Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Does anyone want to keep my kids for a few days?


OK so I am only half serious.
I have been at my parent's farm for a week now with the kids. We are in the transitional stage of moving to Florida. Josh is already there and working hard and playing hard and enjoying the life of a bachelor again for a little while. Not a bachelor like you see in movies, just a man not tied down by bed times and not awoken by kids eager for his attention.
I am in a struggle because my kids are out of their routine, we are in yet another new place, and dad/husband is away.
That's enough of that...
In church yesterday (My parent's church) we had a guest speaker who spoke mostly about missions but really challenged the grandparents in the congregation. I had never really heard a speaker have his biggest charge be to the "old folks". He challenged the grandparents to not only be willing to release their children and grandchildren into the work of the Lord but to bless them as they go. He comes from a background where his mother and father were missionaries, his father's parents blessed their ministry but his mother's father never did. He spoke of the burden his mom carried of her dad not blessing her ministry of 37 years. 37 YEARS of struggle knowing you are doing the work of your capital "F" Father and your earthly dad not being on board with it. As females (and probably males but since I am not one I don't know) we long for not only the approval but the blessing of our parents. We don't just want to hear "it's OK, go ahead." we want prayers, support, verbal and non verbal affirmation. As the speaker gave a charge to the grandparents in the room he closed with asking the grandparents willing to bless their grandchildren if and when doing the Lords work to stand up. My heart swelled with joy as my parents both stood to their feet. They will strive to be enablers instead of roadblocks for their grand kids (all 10 of them as of now) to further the kingdom of God. I'm not going to lie... at that moment I felt more affirmation than I probably ever have from my parents over the work we are doing as a family and even as a woman in choosing the man I am married to. One non-verbal stance (pun intended) encouraged my heart to keep doing what we are doing. My folks not understand some of the things we have chosen to do because it doesn't make a whole lot of logical sense, to us or them, but we are confident knowing that we have been walking by faith and taking steps of obedience toward an unknown goal. That's tough stuff. Just recently God has been allowing us to see more of the picture and where the little things really were part of the big picture process.
As a mom I pray regularly for the salvation of my children and I teach them obedience not only to me but to God and His word. Josh and I have named our kids after families that imitate Christ and have also followed in obedience when it wasn't the easy or the socially acceptable thing to do.
Our daughter, Bailey, was named after David and Kandi Bailey. We met them and their 5 kids while serving at Blanton Baptist Church in Dade City Florida. The Bailey's are a blessed family and even when life is tough, their hearts are pure and their attitudes exude joy. They are also a giving family. They give even when it hurts. Even when the world would say "Hang on to that! Cherish it and don't let it slip away!" They freely and gladly give. They are great stewards of what God has intrusted them with. This is what we want for our kids!
Frazier's name comes from Andy and Kim Frazier. When we met them, Andy was a youth pastor at Dade City Christian Church and it was awesome to find another young couple in the ministry, especially in a town with not many "young people". We were set up on a blind date type thing. Kim was pregnant with her first child Hannah. They were great mentors for us and a great example of a Godly marriage. They were just a step ahead of us being married 3 years prior to us and we got to walk along side of them as they birthed babies and grew in ministry and parenthood. We gleaned wisdom from thier successes and mistakes. Andy and Kim serve well in whatever capacity they are working. They are hard working and faithful, they also have generous hearts. Andy is tech saavy and Kim is frugal, both are fun! Our type of people. This is what we want for our kids.
We will encourage our children to listen to their Father and be obedient, even if it goes against what we have "planned" for them. We also know that their grandparents will encourage them the same way. Praise God.
Now let's see how this shows up not only when they are serving the Lord but in the preparing them to do so.
May we also encourage or spur one another on towards excellence, pointing all glory to Him.