Hello, hello!
So I am very very excited about this opportunity that I have! I know I may not be able to go this trip, but would so love to go this time around! It is my passion in all it's glory!
There is a couple in our church who opened an orphanage in Kenya some years ago. This orphanage is called Children With Hope. It's purpose is to take in unwanted babies that get abandoned in the streets or left at hospitals or who are literally orphaned because of death. There is a couple that lives over in Kenya and takes care of all the babies, about 23 right now, who are going on furlow for a couple weeks at the end of September. The lady who started the orphanage is going there to fill in for them while they are gone, because you can't just leave babies with no one to watch them ;).
She invited me to come along. I was ecstatic! I want to go so bad! To be there for about 2 weeks and to fly all the way to Kenya, all I would need to do is pay for the tickets. The tickets will cost roughly around $1800. Living on a budget makes me very aware that I may not be able to go this time around, but they are desperate for the help, so I am taking desperate measures to see if I could make it there this time.
The small team would be flying out September 20th, just right around the corner. Her husband is buying the tickets next week sometime, so this is all happening really fast. I am writing this post to see if any of my friends and family would be willing to help me get to Kenya. It would be an awesome experience for me and just a time for me to pour out all the love that God has poured out onto me, onto these babies. I would be very blessed if you would help me get there!
So if you are interested in helping me, send me a message on Facebook and I can give you more details! No worries if it doesn't happen, I will have other opportunities to go, but they are in desperate need to have extra hands there while the couple who so lovingly serves 23 babies takes their furlow. Take a moment to pray about it, but it is happening quickly, so I would need assistance ASAP!
Thank you all for all your prayers and support daily! We love you all and are so grateful for you all!
THIS IS NEW!!!
To fund me, check out: http://www.gofundme.com/Loving-Babies-in-Kenya
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
2 weeks and 4 days
God is so Faithful! I now live in a place where I am surround by a constant reminder of His creativeness. I feel so blessed! God taught me a lot on this journey. Mainly trust. I still remember the day we put our 2 month notice in to Lion's Head, April 30, and not knowing where we would be living in two months. Normally I would have been freaking out, but I know that God was with me through it all because it didn't even phase me. I remember feeling a bit anxious, but also a feeling of, "Whelp, we will be going somewhere, But I'm not going to worry about it."
I have also been remembering back to the global missions fest at CCC. I believe it was sometime in April. We knew through out the month of April that Grand Junction was an option, but nothing was for sure, just a thought in our brains pretty much. At the mission's fest worship night, they ended the night by asking us to consider where God is calling us to serve. As we figured that out, they wanted us to go and put our thumb or finger in ink and then go place it in that location on the map. Jon and I sat there for quite a while, just unsure as to where God wanted us to serve. Then Jon looked at me and said, "Lace, lets go put our prints on Grand Junction. Let's step out in faith here, and do it." I was very nervous, because I know how God listens to these situations. As much as I knew we needed a place to go next on our journey, I also knew that I am not good with change and it was a scary step for me. But I willingly surrendered to the leadership of my husband, and followed him in this step. Just one of the many way took in the Journey of allowing God to fully direct us in the direction He was taking us. And then down to the day of being kicked out of our Apartment, God provided for us as He has done so many times. Just another reminder that God's timing is BEST! And as scary as it is, it is also freeing to let God have full control.
Well, it has been a little over two weeks since we moved to Grand Junction. The moving days were a ride, literally. Jon and his brother Mark were in the moving truck, and as luck would have it, the air didn't work! They sweated it out though and made it safely to Denver, along with me and max driving our Saturn :) Then the real adventure began... MOUNTAINS! Let's just say, when driving a moving truck while pulling a car isn't the most fun way to drive through the mountains. Jon told me at a stop that the whole truck would shake on the down grades! SCARY!! But don't fear, we are all alive and well, and all of our belongings made it safely to the western slope of CO.
We have been busy getting to know people in the church as well as our youth that we will be leading. We have had lots of meals with families, and I am sure we will have more as we are here. We are finding our nitch in this new world, and falling in love with God's creation that is around us. We have hiking trails galore! And you can climb 14er's pretty much whenever you want. Jon and I have had to chuckle at that. Change in culture for us. People climb 14ers like it is nothing out here. They do it all the time! We think this is crazy, but I also know there will be a day when we start talking about it with ease as well.
Jon has planned his first event for the youth as well! We are doing a Rafting trip on August 6th. The youth and their parents are invited and we will be rafting down the river right in our "backyard"... don't worry, it's not white water rafting... yet. We figured we would have some fun, but not go too crazy since we are still so new! But we are excited for the trip. A fun time to get to know the youth and their families a little better.
We have also made friends!! YAY!! That is huge for me. Before we left on the big move out here, I figured out how many times I have moved in my life... want to take a guess? 11. I have moved 11 times in my life, counting this move. So I have had to make new friends quite a few times in my life, and it is always a scary task. Leaving Omaha, I was very sad to leave my friends. Especially a girl named Brooke that God brought into my life right at the exact moment I was really needing someone. But God didn't even give me a chance to start to worry about finding a friend here. God brought me Anna right away! Such a blessing, and a great way God has allowed me to feel at home in a new culture right away. I have learned you can never replace the friends you leave, But God is always faithful in providing someone else who can fill the open spot.
We have started to enjoy the abundant outdoor recreational activities here. We stopped in on the Thursday night Farmers Market... a cool time to do a farmers market. We did the Glade Park outdoor Movie, which may turn into a Friday night tradition in the summer, and we have hiked a bit and bought the annual pass for The Monument. There are plenty of trails to hike here. I think we could hike a new trail every week for like 10 years and still not have hiked them all. To say the least we are very excited to start marking them off :).
We truly feel like this is where God has called us. We have settled in nicely. I had everything unpacked within the first three days, but we also don't have that much stuff either. We feel at home with the community and the church, now it is just adjusting to a new home and letting that start to feel like I am "home". We are still in the hunt for a guest bed, which is kind of fun... Like a treasure hunt. Jon told me yesterday that we need to stop living like we are in a 1 bedroom and start using our extra space. So he has taken it upon himself to have nap time in the guest room on the air bed :). I am also in the job hunt process now. Pray that God will provide me with the right job!
Sorry for the long update, but I hope this covers what you have been missing in the last 2 & 1/2 weeks!
Omaha Friends, We miss you and will house you any time you want to visit!! :)
Our Journey Through Feet
For some odd reason I like to take pictures of mine and Jon's feet together. I don't know why, but I started doing it while we were dating in college. So I thought I would share with you where our feet have taken us together.
That is our journey so far.... We started in MN, moved to NE, have traveled to FL, and have come to a rest in CO. It is so amazing to see how God has lead us through our whole relationship!
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| Jon and I started Hanging out/Dating at the end of October, beginning of November. This night we went and watched the sunset over Lake Waconia in MN. Jon brought his guitar and played around with it while we enjoyed the beautiful night. |
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| Winter's last forever in MN, so when the sun finally comes out and the snow melts, you can't help but go outside and enjoy the long awaited sun! This night was a beautiful spring night in MN and we decided to go to a park and on a walk to enjoy the weather. |
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| I am blessed to have fallen madly in love with a FL boy. We went home to FL after 4 months of dating for me to meet his family, but to also soak up some rays on beautiful Siesta Key Beach. We did this for two spring breaks in College. |
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| HONEY MOON!!! We went on a cruise for our honeymoon and it was amazing! This was our first night on the ship! Wonderful!! |
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| Still on our honeymoon! While in the Bahamas, we went on a sunset cruise. Probably my favorite part of the cruise. It was amazing! and Yes, the water is truly that blue every where! Truly paradise :) |
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| I have married a baseball addict... So I get suckered into the baseball watching, but it is the great American past-time, and I love hanging out with my hubby at a ball game. This was the only game we went to in Omaha, NE. The last season for the Omaha Royals at Rosenblatt, and the College World series. |
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| Fall is by far the best season out there. Perfect sweatshirt and jeans weather! I love it, especially all the color's. My favorite colors of fall in the mid-west are orange and red! Amazing! This fall in Omaha was a warm one, but still amazing! |
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| Christmas Time in FL!! It only took 3 years to finally spend a Christmas with Jon and his family in FL. For a girl who has always had snow at christmas, it was a bit interesting... didn't quite feel like christmas, but it was a change that i wouldn't mind. I decided I don't like cold snow that much ;). |
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| Grand Junction: Home Sweet Home. We are on the next part of our adventure together, and that part led us to the beautiful state of CO. GJ has an amazing Farmers Market on Thursday nights. We forgot it was on thursdays, and went to walk around on main street, but got the treat of seeing the local flavor in full force. It has been a fun place to live so far! :) |
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| The Monument. I have found my new place of worship. I can drive ten minutes and be in this spot! It is amazing to be able to sit on the monument, Look out and see both the Bookcliffs and The Mesa. While in this spot I am in awe of how amazing the God I serve is. It brings me a wonderful perspective on how insignificant my life is, but how much God loves and cares for ME! I feel that I will learn a lot from God while we are on this Journey in GJ. |
Thursday, June 23, 2011
604,800 Seconds
The count down has begun... you want to know what it is? Here you go:
604,800 seconds, which is 10,080 minutes, which is 168 hours, which is 7 Days, which is 1 week!!!!
I like the seconds look the best right now, it makes me feel like I have a lot more time here than I do. The Hours one, surprisingly makes it all worse, I know it's a lot of hours, but for some reason it seems like not that many to me.
A lot of people keep asking me how I am feeling about getting ready to make the move, and all I can keep saying is "weird". I have no bad feelings about moving. I am truly very excited, but it is always weird when I have to transplant my whole life. This will be the 11th time I have had to move in my life. I should be a pro at this right? In reality, it has just shown me in life that you have some friends that you will have for life, but then you have other's that you thought you would have for life, but then things just stop once you move.
That is the HARDEST part about moving. The part I hate the most. The part that can also be a lot of fun.
It is interesting to look at my surroundings here in Omaha and see my friends, friends that will be my friends for life, but also see how God is moving us all in different directions. It is just that part of life right now. People are graduating College, entering the real world and trying to figure life out outside of school, outside of the 9 month, 3 month schedule of life that we have been in since we were in preschool/kindergarten. More friends are getting married, other's are moving to continue their education, other's are just in a job hunt process hoping that God gives them clarification soon.
The early 20's is a hard time in life. It is a time in life that I am glad I am a Christian and have God to walk beside me through all the unsure, uneasy feelings that come along with trying to figure out what we want to do with our lives. I can't imagine making this big a move and not being involved in a church. I would be very depressed, because that is the place you make the connections with people and get connected to the community. If you aren't a Christian and don't go to church and make a big move, I can see how people get very depressed.
I am very thankful for the church body in big move situations. We are excited to get to GJ, but very sad to leave our friends, even though we know we are all heading in different directions in the next couple months.
So the count down has started... The count down of lasts... The countdown to firsts.
604,800 seconds, which is 10,080 minutes, which is 168 hours, which is 7 Days, which is 1 week!!!!
I like the seconds look the best right now, it makes me feel like I have a lot more time here than I do. The Hours one, surprisingly makes it all worse, I know it's a lot of hours, but for some reason it seems like not that many to me.
A lot of people keep asking me how I am feeling about getting ready to make the move, and all I can keep saying is "weird". I have no bad feelings about moving. I am truly very excited, but it is always weird when I have to transplant my whole life. This will be the 11th time I have had to move in my life. I should be a pro at this right? In reality, it has just shown me in life that you have some friends that you will have for life, but then you have other's that you thought you would have for life, but then things just stop once you move.
That is the HARDEST part about moving. The part I hate the most. The part that can also be a lot of fun.
It is interesting to look at my surroundings here in Omaha and see my friends, friends that will be my friends for life, but also see how God is moving us all in different directions. It is just that part of life right now. People are graduating College, entering the real world and trying to figure life out outside of school, outside of the 9 month, 3 month schedule of life that we have been in since we were in preschool/kindergarten. More friends are getting married, other's are moving to continue their education, other's are just in a job hunt process hoping that God gives them clarification soon.
The early 20's is a hard time in life. It is a time in life that I am glad I am a Christian and have God to walk beside me through all the unsure, uneasy feelings that come along with trying to figure out what we want to do with our lives. I can't imagine making this big a move and not being involved in a church. I would be very depressed, because that is the place you make the connections with people and get connected to the community. If you aren't a Christian and don't go to church and make a big move, I can see how people get very depressed.
I am very thankful for the church body in big move situations. We are excited to get to GJ, but very sad to leave our friends, even though we know we are all heading in different directions in the next couple months.
So the count down has started... The count down of lasts... The countdown to firsts.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
2 Months..
On June 30th, it will be 2 months from when we put in our notice at Lion's head. So much has happened in two months... It's almost hard to believe.
2 months ago when we put in our notice to Lion's Head Apartments, all we knew is that our internship was coming to an end and that we would be moving.... somewhere. We had no idea as to where God was calling us and going to lead us. But I can say that it has been the most incredible ride of my life!
So much happens in two months! It seems like not that much time, but yet an extremely large amount of time all at once. Jon didn't believe that it was two months ago, he was shocked at how fast May went.
Then Here I am, on my 23rd birthday, About to embark on one of the biggest adventures yet! God is so awesome in how He provides and puts all the pieces together. It has been such a growing experience to give up all control and allow God to lead us, and trust Him with our future.
My mom told me this morning that she started worrying when we put in our 2 month notice and how God reminded her that I am his daughter and He will take care of me. It also made me realize that I have grown a lot in my trust in God because I never started worrying once since putting in our notice and not knowing where we would be. I truly had peace and complete trust in God. It just makes me smile :D.
So have a great day on me! Even with the cloudy rainy day we are having in Omaha, Smile and rejoice in the fact that God loves you and choose you and is always looking out for what is best for you! Have a great day on my birthday!! :D
2 months ago when we put in our notice to Lion's Head Apartments, all we knew is that our internship was coming to an end and that we would be moving.... somewhere. We had no idea as to where God was calling us and going to lead us. But I can say that it has been the most incredible ride of my life!
So much happens in two months! It seems like not that much time, but yet an extremely large amount of time all at once. Jon didn't believe that it was two months ago, he was shocked at how fast May went.
Then Here I am, on my 23rd birthday, About to embark on one of the biggest adventures yet! God is so awesome in how He provides and puts all the pieces together. It has been such a growing experience to give up all control and allow God to lead us, and trust Him with our future.
My mom told me this morning that she started worrying when we put in our 2 month notice and how God reminded her that I am his daughter and He will take care of me. It also made me realize that I have grown a lot in my trust in God because I never started worrying once since putting in our notice and not knowing where we would be. I truly had peace and complete trust in God. It just makes me smile :D.
So have a great day on me! Even with the cloudy rainy day we are having in Omaha, Smile and rejoice in the fact that God loves you and choose you and is always looking out for what is best for you! Have a great day on my birthday!! :D
Sunday, June 12, 2011
This, That, and Other Things
So it has been a week since we were in Grand Junction, and we are only a day or two away from knowing whether that will be the place we are living. We feel pretty positive that it will be. God has just given us amazing peace and some cool signs about it that we think it will most likely be a go.
One of the signs is that we have a place to live that we can also have our dog, more space than we need but at an amazing price! There is a family in the church that owns two town homes and one is open. The one that is open is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with a kitchen that is probably close to 3 times bigger than my kitchen I currently have :). They said they would put a washer and dryer in and that even though they normally don't let pets, they would allow pets for us. Awesome!! God totally worked that out, because in Grand Junction, most of the places that are in our price range and nice don't allow you to have a pet. That was my biggest concern going there. We had looked online and I was getting so discouraged because we have our Max and he is our baby and no place would let us have him. But I think it was God saying, "I have the perfect place for you. Be patient and trust in me." Such an awesome God thing! I love my Jesus!!
The second positive thing was this photo:
Jon, back in November, when we were looking into the church plant had a dream that he felt like was more of a vision. He couldn't really explain it other than he saw a field that had blueish purple flowers and yellow flowers. When we were in Jacksonville, there was a painting in the house that had blue and yellow on it and we were wondering if that was why he dreamed about it. But after that situation came to a close, we forgot about it. Then, tuesday night when we arrived in Grand Junction we went to a local coffee shop called Main Street Bagels downtown. On the wall I saw this photo. I instantly remember Jon's dream and later that night asked him if he saw this picture on the wall. He said no, and I couldn't believe that he missed it! haha.. such a man thing to do ;). I was determined to get back there so Jon could see it. I couldn't stop thinking about it and wanted to know if this looked more like what he had dreamed that night in November. So Saturday morning we went back to the coffee shop and I made him go look at it. He came back and smiled and said that it looked like what he had dreamed. :D
I feel like God gave us that dream way back in November to be a sign for us when we went to the place we would do our next journey in ministry. It all just felt very positive.
So with playing the waiting game again this week, I have had a lot of time to think things through and get more excited about this opportunity. I have reflected on what God is taught me through this past year in Omaha and what I shared in my testimony in GJ. I shared that my sin issue is control and that every where I turn God has been confronting me about that. It has been an amazing season of growth for me. But I used to be very controlling. I loved having control. Making sure everything went the exact way I wanted it to go. I believe my control issues occured in part because I am/was a PK (pastor's kid) and moved around a bit. In the time of moving and not being able to control when I moved or why I moved (all that based on my dad's calling into ministry) I have tried to control the small things. Doesn't sound so bad, but as I got older, it got worse. Over this last year, like I said, God has been nailing me with this and helping me get this under "control" haha. God has shown me how truly wonderful it feels to give up my feeling of having control and to truly surrender all of myself to him. This has all come down to my worry as well. When I finally decided to let God fully have control of me, I have been overwhelmed with this great sense of peace. I no longer worry and fret for days and let it eat at me, I now have a moment of panic, and then give it to God and prepare myself for what He is asking me to do. With giving God totally control of my life, I know longer feel out of control. I have a piece that God loves me and cares for me and is guiding me in the most amazing journey of my life!
This morning we sang Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace (My Chain's Are Gone) and the chorus hit me in this amazed feeling. It goes: "My chain's are gone, I've been set free, My God, My Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood, his mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace." I, i think for the first time in my life, felt free from my chain's of control. Yes I will have moments of struggle, but I understand God's grace for me and that He has saved me and that my chain's are gone and I am FREE!!
God is so Amazing :)
One of the signs is that we have a place to live that we can also have our dog, more space than we need but at an amazing price! There is a family in the church that owns two town homes and one is open. The one that is open is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with a kitchen that is probably close to 3 times bigger than my kitchen I currently have :). They said they would put a washer and dryer in and that even though they normally don't let pets, they would allow pets for us. Awesome!! God totally worked that out, because in Grand Junction, most of the places that are in our price range and nice don't allow you to have a pet. That was my biggest concern going there. We had looked online and I was getting so discouraged because we have our Max and he is our baby and no place would let us have him. But I think it was God saying, "I have the perfect place for you. Be patient and trust in me." Such an awesome God thing! I love my Jesus!!
The second positive thing was this photo:
I feel like God gave us that dream way back in November to be a sign for us when we went to the place we would do our next journey in ministry. It all just felt very positive.
So with playing the waiting game again this week, I have had a lot of time to think things through and get more excited about this opportunity. I have reflected on what God is taught me through this past year in Omaha and what I shared in my testimony in GJ. I shared that my sin issue is control and that every where I turn God has been confronting me about that. It has been an amazing season of growth for me. But I used to be very controlling. I loved having control. Making sure everything went the exact way I wanted it to go. I believe my control issues occured in part because I am/was a PK (pastor's kid) and moved around a bit. In the time of moving and not being able to control when I moved or why I moved (all that based on my dad's calling into ministry) I have tried to control the small things. Doesn't sound so bad, but as I got older, it got worse. Over this last year, like I said, God has been nailing me with this and helping me get this under "control" haha. God has shown me how truly wonderful it feels to give up my feeling of having control and to truly surrender all of myself to him. This has all come down to my worry as well. When I finally decided to let God fully have control of me, I have been overwhelmed with this great sense of peace. I no longer worry and fret for days and let it eat at me, I now have a moment of panic, and then give it to God and prepare myself for what He is asking me to do. With giving God totally control of my life, I know longer feel out of control. I have a piece that God loves me and cares for me and is guiding me in the most amazing journey of my life!
This morning we sang Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace (My Chain's Are Gone) and the chorus hit me in this amazed feeling. It goes: "My chain's are gone, I've been set free, My God, My Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood, his mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace." I, i think for the first time in my life, felt free from my chain's of control. Yes I will have moments of struggle, but I understand God's grace for me and that He has saved me and that my chain's are gone and I am FREE!!
God is so Amazing :)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Pure Exhaustion
This week has been pure craziness! But wonderful!
We have been going, going, going, and meeting so many wonderful families and individuals and students. We have answered lots of questions, and many the same question as we are entertained by different families. We have hiked a beautiful hike, and hopefully will get to do more out here. But I am truly mentally and physically exhausted.
I have hit my wall. I just need an escape from people. This is the place I am at after this busy week: I told Jon today after being at church from 8:15-3 that I am peopled out. I need a vacation on a beach all by myself with no one else around. I told him if I didn't have to, I wouldn't have gone to the Youth Ice Cream Social, purely because I am just spent. Have you ever felt that way?
I had shared with some of the high school girls that this week, although it has been fun and really neat to meet all these families, has been an experience that doesn't give you the real life experience. Normally you would maybe eat dinner once or twice a month with families. In this one week I think we got a year covered! :)
It has truly been an awesome week and we have greatly enjoyed our time in, how the locals say, Junction. :) But my omaha peeps, don't be surprised if I am not very talkative or out going this week... I need some recovery time. So know I still love you, I am just trying to catch up.
We fly out in the morning, and I will say I am very excited to get back to my stuff, especially my bed and pup. We have missed our cuddle bug tremendously and are excited to get him back from his second home tomorrow. We truly wouldn't have been able to do this trip with out the support and help from the Bazis family. They have loved our dog like he was their own and have made us very at ease when having to travel. they have been a huge blessing to us in Omaha. Max will miss them and we will miss them when we leave.
Well goodnight! I need to crash. Thank you all for your prayers!
We have been going, going, going, and meeting so many wonderful families and individuals and students. We have answered lots of questions, and many the same question as we are entertained by different families. We have hiked a beautiful hike, and hopefully will get to do more out here. But I am truly mentally and physically exhausted.
I have hit my wall. I just need an escape from people. This is the place I am at after this busy week: I told Jon today after being at church from 8:15-3 that I am peopled out. I need a vacation on a beach all by myself with no one else around. I told him if I didn't have to, I wouldn't have gone to the Youth Ice Cream Social, purely because I am just spent. Have you ever felt that way?
I had shared with some of the high school girls that this week, although it has been fun and really neat to meet all these families, has been an experience that doesn't give you the real life experience. Normally you would maybe eat dinner once or twice a month with families. In this one week I think we got a year covered! :)
It has truly been an awesome week and we have greatly enjoyed our time in, how the locals say, Junction. :) But my omaha peeps, don't be surprised if I am not very talkative or out going this week... I need some recovery time. So know I still love you, I am just trying to catch up.
We fly out in the morning, and I will say I am very excited to get back to my stuff, especially my bed and pup. We have missed our cuddle bug tremendously and are excited to get him back from his second home tomorrow. We truly wouldn't have been able to do this trip with out the support and help from the Bazis family. They have loved our dog like he was their own and have made us very at ease when having to travel. they have been a huge blessing to us in Omaha. Max will miss them and we will miss them when we leave.
Well goodnight! I need to crash. Thank you all for your prayers!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Through the sweetness of tears
I just have to say that God is awesome. God is constantly challenging me and walking along side me as He asks me to follow him and serve Him. Although I love all the growing and challenges I have faced (love after I see the big picture), I shed many tears through the process.
As I sit here in Grand Junction and it hits me that I could be living here in a couple of weeks, I cry some more. I am a person that truly doesn't like change. Change is very hard for me, yet I get excited about it too! That is what is so better sweet about it.
Tonight as Jon and I sat in the hotel room that River of Life Alliance got for us, we prayed. As we sat praying I couldn't stop the tears. Just being here realizing that God is about to take us on an adventure of our life that we can't possible understand what will all come from it. I thought about all the people I have built friendships with in Omaha and how much I love them all and it is going to be so hard to leave. I cried knowing that I would be leaving yet again another best friend. A friend that God brought into my life at a time that I was really struggling. Someone that has had a similar life experience as me and who has been able to encourage me just as I have been able to encourage her. I also cried thinking of my nanny family. A family that has truly become like family. A friendship that I have developed with the mom and the love I have for the kids is like the love I have for my own niece and nephews.
Life brings many trials and changes. Although I cry and address these emotions I am feeling, it is only because we are feeling that God is calling us to Grand Junction and that we will be starting a new adventure. We are very excited about what God holds for us and what is next for us. Grand Junction is beautiful and full of really great people. As with any situation we will most likely face trials, but we are eager to serve our Lord and know that no matter what we face God will be walking right beside us and leading us through it. But we have truly been blessed by our time in Grand Junction and if the church feels that God is calling us here and that we would be a good fit with them, we will accept the offer to come and serve the Lord along side their church and staff.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed and continues to pray for us. We so very greatly appreciate it and we continue to ask you to keep us in your prayers.
Next steps will be we will let Rob, the lead pastor, know that we are interested in the position. The church will then be able to give the elder board some thoughts and feed back about how they feel about us on Sunday the 12th. On the 13th the board will get together and make a decision, and on tuesday the 14th we should know what their decision is.
Please keep the board in your prayers as they have a big decision to make. As much as we would love for you to pray that they choose us, we more want you to pray that the team seeks God's will and that their hearts and ears are open to God's direction. Our biggest priority is to serve God and do that where ever he is calling us.
We have enjoyed a night off of a crazy, busy, fun week of meeting people and eating. Tomorrow we start a bit of a busy weekend as we go hiking with the youth group tomorrow morning, lunch with the Worship pastor and his wife, and dinner with another family from the church that night. The Sunday busy with church, pizza meet & greet and ice cream social. You can pray for continued energy through the rest of the weekend and that when we get back to Omaha we have energy to enter back into our normal routine!
Thank you all again! We love you all and are so glad you have been and still are a part of our lives!
As I sit here in Grand Junction and it hits me that I could be living here in a couple of weeks, I cry some more. I am a person that truly doesn't like change. Change is very hard for me, yet I get excited about it too! That is what is so better sweet about it.
Tonight as Jon and I sat in the hotel room that River of Life Alliance got for us, we prayed. As we sat praying I couldn't stop the tears. Just being here realizing that God is about to take us on an adventure of our life that we can't possible understand what will all come from it. I thought about all the people I have built friendships with in Omaha and how much I love them all and it is going to be so hard to leave. I cried knowing that I would be leaving yet again another best friend. A friend that God brought into my life at a time that I was really struggling. Someone that has had a similar life experience as me and who has been able to encourage me just as I have been able to encourage her. I also cried thinking of my nanny family. A family that has truly become like family. A friendship that I have developed with the mom and the love I have for the kids is like the love I have for my own niece and nephews.
Life brings many trials and changes. Although I cry and address these emotions I am feeling, it is only because we are feeling that God is calling us to Grand Junction and that we will be starting a new adventure. We are very excited about what God holds for us and what is next for us. Grand Junction is beautiful and full of really great people. As with any situation we will most likely face trials, but we are eager to serve our Lord and know that no matter what we face God will be walking right beside us and leading us through it. But we have truly been blessed by our time in Grand Junction and if the church feels that God is calling us here and that we would be a good fit with them, we will accept the offer to come and serve the Lord along side their church and staff.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed and continues to pray for us. We so very greatly appreciate it and we continue to ask you to keep us in your prayers.
Next steps will be we will let Rob, the lead pastor, know that we are interested in the position. The church will then be able to give the elder board some thoughts and feed back about how they feel about us on Sunday the 12th. On the 13th the board will get together and make a decision, and on tuesday the 14th we should know what their decision is.
Please keep the board in your prayers as they have a big decision to make. As much as we would love for you to pray that they choose us, we more want you to pray that the team seeks God's will and that their hearts and ears are open to God's direction. Our biggest priority is to serve God and do that where ever he is calling us.
We have enjoyed a night off of a crazy, busy, fun week of meeting people and eating. Tomorrow we start a bit of a busy weekend as we go hiking with the youth group tomorrow morning, lunch with the Worship pastor and his wife, and dinner with another family from the church that night. The Sunday busy with church, pizza meet & greet and ice cream social. You can pray for continued energy through the rest of the weekend and that when we get back to Omaha we have energy to enter back into our normal routine!
Thank you all again! We love you all and are so glad you have been and still are a part of our lives!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Candidating
Candidating is always an experience. It is always full of meeting new people and trying to remember names.
As our time in Grand Junction has begone, I find it interesting to be the pastors wife now and not the pastors kid.
With most of my ministry experience being from the PK world, I find myself still feeling at times that I'm still a PK, which I am, but that is no longer my main "title".
We have had a wonderful time so far. Lots of meet and greets with families. We are excited to get to know this body of believers and to continue to seek God to fully figure out if we are a good fit with the youth and church.
So far everything seems great. Great people!
Please continue to keep is in your prayers!
As our time in Grand Junction has begone, I find it interesting to be the pastors wife now and not the pastors kid.
With most of my ministry experience being from the PK world, I find myself still feeling at times that I'm still a PK, which I am, but that is no longer my main "title".
We have had a wonderful time so far. Lots of meet and greets with families. We are excited to get to know this body of believers and to continue to seek God to fully figure out if we are a good fit with the youth and church.
So far everything seems great. Great people!
Please continue to keep is in your prayers!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Now Boarding Flight...
TUESDAY IS HERE!!!!
wow, it felt like it was going to take forever and now it is here! I am very excited at the moment... getting a little nervous, but mostly all excitement on this front.
My body woke me up at 6:00 this morning and then I just laid in bed waiting for my alarm to go off at 7:30. Never happened. I got tired of waiting so I finally looked at my clock and it was 7. Close enough. Now I am all ready, just waiting to pack up the toiletries once Jon is done getting ready and then we are fully ready to Fly out of Nebraska to Colorado!
We are getting dropped off at the Airport by 10 and fly out at 11:40. We will have a two hour lay over in Denver and then we will be off to Grand Junction. We will arrive close to 4.
Please pray for safe travels and that our hearts and ears would be open to listen to God. That we would do God's will and not let our flesh get in the way in this process! Thank You!!
wow, it felt like it was going to take forever and now it is here! I am very excited at the moment... getting a little nervous, but mostly all excitement on this front.
My body woke me up at 6:00 this morning and then I just laid in bed waiting for my alarm to go off at 7:30. Never happened. I got tired of waiting so I finally looked at my clock and it was 7. Close enough. Now I am all ready, just waiting to pack up the toiletries once Jon is done getting ready and then we are fully ready to Fly out of Nebraska to Colorado!
We are getting dropped off at the Airport by 10 and fly out at 11:40. We will have a two hour lay over in Denver and then we will be off to Grand Junction. We will arrive close to 4.
Please pray for safe travels and that our hearts and ears would be open to listen to God. That we would do God's will and not let our flesh get in the way in this process! Thank You!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Tuesday is just around the corner!
Our trip to Grand Junction is just around the corner and I am getting very excited. It is going to be a busy week of meeting people from the church and meeting the youth, but we are very excited!
I have been on vacation since Thursday and on thursday I did absolutely nothing but lazy stuff. Well actually I was productive in the fact that I got baby Friedman's baby blanket done. But yesterday, knowing that no matter what we have to be out of our apartment at the end of June, I started packing and throwing some things away. It felt good! I didn't realize how many books I had until I started packing them up. I have a tote full and a small box and my book shelf is still full of books!
It has become more real that we will be moving very soon! We are hoping that all goes well in Grand Junction and that is the place we will be moving too, but we have surrendered our lives to God and ultimately want to go where He is directing us, and if after this trip, it isn't Grand Junction, then we hit the drawing board again. It is scary, but there is no other way to live life. We know that God will use us where ever he takes us and we are excited to Serve Him and work With Him for the rest of our lives!
So please keep us in your prayers over this next coming week! Pray that God would make it clear whether or not Grand Junction is the place for us to be. Thank you all!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Down Day
On Friday, the 20th of May, I was heading to work. As I was two stoplights away from work I received a phone call from my husband. It wasn't alarming at first because we love each other and are in communication with each other all day long usually, and so I thought he just wanted to tell me something to pick up on my way home from work. But I was wrong.
Jon had received a phone call right after I left the house from his dad. His dad was diagnosed with prostate Cancer almost 2 years ago. When the doctors caught it, they noticed a spot on his tailbone. After further tests they discovered that the cancer had spread to his tailbone as well. There were a couple different treatment options, but the one they went with didn't involve surgery or chemo. My in-laws, with guidance from the doctors, choose to try out a new drug. They didn't want to remove his prostate because then they wouldn't know if the treatment was working. For two years we all thought it was working pretty well. His testosterone levels went back to normal and his only side affect from the medicine was hot flashes. Steve looked healthy and we all felt very optimistic. But Friday came, a day that is a hard day to grasp hold of and really let it sink in of what it all means.
Steve told Jon that his cancer had spread. That it was now in his liver. On top of that, his kidney's are failing. It is hard news to get when you are in the car and your husband is crying and needs you, but you are at work. It shook our world! We knew that cancer would probably be what he passed away from, eventually. The doctor's had originally told us 10-15 years. But now, all we know is 6 months of chemo and a very sick father(in-law).
I know I am selfish. Steve is going to be in heaven and in no more pain one day, but all i think about is my future kids not getting to meet their grandpa, of Steve only knowing Gracie. Never seeing Mark get married. I want Steve here for all of that! Even when I know he would be in a way better place.
Friday night we went to the cheep theater. I felt that we just needed a date after the news. We saw the Adjustment Bureau. A fun, entertaining movie. One line hit me though. The movie sort of played out like it was talking about God and then there were angels on earth type of thing. So one of the "angels" was talking to another one and he said something to the extent of, We can't see the big picture, we see the little bit of now, but the Chairmen sees the whole picture.
At that line I realized that it is very true. We only see now, but we can't see the big picture the way that God can. God has already been in every moment of our lives. He knows how it turns out and he is there for us. It Brought some comfort.
At the same time though I am frustrated. I have seen God's healing hand. I have seen how he touches people's lives who are sick and makes them better. Such examples from recently are Savanah, Laura, and baby Elijah. I know God heals, so why when we pray for healing for Steve, doesn't God heal? I know I won't know the answer until I see God face to face, but I am frustrated, and I know God loves Steve and Loves me and all the rest of the family that is in this with Steve. And I know God knows the whole picture, where I only know this part of it. But I want my father-in-law to be healed. To be made whole again and to have all sickness released from his body.
Please pray for the Randall family. We really need it. For strength and courage to face the next days to come, and to remember who we serve and His plan for our lives is bigger and better than our own. Thank you!!
Jon had received a phone call right after I left the house from his dad. His dad was diagnosed with prostate Cancer almost 2 years ago. When the doctors caught it, they noticed a spot on his tailbone. After further tests they discovered that the cancer had spread to his tailbone as well. There were a couple different treatment options, but the one they went with didn't involve surgery or chemo. My in-laws, with guidance from the doctors, choose to try out a new drug. They didn't want to remove his prostate because then they wouldn't know if the treatment was working. For two years we all thought it was working pretty well. His testosterone levels went back to normal and his only side affect from the medicine was hot flashes. Steve looked healthy and we all felt very optimistic. But Friday came, a day that is a hard day to grasp hold of and really let it sink in of what it all means.
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| Steve & Kris with their granddaughter, my niece, Gracie Mae |
Steve told Jon that his cancer had spread. That it was now in his liver. On top of that, his kidney's are failing. It is hard news to get when you are in the car and your husband is crying and needs you, but you are at work. It shook our world! We knew that cancer would probably be what he passed away from, eventually. The doctor's had originally told us 10-15 years. But now, all we know is 6 months of chemo and a very sick father(in-law).
I know I am selfish. Steve is going to be in heaven and in no more pain one day, but all i think about is my future kids not getting to meet their grandpa, of Steve only knowing Gracie. Never seeing Mark get married. I want Steve here for all of that! Even when I know he would be in a way better place.
Friday night we went to the cheep theater. I felt that we just needed a date after the news. We saw the Adjustment Bureau. A fun, entertaining movie. One line hit me though. The movie sort of played out like it was talking about God and then there were angels on earth type of thing. So one of the "angels" was talking to another one and he said something to the extent of, We can't see the big picture, we see the little bit of now, but the Chairmen sees the whole picture.
At that line I realized that it is very true. We only see now, but we can't see the big picture the way that God can. God has already been in every moment of our lives. He knows how it turns out and he is there for us. It Brought some comfort.
At the same time though I am frustrated. I have seen God's healing hand. I have seen how he touches people's lives who are sick and makes them better. Such examples from recently are Savanah, Laura, and baby Elijah. I know God heals, so why when we pray for healing for Steve, doesn't God heal? I know I won't know the answer until I see God face to face, but I am frustrated, and I know God loves Steve and Loves me and all the rest of the family that is in this with Steve. And I know God knows the whole picture, where I only know this part of it. But I want my father-in-law to be healed. To be made whole again and to have all sickness released from his body.
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| Randall Family: Mark, Kris, Steve, Me, Jon, Katie, Mike & Gracie |
Please pray for the Randall family. We really need it. For strength and courage to face the next days to come, and to remember who we serve and His plan for our lives is bigger and better than our own. Thank you!!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Grand Junction Anyone?
I realize it has been a while since I have updated you all about our life. Life is crazy, and yet, there really hasn't been a whole lot to update on. Now, we have some news to update you on :)
April came and went without much knowledge of where we are going in the future. We put in our 60 day notice on April 30th, which was really scary to do. We knew we couldn't renew our lease, but that also meant that we were out of a place to live and jobs! May came and we received an email around the date of May 2nd, I am not for sure the exact date, it was in that week, informing us that they would like us to answer the questions attached in the email and send them back by May 9th. So Jon did all that, and we sent them off. Then we didn't hear anything until a couple days later where they told us that the search committee would be meeting on thursday, the 12th to do over the applicants and the questions that they all submitted, and then they would get back to us and give us a for sure date and time where they would conduct a phone interview with Jon. We received an email on Saturday, the 14th, informing us that they would like to conduct the interview as soon as possible and to give them dates and times that we were available. They also told us that we were the top candidate for the position and that they would be calling the other two and asking to keep their resumes on file incase something didn't work out with us. This got me very excited! I felt that God was finally starting to clear the fog and make clear the path of our future!
So we emailed back and told them some dates and times that worked, and we decided on Monday at 6:15, 5:15 Colorado time. The call came in, Jon answered all the question's they had, I thought wonderfully, and then asked them some questions that we had. I, from the outsiders perspective, felt that he did a great job! I was very proud of him and felt that he was himself on the phone. Jon got off the call and felt discouraged, that they might not like him, and just unsure as to whether we would be asked to come Candidate. They told him they would contact him tomorrow and let him know.
So yesterday, tuesday, the 17th, We heard back. Jon called me at work and I knew that it had to have been news on the youth position in Grand Junction. So I am waiting patiently as he dances around the subject. I finally ask about it, and he says, "Well, they are going to look at other candidates." I was shocked! A sat there for a second with no words. Then I asked if he was serious or if he was pulling my chain. Silence.... and then a roll of laughter from Jon. Let me tell you, he is a big JERK!! But I will forgive him because it is good news!! They want us to candidate! They are having us come out May 31st-June 6th! I am very excited!!
This is where I feel very blessed to be working for the family that I do. I will be leaving for this trip a day before they get back from vacation, then the dad leaves two days later to go to this Man of God conference. So even with all the stress of being a lone with two toddlers and 5month old twins, my boss is still excited for us and is very willing to give me the time off. God has blessed me tremendously with this Family.
So next step is to go visit Grand Junction and get a feel for the youth and the church and the community. We are very excited and are in complete amazement as to how God moves and directs your path. It is always in the times when God is silent that he is doing the most work. I love my God and serving Him and knowing that I am not in charge of my life, but that He is. It is very humbling and provides so much peace for me, the worry wart.
So thank you all for the prayers! We greatly appreciate it! Please keep praying!!
April came and went without much knowledge of where we are going in the future. We put in our 60 day notice on April 30th, which was really scary to do. We knew we couldn't renew our lease, but that also meant that we were out of a place to live and jobs! May came and we received an email around the date of May 2nd, I am not for sure the exact date, it was in that week, informing us that they would like us to answer the questions attached in the email and send them back by May 9th. So Jon did all that, and we sent them off. Then we didn't hear anything until a couple days later where they told us that the search committee would be meeting on thursday, the 12th to do over the applicants and the questions that they all submitted, and then they would get back to us and give us a for sure date and time where they would conduct a phone interview with Jon. We received an email on Saturday, the 14th, informing us that they would like to conduct the interview as soon as possible and to give them dates and times that we were available. They also told us that we were the top candidate for the position and that they would be calling the other two and asking to keep their resumes on file incase something didn't work out with us. This got me very excited! I felt that God was finally starting to clear the fog and make clear the path of our future!
So we emailed back and told them some dates and times that worked, and we decided on Monday at 6:15, 5:15 Colorado time. The call came in, Jon answered all the question's they had, I thought wonderfully, and then asked them some questions that we had. I, from the outsiders perspective, felt that he did a great job! I was very proud of him and felt that he was himself on the phone. Jon got off the call and felt discouraged, that they might not like him, and just unsure as to whether we would be asked to come Candidate. They told him they would contact him tomorrow and let him know.
So yesterday, tuesday, the 17th, We heard back. Jon called me at work and I knew that it had to have been news on the youth position in Grand Junction. So I am waiting patiently as he dances around the subject. I finally ask about it, and he says, "Well, they are going to look at other candidates." I was shocked! A sat there for a second with no words. Then I asked if he was serious or if he was pulling my chain. Silence.... and then a roll of laughter from Jon. Let me tell you, he is a big JERK!! But I will forgive him because it is good news!! They want us to candidate! They are having us come out May 31st-June 6th! I am very excited!!
This is where I feel very blessed to be working for the family that I do. I will be leaving for this trip a day before they get back from vacation, then the dad leaves two days later to go to this Man of God conference. So even with all the stress of being a lone with two toddlers and 5month old twins, my boss is still excited for us and is very willing to give me the time off. God has blessed me tremendously with this Family.
So next step is to go visit Grand Junction and get a feel for the youth and the church and the community. We are very excited and are in complete amazement as to how God moves and directs your path. It is always in the times when God is silent that he is doing the most work. I love my God and serving Him and knowing that I am not in charge of my life, but that He is. It is very humbling and provides so much peace for me, the worry wart.
So thank you all for the prayers! We greatly appreciate it! Please keep praying!!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Surprise!!!
So last night we had our small group hang out party:
But.... They lied to us... it wasn't just our small group, it was a surprise going away party! They totally fooled us, but it was awesome. It seems early, since we could still be here for 2 more months, but a chunk of students from 8:08 are going to china next weekend for 6 weeks! So they wanted to do it when the China students could make it as well.
It was a very fun night. I thank God for all of these wonderful people he has brought into our lives. He has blessed us and made us rich with friends. We will miss everyone here in Omaha when we leave, but I know we will see them again, because I told them they all can come see us and stay with us whenever they need a vacation!
Thank you 8:08 and Randall's Small Group again for a wonderful Surprise. We love you all and it was a fabulous night last night!
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| Most of our Small group... about 5 were missing |
It was a very fun night. I thank God for all of these wonderful people he has brought into our lives. He has blessed us and made us rich with friends. We will miss everyone here in Omaha when we leave, but I know we will see them again, because I told them they all can come see us and stay with us whenever they need a vacation!
Thank you 8:08 and Randall's Small Group again for a wonderful Surprise. We love you all and it was a fabulous night last night!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
How God has Provided the past 2 years
I struggle at times feeling that God is with me and that he takes care of me. I know that it is a lie, but I am human, I am a sinful creature, and that is just part of my nature. Something that Jon and I started doing probably about a year ago was to make a God Wall, a How God Provides wall. It has been amazing as I fill it in to see just how God as at work in our lives, even in the small details.
When Jon and I moved to Omaha, we had nothing but our clothes, bedding from College, and our Computers. We didn't know how God was going to Provide, but we knew he would, and here is parts of how:
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| Two weeks after we got married and Moved to Omaha. |
When Jon and I moved to Omaha, we had nothing but our clothes, bedding from College, and our Computers. We didn't know how God was going to Provide, but we knew he would, and here is parts of how:
- An apartment to live in
- free couch from kelley
- free love seat from Brittney
- free chair from the Milligan's, my nanny family
- TV stand from Todd and Christy
- Wii from my parents
- TV from Kris & Steve
- DVD player from my parents
- 2 lamps, one a wedding present, one from Kris & Steve
- Clearanced bookshelf
- clearanced ottoman
- $800 table for $167
- My job
- Jon's Job
- My car and that it is still running
- Jon's car; all the money Kris & steve have put in it to help keep it running, and all the work my dad has done to help save us money on small repairs. THANK YOU!!
- Our bikes, from my parents
- 2 nice camera's, One from Kris & steve, one from my parents
- Our dog, Max, from my parents.
- Toaster from Kris & Steve
- That our apartment came with a washer/dryer & dishwasher
- Our bed from Kris & steve
- Free Omaha Royals Tickets (summer '10)
- 2 macbooks
- $ for bills
- $for groceries
- $for loans
- Supportive, loving families
- Chipotle Coupons
- Free Red Mango (Frozen Yogurt)
- $201.65 check from Jon's Gap retirement plan that came when we really needed the money.
- 10/29-11/1 trip to FL to check out a church, but able to see Jon's family while there.
- Free smart phones
- Free hotel stays during christmas time thanks to Kris & Steve
- Gas money after Thanksgiving '10 thanks to my parents
- All of the people who have financially and through prayers supported us through this internship
- Cash gift from 8:08, the college ministry.
- New dress, shirt for me, zippy for Jon from my parents
- Care packages from Kris & steve
- Sewing machine at Christmas '10
- Free/loaned/discounted books :)
- Target REDcard debit, for the 5% saved each time we use it
- Costco membership, for the savings on Gas and daily items such as TP, Cereal, Pasta, Milk, etc.
- Hair Stylest sister for free hair cuts
- All our friends that are now spread out across the world! you all have been a huge impact and blessing in our lives.
- $ from my grandparents after we got married that we used to be able to have our first small Christmas in '09.
- Our nice canvas wedding photo from Kris & steve
- Flannel sheets from my parents
- cuisenart chopper from my parents
- Snow boots for Jon from Kris & Steve.
That is only part of it. I am sure there is more, but all I know is that I should never doubt if God provides, because from that list, even when it is the small things, I know that God loves me and cares about me and will provide for me.
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| At our final 8:08; Redneck Night. |
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The people God gives you in this life
Because of the fact that I am a pastor's kid, and now a pastor's wife, I have moved around a lot. I have friends all over the world and that is very cool, but at times I feel a since of loss at not being able to say I am still best friends with so and so and we were in diapers together. I move to a new place and I feel very lonely for the first couple months, and then I slowly, very slowly, start to let people near me and know me.
Yesterday God reminded me of how blessed I am with the friends that I have in my life. I have a friend from my senior year of high school that with out her coming up to me on the second day of school and asking me to sit with her at lunch, would have had a very lonely senior year in a new school. Then she went to Crown with me and was the first person I told that I knew Jon (my husband) was the one I was going to marry... after two weeks of hanging out! :)
Then I have another friend that I got to talk to yesterday after a long period of business and not being able to catch up. We shared what God has been doing in our lives and how he has been molding us, and then encouraged each other. A friendship that bloomed late at college, but one that will continue to grow as we are in about the same place in ministry, just starting out! It is going to be awesome to see how God uses both of our little families in the future!! :)
But I have so many friends! I could go on and on and on and say the most amazing things about them all. But that would be a book and not a blog... But if you are one of my dear friends, know how much you have blessed my life and Jon's and we are so grateful to call you our friends!
Yesterday God reminded me of how blessed I am with the friends that I have in my life. I have a friend from my senior year of high school that with out her coming up to me on the second day of school and asking me to sit with her at lunch, would have had a very lonely senior year in a new school. Then she went to Crown with me and was the first person I told that I knew Jon (my husband) was the one I was going to marry... after two weeks of hanging out! :)
Then I have another friend that I got to talk to yesterday after a long period of business and not being able to catch up. We shared what God has been doing in our lives and how he has been molding us, and then encouraged each other. A friendship that bloomed late at college, but one that will continue to grow as we are in about the same place in ministry, just starting out! It is going to be awesome to see how God uses both of our little families in the future!! :)
But I have so many friends! I could go on and on and on and say the most amazing things about them all. But that would be a book and not a blog... But if you are one of my dear friends, know how much you have blessed my life and Jon's and we are so grateful to call you our friends!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Grand Junction Dinner/Interview
So the dinner went really well. We are excited to see what happens next. Rob is awesome. We think we could work with him and do ministry along side him, his wife, and his team very well. Got a lot of questions answered which is good.
One thing that I think is cool is that a while back when I was talking to Jon and saying how i don't know what i want to do with my life or what i want to go back to school for, and saying how i really love kids and want to work with kids, but i don't think i want to teach, Jon said half jokingly, "Why don't we start an orphanage?"
Well I didn't really take him seriously, but it got my curiosity going. Well come to find out, this church has an orphanage in Cambodia and land to build one in Thailand. Now I have been praying that God would make it very clear where he is calling us to go, and i don't know if that is him making it very clear or not, but it could be :).
It was just very exciting. So the next steps will be that the search committee will meet after the 1st of May (soonest because of Easter) and go over the resume's. They have 3 right now, but Rob would like 5-6 to give to his team. He was hoping Roger, the District Superintendent for the Mid-America district (our district) for the Alliance, would hand him about 6, but Roger only gave him Jon's :). But they will go over the Resume's, then do phone interviews and then call out for canidation's. This will all happen pretty fast because their Youth guy is leaving the end of May.
So that is about all we really know right now. It was a really good dinner. Great conversation, and if anything, just a great connection made with a fellow pastor and follower of Christ. But we are excited to see where this leads. Just keep praying for us though, and that we would get it only if it is God's will.
One thing that I think is cool is that a while back when I was talking to Jon and saying how i don't know what i want to do with my life or what i want to go back to school for, and saying how i really love kids and want to work with kids, but i don't think i want to teach, Jon said half jokingly, "Why don't we start an orphanage?"
Well I didn't really take him seriously, but it got my curiosity going. Well come to find out, this church has an orphanage in Cambodia and land to build one in Thailand. Now I have been praying that God would make it very clear where he is calling us to go, and i don't know if that is him making it very clear or not, but it could be :).
It was just very exciting. So the next steps will be that the search committee will meet after the 1st of May (soonest because of Easter) and go over the resume's. They have 3 right now, but Rob would like 5-6 to give to his team. He was hoping Roger, the District Superintendent for the Mid-America district (our district) for the Alliance, would hand him about 6, but Roger only gave him Jon's :). But they will go over the Resume's, then do phone interviews and then call out for canidation's. This will all happen pretty fast because their Youth guy is leaving the end of May.
So that is about all we really know right now. It was a really good dinner. Great conversation, and if anything, just a great connection made with a fellow pastor and follower of Christ. But we are excited to see where this leads. Just keep praying for us though, and that we would get it only if it is God's will.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Waking up
Today is a beautiful day to wake up! I woke up at 8:00, shut the air off, and opened my windows! It's a little crazy that it is April 10, and I already had to turn the air on, but I did, and I am not complaining, because yesterday was beautiful, and today is beautiful!
Today is a morning that I feel like I woke up in Florida, mostly because of the humidity, but I love it. I feel like it smells a little bit like FL in my house, because the window's are open :). What a beautiful day God has given us on His day!
This is what I woke up to:
The sky looking a little hazy with all the humidity. The sun just peaking over the building across from me creating this beautiful hazy glow! 72 degrees! My apartment to my self, for Jon had to get up early to go play in the worship band at church, and the smell of clean Laundry coming in my window! It is just a great start to a beautiful sunday. I wish I could take a picture of the way I feel and the way I see the morning, but that would be really hard to get :).
So instead, here is a photo I found that portrays what i feel and where I feel I should be this morning! :)
That is the hazy I feel/see outside, but that is also the place I should be to enjoy such beautiful hazy. :)
Well off to get ready for church... I am so excited to break out the summer twirly skirts! :)
Today is a morning that I feel like I woke up in Florida, mostly because of the humidity, but I love it. I feel like it smells a little bit like FL in my house, because the window's are open :). What a beautiful day God has given us on His day!
This is what I woke up to:
The sky looking a little hazy with all the humidity. The sun just peaking over the building across from me creating this beautiful hazy glow! 72 degrees! My apartment to my self, for Jon had to get up early to go play in the worship band at church, and the smell of clean Laundry coming in my window! It is just a great start to a beautiful sunday. I wish I could take a picture of the way I feel and the way I see the morning, but that would be really hard to get :).
So instead, here is a photo I found that portrays what i feel and where I feel I should be this morning! :)
Well off to get ready for church... I am so excited to break out the summer twirly skirts! :)
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Start to some Answers
Yesterday Jon and I went in to the district office for our licensing interview. I feel I need to explain this because I found out last night that a lot of the people at 8:08 thought that meant we had a job and we were moving.
In order to be a pastor in the C&MA, you have to go through this accreditation process. Jon had to fill out this extensive application that took like 6 months to finish. Then once you are done with that you have to read a book and right a paper on it. After that it is the interview with a board of other pastor's in the district. The Omaha district consists of 4 states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. The district office is located here in Omaha, so that made it easy. During the interview they asked Jon, and at times, me, questions about our lifestyle, our past and what has called us to ministry, and question's about doctrine. After the interview they usually send you out of the room for about 10 minutes discussing the applicant and whether they feel He is fit to be a pastor in the Alliance. Then they will bring them back in and tell them their decision. If you passed and are accepted as a Pastor, they tell you and then you just wait for the official documentation to come in the mail.
Well we did all that, I felt a little embarrassed of my self because when they asked me about my past/what made me who I am, I shared the journey of my senior year and what happened at a church that year and I started crying. I did not think that I would cry during this interview. It was really weird, but I realized that even though I have forgiven the people and have handed it over to God, it doesn't change the fact that I went through that situation with my parents and still carry a big scare with me. But I got over crying and the interview went on and JON PASSED!! So now he is an official Pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He can now marry you if you would like or perform the ceremony for a funeral.
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| Officially staff of the Alliance. Logo = Fourfold Gospel: Savior:Cross, Sanctifier:Cup, Healer:Pitcher, & Coming King: Crown |
We both walked away feeling very encouraged. That we are taking the correct order of steps to get to where God is taking us next. We meet with Rob on Tuesday about the possibility of becoming the youth pastor for his church in Grand Junction, CO. I feel very positive about it and think that we may finally get some answer's as to where God is leading us next.
We appreciate your prayers in this crazy phase of life and are grateful to all of you who are a part of our lives!
Forever Reign
This is my favorite song of the moment. It is so powerful and speaks of so many truth's of God. It is my prayer.
Here is a link to the music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ3KIXadMoY&feature=related
Here are the lyrics:
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting
Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other name
Jesus, Jesus
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
Here is a link to the music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ3KIXadMoY&feature=related
Here are the lyrics:
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting
Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other name
Jesus, Jesus
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
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