Cheese and Change

So, I went 2 days without eating any cheese, that really helped to curve my desire for it. So instead of thinking I should and can never eat cheese--unrealistic--I just decided that I really just need to just not eat it very much of it and try to think of something else to eat that doesn't include cheese before I decide on cheese. I am also eating less butter too. Overall I'm trying add more veggies to my diet, and I've been making a more conscious effort to do so. But I'm not all that wonderful mind you. Somehow I have had 3 helpings of ice cream in the past 4 days. But they were small helpings...so that justifies it right? But that is not a normal week for me, just thought I'd share my shortcomings.

On another note: We have had so much change in our lives these past 4 years and God’s continuing to teach us so much through it all. God is still teaching us about trust and having faith in him alone, we have still much to learn. But the funny thing is that about a month ago or so I was just thinking about how comfortable our life has become here in Hawaii. I was just thinking that we haven’t really—like in stretching our faith, been trusting God very much. God had provided Ryan with a great steady job and we had gotten quite used to that paycheck every 2 weeks. We’re able to live comfortably and pay all our bills and have all our other needs met. But then on January 7^th Ryan got laid off from his job and we were quite surprised since he had just been promoted to roof shop manager a couple months prior. The company was downsizing and we were just speechless. It just caught us by surprise, but after talking together and the shock wore off we were reminded of our past and what God has brought us through and almost laughed as we recalled all the things we’ve gone through that we’re much harder than this. God is faithful; he has always provided for our needs, we are going to be fine. God takes care of his children.

We actually began looking forward to the extra time we were going to have together. It was going to be nice to sleep in and not have to wake up super early to get Ryan off to work. But it was short lived as we only had a total of three days to enjoy Ryan’s unemployment when he got hired with another construction company by the end of the week! God answered our prayers fast and it always catches me off guard when he answers so quickly. I should not be so surprised, I need to pray and believe and not doubt that it will take so long for God to answer. Yes, sometimes he does not answer right away, but whatever his timing is he does answer and I have been realizing how much more I need to really believe when I pray that God will answer!

Ryan is now learning even more construction, his company specializes in restoring old homes. He really likes it a lot better than his old job infact and the pay is even a little higher. Praise God for his abundant provision! However, he now commutes about 45 minutes each way. But our lease is up at the end of March so we are looking for a place that is closer. The cost of living here is so high that we still can’t afford to live on our own, so we are going to be getting another house that will be big enough to accommodate our family plus two college age girls from church who also need a place to live in the next 2 months(the family we live with now are going to get a place of their own). So please pray that God would provide just the right house and lead us in that endeavor.

Moses' cute thing today was as we were reading stories he was playing with his cars and started stuffing up his pant legs! It was so funny, probably one of those you had to see it kind of things. He often refers to himself in the third person now that he can say his name. "Mo-es help," or "tractor no come Mo-es" (basically saying that he doesn't want the moving bulldozer to come to him). So cute! love my boys...Elijah is so fun too as he does so much to keep up with Moses. They love playing together and of course sibling squabbles have begun!