Trusting God in Transitions

Last fall when I was preparing to graduate and knew James and I would be getting married the next Spring, I began sending out my resume to every school I found find contact info for in Louisville and nothing ... so when I was offered the full-time position at my current place of employment I gladly accepted.

Last Friday, I received a phone call from a school needing a first grade teacher. We met Friday afternoon, talked several times over the phone that weekend and met again last night. Viola! I am their new first grade teacher.

This position is such a blessing from the Lord in so many ways:

1. I will make there in 9 months what I make here all year. Which means even though they don't offer insurance, we'll be able to afford adding me to James' school policy.
2. I LOVE teaching and this is a job that will actually use my undergraduate degree.
3. I LOVE missions and this school is very missions-minded. They were begun my returned missions in 1924 and take 2 international trips each summer and do mission projects throughout the year. This will allow me to use my graduate degree!
4. The drive will be the same, so no extra gas expense.
5. The hours will be better - I'll be home by 3:30, 3:45 every afternoon verses 5:30, 5:45 - woo hoo!
6. Can we just even mention all the teacher holidays and Christmas breaks, Spring breaks - yeah :)

So for those of you who prayed so hard for me I thank you so much! Praise God who answers our prayers with exactly what we need!

Check out my new school.

Louisville

"The city of Louisville, Kentucky is an odd metro-suburban mix of stark industry and fine thoroughbreds and rock and roll fevers. It's a place with no labels. It's not the South, it's not Chicago, and you don't think of it as you think of New York or LA. It has some Southern romanticism to it, but also a Northern progressivism, this weird urban island in the middle of the state of Kentucky that has always provided a fertile, often dark, bed. Louisville and the surrounding areas are the center of massive creativity and massive weirdness. The place has its flaws: You move away, but you're always going to come back."- --My Morning Jacket

Newlyweds - 3 Months!

For our one month anniversary, I posted on 10 things I had learned about James in that previous month. Yesterday was our 3 month anniversary and as I reflect, I notice that God has taught me so much about myself, most of it is not pretty but I do have faith that He is working on me, using marriage for my good and his glory.

10. I am a domestic nerd. You know the term "domestic goddess" - yeah I will not claim to be one of those but; I am a domestic nerd. I make lists and calendars for everything! Presently there is an August calendar on the fridge with all the meals planned for the month AND I'm actually looking forward to planning for September.
9. According to James, I say certain words funny. Yeah, funny coming from the mountain man from WV. I can't recall the words right now, but I'll post on that later.
8. I have learned to enjoy Westerns. *Silence from the crowd* I know - crazy what you do for someone you love!
7. I have learned to like talking on the phone. James calls me randomly throughout the day. I have learned to enjoy and look forward to these little interruptions throughout the day.
6. I have no rhythm. So, I knew that before we got married, but James in his naive hope thought that perhaps I was being modest. Yeah right!
5. Deep down I really am a girl. I think I spent 29 years of my life being so independent, so self-reliant, that I'm almost denied being a girl. What I mean is, I was always trying to be tough - one in control. I'm learning how to lean on another - depend on him, which is strengthening my dependence on God. So all in all it's a very good thing :)
4. Apparently, I too snore and sometimes talk in my sleep. This, of course is according to James and I'll beleive it when I see documented proof!
3. I am a decent cook, sometimes - ha! With the exception of an undercooked pork loin and some burnt garlic bread, I've done pretty good so far, if I do say so myself.
2. I am very much loved. James loves me SOOO much - more than I ever thought a person could. He is always first to reconcile/forgive if we disagree. He constantly seeks ways to serve me and do little things for me. I am very loved!
1. I am much much more sinful than I had ever thought before. Yes, so some of you may be thinking, "yeah we knew that!" But seriously, living with another human 24/7, particularly in the close relationship of husband and wife, I have learned that my selfishness, stubborness, pride, tendencey towards self-reliance and independence, controlling nature, etc... run much deeper than I had ever imagined. I am thankful to God for pointing out to my sin and am trusting that He will continue to shape and mold me into the person he wants me to be!

Post about Nothing

I really don't have anything to say ... sad huh? So here's some random things running through my head.

• I wish our sad little rabbit ears picked up NBC so I could watch the Olympics ... oh well.
• This week we're driving to South Point OH for James' aunt's birthday - fun times - I'm very excited. AND we got her a super cute gift :)
• School starts next week for James ... so he'll then be super busy reading, studying, etc ... I really need to get on that reading list of my own.
• I wish I could have gotten a teaching job this fall, but I'm trusting God to provide and making the best of my current job in the meantime.
• I really like my new ESL student - she's very smart, eager to learn, and sweet.
• I need a hair cut, badly.
• I bought new shoes and some new shirts this past weekend - woo hoo!
• Free Dessert night at Marks' Feed Store is great, except when you stuff dessert on top of an already full of BBQ belly, then it's not so great.

That's about all folks ...

Pray for Courtney

Courtney's mom lost her battle with cancer on Saturday evening. While I grieve for Courtney's loss, I join her in rejoicing over her mother's faith in Christ and his salvation. Below is an email from Courtney announcing her mother's passing. The funeral is tomorrow, please remember her family in your prayers.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from his hands
Til he returns, or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Mom passed away August 9, 2008 at 7:00pm. She waited until after Tabetha returned from her graduation in Atlanta. I can only imagine what she is seeing now, but I know that she has heard the words “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.” She is laying her crowns at the feet of Jesus and He is showing her the mansion He built for her when He ascended into heaven. Mom is home and for this we rejoice.

The words above are from the song, “In Christ Alone” written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. It is one of my personal favorites and recently it has reminded me of Mom and her life. She lived in the power of Christ, with the knowledge that death had no hold on her. The power of Christ in her was to have no guilt in life, nor fear in death. Dad, Tabetha, David, Granny, Granddaddy, Uncle Paul, Aunt Ann, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we will see Mom again. We will be reunited with her in Heaven and she is already experiencing what we all dream of. We rejoice that she is in Heaven. We also mourn the fact that we will never again have the joy of her presence here on Earth.

We already miss her dearly, and though we are comforted in our grounded Hope we are also saddened that this world has lost a truly wonderful person. Our prayer is that each of you will join us in worshipping our Father and Savior in eternity. Since we, as a family, first learned of Mom’s illness we trusted God had a perfect plan and that He was in complete control. My personal prayer is that you have been able to experience the peace and joy that Mom had in life. Please do not go another day without the assurance that you will spend eternity with God in Heaven. As we have learned, there are no promises of tomorrow.

On July 28, 2007 we had no knowledge of cancer. Mom had been given a clean bill of health in June and she had recently hiked a mountain. July 29, 2007 we learned that Mom had tumors in her brain and her prognosis was grim. If there is one thing that we can all learn from this fact, it is that our life is a “vapor” and there will come a day when we have to face our eternity. Will you be ready like Mom was? Do you have no guilt in life, no fear in death because you stand in the power of Christ?

Pray for Courtney and her mom

Please pray for my friend, Courtney and her mom.

Courtney's mom was diagnosed with brain cancer last year and Courtney subsequently moved back home and has been her mother's primary care giver since then. It would appear that her mother's last days are coming and the Hospice workers have told them to "prepare".

Good News is that Courtney's mom is a believer - so please pray for comfort, as little pain as possible, and wonderful times with her family these last days. Pray for Courtney, her dad, her sister, brother-in-law, and nephew as they minister to her - ask that the Lord would give them strength and courage and be able to be there for her.

Check out their blog here.

If you want to be a Watermelon

This Sunday, the youth came over for "National Watermelon Day"

Watermelon
Seed Spitting Contest

Steal the Watermelon

"Watermelon" Toss


Eating Contest

Group Pic

After the Watermelon Party, we went to visit A,
from our Sunday School class who is recovering from spine surgery.
We had a Watermelon Party in her hospital room :)