Tulip Girl

Wow, I guess my last blog is aprapo for my sister, Michelle. Her husband has only been home for one week after a thirteen week business trip to Holland and now, this weekend he got an e-mail telling him he leaves again next Saturday for twelve weeks to Holland to receive further training. They, along with their two girls are quite distressed over this. Please keep them in your prayers as the prepare for another separation. I am so thankful that my sister has friends and a strong church family that can be a support for her during this time. Please pray that Joe has a strong support system as well that can come along side him. I am hoping maybe I can go visit her. We will see. Well that is it for now. I just wanted to share that with you for your prayers.

Hinds Feet for High Places by Hannah Hurmard is such an amazing allegory for our walk with God that now that I have read it once, I am going to read it again slower and one page at a time. I just wanted to share with you a part of this story that has impacted me quite a bit. Along the way Much Afraid (the main character) comes across two flowers at two different times. The first one is Acceptance with Joy and the other, Bearing the Cost (also called Forgiveness). Much Afraid, while walking through a barren desert comes across a flower receiving only an occasional drop of water from an old pipe connected to a water tank. The little flowers head turn upward towards the water. When asked, the flower said her name is Acceptance-with-Joy. She was alone in the hot desert and received only enough to live and yet this is her name. Acceptance-with-Joy. A while later as Much Afraid scaled a cliff, she came to rest in a small cave. As she rested there, she came across another flower thats ...

Dan and I had a lot of fun with his family this year. We stayed with his parents and then Christmas day went to his grandparents. That was a lot of fun. They are an energetic bunch so the desible lever was pretty high. It was so much fun watching the kids playing and laughing. Dustin and Jordan's new baby girl is a week old now. I got to hold her and fell in-love instantly. It was nice to see Papa as his health as been very bad lately. Dan really loves his grandfather so it meant a lot to him. The family does a gift exchange that is always rowdy fun. Stealing presents is always sure to cause a ruckus. I stole a tool set from Alicia but then traded her for the make up bags she ended with since I had been wanting some make up bags any way. Dan ended with an electric sander which is perfect for him. Good times, good times. I went out one of the days there with Dan's dad. We had a nice time, bought some movies and went for ice cream. I finally got a blue tooth for C...

I had my fist job interview yesterday with an insurance company. I'm still not convinced that insurance is the route I want to go, but it was an eye opening experience. The two positions the company is looking to fill are sales and management. It was part group interview part one on one so I was able to learn a lot more about what they are looking for. I was amazed as they described what each of these jobs entailed. I realized that I could do either one and be good at it. This is a huge revelation for me because I guess I doubt this little creation of God's. I doubt my abilities and gifts. I was so pumped yesterday as I realized that I am capable of so much more than I thought. Well I applied for several jobs yesterday. I know I still lean towards non-profit work. I know that my goal as far as a career and my personal life is to help others meet their needs and achieve their dreams. That is like my Mission Statement. Another thing that my dad told me once has come ...

Wow, Christmas is so close. I have one more present to buy. I hope I find it. :) We are looking foreword to seeing Dan's family. I can't wait to see the kids. That to me is the second most important part of Christmas. I am reminded that the difference in how children and adults view the celebration of Jesus' birth is sometimes similar to how we view Jesus Himself. Responsibility crowds in and I find myself seeing my time with God as a chore the same way I find preparing for Christmas a chore. I sometimes am thankful Christmas is over the same way I sometimes am thankful the church service is done or a ministry activity. I look foreword to having children so that I can instill that wide eyed wonder for both Jesus and His Birthday celebration. First though, I need to find the wonder for myself. I am aware of that this Christmas having no one to model for, I'm free to be as I am and I see that I need to be the change I want to see. So today I will make a bazil...

Things have been good since I've been back home from Arizona. I am working hard at finding a job. I've put my resume in at several places. I have an interview coming up for a church administrative assistant position. I am hoping that works out. I am still volunteering at the pregnancy center. For Christmas Dan gave me an elliptical machine which is just awesome since I've been wanting one for a long time. Dan showed me a new work out routine that he does, and I am so so sore. I just need to keep it up and I will be able to see the difference in no time. I'm waiting until January to start a new kind of diet for forty days. I want Dan and me to do it together but I knew that we had to be more settled to do it. I'll keep you updated on that. We are looking foreword to spending Christmas with Dan's family. I am excited about all the last minute things before Christmas. I am going to do a lot of baking this week. My favorite thing this week was reading a...

My visit to Arizona was very nice. The first few days I just felt so relaxed as I let my parents take care of me. My dad made me pancakes and eggs several mornings and made dinner every night. We had chili and spaghetti which both made good left overs. I loved the chili the most. It was very good with melted cheese on it and with saltine crackers. I went out to eat with two of my brothers. I didn't get to spend any time with my brother, Justin's wife M which I was bummed about. She's a really neat person to know. I also went out to eat with my brother Brandon and his family. I absolutely adore my niece. We have so much fun together. She is fun to follow along with. My other brother Scott and his family came over a few times and I spent the day with his wife, Laura and my mom. We went to see Enchanted which is an awesome movie I recommend every one to see it. I even think that the guys would like to see it as well (well some of it anyway.) It was pretty funny...