Invitations

An invitation. That's what it starts with. Just an invitation from someone. An invitation to go to coffee. An invitation to come over. An invitation that could be the start of something bigger.  Something bigger than a blank stare or a glance or just a kind "hi" passing by.  When looking from the outside, the new person, the one anyone has talked to yet and invitation can mean the difference between wondering if there is going to be a new adventure, new friendship,  or if you are going to become unsure or  awkward in this different, and challenging place that is completely unfamiliar and foreign in every way.  Everyone has been invited somewhere to something and we choose to accept or not. To go forward or hold on to the past not seeing there are greater things to come in the future. SO much more than we can ever think or imagine is in store!! God does that.  He pulls us out of our comfort zones so we can be the creative masterpieces that He has planned!!With that... we just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU! We have received soooo many amazing invitations since we moved here..I can't tell you how blessed we are by our new Alaskan family that didn't even know who we were and how thankful that we are that each and every invitation was extended in our direction.  It has been an absolute gift to not only our family but also to our faith.  Faith that God always has a plan. During the quiet and during the storms. During the comfortable times and the hard times that He works and molds our hearts so they will be open to hear the whispers of his guidance. Only If we so choose to listen to them, speaking ever so patiently and lovingly, will He be able to work on our hearts and lives of our family. I just hope that we can be even half as kind to you all as you have been to us. Thank you. 

This last couple of months has been a very different season in this family's life. We have had an absolutely amazing time bonding as a family, growing, taking long drives into the beautiful, blissful countryside of our Alaskan adventure with our bright orange(easy to find in a parking lot) jeep.  It also has been challenging in so many different ways, and yet through the darkness of this new winter there has been joy in sunrises and sunsets. There is joy and warmth in powdered snow.  White and pure. Every time I see it fall, a peace surrounds.  I think God is sending hugs down from heaven.  It's funny, even though snow is so very cold by itself, when it falls as a single snowflake...it seems to get warm when fluttered together.  We as people are the same. Fluttering together creating a warmth in the hearts of people that are touched by someone getting close enough to be love in action.