No More Complaining

I realize my last post probably seems as though I'm sitting here whining about how sorry my little life is.
What I've come to realize (again, thanks to my lovely women's Bible study this week) is that I am BEYOND BLESSED and what do I really have to complain about?
Let's see...
...I'm healthy
...We have a home (a pretty cute one, too)
...We're both working
...We have an amazing church family and families
...We have a 55" TV (Ok, that's a materialistic one but still...)
...There's always food in the house
...I could go on

All this to say, there is never a reason to complain...ever.

So this is my resolution, a month late. I'm not going to complain anymore. Instead, I'm going to remember all my many blessings and how good my God is!!

The Wilderness

When I first googled "wilderness" this was the picture that came up:

Unfortuantely, that wasn't really the picture I had in mind as far as what I'm going through right now. I WISH my wilderness resembeled the above picture. However, mine looks a little more like this:

As I sit here and type this at 3:36 p.m. on Sunday, my husband is at his office working. This means he's worked everyday this week (yes, Saturday too). I'm all about making money right now, since we're in serious school loan debt, the unfortunate part is that he doesn't get paid by the number of hours he works and there is no overtime. It's all just "factored in" to his salary. Do you know what this means for me? Loneliness.

I've been subbing every other day at Rochester High School for a medical leave which is great. However, I'm finding I really don't like subbing. It's just a big tease. It's not my classroom. Not my desk. Not my lesson plans. I've been trying for almost 6 years to be a teacher and I'm STILL not a real one! Frustration.

There are no job openings around the Springfield area for next school year yet. I've been waiting and checking online for openings but nothing. I have to work. We need the extra income. Confusion. Lack of understanding.

So, to sum up: Loneliness, Frustration, Confusion, and a lack of understanding. Yes, this is my wilderness. And I feel as though I'm going it alone. Though I know HE is walking with me, at times it seems so quiet and desolate.

Is it coincidence that the Bible study I'm in is talking about the wilderness right now? I'd say no.

"The Lord often chooses a wilderness experience for us because His goal is to make us more dependent on Him."

1 Peter 1:6-7 "You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor."

Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.

So I will find rest in knowing His plan is far better than any I can think of. He knows what is BEST for me. Amen.

A Profound Look at Temptation and Sin

I've heard this is two Bible studies now so I feel it's only appropriate I share it:

Chapter 1
I walk down the street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk, I fall in, I am lost, I am helpless, It isn’t my fault, It takes me forever to find my way out.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk, I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again, I can’t believe that I’m in the same place but it isn’t my fault. It takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk, I see that it is there, I still fall in, it’s a habit, my eyes are open, I know it’s my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk, I walk around it.

Chapter 5
I walk down another street.


What is your response to reading this??

It's been awhile!

Sorry for my tardiness in updating this bad boy. It certainly isn't because nothing has been going on!
First- I finished student teaching at Rochester and was very sad to leave. I'm officially a college grad! Next semester I plan on subbing all around the area. I've been on a couple interviews for next school year but none have been extremely promising. Now I'm a stay at home wife trying to find enough things to occupy my time.
Brent is loving his job and we're both loving the pay check :)
A couple weeks ago we got iPhones and they're fabulous.
We moved my grandma into a retirement home in Springfield from up north. We're all glad to have her living closer!
We had our 2 year anniversary last week. Hard to believe it's been 2 years. To celebrate we went to st. Louis for the night Saturday and ate at the always delicious and romantic melting pot.

That's about it for now!! I'm hoping to have some other exciting news for you in the next month or so ;) stay tuned!!

Here is Milo looking very jolly in front of our tree.




Wonderful new phone (and cardigan)



Two sets of beautiful flowers from my man!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

I promise I'll get back into posting SOON! The semester is ending and I seem to be getting busier...but trust me, there will be MANY updates soon to come :) Stay tuned...

What's up

Updating my blog was not on my lengthy "to do" list for today, but I came across something in the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan I wanted to share (p.s. if you haven't read this...do so).

Brooke Bronkowski was a beautiful fourteen-year-old girl who was in love with Jesus. When she was in junior high, she started a Bible study on her campus. She spent her babysitting money on Bibles so she could give them out to her unsaved friends. Youth pastors who heard about this brought her boxes of Bibles to give away.
Brooke wrote the following essay when she was about twelve; it will give you an idea of the kind of girl she was.

“SINCE I HAVE MY LIFE BEFORE ME”
I’ll live my life to the fullest. I’ll be happy. I’ll brighten up. I will be more joyful than I have ever been. I will be kind to others. I will loosen up. I will tell others about Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold and not change who I really am. I will have no troubles but instead help others with their troubles. You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age. Oh, I’ll have moments, good and bad, but I will wipe away the bad and only remember the good. In fact that’s all I remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just living my life to the fullest. I’ll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me back. I’ll set an example for others, I will pray for direction. I have my life before me. I will give others the joy I have and God will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow the footsteps of God. I will do my best!!!

During her freshman year in high school, Brooke was in a car accident while driving to the movies. Her life on earth was ended when she was just fourteen, but her impact didn’t. Nearly fifteen hundred people attended Brooke’s memorial service. People from her public high school read poems she had written about her love for God. Everyone spoke of her example and her joy.
I shared the gospel and invited those who wanted to know Jesus to come up and give their lives to Him. There must have been at least two hundred students on their knees at the front of the church praying for salvation. Ushers gave a Bible to each of them. They were Bibles that Brooke had kept in her garage, hoping to give out to all of her unsaved friends. In one day, Brooke led more people to the Lord than most ever will.
In her brief fourteen years on earth, Brooke was faithful to Christ. Her short life was not wasted. The words from her essay were prophetic: “You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age.”

I don't think there is anything else that needs to be said...just something to think about as you all start a new week.
And to go along with that, here's the new song by Casting Crowns that has really been laying on my heart lately:

let's play a game...

called "find milo"

and in other news--this weekend has been full of fall and family fun! Friday night we went out to eat with our friends Mario and Maria and then came back to our place and played some guitar hero. Saturday I started off the day going to the farmer's market in downtown springfield with my mom--my first time and definitely not me last! Later in the day Brent's dad, grandparents sister and her husband all came to see the house, eat some lunch and hang out for a little while. My dad preached at church this weekend so we went to Saturday night service as well as one of the services this morning. He did an excellent job and definitely challenged brent and i in many areas which i may or may not share later this week (just to keep you on edge). So that's about it, I'll leave you with this fallish photo of us with our mum and pumpkins!