Spaghetti "Noodnles"

I think every mom on the planet has a picture of their child(ren) making a mess with spaghetti...I am no exception!

Joshua's birthday

Yesterday was Joshua's 2nd birthday if you can believe it--we can't. We took him to the park and invited some of his friends (because it was 85 degrees here yesterday). We were all sweating but we ate some funfetti birthday "pantake" as Joshua calls it and played on the slide and swings. It was a lot of fun. Then Joshua sang "Happy Birthday to me" literally on the way home from the park. ..

Picking out the perfect tree

This is the first year without our normal Christmas traditions so we decided to come up with a few of our own--one of which is getting a real tree. Chris didn't want to just go to Wal-mart and pick one up though (he'd rather hop someone's fence and sneak one out of the woods) so we compromised and went to a Christmas tree farm right down the road from our house. It might seem silly but we had a lot of fun. It was a little strange though because it was pretty warm and very sunny....we are having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit around here. Here are some pictures.

Our "little" big boy....

Mostly we've gotten settled into our new house in SC and with the transition we decided to transition Joshua to his "big boy" bed which happens to be in the shape of a fire truck. Chris and I have been talking about and planning the big day for weeks now in anticipation of baby sister Mattingly who will need the crib soon. We put Joshua in his pack 'n' play (because that's what he's been sleeping in for the past 5 months) for a couple of days right next to the fire truck bed and talked to Joshua about it. And on Sunday when Chris put Joshua down for bed, without discussing it with me first (ha ha), Chris came out of Joshua's room and said "guess what? Joshua's sleeping in his fire truck bed" I didn't know which emotion to cling to first; a) the thought that Chris decided to do this without us planning the date firmly on the calendar b) that Joshua was actually staying in the bed or c) that my little boy was growing up. So I did the most rational thing a pregnant mom would do--I cried. We went in his room over and over again just sure that he'd sneak off into the closet to play toys or run around his room, but much to our surprise he slept like a little angel all night and that was it. Naps have been a little different since he can see his toys during the day, but all in all he's done really well!

p.s. Thanks aunt Amy for the fire truck pajamas to go with my fire truck - Joshua

The big move...

This weekend we will be "officially" moving our things from KY to SC. I guess we have "officially" been in SC for 5 months now, but I think the reality will really kick in once we have settled in. I never dreamed that this move would happen before our house sold in KY but apparently the Lord had a different plan for us. We are committed to this decision even though it has been difficult and continue to trust the plans He has already declared for us. The Lord has been in control the entire time. The problem is that sometimes I lose focus and try to get in the way too much.

I can't wait to get to know our neighbors and share with them the best thing I know which is the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I know it is going to be a long, difficult road but more and more I am convinced we are in the right place.

Too funny

Well everyday my son continues to crack me up and yesterday was no exception. With a small story just to make some smiles. We got in the van and because it is still 90 degrees in SC it is very hot in the van which he normally points out. So I put him in his car seat and he says over and over again "hot", "hot". Then he says "bwow on it" and he did. He blew in the van for a few minutes cooling it off just like he does his "oatmeyll" every morning. He is such a blessing from the Lord and he makes the difficult days a little easier.

Sorry it's been so long....

I haven't been a very good picture-taking mother lately so no blog for you! Here are some random photos that I hope you enjoy. One of Joshua helping mommy clean; another of Joshua "unner" the bed; and Joshua "hidning" in the "piddows". He's been a lot of fun, but fussy the past few days and very clingy to mommy. Actually he walks around with his arms up saying "hode gyew, mommy" about 1000 times a day--sometimes I hold him....sometimes I don't. I don't know what I'll do when baby 2 comes along.

On the church front, we are having our first "real" service on Sunday and by that I mean we are beginning to invite people in the area. Up until now it has been a leader development process. We are all very nervous and excited but hope there aren't 100 kids in the nursery. I'm sure the Lord will work everything out for us. I hope to post again soon. Love Jenny

Whirlwind

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. We rushed home to KY with the privilege of spending the last few days with Chris's mom, Connie who passed away last Monday around 10 a.m. The experience was difficult, but in some way Chris and I were able to draw closer to each other, our family and the Lord during this time. We have never had to deal with death while married or as parents so we did the best we could.

On a lighter note, right before returning to KY we were able to sneak in an ultrasound visit and found out that we are surprisingly having a girl. Most of you probably know that Chris is one of five boys which left me with little hope of having a girl of my own one day, but God knew the desires of my heart and blessed us with a girl. My mom had been having a dream that we came home, dressed in all pink, to surprise her with the news and so to make her dream come true we did just that. But unbeknownst to me, I was in for a surprise as well-- a 3oth birthday surprise. While I was standing in the driveway blindfolded my mom and sister were looking at my pink shirt with tears in their eyes and being hushed by the surprise party crowd that didn't know why they would be crying. Surprises all around!

This week we are back in S.C. to get back to routine and refocus our attention on the reason we are here in the first place--reaching lost people. Please pray that I will find ways to meet and befriend women and families in the area and likewise for Chris to meet men here too. So far that has been a little more difficult than we thought. I work from home and stay at home with Joshua and while Chris meets people all the time, it is just for a short time and hasn't had as much friendship building time as he would have hoped. I better go, but stay in touch. Jenny

fight my giants

this past weekend my family and i went to Hilton Head SC to relax and just enjoy one another. while there we visited the harbor were we found a giant of a man, he it towered at least 12 ft tall and 3 ft wide in shoulders He had muscles bugling out ever seam. with a stance fit for battle this man was intimidating to say the least. of course by now your thinking run for your life, but as i pear upward towards his face, and instantly recalled the story of David and Goliath (David was a little guy that was no more than a sheepherder with a big heart, and Goliath was the warrior of warriors. he had conquered kings and kingdoms and won many battles. there had been no one able to with stand his mighty strength.) it was some how easy for me to stare upwards at this dumb statue made in the image of a sea god, but David! man he stood and fought effortlessly with Gods help GOLIATH!. sometime in our life we face battles that seem overwhelming or we are given task that seem to great maybe we have addictions we can't overcome life is full of Goliath and sea gods that will seemingly crush us if we allow them, but when we put our hope and faith in Christ alone we will have the peace to overcome, the strength to fight, and the Grace to make through another day.
this experience reminded me that now matter what comes our way God is ultimately in complete control though i need to live my life in such a way as if a believe a expect him to do what he does best deliver us from our enemies

Getting out of my comfort zone

Tonight we had our first small group meeting and it was really great reading the bible and talking about struggles and blessings with other women. Some days it is very difficult being so far away from family, but more and more God confirms and reconfirms our need to be here. I think Chris and I were stuck in our comfort zones in KY and didn't even know it. We thought being in the ministry was hard and it definitely can be, but we found ourselves surrounded by Christians or at least people who went to church and claimed to be Christians but didn't always treat others like Christ would have. Now that we are here, I am so much more aware of the world outside of church and the hurt that so many people carry around with them without knowing what to do with it. I am ashamed to have gone so long in life being a Christian, sometimes setting a bad example for some of the friends and family in my life and worse yet never really getting to know lost people closely enough to share with them the best thing I have to offer--salvation through Jesus Christ.

I will forever remember my friend Jason in college who died of brain cancer. I honestly don't know if he was going to Heaven or Hell when he died. According to statistics, it is most likely that he went to Hell. I am very sad about that and I have asked for forgiveness over and over again even though I only need to ask once--I just can't seem to forgive myself. I do not want to continue down this path of cowardliness and shyness. I want others around me to know that the best thing I know is that Jesus Christ died for my sins, I believe it, I accept it and my life changed because of it. I just want other's lives to be changed too.

Jenny

Playing in the Fort

Yesterday (Monday), Joshua and I had a really fun day together. He brought me his "blantet" over and over again saying "hide" so without anyone to hide from we got under his blantet and just giggled and tickled each other. Since it was getting kind of hot under there I build a fort with a comforter, two "piddows" and the chair and then still without anyone to hide from, we got in the fort, hid and played cars.

Going to the beach!

This past weekend Chris, Joshua and I had the privelege to take a trip to Hilton Head for our 5th wedding anniversary. We had a really good time just relaxing.

We went to a little carnival thinking Joshua would really like bouncing on the rides but he was scared to death so instead he played a couple of games that required throwing balls (which is always a favorite of his). Eventually, he got tire of trying to get the ball into the hole so he just walked up there and put it into one of the squares. We all got a laugh out of that.

We also took Joshua "putt-putting" for the first time because I thought I could kick Chris's bootie, but in fact he kicked mine with a couple of birdies and a hole-in-one.

Pictures I've been wanting to share but I am just now getting around to it....

"Airpane" with Daddy

Tonight after Joshua and Daddy played their new favorite game of letting Joshua take a running jump off the chest at the end of the bed into the "piddows" by daddy, they made paper "airpanes" and every other time Joshua called them "elitopturs" (helicopters).

Yesterday at Target Joshua surprised me by counting from 2-10 by himself. He has only done it one other time since, but I was very proud and I teared up in the cereal isle. And of course he counts to ten the week I've really been pushing his ABC's. So far he knows the letter "O" and sometimes "B" so I've got one, maybe two down and 24 to go.

Gettin' some stuff done

Today Joshua and I have been doing some chores while daddy is at work. He is a very good helper (not to mention cute). He helped me load the clothes in the washing machine and then put them in the dryer and since he was doing such a good job helping we also went outside to wash the van. He had a lot of fun playing in the bubbles but he actually did help wash the car. It was only 9:30 in the morning and he was still in his pajamas--hopefully there are no child labor laws that are going to get me. When we came inside he put his dog down for a nap in daddy's lunchbox cooler and asked me to be quiet because the dog was taking a nap--I complied.

the Pathway

to stay in touch,
Hello out there world. especially Ky yehhaw. the family and i have been in the midst of turmoil and struggle. It is a very exciting time in our life we are beginning to feel the stress from giving up our comforts, and yet even our faith feels tested. If I could give you a snapshot of the last few months where would I start. We were called by God to leave ministry to pursue missions in SC to be simple servants and share Christ with the world in a radical way. We left behind two very sick parents, our dream home, our stuff (like TV, bed, tools, garage, home, pets and my fav-the beloved couch) and family, basically everything. Ironically, those very Words were planted into my heart before we even answered the call. You remember when Jesus told his disciples that if you weren't willing to leave houses, mother or father, for the sake of the kingdom then you were not worthy of Him--He meant it. All this to live in beautiful Summerville, SC--full of pine trees and sand (seriously that is all there is here). In the strangest of ways we know we are here for this one reason to live in the center of God's will for our life.

Speaking of Will, God thought it was a good idea for us to crash with them (Will & Tarah) for a yr or or actually until the home in Ky sells (praying that it is sooner than later) they are a great family who lives are busy full of many things different from our own yet somehow we co-exist. 8 people and a dog in one house can easily feel cramped. Their grace and generosity has been more than we could ask for or expected. They have become in some ways our new family.

In the midst of this wild ride I have been seeking God more and experiencing God more and more . I am sure that is why life seems a bit difficult right now. I even feel somehow that I am not as useful as I could be here but God reminds me that if it is just to sweep up the floors of the church the I need to be here. Jerm 29:11 reminds that He has a plan, and it is better than mine that is the CMV (chris mattingly version). So as the Mattingly's hang on by a thread God is weaving us into the people he wants us to be, changing our lives one day at a time. I am so glad that I came. I will one day look back on these moments with no regrets and only praise to my God who loves me, sanctifies me, and gives us all a hope and a future. Chris