Just Be Held

Sometimes God shows himself to you at just the right time.  Life is hard.  Life is amazing.  As we live it, though, sometimes we just don't understand - which I have come to realize is okay. Through the struggles, happiness, tears, anger, joy, and mundane there is always one constant - God.  Do we always understand His plan or agree with it - ABSOLUTELY NOT.  That doesn't mean we stop believing and it doesn't make Him love us any less.  I've noticed lately that at my most broken is where I find Jesus the most.  I know that I should find and seek Him even when things are going great (I'm still working on that), but it is comforting knowing He will continue to be there even as I fail Him.

Psalm 15:13  "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

Psalm 13:5 "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation"

Psalm 90: 14  "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

"Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns

Hold it all together

Everybody needs you strong

But life hits you out of nowhere

And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting

Chained by your control

There's freedom in surrender

Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm

You'll wonder if I love you still

But if your eyes are on the cross

You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted

In time, you'll understand

I'm painting beauty with the ashes

Your life is in My hands

Lift your hands, lift your eyes

In the storm is where you'll find Me

And where you are, I'll hold your heart

I'll hold your heart

Come to Me, find your rest

In the arms of the God who wont let go

Building Our Home - Week 9

Week 9 brought enclosures and trusses!  Oh and parents - both of our parents were in the house touring it with us this weekend.  That feeling of having family & friends there already makes my heart so happy.  Can't wait for weekends, dinners, holidays and coffee/beverages on the deck in the future!!

Week 9

From the "driveway"

Back of the house - can't wait for that deck to take shape!

Dad checked everything out for me and made sure everything was up to "Jake standards"

My happy place - the pond next to the house

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Two of my favorite men - at the other, smaller pond

Building Our Home - Week 8

Not much to say - just wow! Things are really going along great! They're hoping to have everything closed in by the weekend - fingers crossed the snow stays away. 

This view!! 

Building Our Home - Week 7

Week 7 brought about MANY changes out in the country!  We now have 2x4's everywhere.  Our basement is framed out and it's beginning to look like an actual home.  

As Ben and I walked through the "rooms" in the basement - I was overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and so much thanksgiving to God for allowing us to have this opportunity.  I hope that our home can be one that people come to and leave with a little bit more joy and love in their hearts.  

I look forward to filling this home with love and laughter, little children who grow into wonderful adults, and many friends and family. 

Building Our Home - Weeks 4, 5, and 6

Due to weather, not a whole lot has changed out at the house.  We officially have all the foundation poured and cement floors.  Started with one day of framing - hoping in the coming weeks that things will look quite a bit different!

Week 4

Week 4 brought a LOT  of rain!  Mom, Dad, Clay, Sam and Sawyer came to visit and finally got to see the progress. 

Ben and I got (I use that word loosely - it was more like had) to go up and pick out all PLUMBING FIXTURES!  Oh yeah, just as fun as it sounds.  He was thrilled, but he was much more helpful than I thought he would be!

See, he's thrilled

Yes that's our tub - Yes I took it for a test run

Our copper sink! Ben let me splurge - sure hope I like it as much as I think I will

Week 5

This picture is deceiving - week 5 brought SNOW and ICE - oh and the holidays, which means not a whole lot of work done.

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Look at those floors!!

Week 6

The ice and a little snow may have still been here, but framing day #1 happened!  It's a soupy mess out there (Ben wasn't impressed when we went out there to take some pictures).

Week 6

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I see a little framing!!

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Because building a house in the middle of winter makes a whole lot of sense

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

This year I got to participate in the annual "ugly Christmas sweater" day at work!  Yes, those are jolly ranchers and a little holly on my sweater (thanks to my MIL, Karen, for helping me make this beauty).

**winner not pictured - hers was pretty great**

Holidays were just a little sweeter this year - we have Sawyer Rose around!  I love all the family time I get during the holidays, wish I could see them all that much year round!

Papa sure loves his Sawyer Rose

Momma and baby getting a little shut eye

Dad got the shop all cleaned up AND decorated!  Payne Christmas was full of laughs and lots of little cousins!

Sawyer got Bert and Ernie dolls from Nana and Papa!  These two were some of her daddy's favorites when he was a little one.  Looks like she was just as happy with them.  Smooches!

Smooches

Got a little cuddle time with my first niece, Sadie.

Dally was pretty happy with her Christmas presents.  She even got some new tennis balls (which she is OBSESSED with) but I think she may have a new toy, pheasant!

She goes nowhere without pheasant

Pheasant even sleeps with her

Cather Christmas was great also, had a few setbacks, but a great night! 

When you're a Cather and don't fit in the furniture

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This year for our New Year celebration, we rode a party bus with around 50 friends.  We stopped at a few bars here and there and went to a casino!  What a great time we had with friends - we may be a little tired today, but it was totally worth every minute!

I love these ladies

I sure love my cowboy

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You MIGHT be old when you pull out cards at the bars

The band reunited

A perfect New Year's Day on the couch cuddling with this lady and watching movies with the hubby

 2015 was an amazing year - graduated from pharmacy school, started a new job, got to actually live with my husband, started building our forever home, got a NIECE, and many, many more blessings.  I cannot wait to see what all 2016 has to offer us, cheers friends!