Growing Into Our New House

For those of you who have not heard yet, we are expecting a new addition to our family next July. Lily is finally going to be a big sister and she is very excited. Just a few moments ago we were watching a movie and a baby was in it and she said, "hey that's MY baby sister!" It is very entertaining to hear all the cute things she says especially considering she's the one who knew I was pregnant. Two weeks ago we were at Target and she told me that I had a baby in my tummy. I kind of brushed it off thinking I was just having a "fat" day but she insisted about the baby. So, I followed her instincts (her spirit hearing from God) and she was right! Now we can start filling the new house with our expanding family. I think we are still in shock having barely lived here for 6 weeks and all we can say is God is faithful. We haven't been very faithful but it's not up to us it is all about who HE is. God is good and HIS LOVE is ever so extravagant!

Birthday Week Is Over!

Well, as most of you know "birthday week" begins with Amy and ends with me. We are exactly 7 days apart so we have a perfect week of celebrating that has come to an end as of today! We spent Friday and Saturday in Amarillo and all I can say is it was way too short. We have a lot of loved ones and not a lot of time. We had my birthday dinner with my most beloved friends and it was a night you do your best to savor yet it slips away too quickly. I cannot do the night any justice by describing it in words so I will just say that if my friends party on earth like it is in Heaven then come Lord Jesus quickly! I have been extravagantly loved by Him and my friends and family are such a great picture of His LOVE! So, thank you my dear ones for receiving the fullness of His love because you sure know how to pour it out.......

Treasured Days.....

Well, the weekend we have been looking forward to has come and gone. Amy's birthday was Friday and we all had fun-filled days with our families. Friday afternoon we snacked on cheese and crackers and sandwiches trying to prepare our tummies for burgers, fries, and cherry pies later that night. The Harris family went to eat with us to celebrate Amy and then back to our house to hang out and let all the kids play. Saturday morning I kept the kids while Ben took the birthday girl to breakfast and then later, Amy and I went to lunch. We discovered a great little treasure by way of an Amarillo friend, called Manna! Actually, it's Manna Bread and Wine. We had a fabulous time laughing, talking, and enjoying Heavenly food. I treasure my time with my beloved best friend and that was an experience for the books! Saturday night was Amy's actual birthday dinner as Ben (super-husband) had ordered lobster from Maine! An actual live lobster that had arrived on my doorstep the day before. Ben had taken care of that lobster doing his best to keep him alive right until it was time to eat and we all said goodbye! It was quite an experience. The title of this blog sums up this weekend and my favorite part of the entire 3 days? Sunday morning breakfast with my "family" in our pajamas just living life together (documented with the pics).
The Martinez family is beyond blessed to have the Thoennes family be such a huge part of our lives. So, to my friend who is closer than a sister....I love you and know that you are known and treasured from Lubbock, Tx!

Finally, A Real Blog Post!

OK! As you well know life has been turned upside down for us so in lieu of that blogging has taken a back seat. Well, life has somewhat returned to a glimpse of what it used to be.....I finally found my camera, charged the batteries, downloaded the pics, and am so excited to show you some of our new house! So enjoy.......and I will blog more in a couple of days. Some of these pics are of the whole process from moving out of our house in Amarillo and then our new one in Lubbock. I wanted you all to feel included in our crazy chaos! Love to all..........

LIFE IN LUBBOCK

Well, it has been a while since my last post due to my computer being in storage and my living situation. The back and forth from Amarillo to Lubbock has ended as we have finally moved into our house and life may soon contain some consistency! We are working on unpacking and realizing it may take weeks or months for our new place to feel like home but we are enjoying it nonetheless. Our new house is a dream come true and am continually taken aback at the lavishness of God. This morning was mine and Lily's first to wake up with no one else in the house even Jay as he left for work super early. I still find myself asking, "do I really live here?". Feels a bit like we are house sitting for a family who will soon return from their vacation. Well, there you have it for now. Please pray for our family as we continue to adjust to our new life! I will send pics of the house when I find my camera ( somewhere in one of these boxes :).......Love to all!

What Are You Gonna Do With a God Like This?

All of you know what God is doing in our lives right now. What some of you may not know is HOW HE is doing it all. I cannot tell you all the things that have transpired in the last 2 weeks but I do want to share how faithful and gracious and good our heavenly Father is. Knowing and feeling the hand of Abba on our situation is an unexplainable experience. Here are some fun details about what God has done:
1. He spoke very plainly when He asked us to move to Lubbock ( in other words I did not have to see "GO TO LUBBOCK" spelled out in lightning bolts in the sky!
2. He prepared the hearts of our family and our friends to receive the news and even speaking to them about it personally.
3. He sold our house in 3 days ( with our asking price and actually we were offered over our asking price) and the blessings of smooth transactions is still in progress. Thank you JESUS!
4. He has poured out double portions of His grace on Lily and I as Jason is living in Lubbock and coming home one day a week.
5. He has given me the 2 greatest sets of parents. Bill and Nancy and my parents, Rex and Barbara, have babysit Lily, vacuumed my house, dusted furniture, cleaned bathtubs, and touched up paint, AND hooked the computer back up after the new carpet was laid! Thank you, Lord for blessing me with your beloveds who have laid down their lives for me and my family!
6. He has given Jason a great staff in Lubbock who are excited to get the store on track.
7. He has spoken to me that He has prepared a place for us and we are prayerfully looking at houses.

God is so good, not because we are deserving , because we are loved! So, here we go off to Lubbock forging ahead in HIS kingdom to do HIS work. We are so loved by Him and thank Him for leading us as we obey by His grace. Not by might, not by power, but by MY SPIRT says the LORD!

THE 4TH!

July 4th is a BIG holiday for us. It is our Christmas in July! I cannot tell you how it became such a big deal maybe growing up in Canyon where it is an all day event. There's the pancake breakfast in the morning followed by a parade and of course the fair on the square complete with corn dogs and funnelcakes. Tradition follows us every year as we celebrate with our other family, the Hairs (Amy's parents). We have a cookout at their home in Canyon and then journey to Conner Park to enjoy fireworks. Every time is a thrill as it seems to be coming sooner and sooner each year. I love stirring the anticipation in Lily as it approaches, telling her about the fireworks, parade, and homemade ice cream! This year was no exception to all the fun, I just cannot believe it has come and gone......