Christmas, Baby and God's faithfulness!

So much has happened since our last post.  I have been horrible at keeping up with this thing! 

It is now December...  My favorite time of the year.  I love the smells, the sounds, the lights and the decorations.  I love being with my family and sharing life with each other!  This Christmas is a little more special for Charles and I since we are expecting a little one in March.  I keep telling my mom, who insists on buying Baby Miles Christmas things, that this isn't his first Christmas.  Next year will be his first Christmas.  I think she's a little excited.... like all of us, of course! 

Last time I wrote, Charles had just started a job at the custom wheel place.  It turned out to be an awful situation where he was treated horribly, but let me just say this.  It was a HUGE learning experience for him...for us.  We knew that the Lord was teaching him so much through the experience. 

I was in Cape Town, South Africa from October 8th through Novemeber 1st for Cape Town 2010.  The Sunday before I left, Charles and I were out walking and praying and just spending time together.  It was then that I prayed that the Lord would teach Charles whatever he was supposed to learn at that job, but that he would not keep him there a moment longer than what he had to for His will to be done.  The next morning, Charles was fired.  (For reasons that were not his fault...)  In worship the day before that. I just kept hearing that the Lord is faithful, to cling to what is true and to hold fast to His promises.  He is faithful. He is faithful. He is faithful.  I know now that the Lord was preparing me for the next day when Charles would call and tell me he had lost his job... only 4 days before I left for Africa.  We just had to laugh.  Isn't it so like God to answer our prayers, but not exactly the way we were thinking they should be answered?  His ways are higher!  He knew that Charles' time was finished there.  The day before I left, Charles received a call from a place he had talked to weeks before. He went up there and they hired him on the spot.  He's now doing fabrication on big tanks.  He likes it a lot since he's finally getting to create again and it was a little bit more money and way more what he went to school for.  Even though it's not exactly what he wants to be doing or what he's trained to do, this is a great learning experience for him.  We will take the better environment anyday though!  Praise God! 

We are learning more and more about God's faitfulness!  We are starting a course by Dave Ramsey on financial peace.  The previews that we have had are amazing and we have already started some of his techniques for getting out of debt and money management.  (Charles' school loans are looming....)

A couple of weeks ago we went to a parenting conference that was really cool!  We learned a lot, not just about parenting, but about disciplines in our own lives that we need to start now and continue throughout our lives.  It was great because it stirred in us things that we already new to be true.  It was the cry of our hearts being reassured.  Thank you Lord for your faithfulness!! 

I know that I say this all the time, but I can't say it enough!  I am so proud of Charles!  He really is the most amazing husband!  I could never have dreamed up someone better for me.  He loves me like I've never been loved before... I didn't even know I could be loved like he loves me.  He makes me feel like a woman... a woman who is worthy of being loved!  I thank the Lord that my husband is learning to be the head of the house like Christ is the head of the Church!  Jesus, please teach me to be a better wife and to respect and love Charles the way he needs!  

We have recently started reading Proverbs daily.  God's wisdom is so amazing and so practical.  I can't wait to share more about His fatifulness and His wisdom.

Ok, I think that's it for now.  So much for a "quick" update.  haha.

I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a happy new year!!  May you be reminded of all you have and give thanks daily for the loved ones in your life!!!  (I'm trying hard to do that myself!)

Richest Blessings,
Casey

Recent Pics

Charles and I at the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Jacksonville Landing.

The tree...  all lit up!

Baby Miles Kirby Newmeyer at 23 weeks.

21 Weeks.  I love that you can see his profile... little nose and mouth!  So adorable!

Praise the LORD!!

Charles got a job!  And this one is more in his field than the last.  He is doing custom wheels and tires.  He doesn't love it, but it's better than doing landscaping!  We have seen the Lord provide in every way!  It is truly amazing!  I'm so thankful for all that we are learning during this time.  I feel growing pains, but at least we are growing.

We were at home group last night and something one of the guys said totally spoke to me.  He was talking about his family and siblings and how they are really REALLY getting on his nerves.  He then said the most profound thing!  He said, "I'm sure it's just me since they are ALL annoying me."  Wow, really?  That's amazing.  I immediately thought of our living situation and how there are days when EVERYONE gets on my nerves.  How much better things would be if instead of just getting annoyed I went before the Lord and said, "Jesus, these people are seriously getting on my nerves.  I don't want to feel this way, please show me what I need to change in my life and heart."  What effect would that have on things at home?

Just my thoughts....

~Casey

The FLORIDA Sun!!!

We have been in Florida for about 2 1/2 months now.  It's so nice to be home!!  Charles has started working with a friend of ours doing landscaping until he finds something in his field. I know that he's happy to finally be working!  I am loving my job and learning more everyday!  I'm so thankful for this opportunity to be involved in missions again and ultimately something much MUCH bigger than me and my little world! 

Just a quick update on my mom.  She finished her first round of chemo and came through it pretty well.  She had bronchitus caused by the chemo that lasted what seemed like forever.  We are thankful that the worst drugs are over now and she has a month off.  To celebrate, my parents are flying to Spokane WA to see my brother and then going on a Alaskan Cruise!  They are so funny!!  I love my parents!  When they return my mom starts round 2 of twelve chemo treatmens.  They say that these are much easier than the last and we are believing for it to go smoothly.

I'm so thankful for this place in our lives.  The Lord is proving Himself faithful to us!  He is providing all that we need!  Charles and I are learning more and more everyday and growing closer to the Lord.  It certainly is not an easy place to be in, but it's a good place!  I'm thankful for my amazing husband who treats me so well!  I never could have dreamed up a better man for me!  He truly is a gift from God!!! 

As soon as Charles and I get our own place we would love to have friends come visit!  Now that he's working it won't be too long!  We love you all!!! 

Blessings,
Casey

How He loves

I love the SUNSHINE!!! 
I LOVE Jesus!!
He gave me sunshine!!!
Oh, how He loves!!!

How He LOVES
by Kim Walker

He is jealous for me.
Loves like a hurricane I am a tree.
Bending beneath weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory.
And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me.

And Oh, how He loves us so.
Oh, how He loves us.
How he loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves

We are His portion and He is our prize.
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes.
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest.
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way...

He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves
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I am blown away by how He loves us!!!  The little gifts that He gives me throughout my day.  I want to appreciate these.  I want all His goodness to captivate until I lose all frustration, anger and sadness!!!  I know it's OK to have these things, but I want to give them all to Him!!

Jesus, You are my Rock, my Strong Tower that I run to for refuge!!  Thank YOU!!!

FLORIDA!!! *sigh*

I know it's been some time since I have written.  Things just got a little crazy towards the end of our stay in PA...  ya know, with packing and saying goodbye and all that jazz.  We survived all the snow storms just fine.  (thanks to some wonderful people who continually gave me rides to work)  Would I do it all again?  If I had to...

Charles graduated, with HONORS, on March 19th.  It was a lovely ceremony (short) and then we celebrated with family at his favorite japanese steakhouse.  It was such an joyous time for everyone.  Even his grandmother, aunt and uncle drove down from Michigan to see him walk across the stage.  :0) 

We left Saturday morning after a few days of frantic packing and cleaning.  (thanks to Charles' sister Kim it actually got done, and to his mom and sister Elizabeth who were cheap labor)  :0)  The first day of driving was pretty easy.  We stopped in Charlotte and stayed the night in a "pet friendly" hotel that had an amazing breakfast spread!  ;0)  You know me and food.  haha!  The second day of driving was a little rainy and generally an icky day of clouds and no sun.  As soon as we drove into downtown Jacksonville, about to cross the Fuller Warren bridge, the clouds parted and sun shown brightly.  It was probably just a coincidence, but we like to think that it was a welcome home present!  :0)

We have now been home for 2 1/2 weeks.  It is finally starting to feel like we aren't just visiting.  FINALLY!!!  Charles had an interview at a custom shop on Monday and is waiting to hear if they have it in the budget to hire him.  They really want him, but they have to be able to afford him too!  I just accepted a position as the Lausanne/Cape Town 2010 Communications Executive Assistant.  Lausanne Movement is an amazing organization that I didn't know much about until recently.  I'm really excited to have this opportunity to work with some great people!  I know it will be a learning experience and I'm totally up for the challenge! 

In case you haven't heard, my mom had a bi-lateral mastectomy March 5th and starts chemo next week.  They originally thought that it wasn't aggressive and all, but the oncologist wasn't happy with the sample size of the biopsy and did more tests.  They discovered that it is aggresive and non hormone responsive.  She will have to go through 4 1/2 months of chemo incase it has spread anywhere else.  I know that she is trusting the Lord and that He is leading her and her doctors to make the right decisions.  The Lord has us here, living with my parents, for a reason!  We are trying to help out in any way we can!  My mom is a tough lady and has an amazing attitude!  She's staying positive and I think that's half the battle! 

'til next time...

~case

Blizzard = stay home and pack!

For the past month I've been saying that I just wanted to experience one blizzard.  Just one or two days where it snows so much that everything shuts down.  Well, I got my wish!  Friday afternoon it started snowing and didn't let up until saturday morning.  We got approximately 20 inches and they declared it a state of emergency.  If you were caught out driving around you could get a ticket.  It was crazy. 

Charles and I decided to walk up to the store down the road.  We had so much fun playin' in it!  The walk back, cold and wet, was even fun!  We have spent the entire weekend packing and cleaning and just spending time together.  It's been amazing!  I love my Charlie! 

There are boxes everywhere in the house and the fact that we are leaving seems more and more real!  I can't believe it's here!!!  Florida has missed us I'm sure!  LOL!   I know we have missed Florida!  6 weeks from today we should be there!!  Starting to get settled in!  :0)