God-given work

Over the past month, Brian and I have been searching for a job for him that will show the courts that we have plenty of money coming in and that the money is stable. See, for the last four months, Brian has been working on a business, Kingston Woodwork and Farms (KWF). It has been steady work and we are making enough to meet our budget needs...AND...Brian is able to work from home making signs, building furniture, refinishing wood products, and farming. We have been so blessed by this endeavor that the Lord has laid before us. Because the courts are concerned about the stability of this new business, Brian has gotten a part time job to show them that stability. That hasn't slowed us down at all!!!!

Christmas is coming up and we would love to give you a price on a sign, table, bench, bookshelf, or more! Below are some of our products...just leave a comment, facebook message, call or text to get us started on your quote TODAY!!!

A vanity that Brian refurbished and put
top and legs on.

Our dining room table!

My Friday Fall

This is Sabari. He is a 10 year old Arabian gelding that was given to us because his previous owner could no longer ride him. He has been the source of much joy and frustration in our house and this past Friday was no different. I must explain that Sabari has been professionally trained and is a very well-behaved horse, or he was about three years ago. Since then, no one has really ridden him at all, but since we have got him in April, Brian and I have been working with him. He can be very moody and stubborn, but he is recalling his training very quickly.

He does great if you are in front of him,
but if you stand behind his head, look
to do a lot of walking...backwards,
sideways, any way so that he can
see you!

On Friday, I put his saddle on him for the first time (well the first time with us)! He did great. He hates his bridle, but we got that on as well. Up onto his back I went without even a side-step from him! He did amazing. Around our back yard we walked and it was turning out to be such a nice break from laying tile in the bathroom…or so I thought!

Brian calls to me to make two more passes and then put him up to get back to work. L Ok, I knew that we had to, but I didn’t want too! Sabari had been doing so well! I finish my first turn without a problem and decide that Sabari needs a little exercise, so I encourage him to pick up the pace. Well, pick up the pace he does! You would have thought we had heard the gun shot for the Belmont because he took off…straight for a T-post! I pulled on his reigns to turn him (oh, did I mention he doesn’t really like his bridle…at all!!!!!). He starts side-stepping, as we are running, and I pull back to reign him in to a stop. He is having none of it and starts to buck, still heading toward the T-post. I decide (because of course there was plenty of time to reason out all of the options on the back of this bucking horse) to dismount before I end up impaled onto the T-post. I slip my right foot out of the stirrup just as Sabari is coming down from bucking and I feel the impact all the way through my spine...talk about pain! Phew…I throw my right leg the rest of the way over and dive off, knocking the wind out of myself.

This was before the "oh, so graceful" 10 out of 10 dive! Doesn't he look good?!

I laid there for no more than a milasecond before I begin to processes the panic in Brian’s voice. I am gasping for my air, but managed to squeak out, “air…knocked…out” and wave my hand to him so that he would know why I wasn’t going to carry on a lengthy conversation with him at the moment. I laid my arm down to my side to rest and touched the cold metal of the T-post. With my arm at my side, elbow bent, I could grasp the T-post that had spooked the horse and propelled me off of the horse. It’s about this time that I feel the need (after having my own little praise service to the Almighty) to get up because of course, someone has to get back on that horse. I pull up on the T-post and my right side feels like I am in prison and someone is grinding a shank into my hip and spine. The pain was intense.

Long story short, here I am on Sunday night in bed blogging when I should be cleaning and finishing the bathrooms floor. Brian took me to the VA Emergency Room that night and, after x-rays, the doctor says that he doesn’t see anything (which worried me because he was supposed to see a hip in those shadows! Come on…a little humor to lighten up the mood here). He told me to rest in bed for the next few days and only do what feels comfortable. The nurse comes in and tells me not to be laying around in bed for the next few days, to go about my routine as normal.

J Truly, one must love the VA! J

So Brian and I have combined the two directions and are trying to listen to my body, which is saying that it needs chocolate and a massage in Hawaii! Seriously, my back and hip hurt extremely badly. However, progress is being made and Brian and I are hopeful that Wednesday will find me up and able to do things on my own. Until then, we are going to be patient and content with the blessings that Christ gave us in such minor injuries!

Life is challenging...take the challenge!

This past week Brian and I have been on a roller coaster! We are so ready to have the children that we are adopting in our home and to begin a new "normal" of changing diapers, doing homework, running around like crazy, and enjoying the never-ending noise. There are times when I sit in my now extremely large, empty home in silence. I dream of the day that I cannot get quiet anywhere. While I know that most moms would say "enjoy it while you can", I have done my best to be content and enjoy my non-child years. My heart now beats adoption every minute.

For the last few months, I have done my best to quiet that beat. I have told myself that Christ is my portion and to want more is wrong. But God is teaching me a new truth. When He is "giving you the desires of your heart", meaning that He is placing those desires in your heart because He is the One in control of your life, He doesn't require us to put them out of our minds. People tell me to focus on what is in front of me right now and let God handle the rest. While I agree worrying is sinful, I think that God lets us dwell on things yet to come to bring us to an ever fresh awareness of just how much we need Him.

At the beginning of this week, I would have said that life is hard. It is full of opportunities that require waiting and dreams that demand focus and attention. It is a struggle to stay consistent and content with the life that God has put before us. But how can I say that life is hard when we all know that it is a precious gift of God? Life is not hard, but challenging. Our society is pushing us to continually be looking and open to challenge. "Don't back down from a punch!" "America Strong" "Push the limits" Why do we view our Christian walk any different?

I challenge you to take us that cross and walk run daily with Christ. Moms, "be all that you can be" (Army) in your homemaking this week. Dad, "Just do it" (Nike) at work and then come home and do it again, but don't just sit down on the couch and veg while your children and wife beg for your attention! Christian, "Impossible is nothing" (Adidas) because Christ is by our side!

Taking every moment and utilizing every encouragement, live for Christ, dream and strive for dreams this week. Be content with Christ, but not complacent! Work toward the calling that Christ has given you, even if you know that it is months away.

Confidence in the Caller

When I was younger, my dad would call out to me. “Jump”, he would say, and down I went. No thought of the danger. No concern for what I would encounter should I hit the ground. I wouldn't. Dad was calling, so it was safe. As I grew, I gained more and more confidence in my dad. He was strong, able, and safe. This confidence was big. I would have followed him anywhere he called and done anything he asked. We lived in an area of bluffs my first six years of life. Our family would take walks on those bluffs and dad would walk right up to the cliff’s edge. He would call, “Come here.” Then he would pick me up, turn me upside down, and hang me over the edge. (Yes, even now he thinks he was crazy for doing it!) The view was great, and the rush through your stomach, catching your breath…it was incredible! Why, though, did I know that he wouldn't drop me? Why did I have confidence in him?

     Confidence is a prior experience or knowledge of faithfulness by someone. I had confidence in my dad because he had been faithful to keep me safe in the past. However, I didn't place my confidence in the idea or path that he was calling me to. He called and, because I placed confidence in him, I was obedient to his calling.

     In life, our confidence cannot be placed in the decisions and callings that Christ directs us too.  We can, however, put our confidence in the One doing the calling. Like David said in 1 Samuel 17:34-37,

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!’”

     The Bible never says that David had confidence in his calling…he wasn't sure how everything would work out. It doesn't say that he wasn't nervous or scared. Maybe he had got the calling wrong and maybe he wasn't sure what the next step was. On his way down to the battlefield, he might have even second guessed the calling. BUT…he never questioned the Caller. He knew of God’s faithfulness because of his prior experience with the lion and the bear. Those were huge problems and events in his life. At that time, he might have thought that they were the hardest thing he would ever do. Looking back, while staring at Goliath, they probably didn't seem that big. They were confidence builders for his battle. David knew the calling and had confidence in the Caller. He completed his portion of the task, which was to kill Goliath, and then stepped aside as God called others to finish the battle.

     We should react no differently when we are feeling called to something. No matter who believes in the calling or who doubts our feelings, we must take that step forward. Knowing that He has been faithful in our prior experiences, we obey the calling with our confidence placed in the Caller.

Food for Thought:

What prior experience gives you confidence in the Caller? What is the Caller pushing you to do to continue building your confidence in Him for those bigger experiences that are coming?

Hello...anyone still out there?

It has been quite a while since our last blog post. Isn't it crazy how life can get so out of control busy? I think that over the last year we have learned some lessons that will stick with us for life.

To catch you all up with where we are today, the Kingston’s have moved!!! Wait…let me back up.

First, to borrow from Paul Harvey, here is “the rest of the story”….

Brian and I are working on adopting from the state’s foster care system. We began this process last September…yes, as in 10 months ago. :0 Since then, our house has flooded because of an A/C leak (who knew that an A/C could produce enough water to ruin three bedrooms!). We got those repairs done…only to find a house that was going to accommodate the number of children we want. So we moved about 20 minutes away from Conway to a town called Mayflower…

Ahh, I can feel the light bulbs going off with just the mention of the name. Yes, Mayflower was one of the towns effected by the recent tornados in Arkansas. Brian and I were extremely blessed to have only minor damage, but God never brings us to a place for our own plans. The tornado created many opportunities to meet people because we began handing out breakfast to workers, survivors, and helpers, which many of you contributed to…thank you! Those relationships that were formed are being cultivated and Brian and I have gotten the opportunity to share the Gospel several times.

          Since the tornado, Brian and I have been working diligently on our home. I have resigned from my position at City of Hope Outreach. It was a hard decision to make. The people that we have met and the relationships that we have formed will be with us forever, but when God directs, we move, no matter how crazy those directions seem to others. We are two bathrooms and one broken window away from having our remodeling done! (We will be posting pictures soon!)

Though this process has been long and hard, God has continued to motivate us with new and unique opportunities. We will be sharing pictures and stories in the weeks to come. Check back soon!

Erin

Looking ahead...

This week Brian and I have been at church camp in Missouri. We had a great time and loved serving the children, sponsors, and our Savior. But more on that later.

 

Here is a look into the Kingston's coming days:

• We are getting more organized. We have a new idea of what this looks like for us and that is being "INTENTIONAL" with every moment that God gives us to glorify Him.

• We are working around the house. Cleaning, unpacking, and more, since last week was Church Camp! I have learned that my house will never be my mothers, sisters, aunts, or friends. It will be mine and reflect my habits and priorities. You will find on any given night that I might have dirty clothes piled on the couch, dishes in the sink, or dirt on the floor, but I will be curled up next to my husband, who is playing a video game, working on my laptop. This to me is home, where you are always WELCOMED, but you might have to step over the piled luggage to get in!

• We are creating next months lessons for Oakwood South's Kid's Time on Monday nights. I am loving our new structure. Brian and I have been the Kid's Time (really original name right! we are working on it!) for about a month and a half. It is the first ministry that we have worked at together. This alone has been challenging. We are still molding our thoughts and ideas of what this time should look like into one final product, but we are getting there. Brian and I are writing our own curriculum for this time, so the lessons are flexible to the children we have and the topics that come up. It has been GREAT and so EDUCATIONAL!!!!! LOL

• We are trying to find ways to improve our house without running to the store first! Thoughts and Ideas are ALWAYS welcome. Brian and I love being home owners, and could use some more great ideas!

• Lastly, we are learning that being together doesn't always constitute a date, but spending SPECIAL quality memory making time together. (which is oh so hard as a newly wed couple, I might add!) So we have aired up the bike tires and have it on the schedule to go to the park on Thursday and ride. I can't WAIT!

What do the coming days hold for you?

Any special plans or commitments?

Where does God have you working?

The Blood Changes our walk!

    Once we are redeemed, blood purchased believers chosen by God, our loyalties change. We no longer are here to walk to fulfill the flesh to only satisfy ourselves. Jesus tells us in Matthew that he is sending His Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to live with in us. This means that the Eternal God is residing in our Spirits to comfort, convict, strengthen, and to teach us what pleases God and how we are to glorify God, which is our chief end. The Scriptures say in,

Galatians 5:16, "I say then: Walk in the Spirit,

 and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." 

We see here that Paul is telling the Galatians how to avoid the sins of the flesh by walking in the Spirit. We do this through obedience to the words of God that we find in Scripture. In this passage, God shows you how to avoid the sins of the flesh, and further down in the passage, he commands us to avoid them and shows us the things that, as his children, we can do to please him. In this Scripture, we see the importance of Bible study and times of prayer with our Lord. How are we to know his will, if we do not talk with him and listen to His Spirit and read His Word.

So now what does that look like in our lives?

It is as simple as living life as Christ would. The other day, as you know, Erin and I bought chickens at a feed store here in town. When we got home we realized that although we had paid for 6 chicken, the store had given us seven. Faced with the decision of honesty or convenience, God compelled us to honesty, even if it meant going the second mile and returning to the store to pay for the extra chicken. Though this was strange to the workers, Erin and I are trying to live more aware of the way every aspect of our lives needs to be lived walking in the Spirit.

Sola dia agloria
(To God be the glory alone)
Brian Kingston

Our home

Brian and I have just bought our first house. The process was grueling and tiresome. We went through at least three different contracts and banks. Problems came left and right, but then we found a cute little house and everything just fell into place.

It is amazing to me how easy thing are when you are in God's will and how plans just fall into place when He is behind them.
We love our house now and know that God put us right in this neighborhood.

Watch for room by room posts with pictures and details!!
~Erin

The Makeover

Though my life changed a little over six months ago, Brian has just started to have time to realize that he wants in my blog spot. (and in more than just the posts!) He wants to start posting things as well. Instead of managing two blogs, we are combining. Hence the make over!

What you can expect in the future:
No worries, you will still get to hear my ramblings about life, nieces and nephews, baking, and all the homemaking skills I am acquiring! However, Brian will be writing about our life in the adventure realm! LOL He has taken up dog training, is volunteering at a non-profit organization, and finishing up some schooling.

We are hoping that you will join us as we wander through life wondering at the goodness of our Savior!

Hold on...

I know that it has been forever {again!} since I posted! I am in that stage that so many of you as readers have already walked through so I know you will understand.

I am still learning how to juggle everything. Don't get me wrong the ability to only have to go to school and not work and try to go to school is AMAZING!!!! At the same time, there is a lot more juggling that I haven't gotten down yet. Since I am going to school online, I am at home most days. This is great, but I find that I have prioritized my life incorrectly. I like for the house to be clean and everything done so that I can concentrate on school. Not a good idea. From now on school comes first, but that means pushing other things down the list...like blogging! So please be patient with me as I try to learn what goes where in our schedule!

Thanks for sticking with me!

ABC and 123s

School has started for me for the spring semester. I have two 16 week classes and two 8 week classes. This gives me 12 credits for the semester, which is how many I have to have for my military G.I. Bill. It also is nice because I only have three classes at a time. Since I had to take last semester off for my head, I think that slow is the best way to start off.
It has been going well. I have had to learn that the dishes and laundry have to wait sometimes, so that an asignment can get done.
Hopefully this won't be what I look like in the next few weeks!

Our week

Though we have been waiting for what seem forever to move into our new home, it seems we will have to wait a few more days. Today, February 13th, marks our second closing date and it seems it will pass without signing a single document. We seem to be struggling to find the right lending company to make this house ours. The first didn't complete anything. The second wouldn't accept the appraisal. So now, we are waiting, talking with our realtor, and trying to find patience that is a little allusive these days.

We are confident though that if this is the plan God has for us he will make it happen in His time.

Laundry

Ok so we have been packing and preparing for our move.

This process is nuts and you think that as you take things and put them in boxes my house would get more organized...NOT!

We cleaned out the attic and since the stuff in there had been slept on by racoons (yes we have racoons in our attic) and mice, I felt the need to wash the bedding and clothing before I packed it. This also helped me see what we were keeping and what we were going to get rid of.

This is the mess that it created!

Now Mom, before you panic and jump in the car to drive seven hours and "fix" me...I should update you on my progress! LOL

So drop the keys, and relax....its folded and maybe will be put away (or worn) from here!

Hope everyone else is having a productive type day too!

Rain, rain go away

That is what Brian says that I should blog about today. Since it has been rainy here for over a week now, we are both feeling a little of that spring "blues". There are some everyday life things that are happening in our family. Some are fun and some are a little discouraging. Others bring a little fear or apprehension because of lack of knowing how they will turn out. Anyway...here are the latest and greatest developments on our journey.
~We are about (hopefully) to close on a home of our very own. It is on a huge lake and has a great fenced in yard for our dogs. All we are waiting on is the loan to go through. It is at underwriting and we should hear something today!!! YAY!

~I am about to go back to school. Classes start on February 6th. I am taking 12 hours for the semester, but two of my classes are only 8 weeks so I will only have three classes at a time. I think this will be perfect and hope that I will be able to work around my disability this way.
~We are still looking for a church home. We have found several interesting and lovable church families, but God hasn't given his stamp of approval on any of them yet. So we are just trusting and trying to enjoy the variety that we get to experience!

~I have been able to find insurance that accepts pre-existing conditions. It is expensive, but I can now (after two years of looking) see a civilian doctor! This is one of the biggest blessing and takes away a huge concern. Since we are on medical I will just add that I have been doing good. Still the usual symptoms, but they have calmed down a bit for now to only one or two a week instead of everyday.

~Brian's job is busy and he works interesting hours. It is going well though, and we feel blessed that he has it. He has also been looking at a non-profit organization for us to start helping out with. They have several different kinds of ministries (but that's a different post).

I think those are all the happenings for now. Just wanted to give everyone a quick update on life.

Sweetness

Well, I think it is sweetness. It wasn't a bad day. It wasn't a day I needed a pick me up. My husband being the sweet man he is just decided to get me flowers to brighten up our house on a rainy day. I thought they were incredibly beautiful and wanted to share the beauty with you!

Some wedding...

I know it is long overdue! So without further adue, here are some of my favorites from our wedding.

I think that this is one of my favorite pictures. Besides the fact that my hand looks so pretty and feminine (which they aren't!), I love the reminder of the rings. The forever symbol of a never-ending circle reminds me of the commitment that has been made between Brian and I. Not that it is always easy or that the fun never ends, but a commitment that no matter what comes our way we handle it together.

 Most of my family was able to come down and stay the weekend for the wedding. It was great to have all of them there.

This is one of my favorite pictures with me and my mom...showing our silly side, which is our best side!   

Brian's father died when Brian was 16. He was a major part of Brian's life and we wanted to honor him and his love for Brian. So here's how we did it...

My childhood friends and sisters!

 Life is amazing, and so unpredictable sometimes.

What God has in-store for His children, no one can imagine or fathom. He gives immense blessings, even though we don't deserve them. It has made me pause so many times. Brian and I both really, can't believe that we are here. We constantly say to ourselves, "Did you ever think three months ago that we would be here? Married?" LOL God has very strange ways of working in and through our lives.

Noise

Since I have no children and my husband is at work during the day, I have this need for noise in my house at this stage in my life. It helps with all the alone time and the boredom of doing the dishes staring at the wall. I have tried music and television, but the best noise I have found is my dogs. I got Azlan, when she was three months old. She has grown a lot and has become a great dog. Don't get me wrong she still needs more training, but she is well on her way.

The picture on the left is Azlan when I first got her.

The right is a picture of Azlan now...not much has changed.

Brian had a dog when we got married, so I now have another "day-time" companion. His name is Leo and he is quite a bit more "mature" than Azlan. Well, sometimes!

These two are constantly together and love playing, running, and walking. Azlan gets on Leo's nerves I think...Azlan will take Leo's toys and then Leo

 will chase Azlan around and around the kitchen

table and living room to get the toy back. They

provide much laughter and many smiles...some

frustration too.

So now ya see my day...or at least how it sounds! Hoping you all are having a great, noisey day too!

learning

over the last few months, as anyone who is married will confirm, brian and i have been doing a lot of learning. we have learned about each other and our little quirks. we are slowly learning how to communicate and the importance of communicating continuously. we keep learning what it looks like to put our marriage first in our schedule and then add in time with our friends and family. we are learning how to trust God with our decisions.

it is so strange. a lot of times we think that when we become an adult we arrive at a place where we know everything. so not true! since "becoming" an adult, i think i have learned more than i did all through my educational years.

as i continue to learn, i continually realize that learning is one of the biggest blessings God has given us. because of this realization, i have become aware of the astronomical number of people that have helped me learn over my life time.


so here's to all of you, who have taught, prompted, and even sometimes dragged me through lessons in my life. without all those lessons, i wouldn't be where i am today. so thank you to all of you who have been there with me.

Long Time

So it's been a long time I know, but I find myself in the January blues mode. I am unmotivated and so therefore would rather take a break in with a book than get all my work done. But life is going on!

We are in full house contract mode. Which means we have every paper record we have ever kept out for review and refiling! The table to a mess and it stays that way because I refuse to clean it up then have to redo work the next day.
We should be closing on February 13th if everything goes through with the contract. We are super excited and yes a little nervous too!

Here is the link if ya wanna take a look at "almost" our new home!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/28-Dunbar-Rd-Conway-AR-72032/233043_zpid/

Brian lived here during college for awhile with a friend, which is how we found out that it was on the market. We were able to talk them into backing off the price and are so glad that we did.

I have found that living by faith doesn't always mean living without fear. I am not ejoying signing a contract that puts me into thousands of dollars in debt, but I know that this is where God wants me right now so I follow where he leads and let him do the worrying.

Again, sorry it took so long to write. Hoping to get into a rythme here soon! Thanks for reading!

Work with me

I know that my posting has been sparatic and non-existant at times over these past few months.
Now I know that excuses don't change anything, but here's my explanation...

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? And that was after I had already cleaned for about three hours! So I shouldn't need to add any more to this post, but I will.

Between cleaning and organizing this house, plus the holidays and all the wedding buzz, I have not had time to keep up with my postings. I apologize and will do better as soon as life gets under control...that is when I find the computer in all this mess next time!

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, I did get that part of the house organized! See!