December in Wilmington

John, hangin' with the surfin reindeer

Lizzie, getting to know shopaholic reindeer

It's been a time of adjustment to experience such mild weather in the middle of winter. Last week, Wilmington's temperature reached in to the 70s!!! I almost had to turn on the AC, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. We "suffered" with the apartment temp at 79 degrees.

Today for our anniversary, Mark treated me to a special dinner at a restaurant on the beach. It is a beautiful day... the making of a memory :) We are thankful for the 12 years we've shared together and for the adventures that lie ahead of us. God has indeed been good to us.

Thankful that HE knows

Hey friends,

Just a quick update on what's happening here. We ended up putting the purchase offer in on the foreclosed home and found out within hours that two other offers had come in. We had until Monday to submit our 'highest and best' offer. After a few phone calls to get perspective and advice, we humbly submitted the offer and prayed that if they Lord wanted us to be there, in that neighborhood, in that house, then he would work out the details. Our realtor's advice "Don't get too attached..." So here we are...Thursday...and have learned that the bank accepted a different offer. The initial disappointment has been replaced by peace that God knows best. He knows what the bigger picture looks like. He knows our needs as a family. He knows what neighborhood would be a good fit for us. He knows what will happen with the economic situation. He knows the timing. He knows our deep down desires ...mine, Mark's, John's and Lizzie's. I am so thankful that I can trust in the LORD, that He knows all these things (and so much more) and that I do not have to rely upon my own knowledge or power or resources. I can rest in Him....that HE knows best.

Opportunities

We enjoyed a restful Thanksgiving in Conway, SC where Mike and Suz put on quite a spread and shared their warm hospitality. The day was beautiful...60+ degrees! It just didn't seem right to celebrate in the warm weather (but we were still thankful for it :)). John loved it and played football in the backyard. The next day we drove to Jacksonville/Amelia Island FL where we shared time with the Kamienskis...a relaxing and fun time. Lizzie and I (Mark and John, too) enjoyed getting to know the "trips," helped with feeding and dressing the babies...and just loved on them. Their lives are a miracle, but their routine, and "system" was amazing to me. I thought 3 babies would be chaos, but everyone was sweet and stayed ON SCHEDULE! On Saturday we eased into the day, played football on the beach, and enjoyed the fellowship. These are moment that memories are made of....

This week we have returned to our routine here in Wilmington. We have been house hunting, as our lease is up on Feb 1. We saw several homes last week and have put a purchase offer in today on a foreclosed home. Knowing the market is not getting better, we bid really, really, low. We are hopeful, but are not afraid to walk away if it's not a great deal. We're praying that God would make it clear....it's definitely in His Hands. Honestly, we feel at peace waiting on God's timing and the opportunities He presents to us. Please pray that we see God's plan clearly and that we surrender our own "wants" in order to be in the center of His will. Here's a photo of the potential-new-home. Does it remind you of our home on Benjamin Road? Yeah...us too. Just lacking the 14 acres...this lot is .3 acres!

Crosswinds Church has been progressing. This week we served a meal at a local elementary school as a way to thank them for their service to the community. It was well received and we look forward to connecting with others in the community of Leland. We will be meeting a potential worship leader this Sunday. Our facility plan is coming together and we are close to signing the lease for commercial space in Leland. We're still planning on a February 22nd launch. It's an exciting time and are so glad that you are a part of the journey with us. (psst...Crosswinds has a Christmas wishlist...if you'd like to contribute a tangible gift that will help get our church "off the ground" please let us know and we'd be glad to email it to you. Everything from diapers, to cleaning supplies, to coffeemakers, and children's puzzles.... )

We hope to catch up with many of you when we're 'home' at the end of the month. We'd love the opportunity to sit together over a cup of coffee and catch up on what is happening in your lives. And as always, you are welcome to visit in the warm south :) We love you and are blessed to have such great friends...keep emailing or calling! We love to hear from you!

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Have you taken the time to count your blessings? The Pratts are a blessed family. Every night for our family prayer time, we thank God for his faithful provision and protection. He continues to give us more than we need. He has given us our health. He blesses us with friendships. He gives us each other. He shares Himself through his Word and Holy Spirit. He offers us opportunity to invest in others. He chooses to NOT leave us where we are. He travels with us on our faith stretching journeys. He loves us....always.

This year we will be spending Thanksgiving day with cousins Sue and Mike Brown who live near Myrtle Beach. We are looking forward to sharing the holiday with them. Friday we will travel to Amelia Island, FL where we will get to see the Kamienski family who we haven't seen since my grandfather's funeral two years ago. We are looking forward to meeting the newest members of the family: triplets Ansley, Jack, and Noah, who we've been praying for every night since they've been born. John and Lizzie both are excited to meet their new miracle cousins!

SO much has happened since last Thanksgiving....so many things that God has uniquely planned for our family. The journey has not be "straight" or easy, but it has been ordered by God, the one and only Creator of the universe....so if He can create the universe, certainly he can order our steps. As we begin looking forward to the next steps (buying a home, continuing job search, launching the church...) it is so easy to let the fears and unknowns take over. But I've got to look back and remember...and see all the steps in which God has faithfully carried us. He is not afar off, or unaware, or surprised. He knows us, he sifts us, he gives us the opportunity to put our faith into action.

We hope that this week holds a time of reflection for each of you too. I hope the memories of the blessings (and struggles) from this past year flood your thoughts and you can't help but express your gratitude to our Almighty, faithful, and trustworthy God.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."