves any signing/motions, but it was an extra special treat for me because they performed one of my favorite songs, How Great is Our God, which has become one of my children's favorites. I love the fact that they don't want to miss church or class and want to share their love of our Savior.

Now my soapbox moment. It especially means a lot to me because I did not have a strong relationship with Our God as a child. Jason on the other hand did have this. So we decided when I was pregnant with Gretchen we wanted something more for us and for our beatiful baby. So we started looking at churches and nothing fit both of us, either one liked it and the other didn't or something. And we had visited Troy Church of the Nazerene with our cousins, the Tuckers' to watch their handsome sons perform and it was good and all, but for some reason never thought about attending their on a normal basis, maybe part of it was that we didn't want them to feel like we were invading on their church, which is so crazy, but who knows. Then about 3 years ago several things had happened in my side of the families lives in particular that made me seek something more and this is when Missy called in the big man's helper, Pastor Sam. He was so great to talk with and we started attending more regularly and I was able to attend some women's events and loved it all! Gretchen was enjoying learning and it all clicked. Delaney was just a little over an year old. So we had finally found a home. And I am just truly amazed at how much my life has changed in those few years. God is a normal topic at our house, prayer is a regular happening for all of us, I feel so blessed! I am not saying I don't get discouraged, angry, all of these things, but it is still different now. Pastor Jeff is now our pastor and he is different than Pastor Sam and of course, Pastor Sam will always hold a special place in my heart because he helped with our finding an church home. The Tuckers no longer attend this church either because they needed to find something that fit them now, but again I will always be thankful for them too as they were also a big part in our finding an home. I truly believe that Missy, John and her family was brought back her to Ohio after all those years in Arizona because God had a plan for them, which included Jason and me and our girls. As I blog this I have tears stream down my face because I love them all so and I am so thankful for each and everyone of them and right now because I miss them too as they are visiting Arizona. And just know that I thank God for each of you!