We took the girls to Disney World Magic Kingdom for the first time yesterday.  It was a blast!  The only long wait was to see Ariel.  I think she must have had a stomach problem- she kept taking breaks.  The girls danced with glee to every scrap of music we heard.  They squealed every time they saw a character.  They absolutely loved getting autographs in their books, too.

We had good traffic, pretty good weather considering we had 3 nights in a row this week of freaky below freezing temps, and good food.  Jim also made sure that the girls each got some ears to commemorate their first trip- custom-made ones no less!

Our favorite rides/attractions were Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear's space invaders thing (we rode that one twice- the second time I scored 119,700 points- a family record, and it has to be a park record, too), the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, the parade, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the Mickey Dream show in front of Cinderella's castle, the Indy Speedway (Jim and AM drove that one since "expectant mothers" were not allowed), meeting the princesses and Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and the fireworks.  Yep, we stayed all the way until closing time (8:00).  I was surprised they made it that long myself, but Disney worked it's magic- right up until the time we had to wait 20 minutes to get on the monorail to the parking lot.  We made it home about 11:00.  The girls slept good on the way home and today we don't have much to do but recoup.

We already know what we want to do next time, which will probably be awhile from now considering what will happen in our lives over the next few months!  But we're very grateful for a super fun family day at one of the world's favorite places.

OK, if you haven't read the other Specific blog entries (especially 3 and 3.1), you should read them first before you start wondering what this crazy woman is talking about.  Plus, I keep running out of my 4000 character limit before I can finish!!

6/30/07-We had been here a little over two weeks, in a new house, our old house was closing in a few days, and we were so thankful for all the people who had been helping us.  Psalm 30:7-8-"I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.  You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place." v. 14-15-"But I am trusting You, O Lord, saying, 'You are my God! My future is in Your hands." v.19-"How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You.  You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world."

God is so cool and so ready with His Word to give you whatever you need for today.  I know it, I believe it, I've seen and experienced it.  Happy reading!

4/13/07-Less than 2 months from the deadline and still no job offer.  That day I read about Elijah and the widow's oil (1 Kings 17:13-16).  My prayer- "Lord, we have always tried to honor You with our money first and meet the needs of Your laborers, trusting You will leave enough for our needs.  So now, I trust You that You will cause our "flour and olive oil" to last "until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!"

4/14/07-"How long, O Lord, how long?"  I still cry when I think of this day... 1 Kings 18:25-19:18- Lord, sometimes I feel like the prophets of Baal, dancing around and carrying on and "still there was no sound, no reply, no response." (v.29)  But I know that my God is the one who consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water.  Like Elijah's wet altar, our situation is stacking up for a miraculous show from the Lord. (v.33-39)  I feel like we've waited in the drought for a long time, and all we've seen is "a little cloud about the size of a man's hand rising from the sea" (v.44)  But that's all God needs to bring "a terrific rainstorm" (v.45)  Are you giving us provisions that will have to last and will last for "40 days and 40 nights"? (v.8)  v.15-"Go back the same way you came"- God had Elijah travel all that way just to reveal Himself to him.

4/16/07- A phone call led to a visit, a job offer, etc.

5/1/07-After a visit to Florida, we needed some confirmation that this was where God wanted us to go.  1 Chron. 12-15:24- This passage is about change, about all Your promises to David finally coming to fulfillment, about his taking leadership.  I see so many parallels in what we're about to do: 12:1-37-You surrounded David with capable people who would help him in his efforts- they were loyal and very skilled in different areas.  12:39-40- They spent 3 days celebrating his new role.  13:12-14-When David got afraid because of circumstances, you ended up blessing someone else.  14:8-17-When the enemy figured out what was happening, they came against David, but You gave him direction after he sought You out.  15:13-David had to be careful to seek Your way of doing things to be successful.

To be continued one more time...

The first months of 2007 were rough.  We knew we were supposed to be going somewhere else, but Jim had had his resume out for a while with no bites, and for reasons I can't get into, we had a deadline- June 1st.  Normal life stresses were still going on- money was tight, neverending potty training, neverending ear infections, never getting everything done on my to do list.  But as things intensified in our family, God still kept speaking...

1/23/07- I wrote in my journal, "Lord, where are You leading us?" God: Exod. 23:20-21- "See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.  Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions."

2/7/07- Lev. 26:1-13- "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains... You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.  I wil give you peace...and you will...sleep with no cause for fear... I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people... I will live among you, and I will not despise you.  I will walk among you... I broke the yoke of slavery...so you can walk with your heads held high."

2/14/07- Num. 14:17-19-"Please, Lord, prove that Your power is as great as You have claimed.  For You said, 'The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love...' In keeping with Your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people..."  Katye: Moses was reminding God of His promises.  Obviously, God didn't mind.  I think it's because 1)He loved Moses and enjoyed the close fellowship they had and 2)He loves it when we know His Word and 3)It was in His plan all along to faithfully love His people even in their gross rebellion.  God, I'm not Moses, but may I remind you of a few of Your promises? "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jer. 29:11 and "My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19

2/26/07-This is so cool to look back on!  Deut. 12:5-8a-"You must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship He Himself will choose from among all the tribes- the place where His name will be honored... There you and your families will feast in the presence of the Lord your God and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the Lord your God has blessed you.  Your pattern of worship wil change..."

3/7/07-Josh. 15:18-19- A tiny little story about Caleb and his daughter.  Here's what it said to me that day-- A father's heart longs to grant the requests of his children.  Lord, You have already given me so much- a house, cars, a family that loves me, gifts to serve You with.  But now, "Give me another gift."  Give Jim a job where he can grow and serve You in a way that honors You most.

To be continued...