the house hunt begins...

For those of you who know Austin and I well, that title makes us nervous! We have done a lot of gabbing in the past about houses being so far off in our future, wanting to buy a house in cash, etc. Well, we do a lot of gabbing. We are considering taking the plunge. 


 Looking for a house (to buy...you read correctly) raises so many questions in our minds: are we too young? are we really willing to commit to this city? Is this the wisest for our family and our pocketbooks? Above all these questions, though, one stands out louder than the rest: do we really trust God in all this?


I (Kayla) have recently been wrestling through this nasty beast of a habit called control. I've needed control over things in my life for so many reasons, manifesting in most aspects of life. Though God has grown me greatly, I am more and more aware of it ever day. As Jesus and I continue to wrestle through this, it is no surprise to me what trusting God with finances, a potential neighborhood, risks, committing to a city, and learning to heed my husband's direction has surfaced control issues beyond what I even knew were there. It's humbling. 


So, the question I'm now asking: am I stewarding my trust, or just my finances? Am I trusting God with all of me, surrendering (not only) our desires to settle roots but my fear of failure?


We would love to invite you into this process with us by asking you to pray. Pray for God's wisdom, vision for owning a home (serving neighbors, living missionaly, stewardship), and the finances to do so. We were recently introduced to those 3 simple prayer-points by wise men at our church. Please join with us.


-the macs

this weekend, visually

Coming to Knoxville has been restful and enjoyable, but funny enough, we still have responsibilities, and decisions to make. Decisions best made at Panera.

A, mom, and dad crafted this puzzle in a few short days.

Micalea Grace and K, glad to be around sisters.

the design.

the creation (first timer at spray-paint, ok?)

Are we related?

Big kid and grandson.

A, K, & Ben...the most hilarious child yet.

blogging vs i love to design blogs

I am almost positive I have spent more time designing and re-designing our blog than I have actually writing for it. What fun it is to have change at your fingertips. Perhaps due to our daily "work" being slow, processional change, I love the ability to design and create in just a few [hundred] clicks.


We are home in Knoxville this week, spending Christmas with my (kayla's) side of the family. Mom and Dad pull up the driveway, returning from the hospital and leaving Bay and Janette there for the night awaiting Bay's surgery in the morning. He broke 2 places in his wrist, to top off the year of brain and eye surgeries (what a kid/trooper).


We love being around family, it feels close. No space, in more ways than one. I, in particular, have loved this trip for many reasons. I am refreshed by being known and loved, embraced by the fields and hills of the Valley, renewed in my mind (and in process) by the Holy Spirit, reminded of advent and the coming of our King, excited by books...and lots of them...that I am currently reading, rejuvenated by art, mainly drawing and dabbling a tad in graffiti (you can ask about that one), and so much more.


I have had space, and no space. Space to hear, see, breathe, create, and be re-created. And no space, feeling the depth of closeness. Let it be!




KM