His eye is on the sparrow.....

Ok, so I got the title of my blog, literally from God speaking to my heart one afternoon....I knew there was a scripture for it, but I was sitting....desiring to start this blog, & all of a sudden, it stuck: 'His eye is on you Jodi'....then of course, 'His eye is on the sparrow', followed my brain waves shortly thereafter. It was fitting. Perfect. It meant many things to me....so I went with it.

Well, yesterday, a man I don't know, came across the title of my blog....and sent me something very interesting. He sent me the link to the 143rd anniversary of the song/hymn that was written by Civilla Martin, of this title 'His eye is on the sparrow'......

It's beautifully written, which I have copied and if it isn't exactly perfect, down to every word, that truly explains my life & my heart. It's neat how God has brought this all together....how it means so much to me, in so many ways. So enjoy reading this little portion I have taken from the history of this hymn.

"Another song of Civilla Martin’s came in 1905 from the comment of a friend. She and her husband were visiting a Mr. And Mrs. Doolittle in Elmira, New York. She had been bedridden for nearly 20 years, and her husband was wheelchair-bound. But the godly couple continued to have a joyful, positive outlook. When Walter Martin asked their secret, Mrs. Doolittle replied, simply, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

It is a reference to the words of Jesus. “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will….[“not one of them is forgotten by God,” Lk. 12:6] Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:29, 31). The song that resulted from this encounter was later made famous by converted actress and blues singer, Ethel Waters. She even entitled her autobiography, His Eye Is on the Sparrow.

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Seasons....

So, it's been a week or so since I last wrote.... & I've got quite a bit going on in my brain, so I'm not sure if this is going to be short n' sweet....?

God has been doing alot with us this summer. There's been alot of "stirring", but it's been good.
JC and I have really enjoyed the summer with our boys. It's been a fun, but very busy summer. Mainly, JC's work load, which is huge, is what makes the summer fly by. He is pretty consumed by his business, but that is a huge blessing too - better than the latter! :-) I am good - just a bit tired. My boys have both turned a corner in the last month, where their energy levels & interaction with one another is truly amazing, but crazy at the same time. From every little thing boys do, well, mine have done it! ha! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being home with my boys, to train, teach, mold, develop and nuture - however, as any mother knows, it's work. My rewards are priceless & treasured. I have held every moment, difficult or not, with my boys in a little golden, treasure box in my heart. It's times like these, that I cherish, grow & learn the most!

As the summer has dwindled, we've walked through different "seasons" of good change. Change that is creating us into who GOD desires for us to be, as husband & wife, parents & for my boys as well.
JC is an amazing team player in all of this. He is an amazing husband, father, best friend & son. I couldn't have been more blessed when God brought him into my life! I am honored to be his wife. He chooses each day to love God first, his family second & then everything else just falls into place. It's my husband who reminds me that whatever "season" we are in, is when we give our best, regardless of how hard or easy it may be. JC is my rock & I love doing life with him!

Seasons do however, ebb & flow...... & are apart of who we are & how God carries us through each one.

We are looking forward to this new season of change, as we are moving! yay! October 1st!!!! wahoo!!!! God brought us a beautiful house, in a very much desirable neighborhood. This house was built in the 50's, so it's got all the old, nice hardwood flooring we love, solid house, built well, new roof, all kinds of beautiful upgrades & amenities that the owners have put their heart & soul into. It's a one-story, which we love. It's not huge, which we prefer & yet it's got years and years of us growing with it. The biggest blessing about this house, is that the location is perfect, the neighborhood couldn't be any more ideal for a growing family like ours & best of all, it's got a working garage, nice long driveway, & a 1/2 acre of a yard in the back w/ a beautiful oak tree as it's centerpiece! Having lived in apartments for the past 5 years with no yard, no storage, this couldn't be any more wonderful!! Now who doesn't think God is in the details!!!

He always give us the best and more! We are thrilled for this blessing of a house! There's so much potential and what we love, is that we are adding our own touches, that will make it ours. We can buy it, but we're in no hurry to do that. Just taking it one day at a time as renters. It's easier that way. The fact that we can move in, in a little over a month, is exciting too! We'll be in there by fall. yay!

I trust God, no matter what. Even when nothing makes sense, even when there are no answers, even when hard times come. I knew He would have something special for us. This house is my home. I can't thank God enough for all He has done & is doing. He's not finished with us yet - the amazing stuff, has ONLY BEGUN!

So, this next "season" God will carry us....He will have the answers & He will direct our every footstep. We are to simply soak ourselves in His love daily & trust in His plans. If tomorrow, this house slipped through our fingers for some reason, then Praise God! I don't want it, if it's not God's will. His will for us is perfect. Trusting in that alone.

We will be busy this next month, packing, pitching, purging, organizing & preparing, so if you read this, please keep us in your prayers. Thank you!
More seasons to come, I'm sure....until next time....love all you blog readers.....

Blog on....

Fun in the sun.....

We have really been enjoying our summer - needless to say, it's been an oven, but the heat makes you appreciate the AC and when fall arrives! yay! I can't believe school starts in 2.5 weeks! My big Garrett will be in Pre-k. He's excited, as we are! So, we are enjoying some of our last summer days, outside in the sun, splashin in our kiddy pool, doing what we can do enjoy the summer God has given to us. We've also had some amazing thunderstorms to cool off those hot days...which we love & the kids go wild when it thunders!

These days are times in my life that I truly cherish and wish wouldn't go by so quickly.

We hope next summer, we will have more of a yard for the boys to play in & a little more space to run. But for now, this cozy house & tiny backyard is what God has blessed us with & I am very thankful!


Here are my boys, taking in the warm, summer days together!

My favorite Scriptures...

Just thought I'd blog some of my favorite scriptures that I daily bathe myself in....no matter how happy, content or completely crazy I am feeling from one day to the next, these verses recharge my spirit & remind me of who I am in Christ. The woman God created me to be. It's easy to get lost in who we are b/c of our role(s). I cherish being a wife, mother, sister, friend, chef, laundress, taxi driver, prayer warrior, nurse....you name it, us mommies are truly blessed, but it's in those times where I sort of forget who I really am, that I am reminded through these beautiful words from my heavenly father. I pray they encourage you the same:

These verses are taken from the amazing bible, 'The Message/Remix' by Eugene H. Peterson...I LOVE the translation...hope you do too:

Romans: 8: 15-17 " This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next papa"? God's spirit touches our spirit & confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us - an unbelievable inheritance!!!! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!

Psalm 91: "You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this: "God, you're my refuge". I trust in you and I'm safe! That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His HUGE outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm."

Psalm 31:24 " Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon."

Romans 5:3-4 "There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling short-changed. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."

More to come.....