I am taking my two eldest daughters on an educational trip tomorrow. We are going to travel to Williamsburg, VA to visit the historical sites. This year we have been studying American history and it will fit in nicely. Of course, I am also considering the fact that it is rather close to us right now and who knows when we will get the opportunity to do this again. John is staying home with the two youngest so that it will be a much easier trip. We are going with my dear friend and her three oldest daughters as well. We are excited about the excursion and probably a little too excited about the fact that neither one of us will need to carry a diaper bag or stroller along.
Pray for my sweet Emily as she is not feeling well tonight. She is running a fever and getting a cough - something I think she caught from her youngest sister. I am hoping that she will recover quickly and have enough strength to endure the walking that we will be doing over the next three days. I also am praying against the snow that is supposed to be coming in during our trip, and God willing the 50 degrees and sunshine will last until we return home.
Bye for now - pictures to follow
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
preview
Yesterday, John worked a double shift at the restaraunt. Last night as I cooked dinner alone, put the kids to bed, and dealt with a fussy baby I realized it was a little glimps of what is to come. I felt overwhelmed by the thought of doing this again by myself for the next several weeks. Clara started running a fever last night and I was thankful when John came in and got up with her in the night. She doesn't feel well and cried for a solid half hour until the medicine finally kicked in. Right now I pray for patience, I pray for good health, I pray for restful nights, and for life to run smoothly while we are going through this transition. O Lord, I know that you hear my prayers.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Let him lead, and I will follow
So here is the update on the job situation. John has accepted the offer from Lifetouch on the sales position in Evansville, IN. We felt that God was providing, we do not currently have any other offers or leads to other jobs and that it would be stupid to turn it down at this point. My biggest concern was and is to see God's hand providing for us in our housing situation. I mentioned that I needed a sign from God to let me know that this was indeed the right thing to do. He is answering prayers so quickly that we cannot deny it. Yesterday, John went to the property management office to talk to them about releasing us from our lease here in NC. We have signed a contract to rent through August and were hoping they would let us out of it earlier than that. Praise God! The manger said all he needed was a 30 day notice, preferably a 60 day notice and that we would receive our deposit back given our final walk through inspection was acceptable. I really wasn't expecting that!
I had already set myself up for disappointment. I figured that it would be another trial to toss around in my head and that there was no way God could answer me so clearly. HA! I was wrong.
So John has plans to go before the girls and I. He will begin work there on March 15th. We still need to find a place for him to live while he is there by himself. Ideas? We really cannot afford to put him in an apartment with two house payments. We did this before when we moved from TN and it drained the finances quickly! We are looking into a travel trailer that he could park at the office or a camp ground. I've also wondered about the idea of finding a room for rent through a local church or something. Anybody know how I could find any leads on this idea?
Again we are trusting in the Lord's provision of the final details that lie ahead. I am still having a hard time sleeping at night, thinking of all that there is to do. I do not like the anticipation of being away from John for several weeks or months. I pray that the girls will do well while he is away and that it will pass quickly. Yet it scares me to think that it will go by so fast and I won't be able to get it all done by myself. So I think of the song I have taught the kids,
"I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
and anytime, I don't know what to do
I will cast all my cares upon You".
I had already set myself up for disappointment. I figured that it would be another trial to toss around in my head and that there was no way God could answer me so clearly. HA! I was wrong.
So John has plans to go before the girls and I. He will begin work there on March 15th. We still need to find a place for him to live while he is there by himself. Ideas? We really cannot afford to put him in an apartment with two house payments. We did this before when we moved from TN and it drained the finances quickly! We are looking into a travel trailer that he could park at the office or a camp ground. I've also wondered about the idea of finding a room for rent through a local church or something. Anybody know how I could find any leads on this idea?
Again we are trusting in the Lord's provision of the final details that lie ahead. I am still having a hard time sleeping at night, thinking of all that there is to do. I do not like the anticipation of being away from John for several weeks or months. I pray that the girls will do well while he is away and that it will pass quickly. Yet it scares me to think that it will go by so fast and I won't be able to get it all done by myself. So I think of the song I have taught the kids,
"I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
and anytime, I don't know what to do
I will cast all my cares upon You".
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A Heavy Heart
Decided to go ahead and get up because I can't sleep. It is tormenting to lay there and be thinking of a million things. I've been here many times before but this time I have a sick feeling in my stomach. I want to be still and be able to listen, taking consideration of what God lays on my heart but thoughts keep swirling through my head so quickly that I can't discern from worrying to realistic concerns.
My husband got a job offer yesterday afternoon. Hurray! an answer to prayer, you say? Yes, I should be thankful for the Lord providing so quickly. And thus should be the end of my post. BUT and this is a very big but, it requires moving to Evansville, IN. A town I am familiar with, only from seeing it from my car window growing up many times as we drove through, when traveling to and from my relatives. It is another position with Lifetouch. Seems to be a place where a lot of opportunity lies ahead. This isn't a pay raise, just a lateral move from a company owned territory to a commission based territory. The manager there has a heart for the Lifetouch employees that are being layed off and wishes to hire someone from within the company. He passed up two other possible candidates to talk to John, knowing of his Lifetouch history and reputation.
So here are my thoughts. I am excited for John. I desire for him to be successful and in a place where he is valued and appreciated. I want more than anything for him to be in a positive work environment and in a job that gives him pleasure and fulfillment. I have come to realize that he truly enjoys what he does.
I also know the struggle that lies ahead. I can deal with the packing, the goodbyes, being a single parent for the next few months, but I NEED to know that this is from God. We want to follow if this is where he is leading us. But in my human mind it seems too soon. I wonder why we came to NC in the first place. I have to admit I always knew deep down that we would not be here forever. I have to swallow the words that I once spoke to a friend, telling her that this was just a a stepping stone that was going to lead us somewhere else. Did I really mean that? Was that God's way of preparing my heart for the things that would come?
I guess writing this out gives me some clarity or at least makes me feel better. I will petition your prayers for our transition. I am asking that the Lord will give us 100 percent affirmation by releasing us from the lease on the rental house we are currently in and by providing the perfect housing situation for us in IN as quickly as he has answered our prayers for a job. I am also trusting that HE will once again provide the moving expenses we will need to get there.
My husband got a job offer yesterday afternoon. Hurray! an answer to prayer, you say? Yes, I should be thankful for the Lord providing so quickly. And thus should be the end of my post. BUT and this is a very big but, it requires moving to Evansville, IN. A town I am familiar with, only from seeing it from my car window growing up many times as we drove through, when traveling to and from my relatives. It is another position with Lifetouch. Seems to be a place where a lot of opportunity lies ahead. This isn't a pay raise, just a lateral move from a company owned territory to a commission based territory. The manager there has a heart for the Lifetouch employees that are being layed off and wishes to hire someone from within the company. He passed up two other possible candidates to talk to John, knowing of his Lifetouch history and reputation.
So here are my thoughts. I am excited for John. I desire for him to be successful and in a place where he is valued and appreciated. I want more than anything for him to be in a positive work environment and in a job that gives him pleasure and fulfillment. I have come to realize that he truly enjoys what he does.
I also know the struggle that lies ahead. I can deal with the packing, the goodbyes, being a single parent for the next few months, but I NEED to know that this is from God. We want to follow if this is where he is leading us. But in my human mind it seems too soon. I wonder why we came to NC in the first place. I have to admit I always knew deep down that we would not be here forever. I have to swallow the words that I once spoke to a friend, telling her that this was just a a stepping stone that was going to lead us somewhere else. Did I really mean that? Was that God's way of preparing my heart for the things that would come?
I guess writing this out gives me some clarity or at least makes me feel better. I will petition your prayers for our transition. I am asking that the Lord will give us 100 percent affirmation by releasing us from the lease on the rental house we are currently in and by providing the perfect housing situation for us in IN as quickly as he has answered our prayers for a job. I am also trusting that HE will once again provide the moving expenses we will need to get there.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Power of prayer
We are in day four of John being home and out of work. So far he has been extremely helpful to me, with doing some of the teaching with the kid's school work. He is our math guy and always has some trick or method for remembering different math facts. Yesterday I decided to go to church for our women's prayer time. Normally I do not attend this meeting because it is a mid-morning time slot that interferes with our school day. But since John was available to stay home with the girls and keep them moving through their school work, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity. I also went for selfish reason, calling upon the mercy of my friends to pray for our situation. It was a nice time away from home and an encouraging time of prayer.
Since Friday, when our news came out, I have also heard from many friends and family members who have interceded for us in prayer. Friends here, whom I do not even go to church with have offered up prayer requests at their churches, friends back home have taken this prayer request to their Sunday school classes, and the word has spread through many different prayer chains. WOW! is all I can say. It is such a delight to know other people are concerned and are asking God to answer this request quickly. Thank you so much for your prayers, comments and kind words. We are encouraged and believe that God's will is being done.
Since Friday, when our news came out, I have also heard from many friends and family members who have interceded for us in prayer. Friends here, whom I do not even go to church with have offered up prayer requests at their churches, friends back home have taken this prayer request to their Sunday school classes, and the word has spread through many different prayer chains. WOW! is all I can say. It is such a delight to know other people are concerned and are asking God to answer this request quickly. Thank you so much for your prayers, comments and kind words. We are encouraged and believe that God's will is being done.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Being layed off
Just when I was thinking that I might retire this blog for a while, God brings a new trial into my life.
See we were cruising along just fine. Finally we have begun to call Statesville, NC home. We have made wonderful friends here, finally gotten connected with people within the community, I've made progress with my class numbers at the Y, and on and on I could go. I was actually feeling a bit nervous about this just the other day. Thinking to myself that I had become comfortable again, thanking the Lord for his provisions, and hoping that this did not mean I needed another "lesson in life". I felt that I did not use this blog as often anymore to journal our life's progress - that I either needed to rename it or just give it a rest for a while.
Until this morning - my husband came walking back in the house at 8:30 a.m. when I knew he was supposed to be in Charlotte for an all day meeting. My first thought was that the car had broken down and he needed to use the van but when I saw his face I then realized it was something bigger.
He proceeded to tell me that he had been "let go". What!? was my reaction. He gave me the speech that I could tell was being regurgitated from an earlier conversation, "the company is feeling the impact of the economic crisis and is having to make cut-backs all over the country today and my position has been eliminated". His company cell phone, laptop, and contracts which he had brought to "the meeting" had to be turned over to them immediately.
I've only seen my husband cry once in the fourteen years we've been together. This morning I could feel his heavy heart from across the room and look at his face and see that he was at low of all lows, holding back the tears. All I could say is "I love you, and I'm so sorry".
So throughout my day I've been able to process some of the emotions that are running through me. First it was panic, then anger, now I've moved on to the wonder, the who knows what is going to happen. I feel nauseated at the idea of packing again to move to a new place. I wonder why God brought us here. Have we impacted anybody here? Was it all for nothing? Are we supposed to stay? What does life have in store for us now?
All my questions remain unanswered but they continue to swirl around in my head.
I'm not sure why it feels better to write this out, but it does. I'm not sure that anyone wants to read it, but if you have, thank you and please know that we covet your prayers. Let us see clearly the path which the Lord will direct us in and not choose according to our own ideas or selfish desires.
See we were cruising along just fine. Finally we have begun to call Statesville, NC home. We have made wonderful friends here, finally gotten connected with people within the community, I've made progress with my class numbers at the Y, and on and on I could go. I was actually feeling a bit nervous about this just the other day. Thinking to myself that I had become comfortable again, thanking the Lord for his provisions, and hoping that this did not mean I needed another "lesson in life". I felt that I did not use this blog as often anymore to journal our life's progress - that I either needed to rename it or just give it a rest for a while.
Until this morning - my husband came walking back in the house at 8:30 a.m. when I knew he was supposed to be in Charlotte for an all day meeting. My first thought was that the car had broken down and he needed to use the van but when I saw his face I then realized it was something bigger.
He proceeded to tell me that he had been "let go". What!? was my reaction. He gave me the speech that I could tell was being regurgitated from an earlier conversation, "the company is feeling the impact of the economic crisis and is having to make cut-backs all over the country today and my position has been eliminated". His company cell phone, laptop, and contracts which he had brought to "the meeting" had to be turned over to them immediately.
I've only seen my husband cry once in the fourteen years we've been together. This morning I could feel his heavy heart from across the room and look at his face and see that he was at low of all lows, holding back the tears. All I could say is "I love you, and I'm so sorry".
So throughout my day I've been able to process some of the emotions that are running through me. First it was panic, then anger, now I've moved on to the wonder, the who knows what is going to happen. I feel nauseated at the idea of packing again to move to a new place. I wonder why God brought us here. Have we impacted anybody here? Was it all for nothing? Are we supposed to stay? What does life have in store for us now?
All my questions remain unanswered but they continue to swirl around in my head.
I'm not sure why it feels better to write this out, but it does. I'm not sure that anyone wants to read it, but if you have, thank you and please know that we covet your prayers. Let us see clearly the path which the Lord will direct us in and not choose according to our own ideas or selfish desires.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Merry Christmas!
I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families. We stayed in NC this year. My dad came over to spend Christmas with us. I always think it is nice to have a grandparent around to enjoy the children's laughter and excitement about Christmas. It makes it special for all of us.
I am always trying to come up with things to do to make the Christmas season more meaningful for the kids. I guess I'm trying to distract them from the materialism and make it more spiritual, more about the giving and less about the getting. This year we hosted a Happy Birthday Jesus party at our home. We invited our homeschool friends that we don't get to socialize with very often, made a birthday cake and sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus". We decided to make the Jesus portion of the cake white to represent that He was pure and sinless, and the manger portion of the cake chocolate, to represent our "dirty" sin. For a craft we made homemade nativity characters out of wood blocks. They dressed them in scrap fabric, ribbons and tassles and put baby Jesus in a manger of glued together popsicle sticks. It was a blast.
This year along with the homemade theme (wink, wink) we made homemade Christmas cards. Why is it that every year I forget how huge of a project sending out the cards can be? The making of the picture, deciding upon which one to use, how the card will look, actually making or printing a card, addressing all the envelopes, stamping and return addressing and delivering them to the mailbox can be a chore! BUT I still love receiving them in the mail and that is why I go to all the trouble each year, because if even one person enjoys it as much as I do, then it was worth it!
For my other Christmas project I had the girls write Luke 2 as their handwriting assingment each day. I divided it into 1-3 verse sections and they wrote in their best handwriting with a picture to accompany the story for each day. I had no idea how wonderful their art work was going to turn out. This is something that I will keep for them to look back at when the are grown.
As always we contiued our Jesse tree ornament devotion each day leading up to Christmas. We may decide to do another ornament exchange next year for some extra families that would like to participate. (Let me know if you're local and are interested.)
The girls also sang in our Christmas Eve service at church this year. The children's choir prepared three songs, O Come Little Children, Away in a Manger, and Go Tell It On The Mountain. Emily sang a duet with her best friend for a verse of the first song and did a great job. Her eyes sparkle when she sings.
I hope that you found some new ways to celebrate our Saviour's birth this year. If not I hope that I have inspired you to do something different next year. Go to a different church service, drive an alternate route home to take a look at the Christmas lights, spend time with a loved one, snuggle in with some hot chocolate and a Christmas movie that you haven't watched in a while - whatever it is, enjoy it!
I am always trying to come up with things to do to make the Christmas season more meaningful for the kids. I guess I'm trying to distract them from the materialism and make it more spiritual, more about the giving and less about the getting. This year we hosted a Happy Birthday Jesus party at our home. We invited our homeschool friends that we don't get to socialize with very often, made a birthday cake and sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus". We decided to make the Jesus portion of the cake white to represent that He was pure and sinless, and the manger portion of the cake chocolate, to represent our "dirty" sin. For a craft we made homemade nativity characters out of wood blocks. They dressed them in scrap fabric, ribbons and tassles and put baby Jesus in a manger of glued together popsicle sticks. It was a blast.
This year along with the homemade theme (wink, wink) we made homemade Christmas cards. Why is it that every year I forget how huge of a project sending out the cards can be? The making of the picture, deciding upon which one to use, how the card will look, actually making or printing a card, addressing all the envelopes, stamping and return addressing and delivering them to the mailbox can be a chore! BUT I still love receiving them in the mail and that is why I go to all the trouble each year, because if even one person enjoys it as much as I do, then it was worth it!
For my other Christmas project I had the girls write Luke 2 as their handwriting assingment each day. I divided it into 1-3 verse sections and they wrote in their best handwriting with a picture to accompany the story for each day. I had no idea how wonderful their art work was going to turn out. This is something that I will keep for them to look back at when the are grown.
As always we contiued our Jesse tree ornament devotion each day leading up to Christmas. We may decide to do another ornament exchange next year for some extra families that would like to participate. (Let me know if you're local and are interested.)
The girls also sang in our Christmas Eve service at church this year. The children's choir prepared three songs, O Come Little Children, Away in a Manger, and Go Tell It On The Mountain. Emily sang a duet with her best friend for a verse of the first song and did a great job. Her eyes sparkle when she sings.
I hope that you found some new ways to celebrate our Saviour's birth this year. If not I hope that I have inspired you to do something different next year. Go to a different church service, drive an alternate route home to take a look at the Christmas lights, spend time with a loved one, snuggle in with some hot chocolate and a Christmas movie that you haven't watched in a while - whatever it is, enjoy it!
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