Stephan & Josie
God's Plan, Our Story
Song of Songs 4:12
April Twelfth
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. My best friend asked me to date him. He may claim it was January... :) little did I know, the next 4 months would be the best and biggest adventure of my entire lifetime. The biggest blessing: he was always right by my side.
Phillipians 3:14
May Fifth
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. The first goal the Lord challeneged us with, finishing the mini marathon. This challenged us in so many ways, and I would not have been able to do it without Steve. Little did we know this would set the pace for the next few months ahead of us.
Isaiah 54:2
June Twentieth
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. God blessed us beyond our understanding by allowing us to sign on a home the exact same day we found out Steve was getting custdy of his amazing four boys. Impossible without Christ, we signed on contract and this allowed us to provide a much needed home for them. Miracle after miracle, the water and electricity was even put on ahead of schedule to provide everything they needed.
Proverbs 18:22
June Twenty-first
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord Every girl's lifelong dream was fullfilled when my best friend got on his knee and asked me to marry him. He took me on the most beautiful date, ordered a perfect steak for me, danced me around the restaurant, and then we went to the house. He walked me around every room explaining each memory that will be made, the work that will be done for the Lord, and the family that will grow in our home, and then starting off with the most important memory, he proposed!
1 Corinthians 7:17
June Twenty-Second
Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. The very next day, we both went to work, and then immediately headed to pick up the four biggest blessings I've ever received: Taevyn, Stephan, Keegan, and Zaelyn. We were even gifted from God 4 twin size mattresses, so they would even have beds to call their own. This was the only furniture we had in the house. They immediately were lights in my life and I fall more in love with them every day. The next Monday Steve switched to night shift so he could take care of them during the day and I at night. We were challenged and stretched daily but through faith and love God provided EVERYTHING we could need to give these wonderful boys a home.
Psalm 33:21-22
July Forth
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you. The blessings continued to flow as the boys got to celebrate their new home and family. We celebrated the 4th of July together with my family in Indy as well as a block party downtown Bloomington. Steve and I even got a date night to watch the fireworks together. None of this we deserved, all just gifts from God allowing us to enjoys his creation.
Job 12:7-8
July Twentieth
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. This was the boys very first time camping and I saw a different side of them once they were immersed in nature. This set the tone for how we spend time together and we now have a tent we will use as much as we can!!
Psalm 32:8
August First
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. After searching for immunization records, ordering birth certificates, and memorizing birthdays, the boys are officially enrolled in Templeton Elementary and are starting on August 8th! We are so excited to say that Steve will also be switching back to day shift so we can enjoy our family together in the afternoons! Answered prayer after prayer!
Proverbs 31:15
August Nineteenth
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. We've been working hard to make a home and many of our prayers have been answered. One especially is the support from my momma who I've learned so much from. We were so excited for her visit to spend time making lunch and enjoying the kiddos, and excited for many more visits.
Psalm 119:90
September Fifthteenth
Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Steve brought us to visit his mom, the boys grandma Sue. We saw her beautiful resting place, as well as the church she would bring him to growing up. We followed this with a wedding where we all got to enjoy and meet the family and celebrate life and each other!