So much going on right now that I'm not sure where to start.  I definitely need to be blogging more because I feel like things are backing up. 

We started school back up two weeks ago.  We really enjoyed rowing Owl Moon and Katy & the Big Snow.  AK was disgusted to hear that owls eat mice.  He really likes mice for some reason.  When I was at the library, I happened upon Beverly Cleary's book The Mouse and the Motorcycle.  Although we've been reading chapter books to the kids for a while now, I really think this was the breakthrough book for my 5yo AK.  He cheered at the end when the little boy allows Ralph the mouse to keep the motorcycle.  He asked his Sunday School teacher to call him Ralph the mouse.  He can be heard making the Pbbbb noise.  BW was pretty upset that I didn't make a raspberry like motorcycle noise when I read the book, but actually read it Pb-buh-buh-buh-buh.  I explained to my husband that I am a girl and don't know how to make those noises.  When my dear husband attempted to correct AK in the way a motorcycle is supposed to sound, he would hear nothing of it.  He has been riding his bicycle saying Puh-buh-buh-buh-buh.  We went through the Mouse and the Motorcycle within a week and he asked for me to begin reading it again.  So last weekend I borrowed the sequel, Ralph S. Mouse.  BW much of it to him last night.  Later, AK came to me and tearfully informed me that a mean boy broke Ralph's motorcycle.  He was almost inconsolable in his grief that Ralph had lost his motorcycle.  It is so amazing to see the amazing emotional power of books!

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I joined a Bible Study Fellowship(BSF)!  I am just loving this group.  If you have never been in one or heard of it before, it is an international non-demonimational group devoted to teaching the Bible expositionally(verse by verse).  My current group has over 400 members with women from 125 churches in probably any demonimation you can think of.  They are currently going through Romans and study a different book every year.  Every BSF is the same so you can go to one when you are travelling or if you move and not miss anything.  I am so excited because my best friend just moved to Texas and we are able to "study" together as we are learning the same things.  I am also excited to meet other women and make friends in our new area.  Check out their website here and see if there is one going on near you.  They also have a children's program for preschoolers that is just amazing.  It almost brought a tear to my eye this morning as we arrived a little early to see the teachers kneeling together in prayer for the children that they were going to be teaching.  In the one I'm in, there is a separate co-op for nursery and homeschool care.  So there is a place for all 4 of my kids - what an incredible blessing, something only God could do!  This is just the kind of in depth Bible teaching I've really been needing/wanting.  God's Word is just so rich and so life changing.  It truly is water to my soul. 

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BW has been hard at work during this Christmas break from seminary in helping to develop some programs as he has begun to pastor at our new church.  Tonight launches Acts 2:42sdays (They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer Acts 2:42).  It is going to be a night (twice a month) of family centered Bible teaching, fellowship, food and prayer.  BW will be leading the school age children(2 of which will be his own).  I will be facilitating a women's study of Elizabeth George's book, Loving God with All Your Mind.  Please pray for me as I begin to serve in this way.  The men will be led by a retired pastor through the book, Disciplines of a Godly Man.  We are praying that this will be an edifying program for the church.

He is also leading another twice a month study for Young Adults & Families as well as the bible study that he had been leading prior to coming to this church.  Add in my seminary wives discipleship and the kids Awana on Wednesday nights and our calendar is getting pretty full.  And did I mention, he still has classes at seminary to take???  Please pray for him that he is able to balance everything he has taken on as well as continuing to be the amazing husband and father that he is.

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Speaking of the seminary, BW called with an amazing story this morning.  An anonymous friend of the seminary has had a burden on his heart to help meet the needs of the seminary men.  He wrote a check for $500,000 and told John MacArthur, the president fo the seminary, to distribute it immediately.  So each seminary man received a check today for $1,000!!!!!!!!!!  International students received double as they can't work while they are here.  For us, and helps to pay for some car repairs BW recently had done on his car.  But for many men, I know that they came to school today with nothing in their checking account, praying that God would provide this semester in a way only He can.  What an awesome God we serve!  "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"  Romans 11:33

May you be able to see God's mercies that He is richly bestowing on you today!

-J