Arrington Family News

Oh my goodness! It has been AGES since I have posted and I am not sure where the time has gone!

November has been a good month for us. We have been busy with school, work, church and kids activities. Hannah finished volleyball, had a week off and jumped into basketball! She is learning that basketball is a little "rougher" than volleyball but is doing well at it none-the-less!

Malachi is a typical 5th grade boy - more concerned with playing than with turning in homework but is doing better with a little "motivation" from Mom and Dad.

Kestra will be 10 on Sunday! Did I just type that right? Yep! She is our bundle of joy and keeps us smiling almost all the time. She is all girl and insists on changing clothes at least 5 times!!!!

Tyler is as active as ever! He is loving school and growing up way too fast. There is always a Tyler story to share. The most recent was just a moment ago when I looked out the window to find him "hitch hiking" in my drive way!!! Oh - have to watch that boy!

Joel is still very busy with the church and loves his job! We had a Country Western Jamboree last Friday and Joel did a GREAT job organizing it! Pictures later!

I have been busy between being a mom/wife, working for my Dad's Appraisal business and subbing in the school. I really enjoy both jobs! I finished a Bible Study here in our church on Nov 5th only to turn and start another one on November 12 with some young moms both from my parent's church and my church. I have found that I really have a passion to come along side moms of preschoolers and encourage them and share my experiences with them. I am not sure what this will lead to in the future but I know that the Lord is DEFINITELY opening up the door for this ministry right now!

This next week we are looking forward to my sister Michelle and her family being here for Thanksgiving. It will be so much fun to have all the cousins together and to just spend time as a family.

For Christmas we will be going to Kerrville TX to vacation with Joel's family as we celebrate his parents 50th anniversary (it was in August but Christmas is when we could all go). It will again be another wonderful week with family.

I know this is kind of "scattered" and definitely need to get back into blogging more regularly! I really need to figure out how to post some pictures creatively as well!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Ronnie

On the evening of October 28, 1991 I was driving home from an FBLA meeting at our sponsor, Mr Bowen's, home. It was about 8:00 at night and we had the first big snow of the year. Although I had driven on snow a few times, it was always with my parents and this was the first time by myself.

As I came across the damn at Lake Forrest, I started to slide. Realizing that I was sliding toward the water, I quickly steered the other way. I over corrected myself and rolled my car down the 50 ft of rocks making up the damn.

That evening, I was unable to get my seatbelt to work, later I would find out that this was the Divine Hand of God on my life. When the car rolled, I was tossed to the back of the International Scout I was driving. I landed with my head less than a foot away from a heavy metal tool box of my Dad's. The next morning we would discover that the steering wheel was through the roof of the scout.

There is a lot about that night that I don't remember but I do remember this. As the car was rolling, I thought to myself "I am going to face the Lord tonight and He will not be pleased with how I am living my life."

You see, I knew I was going to Heaven, I knew that Christ was in my heart but I knew that HE was not Lord of my life. I had been living life for myself and I knew that I would not hear "Well done my good and faithful servant."

When the car stopped rolling I was able to crawl out a window and walk to my sponsors house. I don't remember that walk, or how I made it up the damn - I DO know that I walked away with a few scrapes and some sore muscles from an accident that should have seriously injured me if not take my life.

It was that night at home that I realized God had ultimate control of my life and I would live for Him and let HIM alone be Lord of my life.

So most times on Oct. 28 I thank the Lord but ALWAYS when it snows on October 28 I am reminded that the Lord protected me and saved my life (literally) for the purpose of serving Him and so I am thankful and praise Him!

Oct 28, 2009
Thank you Lord for the reminder that my life is in your hand. Thank you for the reminder that I can choose to serve you or not. Today I dedicate all I am and all I do to You alone!


Ronnie

School is off to a great start. All four kids are enjoying their classes and teachers and have settled into the school routine. Hannah is half way through her first volleyball season and has really learned a lot! Malachi is just hanging loose and enjoying being one of the "top dogs" at the elementary school in 5th grade. Kestra has decided to be in the choir this year and is really enjoying that. Tyler is doing well in 2nd grade and really likes his resource teacher Ms. King.

I have enjoyed not working full-time at the hospital although there are those days that I do miss it! Right now I am subbing at the schools and working for my Dad one or two days a week. The biggest change that has come about is that after 40 years, my Dad is retiring from the Real Estate business. He will remain in the appraisal business but will not be selling real estate. It is a huge change for our family and yet I am excited about it as well. I will continue to work for him in the appraisal portion by helping with some research and typing reports as well as inspecting property with him. All in all, I am EXCITED about the opportunity to earn money, work with my Dad and still have the flexibility for ministry and my family!

Joel continues to enjoy his time at the church as he enters his third year as Youth/Children's pastor. He is also driving a school bus route - this is a little trying at times and yet it has open the door for him to be in the school system and get to know students and teachers better. The youth ministry is maturing spiritually in many ways and we are excited to see the students grow in their walk with the Lord!

The church as a whole has grown a lot and is anxioulsy awaiting the time when we will be moved into our new building. As fast as the building progressed this summer - we have hit a lull while waiting on inspections and permits etc. However, God is STILL in this project and we know that in HIS timing we will be in our new building worshipping Him! In the meantime, lives are being touched, things are growing and changing and it is SO amazing to see the Hand of the Lord in the lives of those around us!

As I type this, I am in the Jr. High library and so very thankful that the Lord has allowed me to work in the schools near my children (although Hannah has carefully avoided the library today- ha ha). God is so good and we are so blessed!!!

Thank you for your prayers in regards to the house. I talked to the owner today and they have someone actively looking for financing to buy it but if that falls through then they will contact us and let us know. Either way - I am praying for the Lord's will. I am trusting Him - He knows that what our needs are and He is faithful to provide!

For quite sometime now, we have been praying for the opportunity to move to a bigger home. We truly have been blessed to be in the one we are in now but it is only a 1008 sq ft 3 br 1 ba home for a GROWING family of six!

The biggest issue by far has been the one bathroom - with the kids getting older, taking more time in the bathroom, it is time to have a two bath home. However - the living room has also been an issue as many times as we love to have company but when we have ANYONE with kids - it's just amazingly crowded.

So anyway - today came a possibility of a 3 Br 2 Ba 1774 Sq Ft home on five acres that we could possibly rent or even do a lease/option on. We don't know a lot of details yet as they were showing it to someonelse tonight - BUT hopefully we will know more tomorrow. This is different in the respect that I wasn't even looking for this - in fact the owners were asking for prayer to either rent or sell it. So - perhaps this one is the Lord's timing?

I am trying not to get my hopes up as we really don't know if we can even afford it but this has been a huge prayer request for me. Anyway - I will post more, when we know more!!!!

Today is a GREAT day for many reasons. First of all, it is another day that I can be alive, I have the freedom to praise the Lord openly, I have breath and life, I have a wonderful husband, four AWESOME kids, great family, wonderful friends....

However another reason it is great is that today marks two years since our family joined First Baptist Church in Bayfield in ministry!!! We have been SOOO blessed for the past two years. I can't tell you how many ways our church family has blessed us: They have taken us in and made us feel at home, they have brought food by, they have helped get us two much needed vehicles, they have embraced our children and helped us train them in the way of the Lord, they have encouraged us when it was hard and they have come along side us in ministry numerous times!

The past two years have taught us so much! We have seen what it is to TRULY be a part of a body of believers that prays together, works together, worships together, loves together, mourns together, and rejoices together... In ministry, often times those who are on staff feel that they give and give and don't receive much - First Baptist Bayfield has taught us the opposite! We have received as much if not more than we have given!!!!

Thank you to our WONDERFUL church family here in Bayfield! You truly have made ministry a joy once again for us! We love you more than words will ever say and pray that we will be here for MANY more years to serve alongside each of you as we reach our neighborhoods, our community, our town, our county, our state, our country and our world!!! You all truly are the BEST church family we could ever have come to!!!!

Joel, Ronnie, Hannah, Malachi, Kestra and Tyler!

A new school year has begun and so has the routine of fall. This is great in the respect that I have the opportunity to get caught up on many many things but also a little sad because the house is quiet!!! I know - I can hardly believe I typed that after wanting them to be in school....Ha ha ha

This year is a hallmark year for us in many ways as Hannah is playing sports for the first time, this is Malachi's last year in the elementary school, and both Tyler and Kestra will be undergoing some testing for different learning disabilities. Even though we are saddened because our "babies" are growing up, it is also exciting for us because we are entering a new chapter of life.

The Lord has really blessed me this week by giving me two women who have grown daughters that have offered to be there for me when the "adolescence" is just more than I can handle or when I need a shoulder to cry. Although there are many here that are more my age, they all have children much younger than mine and so it is hard for them to relate to what I am going through.... Thank you Lord for these ladies that are willing to be a support base!