Month: February 2017

The family went on a long walk in the woods this morning.  It was a gorgeous way to start the day and got me thinking more and more about the little phrase I find myself saying to myself and sometimes to Josh.

“Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

When you are in a new place sometimes it’s tempting to just sit down and stop trying to figure out where things are.  Or maybe it’s tempting to quit introducing yourself to new people that seem pretty well set with their group of friends.  Maybe you hear about your old city and friends there that are getting together and you’re tempted to wonder what it would be like to take steps back in time to when you were there with all things and people familiar, too.  Loneliness can play terribly tricks on the mind and heart if you’re unguarded.

Josh asks me, “How’s your day going?”  And some days I have said, “Just putting one foot in front of the other.”

And that’s ok.  At least I am still showing some effort, still trusting God and His plan that is high above my thoughts and ways. If there is anything I have learned in my short life, it is that I really don’t know much about what is best for me.  I have gotten far ahead of God in my heart and mind way too many times.  I have also lagged behind in stubborn disobedience, much to my dismay.  There is a freedom in trusting God when things are not wonderful circumstantially;  your heart can be at peace because, well…GOD!  He loves me.  He is good.  He does all things well.  He can be trusted; I cannot.

The Israelites in the book of Joshua most definitely showed trust when they took the steps into the Jordan River and then saw the waters part. They walked across on dry land.

In Joshua 3 the waters are parted AFTER the soles of the feet of the priests entered the river:

13 “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

They didn’t just move on after that miracle, but Joshua 4  tells us that the priests took twelve stones of remembrance and Joshua put down twelve stones in the river where the priests had stood:

8 Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.

I am here putting one foot in front of the other, sure that the Lord has His eye upon me.  Sure that He led us right here, right now.  Sure that His ways are perfect.  Sure that His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path on this walk called life.

So I picked up a stone today on my walk.  A stone to remind me of God’s truths that have been so personal to me during this season of “putting one foot in front of the other.”

Micah 6:8 He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the LORD’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.

Colossians 1:10-11 so that you might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God. You are being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that you might patiently endure everything with joy.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:7 …we walk by faith, not by sight.

I have put one foot in front of the other rather mindlessly some days, just waiting for nighttime when I could go to bed.  But lately the Lord has been very personal to me and gracious with me.  He has reminded me that I am to walk with purpose and in His promises every step of the way.  He has reminded me that He is with me.  He has also reminded me that the evil one would like me to stop walking ahead, claiming the land the Lord has given to me and my family.  I can stand firm in His truth, and I can keep moving forward because He is guiding me with His eye upon me.

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” 

That’s a promise I can stand on and walk with on this journey of life, no matter where it takes me!

It feels so weird to sit here and type on the blog.  I haven’t done this in quite a while!  I think an update is in order.  First of all, I am posting on Instagram (@kristydorminy) regularly, and I receive chatbooks at every 60 pictures, so that is a great way for me to keep up with our shenanigans and even record some our school year.  The blog has definitely been left behind.  I think there’s still some writing in me, but time shall tell.

Ruby:  She is almost a teenager, which is super crazy.  She is learning “Come Thou Fount” on the piano.  The recital is in May.  She is doing amazing in her math, which always surprises me because she uses a dvd teacher and basically teaches herself.  I oversee, but I am little help.  It’s time to start expanding our reach in how we educate, as I don’t think I am smart enough to teach high school.  Ruby is making friends in the youth group at church and has adjusted so well.  I am very proud of her. She continues to be a READER! And notice those braces….

Molly:  She is 11 and is very funny.  We have turned a corner in our relationship.  It has been a bumpy road, but let me just say that the Lord did a work in our family, and I think He made the breakthrough happen for us, and I could not be more thankful.  I really enjoy her company.  We still get on each other’s nerves from time to time, but we respond better to each other and don’t let things escalate.  She is a great piano player also and is working on “How Deep the Father’s Love  for Me” and “Home.”  Molly continues to be independent and knows her way around the kitchen. She loves all things pineapple.  She also is enjoying church and making friends.  This year we will go on a “Blessing Retreat” with JUST Molly!  The church really uses the 6th grade year to pour into the kids before sending them on to Youth Group.  It’s the neatest thing I’ve seen in an elementary department!  And it was just what Molly needed.  She was not quite ready to be in the youth group with much older kids.  Just another way the Lord has confirmed His leading in our lives. Here she is with a good friend when we visited Woodstock last month.  Such cuties.

Mack: He is almost 10!  Double digits….what in the world?  My baby is getting big.  He loves football and will play flag football in the spring.  He is begging for tackle, so I am sure that will be in our future.  He also enjoys basketball.  We got a basketball goal given to us right after Christmas–a huge blessing! The mild winter weather has enabled Mack to meet some neighborhood boys, and he is SOOOOO HAPPY when they are home in the afternoon and can play and SOOOOOO MAD when they aren’t available.  It’s times like these that he begs me for a 9 year old brother. UGH.  He still takes good care of me–always so thoughtful and kind.  It amazes all of us.  Neither Josh or myself are as thoughtful and tenderhearted as he is. He keeps us laughing most days. 

Josh:  He is enjoying his new job here in Charlotte.  There is never a boring day, that is for sure!  He misses teaching Sunday School, but knows now is not the time to add that responsibility to his plate.  He has been able to hunt more often this past season, which has been a lot of fun for him (and Mack).  Josh is kind of private, so that’s about all I feel comfortable sharing about him. 🙂

Me:  I am not very private, but I will restrain myself for the sake of the two of you who stayed with me this far. I will be 40 pretty soon.  Yikes.  I’m not afraid to be 40.  I kind of welcome it.  It’s been a reflective time for me, and I think I am growing as a person as a result of the move, so I have had plenty of circumstances  to evaluate and reflect upon.  Challenged in new ways that are good for me.  I am leading a table at a Bible Study at our new church, The Armor of God.  It’s really good and couldn’t be more perfect for where I am. I still teach the kids, but like I said, I am looking for ways to transfer responsibility to someone else…maybe Liberty Online?  maybe a math and science tutor?  That’d be awesome!  I pray about making that right connection to someone who wants to teach my kids math and science, so if you want to pray for our family, that is one way that I would greatly appreciate!  I am reminded of Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your ways to the Lord and your plans will be established.”  So that is what I am doing in the area of homeschool.  He has guided us so far, and I know He will continue to show Himself faithful to us.  I have crazy thoughts about going back to school myself and becoming some sort of counselor.  I have a book idea that I roll around from time to time, but then get too scared to really put any effort into it.  And it’s dinner time, so since I am still the mama around here, I best get into the kitchen.

Thanks for hanging in there and reading this.  I will post a pic of Josh and I from our honeymoon over 16 years ago.  We celebrated our 16th anniversary in January.  And this picture is better than any that we have taken lately of our tired selves. 🙂