Japan

My heart goes out to Japan. My heart breaks as I watch the news coverage reporting on the tragedy there. I wrestle with questions over why things like this happen, and why God allowed it. I grapple for answers as I attempt to explain to two sets of curious eyes. I have been doing a bible study in James. This week covered chapter 4.

"Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?
You are only a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

We are only here for a little while. There are no guarantees that I will see tomorrow,or that I will reach gray hair and wrinkles.
But I do have a guarantee in Jesus.
I have a guarantee to never walk alone. So I tell those curious eyes of Gods unfailing love. I tell them that this life God has given us is a precious and delicate gift. I tell them to be thankful for each sunrise we see. I tell them we must cherish each moment and not worry about what tomorrow might bring. Because whatever it brings, we won't be alone.

Home is where the Heart is and where the Harp is!

It is so nice to be in our own home.After we outgrew out starter home- We spent a year saving and living with my grandpa-we love him so much and are grateful for the opportunity that he gave us. But its so nice to have our own place.
Its a great market to buy right now but most homes we saw were short sales and all the others were already bank repo's. We wanted a turn key home-with the kids we didn't want a place that we would need to fix up. Most places were completely trashed, holes in walls, appliances missing, and we got pretty discouraged.But,
we ended up finding an amazing place. It had been repo'd and then flipped by investors-and they had added nice little upgrades that made a huge difference. and Its things we never would have done on our own. The whole house has crown molding,beautiful custom paint,a floor to ceiling entertainment wall,wood and tile flooring,and room for us all to spread out.
I even have my harps...at my own house.(there was just no room for them in the little 1000 ft house) And I am thrilled to say that I have callouses that I don't think I've had since Autumn was born. Its great to be playing again.
I can wake up and practice and play the kids off into dreamland at night.I love it!








We had so much fun decorating the kids rooms. Andy of course got 49ers and football. Autumn had to have a "fancy"room, with pink and white stripes and Black accents.











We are so blessed and so thankful to be making this house our home.

autumns 1st sleepover

I never thought I'd be one of "those mothers". You know the kind,the over protective nervous Nellie's. The one who watches until her child is safely behind the fence at school.The one who insists on being in the front yard when she's riding her bike with neighbor friends. The one who has to get to know her friends and her friends parents.The one who stays at birthday party's even though the other moms leave.The one who never lets her go to the bathroom alone, ect,ect...
But I AM TOTALLY one of THOSE mothers.

Annoyingly Overprotective.
If I could lock her in a castle like Rapunzel, I would.

Last month Autumn went to her first sleepover. I was very hesitant on letting her go. In fact, I said no way she could go... until I had a change of heart at the last minute. The thought of her at a friends house,without me, where anything and everything can go wrong, makes my stomach turn. But why? When I was her age I was a seasoned sleepover veteran. I went to slumber parties and had them just as often. Nothing ever happened.
So maybe I've seen to many Oprah's or read too many Dr. Dobson books.
Joe said "why can't she go?"
I said"you haven't read that Dobson book I gave you did you"?
Dr Dobson address's the fact that the world today is far different than even the one that I grew up in, and he doesn't recommend slumber parties at any age. But come on..isn't that a little extreme? No, I think I agree with him.


The only reason I ended up letting her go is because I have gotten to know the mother of the girl.
But is doesn't change the fact that Saturday night while, autumn was over the moon excited and painting her toes and braiding hair,I was home worried sick.My mind going over all kinds of scenarios.I don't trust many people with my kids.We don't even have a babysitter besides my mom.Because there are some chances I'm just not willing to take.

But now, Autumn's getting bigger and I need to loosen the apron strings. I have to trust that God is going to take care of her, as long as I'm making good choices too.

So I took a chance. I let her go.
and she was fine, of course, had a wonderful time,and can't wait for the next one.
But we'll just see about that.

Does Jesus have a backyard?

Does Jesus have a backyard?
Is there a pool in his yard?
Can we swim in it?
Are there cars in Heaven?
Where does God keep the cars?

These are questions from my four year old that he asked during the rock and worship road show. We took the kids and had so much fun dancing and worshipping with them. Andy liked one band Family Force Five, they were a little too loud for me,but andy was rocking out. Here's a video of the crazy kid.

A prayer for my little princess

On our last trip to Disneyland my Mom decided to indulge Autumn with a complete Princess transformation at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.She's right at the age where princess's are starting to become too babyish but we know she still likes them. So I'm very grateful that my mom did this for her. She was a little embarrassed at the beginning because she had all her Royal attendants there watching.(me,my mom, joes mom, aunt jenelle,and addison)They did her hair, nails,makeup, and got to chose a princess gown.Then the mirror opened just like in Cinderella,and she had her very own photo shoot.I really hope that she never gets to big to like princess's.

After all she is one,a daughter of the King of Kings- she will always be Gods Princess.
And its my prayer that she will live her life royally and with the responsibility that comes with being a daughter of a king.
I pray that she will always know she's loved and wanted and more precious than anything on earth.
I pray that one day she will fall in love with a prince of God who will adore her and cherish everything about her.
I pray that she will never lose her way, never wander out of the Kingdom.
I pray that we will guard her heart and protect her from disappointment,and rejection and fear.
I pray that she will never be tempted by a poison apple or spinning wheels,and that evil queens stay far away.
I pray she will be strong and confident and blessedly assured of the love of the King.

Amen

Birthday week 2010

Wow, I am happy to say that we made it through another Mckissick family birthday week! Only a month after christmas it gets a bit hectic with Autumn's on Jan 31,Joe's on Feb 7, and Andys on Feb 8th!
We threw Joe a surprise 30th party!
A few friends from work came and his mom came down from OR.
Autumn's was at Crystal Palace!
She loved to skate and enjoy the time with her friends
Andy's was at Disneyland!
3 days at disneyland!
He was lucky and both his grandma's went, and 4 of his cousins came to celebrate with him and mickey mouse.We ate at goofys kitchen and then had a party at the plaza inn on main street.
We had a blast at all of them and now I am so glad that I can relax and not have anything to plan!

Its only temporary

Don't let this situation get to you
This is not a hill worth dying on
Don't let the situation tear your heart in two
soon enough this chapter will be gone
Theres a reason why this world just don't feel right
we are strangers here who are simply passing by
in light of all eternity
its only temporary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZhCmvOhlKs

This song by Mercy Me has been my constant go-to song the past few months. Not only circumstances in my life, but life itself is only temporary.I tend to forget that there is so much more besides this world and my troubles.But I am finding comfort when I remember to have perspective,when I remember that I don't need to star in My Story , but play a supporting role is His Story. When I remember that he knows the plans for me, and this is what he planned for such a time as this. Its only temporary.