He Holds The Whole World In His Hands :)

I realize I left yesterdays post seemingly in mid thought. DJ read it and with a chuckle said "that's random".
In my defense I was heading somewhere with all that randomness! I just didn't finish :)

I am so grateful for God's faithfulness and feel very blessed as I look at my life through the years. Do I feel that way because life has been a bed of roses without trials and tears? Not at all.

*I am thankful for God who through His amazing grace accepts me as I am and because of His love guides me gently yet firmly.
*I am blessed with a husband who is my best friend and my biggest fan.
*I find alot of joy in watching my children grow....there are those days tho!
*I have known great sorrow when Jesus chose to take our first son, Joshua Cole, to heaven way before this mother's heart was ready.
*I went through a time in my life where I struggled with depression.
*I have dreams for my life that I hold to passionately........sometimes stubbornly and a bit rebelliously. That leads me back to our life here in Sicily:

We'd been here a few weeks when DJ starts uttering not nice words. Like:

"I could do contract work like this and move around Europe for the next 10 -15 years."

and

"We have the rest of our lives to settle down somewhere and get some acreage."

WHAT!!!!
I just came to Sicily for a 7 month extended vacation. I'm still dreaming of buying some land back home, a white picket fence, growing fields of flowers, and what about the sweet animals that need me to rescue them? Blah....blah....blah
I couldn't believe he was speaking those words! And was serious!
It was hard enough adjusting to life here in Sicily but then he added that he could do this for an undetermined amount of time and I sank a little.

Now, I know some of you are thinking "Wow, living in Europe...that's awesome...get a grip!"

I'm trying to get a grip :) God has really spoken to me the last few weeks in my morning devotions. He's taking me by the hand and helping me to think outside the box. There's nothing wrong with my dreams but there's life outside those dreams waiting to be lived. We may or may not settle on a few acres someday....it's ok. My heart is more and more learning to be content with the here and now. God hasn't failed us yet and He's been nothing but faithful even when we've wandered.

The days I feel homesick are less and less. Most Sicilians are warm and big hearted after they get over their initial suspicion of you. Experiencing another culture is something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. I'm beyond grateful for the English speaking wives here whose husbands work with DJ. They've been a big encouragement!

The kids and I are going home this summer so Heather can enjoy her Senior year with friends. DJ will come home several times throughout that school year. We may come back over here for spring break next year.
We are waiting to see what turns this contract takes in the next month or two. It's possible Ben, Dani and I may move over here next summer after Heather graduates and stay til the end of the contract (however long that ends up being). Then we could move onto another contract job here in Europe if we wanted or head back to the States somewhere. Or it's possible DJ could find a good paying job back in the States later this year and we'd decide to do that. There's so many possibilities.....we are open to wherever God leads us!

I guess what I'm trying to say in all of this is God truly has a plan and a purpose for your life. He cares about every little detail. He knows your dreams, pain, tears and the things that make you smile. Trust Him to know what's best even if it isn't the plan you had in mind! He's with you each step of the way :) Even in Sicily!!!!......it says so in Psalm 139:9 -10 "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."