Winter is coming...

The past few days have been in the 40's with lots of rain...feels like winter. As winter begins to arrive it brings an end to the rodeo season. Morgan had her last High School Rodeo this past weekend in Canadian. She is sitting a slot or two out of the top 15 (the top 15 go to the state finals). With a good spring rodeo season she could easily qualify for the Tri-State High School Rodeo Finals next summer. Lauren has her last Wrangler Division Jr. High Rodeo this weekend in Happy. The end of rodeo season is a welcome arrival as mom and dad are tired!! However, Lauren is playing Jr. High Basketball and her season will start soon. All three girls are enjoying school this year. Next month all the girls and Jess will have birthdays. Lauren will be a teenager, Morgan will be 15 and is chomping at the bit to get her driving permit and Jess will a one year away from the big 40.

We get to start moving this week and are so ready. We've been allowed to stay in the parsonage until the end of October but it has certainly been awkward. The girls are so excited to be moving and so are we. Each of the girls will have their own bedroom and Lauren and Landry think that's about as good as it gets.

Overall life is good and our faith continues to grow and our time's together as a family are sweet. God has been good to us and His grace continues to be sufficient and we glory in that.

A Much Needed "Dad's Day"

I (Jess) has always loved cool cloudy and rainy days-guess that's why I've always loved duck hunting. Ever since Morgan was born we have referred to those kids of days as a "Dad's Day". the past couple of days have been picture perfect "Dad's Days"-cool weather, constant clouds and steady rain and drizzle. Some people find these kinds of days depressing and are energized by sunny days. I'm a little different I guess in that these rainy days are what energise me. Even though it's been too wet to work-the weather has really lifted my spirits overall and it has been much needed. We still continue to wonder what the next season of our lives will be. I have no doubt God's call to ministry is still on my life-I'm just not sure what it is to look like at this point. Over and over I have read Prov. 3:5ff over and over and believe what it says and if I trust in God completely and don't try to figure it out all out on my own and acknowledge the Lord in all my ways He will direct my paths. I guess the hard part for Donna and I has been the waiting and fearing we will miss God's plan for our lives. We are trusting God and know He will make it clear in His time. There are a few options we have considered but are so unsure of what we are to do. We are asking God to help us wait and and be patient and not push any doors open and let God open them in His time. With all this on my mind, the "Dad's Day" was welcome!