Change

Change is happening. God is on the move and working. Always working I know, but specifically in our lives. A while ago, I posted something about "Searching". If it wasn't on here, it was on my face book page under notes. So, if you haven't read it, you should read that first, and then continue on with this. (It will just make more since I think.) Or not, it doesn't matter.

God has continually been working in Brad & I's marriage, in our family unit, as well as in our individual hearts for quite some time. Over this past year, things have changed quite drastically. For the better of course! Once we "woke from our sleep", our walk with the Lord has been like a revival! It's been awesome, amazing, life changing, and has really cleared our vision. It's like a new prescription in your glasses, or getting glasses for the first time. Amazing, right? Well, that is how I can best describe our spiritual walk with the Lord.

As you all know, we started homeschooling last year, for the second time. (I was homeschooling, sent them to public school while the cafe was open, and then pulled them back out when we closed the cafe.) It has been amazing. A wonderful blessing that I give thanks for often 1) to my husband that allows me to stay home, so therefor takes on the longer hours to provide for his family, 2) to the Lord for also allowing me to stay home with our children, providing a job for my husband so that I can stay at home, 3) for the wisdom, guidance, and knowledge that He has given to both Brad and I. With such changes, there is always a cause and effect type of situation. With our minds thinking differently on things, then that means that our actions will be different, our needs will be different, our 'wants/desires' will be different, and our vision will be different as well. So, cause and effect. I hope that this makes since, because it's hard to describe.

With the different vision in which we have been given, we are seeing some things that need to be changed. It has caused us to be unsettled in some areas of our life. One of those areas is our place of worship, where we have called home for 8 years now. This church is where both Brad & I received the Lords invitation of Salvation through his Son Jesus Christ, and believed. This church is where we have grown in our spiritual walk. This church is where we were both baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; for the forgiveness of our sins; and where we received the gift of the Holy Spirit. We've added 2 children to our family since being a part of this church. We have loved this church dearly, and for all of these things, we are very thankful.

The change is that it is time to move on. With the Lord growing our family spiritually, there are some things that we are not on the same page with any more. Our world view is different, our need of encouragement is different, our vision of family worship is different, our vision of discipleship is different. These changes are all good. We definitely feel encouraged by these changes within our family, and have peace about it, but it's also a time of grieving since this causes us to leave the only family we've known for the past eight years. God is still at work there, don't get me wrong, and He is definitely changing lives there, it's just time for something more. Something that will be more like-minded as we are. Encouraging us in the areas of family worship, family education, family discipleship, and so forth.

We would appreciate any and all prayers for our family and our new journey. Prayers that we would trust Him, and that we would walk in faith, be faithful, steadfast and diligent to the Lord who leads our path, and guides our steps.

Summer Floodin'

Tuesday evening we had a wonderful time celebrating Brads birthday, filled with fun gifts, fun decorations and a delicious dessert! Who would want a boring old cake if you could have this, right? Well, that is what I told myself, but it was a hit!

Even though my hard working husband worked a full day with out getting off early, he was able to have a day off today! Not for the best of reasons though. We had a 'little' flooding last night/this morning. There was literately no way in or out of town for there was flooding on all sides of us. The news has said we were like a little "island". And as of 2pm, the water plant has been closed. There is a break in the water line, and with the flooding they cannot find where the break is, so no tap water. Boiling order in effect, and just about all the stores out of bottled water. We were able to get a bunch before the ciaos began! Praise the Lord! Here are some pix for my far away family and friends. Will keep you updated. I do have a post on face book with excellent aerial pictures of the whole town. (look for des moines register) It's really awesome to see.

Our home wasn't affected at all though. We are so very thankful!

This is Hilton Coliseum, where our basketball games are held, as well as concerts and such. They are calling it a "water hole" for all of the water inside. It's really unfortunate.

Oh yes, this would be the parking lot to our brand new aquatic center (to the right). No-one will be swimming today!

I also have two little videos for your entertainment.

Countdown!

The time is approaching once again for school to start "officially". We have done some school throughout the summer, but since last Monday, we have begun doing school each morning, so that when 'the real deal' begins at the end of the month and we have longer days, we all won't be dying, screaming, or in flat out distress! :-)
I have to say that we don't ever really stop learning. And what is most important to Brad and I is not math, spelling, or grammar. Though those are important, what is most important to us is that our daughters love the Lord and know how to love one another, how to happily serve one another and how to love others as we love ourselves. To think of others first before thinking of our own selves, our own wants, or our own needs. Another important "subject" in the Mehmen home is that our daughters know how to manage a household, how to cook, how to clean, how to take care of the laundry, grocery shopping, and the like.
My point of this post was to encourage you to start reading with your children, to your children, but also for yourself. Learning. Choose to be life long learners with your children, teaching them that learning is fun, and that we'll always be learning! We'll NEVER know it all! Not ever. Gaining wisdom and knowledge for our self so that we may also share that knowledge with others and be a blessing to those in whom we've shared that knowledge with. We will SURELY not gain even one ounce of wisdom from the television. Please, turn the TV off with me, and read with me. I have posted at the top of the blog (did you notice?) the books that I have read or are currently going through. It would be great to have good discussions with you and read through a book with you! Would you join me?
If you are not seeing books added to the list at least once a month, you need to be checking up on me, and seeing what's up!
Love always! The Mehmens