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.
Showing posts with label grand junction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grand junction. Show all posts
Thursday, June 23, 2011
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!
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!!
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.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Ready for some Answers!
So I am ready for some answers. I feel like I have been playing this waiting game long enough. I want to know the next adventure Jon and I are going on!
God is really trying my patience I think. More, he is trying to teach me patience, but I am not very patient. I want to start planning the next steps. Looking for a place to live, a job, just getting settled into a new life. I am ready! Yes I will be very sad to leave Omaha. I will cry my eyes out at our last 8:08 and last huddle. I hate change. But I know that our time in Omaha was a 2 year time frame, and that 2 years only has 3 months left. 3 months left and we have no idea where we are going next. GOD I AM READY TO KNOW!
One of our options is Grand Junction, CO. The position would be a Youth Pastor position, which is exciting, but Jon is a little nervous about that as well. He is used to the College age group where you don't have to deal with the parents, and that makes him nervous, but excited to try a different ministry field. But this church is also looking to hire a Children's Director part time. HIRE ME!!! I love children's ministry! I almost changed my major to Children and Family Ministries when I was at Crown, but didn't. How awesome would that be though!? We move to a new place for Jon's job, but I have a job in the church as well right away too! No stress of finding/looking for a job. It would be awesome.
We meet with their Lead Pastor Tuesday, April 12. It will be fun to hopefully get some answers and maybe see if I have a chance of getting hired as the children's director if we pursue this option.
Please keep us in your prayers. I am very ready to finally get some answers and to know the next steps in this adventure that God is taking us on. :)
God is really trying my patience I think. More, he is trying to teach me patience, but I am not very patient. I want to start planning the next steps. Looking for a place to live, a job, just getting settled into a new life. I am ready! Yes I will be very sad to leave Omaha. I will cry my eyes out at our last 8:08 and last huddle. I hate change. But I know that our time in Omaha was a 2 year time frame, and that 2 years only has 3 months left. 3 months left and we have no idea where we are going next. GOD I AM READY TO KNOW!
One of our options is Grand Junction, CO. The position would be a Youth Pastor position, which is exciting, but Jon is a little nervous about that as well. He is used to the College age group where you don't have to deal with the parents, and that makes him nervous, but excited to try a different ministry field. But this church is also looking to hire a Children's Director part time. HIRE ME!!! I love children's ministry! I almost changed my major to Children and Family Ministries when I was at Crown, but didn't. How awesome would that be though!? We move to a new place for Jon's job, but I have a job in the church as well right away too! No stress of finding/looking for a job. It would be awesome.
We meet with their Lead Pastor Tuesday, April 12. It will be fun to hopefully get some answers and maybe see if I have a chance of getting hired as the children's director if we pursue this option.
Please keep us in your prayers. I am very ready to finally get some answers and to know the next steps in this adventure that God is taking us on. :)
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