Seems like Yesterday!!!

           6 Years ago today Jeremy and I went on our first date. I had no idea I would fall head over heels for a guy I had known my entire life!!! Our relationship was rocky but our love was real, and despite many peoples opinions we got married 10 months later. In April we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We might have had a rough beginning, but We finally got our happily ever after!!! 

We were only dating in this photo! Look how young we look! Not sure why I dont have one of us in the same picture but we are side by side in these.

Night before my wedding!!! Glad I didnt smile like this haha!

Silly Saturday #19

      Random picture day!!!!

Hiking Avalanche 

Baptism at Beyond Borders for Christ!

Redneck yard photo

Being silly

So true!! But very hard not to be afraid!

WHY??!!!!

      Why?!   Almost two years ago I was asking God the same question. See Jeremy and I had a good life. We had a beautiful house, pets we loved, surrounded by family, and a awesome church family, and yet God was telling us to leave it all. So July (2011) I told my family goodbye and left a life I loved and had always known. I wont lie I asked why?! ALOT. I cried ALOT. I didnt understand my heart was broken and no matter how great Montana was it would never be home.


           Two years later and I am broken. My heart aches and I am asking Why?! With only a few weeks left I can feel the knife in my heart sinking deeper and deeper. I love my life in Montana and it has became home.  I dont wanna start over. I dont wanna leave. I cry ALOT and my heart is heavy. I dont wanna say goodbye  I dont wanna leave another home.


            I know God has a plan and I know that if we hadnt listened in the first place we would have never known the beauty and wonder of our two years in Montana. So all I can hold onto is that something beautiful is ahead. A new life that will bring happiness and please God.

         Its human nature to ask why and to not understand Gods plan, but we have to trust Him with our lives even when it hurts and even when its hard. Please continue to pray for Jeremy and I as we try to make the most of our last few weeks in Montana and as we transition to life in Tennessee.




I couldnt have said it better myself!!

Surprise......We have the best friends ever!!!!!!

           So I have been helping my friend Dixie invite everyone to a surprise dinner we were having  for Lee and Joy today (sunday the 16th) after church. I was sneaking around behind Lee and Joys back and inviting everyone and surprise the party was for me and Jeremy too!!! Lee and Joy thought it was for us and We thought it was for them!!! It was a great surprise and we are thankful for everyone who came!!! We are very very thankful Dixie has such a servants heart and threw the party for ALL of us!!!

This is the cake Dixie made for Jeremy and I. Since We came to Canyon Baptist to be the worship leaders the cake is a music note!!!

Happy Fathers Day!!!!!!

He never looks for praises
He's never one to boast
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most
His dreams are seldom spoken
His wants are very few
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken too
He's there.... A firm foundation
Through all my storms of life
A sturdy hand to hold to
In times of stress and strife
A true friend I can turn to
When times are good or bad
One of my greatest blessings,
The man that I call Dad.

                                               Karen K. Boyer

              

Silly Saturday #18

    Yes I know its friday, but I have plans tomorrow and am not sure if I will have time to get to my computer. Tomorrow Jeremy and I are going to the park ( Glacier National Park). We have never been alone and decided some quiet time together would be nice.  My parents just left yesterday and We had a awesome week!! It was so much fun to have them here and show them around.

     Today I have plans with a friend and so does Jeremy and since its only a few weeks from our moving day we know that some quiet time together in the park will do us alot of good. We are filled with so many mixed emotions especially since this coming us Wednesday is our last Beyond Borders for Christ :(!!  We are nervous, excited, and anxious about our new life and we are sad,broken hearted, and dreading leaving our life here in Montana, but we know that our God is working things out for our good and that He has a plan for us. We are clinging to those promises!! Thank you for your prayers during our time of transition and please keep them coming.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Silly Saturday #17

    For two years I prayed and waited ( Patiently......ok no I just waited)  And finally after two long years ....... MY PARENTS ARE COMING TO MONTANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I had no idea I could be this excited!!!!! Finally my stories will have a picture to go with them. Finally they will get to see all the ministries I have told them so much about. I cannot wait to show them what I have been doing and where I have been for the last two years.  I am so thankful my prayer has finally been answered. Gods timing is perfect!!

 God is good. 

 Speaking of that here is a cute video of Alayah for all you who dont have facebook and havent seen it yet.  She is 21 months old now and  learning to talk and it is awesome to hear her learn new words. She is one smart girl!! We are taking lots of pictures and videos and enjoying our last few weeks with her. We could spend this time being sad, but instead we are thanking God for the past year we have had with her. :) And we will definitely be back for visits....ASAP :)

Psalm 37:4

            As we have begun cleaning out drawers and things in the apartment we are finding all sorts of interesting things.  Nothing could have prepared me for what I read in  this letter I wrote to Jeremy back in August  ( 2012) when I was in Tennessee.  Keep in mind We had no idea at this time that God would be calling us back to Tn.

Take delight in the LORD 

and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Silly Saturday #16

             

A bad attitude!

    Do you ever have a bad attitude?? I do ALOT, but last night was extra bad!!! I was just in a horrible mood, and I was madest because I was mad that I was mad! haha Hope you get what I meant there. Jeremy and I made a promise that no matter how stressed we got about the move we were gonna make these last (6) weeks here the best and not waste a moment worry about things we cant change or control. So I was so mad because I was breaking that promise. Then we get in bed and Jeremy was asking me what was wrong. So of course I began unloading EVERYTHING and finally I said im just so frustrated. You know what He said "The Lord has been way too good to us for us to feel like this"  He put himself in it, but it was mostly me so He really meant " The Lord has been way too good to you for you to feel like this" But thankfully I married a gentleman and He didnt say it so bluntly. He was right and that did snap me out of my bad attitude for the moment. He then reminded me that we only have 3 wednesdays left. So again I promised (myself) that  I was gonna make the most of the rest of our time. After all no time to be sad, frustrated, or anything else negative not when God has placed so much positive around me. :)

   Today is a new day and it might not be a better day then yesterday, but I will have a better attitude!!

A house guest for the weekend and a update on Molly.

      We committed to keep our friends dog ( Conrad) for the weekend. So on friday our house guest arrived and He was not so sure about us, but He warmed up quickly. You know how Molly was always Jeremys favorite and followed him around everywhere and she liked me, but I was clearly not her favorite well.......................................I am finally someones favorite :)

   

  By the way if your wondering about Molly She is doing great. She loves her new home and family and is trying to learn to be more gentle with her new families cat :/. She is adjusting well and we are so thankful to the Downings for giving her a good home.

Silly Saturday #15

          Have we really been enjoying Silly Saturdays for 15 weeks?!  Wow Time  flies!!!! Speaking of time flying the weeks are dwindling down, and it won't be long till were Tn bound. When we first felt God calling us back to TN  I began saving boxes. Our family sends us stuff alot and in December it seemed like UPS was stopping daily. So we have one whole wall in our extra bedroom filled with boxes. So the packing has begun!!! All our winter clothes are packed except for a few hoodies, and jackets.So thankful I left those out since it snowed tuesday night!! Last night I packed all our sliverware, utensils, and dishes. I know what your thinking "What are you gonna eat on, and with?  As most everyone already knows Canyon Baptist Church has not always been a church. Most people have heard it was a bar, but alot leave out that it also use to be a resturant. So upstairs in the church kitchen is a room with all kinds of pots and pans, dishes, and sliverware. So I went up got what we needed for the apartment, and when I had got everything it had not even put a dent in all thats up there!! Another reason I went ahead and did this is because this summer a family is coming to help Canyon Baptist. They will be staying in the apartment so they would have needed all those things anyway. So instead of packing my stuff last minute and leaving the cabniets bare for someone else to worry about. I am ahead and now thats one less worry for me, or anyone else.
            Packing is making things very real. I am overwhelmed with excitement and then boom filled with sadness.  It is not easy so don't be fooled by our smiles or upbeat attitudes. We decided that We want these to be the best weeks ever and we wont let ourselves get overwhelmed with sadness or fear. We asked God to help us, and guess what we are filled with peace!!!! God is good!!!

Packed and ready to go!!

Romans 8:28

            We all have to make decisions that are hard. Jeremy and I had to make a hard decision,but after many sleepless nights and questioning ourselves we both agreed it was for the best. Life can be mean, heartbreaking, and unfair, but when we hand our decisions over to God they can work out for the better and He will give us peace. That is what happened to us this week. As most of you know we planned to take Molly with us to Tn, but as complications with that begin to arise we questioned that decision. So as we wrestled with the question to take her with us or find her a new home we began to pray. Laugh if you want, but God wants us to bring whats on hearts to Him in prayer.  We decided finding her a good loving family was the best option.  This was not an escape route or just something we did without much thought. This has broken our hearts! But in the end we love her enough to do whats best for her. 36 hours in a car is not best. Especially if she has to live in a tiny apartment with no room to run or play. Once the decision was made we began to ask around. I prayed that God would send the right family, possibly one with kids because Molly without a doubt loves kids.

       I asked God to give her a loving family and to give us peace. Within a week our friends Jeremy and Cameron said they would love to give her a loving home. Boy did God answer my prayers!! Molly now has not one child to love her, not two,not three, She has five!! She will be in heaven. Plus she will be right down the road until we leave and we can go see her. Also another great part is Alayahs Mom is friends with Jeremy and Cameron so Alayah will still get to see her friend! Without a doubt God worked all this out and although our hearts are broken God has given us peace. Molly was our everything for the last year and a half and instead of being sad that she will no longer be with us,  We are thankful for the time we had with her.
God answered my prayers and Molly now has another loving family.


And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Mollys new family :) 

Opportunities

   I'll admit that there have been times I have had to ask myself am I moving home for selfish reasons? In the beginning while we were unsure if this was Gods will for our lives we prayed and struggled to see Gods plan for us. I can remember sobbing one night and saying God, I dont wanna be selfish. Help me to think clearly and not selfishly. We prayed and prayed and just felt God moving us toward Tn. I prayed for peace and understanding. God has continually given me both. He has opened the door for opportunity after opportunity. In fact we have so many ministry opportunities awaiting for us in Tn that we are currently praying for direction and which path to choose. I have already commited to a babysitting job that will start at the end of July.  I can see Gods hand in this move. I know He has a purpose and a plan for us. I am thankful for all the opportunities  He is pouring out for us. Through each one I realize more and more that this is His will for our lives and not a selfish decision. I feel so blessed that He has work for us back home where both our families are. God is good!!

Silly Saturday #14

      Wow Wow Wow!!!! Thats all I could say when I stepped onto the scale Friday morning. 130 was my goal when I started my weight loss and when I hit 130 a few weeks ago I was on cloud nine. It felt as though a huge weight had lifted off of me. I got down to 129 and relaxed. I still walked daily and ate healthy, but there was no worry. They say that stress is a huge reason for not seeing weight loss. I must say that is correct because without trying I lost 2 pounds!! I am now 127 and HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!! God is so good and has kept me motivated just like I prayed He would and there is no doubt in my mind that is why I have been successful this time. 

This is the dress I changed into to leave my wedding 5 years ago. It has not fit in along time, but I could not bear to get rid of it. I danced all around the house when I slipped it on to find it is a little loose. :) God is so good!!!!!

Cooks!!

Be a friend!!!

Always live life as if someone is watching and looking up to you. Because even though you think no one is.....they just might be.

Be caring, be a role model, but most of all be a friend!!

Silly Saturday #13

Easing into the background

             8 more weeks!!!! It is becoming more and more real that in only 8 short weeks we will load all our things in a u-haul and drive away. We will leave  friends we cherish and a life we love. All for Christ. No sacrifice is too big considering your doing it for a man who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I am sad. I am overwhelmed. I am anxious. I am worried. But I trust God and His plan for my life. I have peace because I know He holds my future and He will work it out for my good.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

             Lately I have been working on letting go and easing into the background. On wednesdays my jobs were to teach the 3 and under class and get everything together for the puppet shows. A few months ago my friend Diane took over the 3 and under class for me so that I could put  100% of my focus on the puppet ministry. Through a conversation a few weeks later a friend of mine Christi said she would like to take over the puppets when I leave. So I begin to help her and show her what I do and next thing I know I am slowly easing into the background. Please don't take this post wrong I am not whining or saying poor me everyones  taking my jobs. I am praising God for laborers!!


 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38


           I am so thankful for both of those ladies and their willingness to serve. Because of them I get to go in each wednesday and enjoy the kids. I still help cook the meal and clean afterwards so dont think im somewhere with my feet propped up, but I am watching as others take over jobs I started. As a missionary this is what you work for. In hopes of one day slowing  easing into the background and watching things go on and function whether your there or not. Because reality is that in 8 more weeks I wont be there, but something I started will and it will go on and grow long after im gone. Not because i'm awesome, but because God is. Not because I was a good teacher, but because God helped me each week. Not because I had a great idea one day and came up with the puppet ministry, but because God gave me a vision one day for the puppet ministry. Not because I woke up one morning and wanted to come to Hungry Horse, Montana, but because God put a desire in my heart for Hungry Horse, Montana. And now God has put a desire in my heart for TN. Not because my family is there although thats great, but because God has a purpose for us there. God is allowing me to slowly ease into the background not to make me feel unneeded, but to give me peace and allow me to see that life will go on in Hungry Horse, Montana and although it will hurt and hearts will ache we will all be just fine because we wont be alone, and there is no greater peace than that. 


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go Joshua 1:9

Just a random photo!

So I  have had to get alot of new clothes since most of my old ones are huge!! I must say its amazing how big a difference 33 pounds makes. So here is one of my new outfits. The jeans are a size 6!!!!!                    The last time I could wear that size I was a freshman in high school!!! 

Happy Birthday Jeremy Lee Malone!!!

   So tomorrow will be a busy day we are having a bbq and meeting for the workers at Beyond Borders for Christ. So I decided I better write this post today since more than likely I wont have time tomorrow.  So yes I realize i'm a day early, but He never reads my blog anyway so He wont know the difference!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Husband!!!

 You have shown just how strong you are this year. You set a goal and did not stop until you reached it. Today you are 90 pounds lighter because of your hard work and dedication and I am so proud of you!!

Hooray for a productive Monday!

   I feel like I got alot accomplished today!! Yesterday evening I wrote our last newsletter :(  This morning I printed them all then  I multitasked by folding them while sitting on the back porch getting rid of the sun tan line I got at the lake on sunday. Ok so the sun did all the work besides the folding. Then I came inside and packed up most of our winter clothes. I left out a few outfits just in case. Then I organized our extra bedroom which is filled with empty boxes and now some packed boxes. I also packed all our blankets and sheets that we wont be using again for awhile. Then I got all the newsletters put into envelopes and sealed. We went to dollar plus to buy sun screen and aloe since we are a little burnt from the lake on sunday. Then we came home and took Molly for a walk. Now Jeremy is cooking dinner and afterwards I need to put stamps on the newsletters and start writing addresses on them. I am looking at the clock wondering where my day off went, but it was a good day. Happy Monday everyone!!!

 

Silly Saturday Oops Silly Sunday #12

           Ok who realized I forgot silly saturday yesterday??!! I completely forgot!!!! So here is a picture of us this beautiful sunday morning before heading off to church. 





 By the way All my clothes in this picture are from the clothes closet here at Canyon Baptist so come on by every 2nd and 4th tuesday of the month from 8:30am-11:30am for free clothes!!!!!