House Hunting Here we come

I woke up In the middle of the night with a stomach bug, Abby complaining about her tummy ending up with a UTI, loaded up and went to pick up the boys at school where Abigail threw up her medicine all over the car, back home, cleaned car, showered Abigail, picked up more meds...and now we are on our way to Kentucky! Whew!
Just a couple funnies: Andrew exploring & opening every drawer in the hotel "Wow, we got more bibles". Carson going down to breakfast said "I. Smell. Bacon!" (If you know this boy of mine he does have a nose for bacon) Andrew said, "Wow, Kentucky is NOT in the United States." (obviously because it was taking so long to get there!) Abigail woke up at the hotel and said, "So what kind of juice do they have in Kentucky?" So funny! They act like we are moving to a different country. Carson loved the automatic pancake maker and requested a picture by it. The big kids did great traveling the 9.5 hour stretch Wednesday night but little missy sure was hard to keep happy and entertained since she refused to put her headphones on....but we made it! We only had 4 more hours to travel today and we are finally here. The kids cheered when we made it to Morehead! Tomorrow we hunt for the house the Lord has already provided for us.

Happy 4th Birthday Wadley!

Today is Wadley's 4th Birthday! Happy Birthday sweet boy! We love you and are praying for you! We found out today that he loves Spiderman. Soo cute! Can't wait to hug this little man!

Yes, Lord!

We have been praying and we now have a moving date! The movers will come December 19-21 to pack us up and load us and then will meet us in Kentucky December 28 to deliver. Deliver where in Kentucky we don't quite know yet but we are trusting the Lord to reveal that to us and provide that shelter for us next week as we take our family to search out housing there. The boys will start school on January 3rd and Lord willing, Dustin and I will be going with the founders of the Hands and Feet Project to Haiti January 7-10! Please pray for us! Lots of changes and adjustments ahead for The Cupp Crew. He alone is worthy! We are thrilled to be able to see our kids in Haiti and so soon! Thank you for joining us on our journey.

More Andrewisms

Sometimes Andrew Maddox says the funniest things. This is just a post so I will remember and be able to laugh at his humor years to come.
Andrew: Mom, how old to you have to be to drink beer.
Me: Well, I'm not sure maybe 18 but I hope you will choose to never drink it. God's word warns us to stand firm and sober.
Andrew: You know the root beer I had at the bowling alley...was it really beer? Was it a bad drug for me?
Me: (laughing) No Drew, Root Beer is harmless like Coke or Dr.Pepper
Andrew: Oh, okay

Andrew: Mom, when we go to Kentucky are we going to have cameras following us?
Me: huh?
Andrew: you know like those shows where they go and look for homes....because I don't want to be on tv. I am shy.
Me: No Andrew :)

Praying for Jenna

Yesterday the kids and I were out in the backyard playing when we heard the screeching of tires, but no crash. No big bang like is normally heard when two cars collide. The road we live on is a really busy road. It is just a two lane road but many drivers choose to instead of going down main street and in an effort to miss all of the traffic and lights many people take our road to get to Little. When we first moved in my neighbor Lois in first meeting her didn't tell me her name or say hello she said, "This street here is a busy street please keep your children away from it." I thought at the time that was quite strange. She later told me her name and then told me to keep my kids out of her pond because it too was dangerous and she was on her way. I have come to love this lady and understand her concern. She lost her grandson in a car accident and had seen many animals killed on this road. I also got the opportunity to pray with her after some intruders tried to break in her home. Grandstaff is a busy road. I have always cautioned my boys to stay back. We actually have a line in the concrete where it breaks that they are not to go past. Sometimes they think I am unreasonable but I am trying to protect them. Last week as they were playing basketball in the morning before the bus came one of their balls rolled out into the street only to be run over by a school bus a moment later. I was standing by the window when Andrew came in crying about the ball. I got to talk with them and comfort them but remind them that all of these things of this world are all temporary. Everything we have does not last. Only one thing lasts. Only one thing remains. God. God's love. God's faithfulness. Their relationship with God. Psalm 100:5 says "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations." I encouraged them and thanked them for obeying and not chasing after the ball in the road. That would have been really bad. I told them I was proud of them for not going in the street and that I was so sorry the ball got ran over but I was so thankful they were safe. So yesterday, we heard the screeching outside. When we came into the house I heard a helicopter like it was on top of my home and I looked out and it was! A Life flight helicopter had just landed in the front yard across from us. Just two houses down I could see an ambulance and fire truck. The kids and I walked outside and one of my neighbors came over to tell me what had happened. She had been the one to call 911. A little 6 year old girl on her bike had decided to cross the busy road and get the mail. She was hit by a truck. Devastated. Broken for that family. I looked at my children and we held hands and prayed for her. We prayed the Lord would miraculously protect her and heal her. We prayed for her family that the Lord would bring them closer to Him and give them peace. We prayed for the driver that he would not be in bondage over guilt but have peace and the hope of Christ. My other neighbor came a little later and shared that she was out in her front yard and heard it just thinking the truck had hit a dog, until she saw the bicycle fly in the air. She was the first to help. She was crying. We were both crying. So sad. She said she felt so helpless. There was blood everywhere and the truck had completely run over her. We continued to pray. I sent out a message to some prayer warriors to pray for this little girl. I found out that the driver was a friend of ours and continued to pray for him. His son was with him at the time. Such brokenness. What Satan intends for evil God means for Good. This was our devotional this morning. We found out the girls name was Jenna. We found out about 3:30am this morning from a post from Jenna's mom that Jenna was stable with two broken legs and two fractured pelvises but no brain damage. God protected Jenna. Got protected the driver of the truck and his family. Miraculously. I am so thankful for that. I am thankful she is alive and that what Satan intended for evil, God can work such good in. I saw it in my driveway. I was able to teach my children again about obedience. I don't know for sure if Jenna's mom and dad had warned her to stay away from the street but I asked the kids if they thought she knew better. I asked if she had made a good choice. I explained again that Mommy and Daddy want to protect them from harm just like God does. It could have happened to anyone. It could have been my children last week chasing after a basketball...but I am thankful for the opportunity to teach them once more about the importance of obedience. The importance of listening, stopping, thinking, and making the best choice. Last week in my quiet time I wrote in my journal. We are required as followers to hear His word and do his will. James 1:22 says "Be doers, not hearers only." Obedience is not an automatic response. It must be learned and conversely we must teach it to our children. Jenna was really hurt and her Mommy, Daddy and God did not want that for her. God wants the best for us. I am thankful that the Lord is working even now to bring Jenna's family closer to Him and comfort the family that was driving the truck. I am thankful for Romans 8:28 that tells us He will work all things out for His glory for those that love the Lord. As I think about our time in Cushing it has been very sad to me to see all of the brokenness. I am not sure why you see it so much clearer in a small town. I have seen mothers lose children, children lose mothers, families broken by divorce, broken by sickness and death and teen girls having children. The Lord has really opened my eyes spiritually to see the brokenness and His heart for them. He has given me a longing to intercede for them, serve them, love them and share the hope of Christ with them. We live in a broken world that needs a Savior. I am so thankful He continues to work to draw people to himself. I am so thankful for his provision yesterday for a little girl that lives just three houses down. Last night as I got the boys into bed Andrew asked "Mom, can we pray for Jenna again but this time please don't cry." How on earth can you just not cry over such things? This morning when I was able to share with the kids the good news that Jenna was going to be having surgery this morning to fix her legs and pelvises but the Lord had protected her mightily Abby said very matter of fact "Well, now she just needs a new bike." I hadn't even thought about it. Maybe the Lord will give us opportunity to continue to encourage, pray for Jenna and perhaps get her a new bike that she may be able to one day ride again. Truly what an awesome God we serve! Working in all. Bringing good and glory to Himself.

Two and a Half Years in Cushing, OK

 This was a picture I took of the boys in August before school started in 2010. And below is a pic I took yesterday November 2012.  



 They are growing up too fast! I am so thankful for our boys!

The Boys

 

Love those boys and yes, I bribed them with candy :)

When are you moving?

Time is getting closer. The questions have been coming, "When are you moving?" I have been doing really good with answering that "we are continuing to wait on the Lord to sell our home so we just don't really know yet" but the Lord has been working in my heart. He has been graciously teaching me that He is in control and I don't need anything other than His word that He has already directed us in. This morning as we listened to Dr. Ted Kersh preach from Judges 6 on the Fallacy of the Fleece I knew that the Lord was continuing to remind me. In Judges 6:16 God had told Gideon, "Surely I will be with you and you shall defeat the midianites as one man." But Gideon wanted reassurance. I find myself wanting reassurance even though the Lord has so boldly told us what we are to do. The final piece is the sell of our home. Why should us being obedient and making plans to be in Kentucky hinge on the sell of our home in Cushing? Why do we always feel like God's word is not enough? I find myself looking at my heart this morning and thankful for this message of truth. One of the points of the sermon was Looking for signs (Like putting the Fleece Out) will cause you to live in doubt instead of in confidence. If I am honest I am the one who has been faithfully praying that the Lord will sell our home so that we can go to serve Him in Kentucky. Financially, yes, that is a great goal. Sell the home here so we can purchase a home there. God just spoiled us last time by bringing the buyers to our home with the for sale by owner sign out in the yard just two hours. It has been 47 days this time. I am trusting the Lord but I wonder this morning am I putting the sell of our home out like Gideon put out the fleece to once again confirm to Him what the Lord was going to do. In doing that I have had doubt. Doubt in God's timing and what that looks like. Here is what the Lord spoke to my heart today: Even if I don't sell your home by January, will you still believe what I have spoken to you and shown you in my word and are you willing to plan accordingly and obey? John 10:10 Jesus said "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly." Abundant means life so good that whatever you walk through you walk with confidence. So, has the sell of our home been a fleece for me. I think so. My obedience to Him should not hinge on the sell of my home but in my trust in His faithfulness and love for me and my family. We trust Him that He will sell the home in His timing but that may not be by January. It makes me think of a friend I have been faithfully praying for. Her and her husband followed the Lord's leading to serve at a church in Ada this spring and packed up and put their house here in Cushing on the market and rented a home in Ada to begin serving. I have been praying with them for 6 months for the sell of their home. They are hoping to have a contract this month and now working with a buyer, but it has been 6 months. The Lord did not miraculously sell their home in 2 hours or 2 weeks but they have waited now 6 months. They have encouraged me as we draw closer to our time to be in Kentucky of an example of faithful followers. They heard God's call and obeyed Him. They packed up their home here in Cushing and the Lord provided a temporary place until the sell of the home in Cushing is completed. They packed up, prepared to and moved with His direction even without the sell of a home. I look at this today and think Lord, I don't want to rent. I don't want to have two house payments. I don't want to move twice. But that is me, my selfishness speaking. That is what I would like. My simple mind who doesn't understand the master plan. I am thankful my heavenly father does. Today, my heart is getting closer to be ready to plan, to obey even if my fleece, my home does not sell when I would like to see it sell by. I shouldn't need another sign. I don't want to doubt the Lord. I want to have confidence in His word and His plans for us and if I need to set aside the fleece then that's just what I need to do. In my journal this week I wrote: servant living or placing oneself under the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ is a lifestyle of obedience to His word. Pastor Ted said Gideon didn't need a sign in addition to God's word. God told Him he would deliver. If we are looking for signs it can make us followers of signs rather than God. I will choose to follow God. I will choose to trust Him because He alone is worthy! I am thankful for the Lord and Him graciously continuing to teach me as he draws me closer to Him. So maybe soon I will have an answer to when we are moving as we search out obeying Him to be ready to serve him in Morehead, Ky in January.

Girls Night at Mary Poppins

 

 

A fun night with the girls at Mary Poppins! Mimi, Angela, K.K., Lizzie, Jeri, Kari & Lexi joined us for the play in Tulsa. It was so fun to see the little girls having fun! Abigail only fell asleep for about 20 minutes but was loving it! She would clap so enthusiastically after every act. A good friend let us borrow a super special shawl for a super special night! What fun!

Amazing Adventures of God and Andrew

The cutest little book by Andrew Maddox Cupp.

Someone needs to tell them!

Tonight as we were driving back from having some dinner with friends we drove by a couple of churches and Carson was reading them aloud. We got to one building and he said, "Kingdom Hall, that is a strange name for a church." I told him that it was not really a church because they were not Christians and did not believe in Jesus and He got concerned and said, "Well, somebody needs to tell them about Jesus!" Yes, indeed. I was able to share with Him the scripture that the Lord has been teaching me this week. 2 Corinthians 5:20 "For we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us." Ambassador means authorized messengers. Do we truly grasp that as followers of Christ like my son did this evening that yes, somebody needs to tell them about the hope of Jesus and WE are those Somebodys...WE are the authorized messengers. I am thankful for my son's heart and concern and for the Lord using it to reinforcing that to me today.

Our kids in Haiti

Just some updated pictures of our kids that we support in Haiti!

Darbens

Luca

Naidine

Wadley

 

When I think of these kids and pray for them I can see a day when they are older and visiting us in America. I can see all 8 of them talking and having a great time. I am so excited to meet them and hug them! We shared the video of "Kings and Queens" last night with some friends and it was fun to see Claire while watching it say "Luca!" "Naidine" "Wadley". I don't think she actually recognized them, but maybe. It was fun to see that she was so excited and knew somehow they were associated with the video. I pray that as we love these children and support them financially and prayerfully that Carson, Andrew, Abigail and Claire are able to understand the responsibility we hold as Christians to take care of widows and orphans, to love the least of these.  



"I. Don't. Like. Consequences!!"

Some nights being a parent is challenging, really challenging and this is a story about one of those nights. I am sharing it because I feel like it a great reminder to myself. Thursday nights my husband has been leading a men's bible study in our home. The children and I have been getting ready for bed and doing a movie and popcorn night at the same time. This requires a quick dinner and obedient children to do as they are told for all of us to be ready when the guys start arriving. This week was a rough night. I asked the boys to get in the shower and get their pajamas on. Not once. Not twice. Not three times...but Four times to quickly get in the shower and get dressed for movie night. They did not obey. The consequence for disobedience was not taken well. Movie night was taken away and they were told to go to their bed after the shower and they could read a book until bedtime. They were upset. They were crying. Carson was especially appalled. I explained that I asked 4 times for them to obey. 4 times they were given the opportunity to do what was right and 4 times they chose to disobey. There are consequences for disobedience. Carson cried out, "I. Don't. Like. Consequences!!!" I was sad for them. I was upset that they did not listen and obey. I am training them to hear and obey my voice so that one day they will hear and obey God's voice. They had a choice. They chose to disobey. 4 times. With disobedience there is always a consequence. It was a hard lesson. We talked more about Adam and Eve. I am reading them at night before bedtime the first book in the Narnia set "The Magicians Nephew." I have never read them before but loved the way the Lord weaved the first chapter into our lesson of consequences. God told Adam and Eve not to do it. They chose to disobey. The consequence to disobedience was death. "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23 I am so thankful the Lord gives me just the right tools to reinforce what He wants me to be teaching to my children. The lesson I pray my boys were able to grasp is that regardless if they like consequences or not, consequences are inevitable. They will come. Choices. We are presented with choices all of the time. I pray that they would choose to do what is right. They would choose to be leaders of righteousness. They would choose to listen and obey. "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Psalm 37:13 May the same be true of me. May I always be willing to humble myself to hear the Lord and obey where He is leading so that I may not have to deal with consequences in my life that are directly related to my sin and my straying away from Him.

The girls

 

 

We made an unexpected trip into Tulsa today and it was such a beautiful day we decided to take some pictures at Woodward Park. These cuties are such a blessing!