Waiting & The Good List

  The Good List is a phrase I've seen a lot lately. It's a popular way to list all that someone is thankful for, focusing on the positive rather than the hard or the negative. It's also very biblical to give thanks

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 3:17

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chron. 16:34

  Sometimes our circumstances don't leave us feeling full of thanks, but:

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18

  Sometimes worry and anxiety eclipse all the good things and the good work God is doing. Sometimes we have to choose to thank God when we feel like we want to yell or scream or do anything except say thank you. I know Philippians 4:6 by heart. I even have it painted on a wooden board and sitting on my dresser.

  Back in March, when we were visiting TN, I heard God speak straight to my heart. A sweet friend invited me to Holy Yoga, and so I made the 30 minute trek across town (for this island girl, that's a long way now lol). As soon as I arrived my friend messaged to let me know her son was sick and she wouldn't be able to make it. I almost got right back in my car and left. However, I decided that going to a new class, alone, not knowing anyone, was not actually all that foreign for me any longer. I moved to St Kitts, surely I could handle a class in a church basement full of other 30-something-year-old moms! The class was quiet and peaceful, beautiful worship music filled my ears as the instructor read a psalm about waiting on the Lord. In the middle of that room, surrounded by women I had mostly never met, I felt God impress on my heart "I'm sending your kids to school." I thought did I hear him right? Maybe just one kid? Maybe a school, but not SKI? Maybe not this year, maybe the next? But His response to my heart was, "I am sending both of your kids to SKI this fall." Right there, in the dark with Reckless Love and then King of My Heart playing in the background, I sat down out of the pose and began to cry as God reminded me of His goodness and kindness and that He would never let me down. 

  Many of you know, but being able to send our kids to the international school here has been a prayer for many months now. Our kids have struggled to meet and get to know other kids on the island, and we have struggled to find a healthy balance between work, school, and family life when we are all home together all day. After that yoga class we knew God would make it happen, but so much seemed to point to the impossibility of it all. Already underfunded, we prayed and sought enough support to fill the gap and cover tuition. 3 weeks after that class we had still not raised 1 penny more. I was questioning what I had heard when God reminded me again of His promise. The next day we got news that our kids' tuition would be almost completely provided for, and the next few weeks brought many more people who generously gave, and are giving, to get us to 100% of our support and the rest of the tuition for this coming year! The Lord was blowing us away and we came back to St Kitts ready to sign our kids up and make all the plans for the coming year. 

  I'll admit, I knew nothing about the school application process. Being homeschooled, and then homeschooling did not provide me with any school experience to lean on. Aaron had attended public school, so even he did not know anything about a small private island school and their processes. We came to our meeting expecting to ask a few questions and leave with children enrolled for the coming school year. Instead we left with an idea of plans to have our children visit the school and no assurances of acceptance or dates to hear to by. We understood - one of our kiddos has attention and sensory disorders an the school is small with limited resources and one teacher per grade level. However, we also know that both of our kids have done great in classrooms and that the accommodations needed would be slight, if any. 

  Confident that they would do well, we sent each one to "spend a day" in their future classes. Then we waited to hear. And waited, and waited, and waited. Over a month after we applied we had still not been told if both of our children would be accepted into the school. We kept reminding ourselves that the school is small, the principal wears several hats and is incredibly busy, and that we aren't the only new family applying. But we struggled. We questioned. We tried to think of what we could do if the answer was no. We prayed over and over and over again. And as much as we hate waiting, the praying and the remembering what God had said, and choosing the believe in His words and His promises, allowed us to find some rest in the unknown. 

In that time we also got to see God move in the ministries we get to be a part of! So here is our "top 10 Good List" items despite the the worrying and waiting of May and June:

1.  Our church held a Festival of Life to bless our neighbors and community!

The cutest volunteers ever passing our flyers and spreading the word. 

Festival day we had around 75 people come and play games, eat good food, and hear about a God who loves them and a church who welcomes them!

The people of CCF showed up to serve and play and make sure that the Festival was a success!

2. We had some Knoxville friends visit us on their honeymoon! Tyler and Miriam Smith stopped in St Kitts on their cruise and spent the day riding around our island home. 

3. Aaron plays on a basketball team here and they have been winning most of their games! It's a great way for Aaron to de-stress and build relationships with some awesome local guys. 

4. The kids finished K and 3rd grade!

Obligatory 1st day/last day photos :)

5. Aaron and some men from CR got to share at Lighthouse Baptist Church's tent meeting in Sandy point. We are looking forward to training their church to start their own CR!

6. We got to host Angela Gill and meet Tiffani Ellman! 

Angela and her husband, Syerus, and their two kiddos will be moving down to St Kitts this fall. We had a blast getting to know Angela and we are really looking forward to doing ministry and life with their family.

Angela led us in worship several times during her visit. God has blessed her with awesome talent and amazing passion!

Tiffani came down to intern with he Graysons for 4 weeks. She also helped do kids ministry for CR and babysat for us. Her last week here she paid for our kiddos to take a jet ski ride with her and they LOVED it! We miss her and are looking forward to the next time we get to see her. 

7. CR is growing! New Horizons asked Aaron to help teach and extra class over the summer! The prison has let Aaron in 3 weeks in a row! And the females at the prison are studying John and asking so many good questions as they seek to grow in their walks with the Lord!

8. My parents came to visit! 

My dad was able to play bass on Father's Day for our worship team, and he left the instrument behind so that we can have bass every week now!

Then my parents took us to Nevis for two nights! It was a great get away full of fun and rest. Nevis is the sister island of St Kitts, but it has a character and charm all its own. We would love to see CR spread to Nevis eventually as well.

Snoop Dog was 1st Mate on our water taxi! Ok, it wasn't Snoop Dog, but we all agreed he looked like him.

10. Our kids were both accepted into SKI Academy!!! And we learned so much about continuing to wait on the Lord and trusting that He will fulfill His promises all in His timing. We also were reminded that we have people around us who will love us and pray for us and point us back to Christ when we are struggling. Thank you to every person who waited and prayed along with us! 

 What are you waiting on right now? And what's on your "good list" for the past few weeks? We love hearing from you and praying for you too!