The Big Move

It's been a busy month for this happy couple, but we're now settling into life among the mountains and things are beginning to slow down a bit.

Just before Christmas we packed up our apartment in Mississippi, loaded everything onto a pod, and sent it west!

The "moving crew" relaxing in our empty living room!

We then made the drive up to Ohio to spend the Christmas holiday with my family in Cedarville. What a lovely visit we had celebrating the joys of the season and spending quality time with family and friends! The surprise snow storms even added some extra excitement we didn't anticipate!

Our snowman in front of Mom & Dad's house

The cozy room we spent lots of time in!

Mom & Dad's beautiful snowy backyard!

After Christmas we headed west! We had a treacherous drive through yet another unexpected snow storm in Kansas, and we were so thankful to make it safely to Colorado Springs. Over the course of the next couple days we signed the lease on this beautiful new home on base, our pod arrived in our driveway, and Nathan's parents came to help us move in! It was wonderful to spend time with them, and we so appreciated their help!

We are so blessed.

We're now getting settled into our home, a new environment, and the real Air Force life! It's been an adjustment living at 6,035 ft. above sea level as well, but we're living and learning (not to open the pressurized ketchup bottle facing toward you)! We're having fun exploring the area, finding all sorts of treasures in our new hometown, and searching for a church home as well. Above all, we are thanking God for his guiding hand throughout this entire move and praising Him for his many, many undeserved gifts! 

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand."

Psalm 37:23-24

Snips and Snails...

... and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of. That's right...we found out just before Christmas that we will have a precious little BOY come May! We've chosen to name him Titus Wesley. Titus is a name both Nathan and I really like, and Wesley is both Nathan's middle name and his grandfather's middle name. It's so fun to now collect little boy things and plan more specifically for his arrival.

Nathan and I had a wonderful holiday season and now find ourselves getting settled into our new home here in Colorado Springs. I plan to update you on the details sometime in the near future!

Final Details of our PCS to Peterson

I am so happy to report that our official orders to Peterson AFB were issued on Monday... 10 days before our scheduled leave date. On Tuesday, Nathan completed and submitted a housing application for on-base housing at Peterson. On Wednesday, we received a phone call that a home was reserved and waiting for us. We are praising God for working so graciously in every detail of this move!

The apartment is beginning to look a little bare as everything is slowly making its way into a boxes. Our pod comes Monday the 17th, we'll have it loaded up by Wednesday evening, and we'll drive away Thursday afternoon. Friday evening, we'll arrive at my parents home in Cedarville and spend 10 days with all my family there over Christmas. My sweet nephew Jackson told me on the phone last night, "Oh, Aunt Jo Jo, we can't wait for you and Nathan to come!" We can't wait to see you, too, Sweetheart. : )

We're planning to arrive in Colorado Springs the first of January. Nathan was graciously given 8 days of leave after our arrival to simply help his family get settled in. : ) We love how the Air Force so values the family! We look forward to possibly seeing Nathan's family during that time and getting acquainted with our new home.

Though it is so hard to say our final goodbyes to our many friends here, we couldn't be more excited about what the future holds.

Peterson AFB -  Airpark

Prince of Peace

Yesterday was the second Sunday of Advent, and my heart was treasuring Jesus as our "Prince of Peace." No other name of Jesus is more beautiful to me than this. While with our church family, we sang this song. It blended so beautifully with the theme of peace already within my heart. I want to share it with you here...

"I Have a Shelter"

Sovereign Grace Music

I have a shelter in the storm

When troubles pour upon me

Though fears are rising like a flood

My soul can rest securely

Oh, Jesus, I will hide in you

My place of peace and solace

No trial is deeper than your love

That comforts all my sorrows

I have a shelter in the storm

When all my sins accuse me

Though justice charges me with guilt

Your grace will not refuse me

Oh, Jesus, I will hide in you

Who bore my condemnation

I find my refuge in your wounds

For there I find salvation

I have a shelter in the storm

When constant winds would break me

For in my weakness I have learned

Your strength will not forsake me

Oh, Jesus, I will hide in you

The one who bears my burdens 

With faithful hands that cannot fail

You'll bring me home to heaven

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Holiday Cheer

Nathan and I have had a fun couple of days of holiday cheer! Last night we had a great evening celebrating Christmas in the Park at Keesler with our friends, Jeremiah & Lizzy. And then today, Nathan and I carried on the Flack family tradition of making Christmas pretzel treats! I thought I would share our fun in pictures this time. Enjoy!

Santa arrives in the Park!

Jeremiah & Lizzy with Santa's Sleigh

Nathan & I with Santa's Sleigh -- I promise I really am 18wks pregnant in this picture, even though it somehow doesn't look like it : )

Lizzy & I with our beautifully decorated Christmas Cookies - the Angel's grass skirt was Nathan's doing. : )

All the Pretzel supplies ready to go!

The Christmas Pretzel king himself!

All Finished and ready to be Delivered! 

So Proud

On Monday, Nathan graduated from his cyber training here at Keesler! Over the past six months, his diligent studying and long days have been proof of his discipline & dedication. Not only did he make it through this school, he did very well and is much more equipped now to serve his country in the cyber world. I am one proud wife! It was an honor for me to pin those cyber wings on his uniform during the graduation ceremony.

Nathan is excited to begin his first job at Peterson AFB in early January. We're planning to leave Biloxi a little over two weeks from now! Still no orders in sight, but we're trusting God that all the details will fall together by His sovereign hand. In the mean time we're busy packing boxes and spending some last-minute time with our friends and church family here. We feel so blessed to have had such a great experience here, and we're so excited about what the next few years hold for us in Colorado!

Abide in Me

As many of you know, Nathan and I have been so blessed by our church family here in Biloxi. It's hard to believe we only have three more Sundays to worship with them. We are treasuring every minute we have left.

Last Sunday, Pastor Joe powerfully preached this sermon from John 15:1-8, a passage familiar to most of us. "Bearing fruit," Pastor Joe explained, "is a desire in the heart of every true believer." We all desire to be fruitful in our walk with Christ. Yet very few of us are satisfied with the fruit in our own lives and in the lives of our friends, children, co-workers, and church members. We often become discouraged, because, though we invest our time, our money, our love into the lives of those we love, we hardly see any fruit.

Pastor Joe so graciously reminded us that our Father, the vinedresser, is just as sovereign over our fruit-bearing as He is over our salvation. We can try harder, disciple more, strategize differently, but in the end God requires just two things of us in order that we might bear fruit. First, we must abide in Him. John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." Second, we must ask of Him. John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

These words were freedom to me; how they can simplify my Christian life! I must abide in Christ, allowing His word to provide nourishment, security, hope and help to my soul. And, I must pray for fruitfulness. When I do these two things, He will be so faithful to bear fruit in my life and in the lives of those around me.

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

John 15:8