Vonette Bright...and Romance

Thank you for your prayers! Elijah did so much better today, as did the other children. We were finally able to get a prescription cream for his eczema, which began helping immediately.

Vonette Bright spoke to us tonight! She is BEAUTIFUL. What a wonderful testimony she gave of her late husband, Bill Bright, and the ministry the two of them began almost 50 years ago. God is so creative. Who could have conjured up what He has done through two small town farmer kids? Only GOD.

There's so much more to tell, but my eyes are closing.

Now for the latter half of my post...

So we passed by a billboard in Daytona Beach that read, "Adam and Eve, the Romance Shop". I was in and out of consciousness at the time, but the image stuck in my mind. I've thought about it for several days now. First of all, "romance" has nothing to do with toys and gadgets. God romances us minute by minute. I don't know about you, but I don't need gadgets with God. And to use Adam and Eve as a representation of romance in such a foul way reminds me just how distorted a view we have on sex. So.....romance and sex. Are they one in the same? They can be. But they certainly aren't always. You tell me...

Day #2

We officially registered yesterday and began with a kick-off meeting last night. Today was our first day of classes....and childcare.

Mommy and baby are having a hard time with it. I know, I'm a wuss. But I like my life as easy as possible, and childcare makes it a little tougher. There are four babies under a year and one toddler under the supervision of two teenage gals. God bless them!! I am praying they get a good routine and understanding of each child so their lives are simpler also. Elijah was cranky all afternoon. The eczema has returned with a vengeance. He was just fussing all day and scratching everywhere. Please pray we can get a grip on this. It hurts my heart to see him so uncomfortable and be powerless to fix it. Seems no one has ever seen eczema this bad. I guess that's the curse of being a mom. When your baby hurts, you hurt. So I'm hurting for him....

Otherwise, we're doing well. It is the rainy season in Winter Park, Florida. CRAZY mad thunderstorms! Every afternoon. We live right by the fire station, so I think we heard 12 fire trucks pass by our room today.

We received another check in the mail today! Thank you! We know many of you have plans to give and we thank you in advance for that. We only lack a few thousand dollars at this point to round up our training costs. To God be the Glory.

Goodnight!

Lindsay

We're here.

Three days later, we're here! It took us longer than anticipated with a ten-month old - guess that was to be expected. We spent Saturday night with Brent's brother and wife in Douglas, GA, and had a sweet time with them and their soon-to-be little one. :) Then we made it to Atlantic City, Florida, where my very first childhood friend and her husband live. Had some delicious shrimp tacos, homemade guacamole, and grilled corn, topped off with a walk on the beach! Ahh...the particles. :) Today, we arrived in Winter Park, Florida, to a beautiful campus at Rollins College. Of course, there were some unexpected obstacles with room arrangements and such, but we are settling in. And I think Elijah is sleeping soundly for the first time in three days. We all need that!

Our one-bedroom apartment is just perfect for five weeks. Way better than expected. Brent's at Walmart (you just can't avoid it!) right now grabbing some food for us for the week and a couple of last minute things we need (like an egg crate, because I'm needy when I sleep). We arrived a day early so we could get settled in, and we're so glad we made that decision. We're completely wiped.

We officially check

in for classes tomorrow, with a welcoming meeting tomorrow evening. We've had the

opportunity to meet some other families who checked in early also, and I believe we will have a super sweet time with them.

So for now, all I can say is how Good God is. We're safe. We're here. We're provided for. And we're in His grip. Thank you for all your prayers!

Love,

Lindsay

First Fruits

Only God can take one of the most painful weeks and turn it into one of the sweetest weeks of our lives. Brent and I have gotten a good kick out of his week so far. He began it with a stomach bug, then had two flat tires on his birthday, and ended Wednesday by getting fired. But OH, how Thursday and Friday have been filled with richness and kindness.

My sweet friend, Julie, served me today with her time and her hands. We went out to the garden in our backyard and picked gobs of squash and zucchini. More than we could possibly eat before it went bad! So after using four zucchini to make two loaves of bread and four squash to make baby food for Elijah, and Julie taking four for her family, we still have a ton of fruit left! Feels to me like feeding the 5,000. I'm just sitting here reveling in the goodness of Him. He promises to provide. Walking out into the garden and seeing the abundance of fruit just filled me with The Promise. And this is just the beginning.

2 Corinthians 1: 8 had the Gosnell family written all over it this morning:

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia (or Knoxville). For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

We await with eager anticipation His deliverance in our lives and in yours! No more despair.

Come eat of the fruit of our garden while we are away. Isn't it sweet of the Lord to allow us to continue to give in our time of need. I love HIM!

Until tomorrow,

Lindsay