Why we are here

Each new year I set goals for myself and pray over them. One goal I set two years ago was to start reading more. I have never really enjoyed reading, but now that we are cutting out things we can't afford in seminary I read instead of watching TV. Just one of the ways I see God has answered my prayers. My good friend Laura is letting me borrow her book Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. She is the wife of singer Steven Curtis Chapman and this is basically her auto-biography. I am on chapter 11 and so far loving the book. One quote I love in particular:

"People need to know that Christian leaders, singers, preachers, writers, whoever, are as cracked and broken as the next person. Maybe more so. Hopefully they are in positions of leadership, though, because they are serious about following Christ, and so people can see that real success in the kingdom is not about being strong and looking good and knowing all the right answers. It's about continually yielding oneself to Jesus and determining to take purposeful little steps of obedience, and the ragged reality that it's all about God and His grace at work in us."

Coming out here I worried that we would not fit in that we couldn't be ourselves. I thought seminary students don't cuss, get angry, or argue with their spouse. I soon learned that we all bringing our baggage with us and that's what makes us Christians. God uses that baggage to make his sanctification shine even brighter. Please pray for Patrick as Satan is continually attacking him with feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt in this area. I love the story of when God calls Moses to speak and Moses tells God that his brother would be a better choice. Our God is mighty and he equips for his service the ones we would least suspect.

My granddad passed away yesterday. I always have considered going to his house the best vacation. After all, he taught me so much: How to clean a fish, save my money, and have a hat party. I would have taken his death a lot harder if it weren't for the fact that he FINALLY accepted Christ a month ago. I can not begin to tell you how long I and others have been praying for Granddad's faith. The answer to this prayer came just at the right time. A reminder, that everyone needs God, even the man that seems to have it all under control and knows everything. A reminder, that God always is faithful in answering our prayers. As much as my granddad has taught me over the years, I will always remember that through his suffering and death he has taught me the most valuable lessons of all.

I do not know why God brought us to seminary. I know that there is much to be learned and this is a great place to learn it. I will continue to pray that God will change us and direct us. I will continue to be a strong believer in the power of prayer. I know that God can do all things including making Patrick and I fit for his purpose. Please make that your prayer!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the father's love for us; How vast beyond all measure. That He should give his only Son to make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns His face away. As wounds which mar the chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross; My sin upon his shoulders. A shamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no pow'rs, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom!

Faith is the gift of knowing against all hope that the promises of God will happen because we were told in the bible that he will fulfill his purpose.
I believe in God despite the odds.
I believe in God despite what those around me think.
I believe that God made and controls all people and things.
I believe in the unseen. Meaning God will answer all my prayers in his perfect timing and way.
I believe because I know that God holds out to make us stronger and more thankful.
Romans 5:3-5
I believe because I have seen him work in my life and other's.
I pray for faith like a child for myself and others.

A penny for your thoughts

Sorry it has been so long. Someone ;) asked the other day to make sure I am keeping up with this. It's not that I haven't been thinking about it, in fact I have been thinking a lot. That is what this post is all about. I just personally like posts with pictures. So, for those of you like me sorry, no pictures this time just the thoughts in my head.

My Job: The past few weeks I have been going through training. I can't begin to tell you how extremely impressed I am with Bright Horizons! Four years ago when I started working in the real world of Early Childhood Education. I came to believe that all those things I learned in college and all those dreams I had of what my classroom would look like and be like only happened in a Utopian society. I was ready to give up on my dream of teaching. However, I have come to learn that dreams do come true. There are Early Childhood settings that are child driven. Where teachers are reminded to ask the question "Why not?" instead of just saying this is the way it's done. Bright Horizons is a place where children are encouraged to be themselves and do what they like to do. Therefore, we have few behavior issues and a lot of learning going on. Here the teachers are told constantly that they are at the top of the hierarchy and treated like so. I am having to change my old ways of thinking and it has been challenging for me, but in a good way. I have the job of my dreams! I feel so blessed to have found it! My dream is that one day all educational experiences will be this great! Any other teachers feeling burnt out?



Church: Well, Patrick and I are still searching for a church we can call home here in St. Louis. We have have found those that we like pieces and parts of. We know we will never find the perfect church and that church isn't all about us. However, Patrick told me something that really made me think today. He said when he looks for a good church he thinks, what if I were not a Christian and this Sunday was my only time ever going to church. Would I want to come back? Wow, honestly I got to say that if I weren't already a Christian I would not want to go to church. Let me be honest, I am a Christian, and I haven't wanted to go to church in a while. Right now God gets praised more in my prayers and quiet times. I feel him in a Indelible Grace song, or a conversation with family/friends/Patrick. I felt him at women's night (Man I miss you girls). What are your thoughts on this?

Lessons God is Teaching Me: So, there is one church, where I really like the preaching part of it. The pastor recently talked about realizing how much you need Christ and what he did for you. Therefore, I have been praying that God would help me to see my sin more and hate it more, so that I can value him like I should.
In talking to a 2ND year seminary student one night I was reminded of the verse in James, Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. We were talking about hard conversations to have with people and how we shouldn't avoid them. That verse came to mind and I was given a new understanding of its meaning. I want to not shy away from those hard conversations.
Finally, pray for me as I am trying to decide if I should go ahead and get my masters in Educational Ministries. With talking to other women I know that it is next to impossible to do it while working a full time job. I am also intimidated by graduate level courses, not to mention the fact that I have no desire to go back to school. I can't help but feel like I should (God?). I just need to make the choice and ask for the strength if it is God's will.
What is God teaching you?

I leave you with another verse God has been placing on my heart: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

I feel like this job was made for me

Day 1 and 2- Unpack boxes of new toys and furniture and organize and arrange my new classroom how I want it. Then help others

Day 3- Help decorate the building with rugs, flame less candles, flowers, and artwork from TJ Max, Marshall's, Tuesday Morning, and Garden Ridge.

Day 4- Look through catalogs to order extra toys I want for my classroom. Help show others how to use the centers new Cricut and create a vinyl wall quotes. Then cut scrapbook paper to make labels for cabinets.

Day 5 (Tomorrow)- Hang stuff I made today. Patrick thinks we will be making jewelry as well ;)

And in one month I will be working with babies!

Not to mention the part that I love my new house and but that is a whole different post that will come soon with pictures. Life in St. Louis is good!

We Don't Twiddle our Thumbs ALL Day

When we talk on the phone you ask what we've been doing. Here it is......

1. No we are not at the Aquarium. Notice the shirt in my hand. We are SHOPPING at Cabella's located at our outlet mall. Already been there twice (Patrick loves it!). We shop a lot these days. Probably shouldn't, but what's a girl to do when she has time on her hands and her husband has discovered the joys of couponing. That's right we shop for discounts! For example, the shirt I am holding is a fishing shirt, for Dad, for his birthday (I can say this because dad doesn't even know what a blog is. Shh..don't tell him!). We saw it there the first time. Went home and checked online prices and bought it the second time we went, at a cheaper price.

See the sunglasses? I have been shopping around for a new pair. I love them! See the price? Patrick took a picture so we can find them somewhere else for cheaper. He is tied of me buying sunglasses that fall apart, or don't work right. However, we are not going to pay that price!

2. We COOK. Patrick and I both love to cook! I made this yummy, Paula Deen, Peach Cobbler recipe (www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/peach-cobbler-recipe/index.html). Yes it has a whole stick of butter and a lot of sugar. I wish I would have taken a picture of it before it cooked. It was so neat to me that you put the peaches on top of the crust and when it comes out the peaches are on the bottom. Paula said it would do this because the flour is self rising. I just wasn't so sure, but it did. She may use a lot of butter Y'ALL but the LADY knows how to cook.

This is the me and the cobbler, after it came out of the oven. Notice the new apron! I told you we've been shopping. That's right, after looking for months I finally found an apron. Where you might ask (http://www.prettylittlepearl.etsy.com/)? She has some awesome fabric! Just what I was looking for. I picked two. Patrick helped me narrow it down to one. He thinks it would look good by itself as a dress.

Of course I sent Patrick to the store for ice cream. He had no problem going, he loves ice cream! In fact he came back with two cartons. He would.

Enjoying it! I guess so since that is all he ate for lunch today.


3. We went to the zoo. We did not take many pictures because of the camera situation, this one just wouldn't do it justice. When we have a good camera we will go back. However, the zoo here is free so we can go as often as we like. They have many unusual animals that River Banks does not, like these camels. Some things I learned: Penguins smell like fish, Gorillas smell like armpits, and Primates smell like poop. That would be why all these animals are kept behind glass at River Banks and it cost money to get in there. Other then that the zoo here is great and so great that we spent 3 hours there.

4. I know I keep talking about FORREST PARK. Hopefully with these next few pictures you can see why. I LOVE THIS PLACE! I would spend everyday at Forrest Park. This is a picture of the Basin there. See the little paddle boat in the middle?

Us in front of the Basin.

Me in front of a statue. Notice the top of my Rollerblades. That's right I still have my Rollerblades from the 80's and I love to use them for exercise. Cesar Millan gave me the idea to pull them back out to exercise Daisy.

The top of the statue I was standing in front of.

5. Like I said we like to COOK. Patrick made his Mommy's kabob marinade. It was wonderful! I would share, but it's so good she may want to keep it a secret. I don't know?

The meat before going on the grill. I say meat because it was chicken, beef, and pork.

The veges.

How creative!

So precise!

Well that is all for now folks.

Things to come:

My parents! July 29th-Aug. 2nd. Can't wait to see them!

Why are they coming so soon? Because they can't live without me!

Just kidding...well kinda...They are helping us move.

So that should make for some good posts. The parents visit and moving. Not to mention my job starts the day they leave. Wa-whoooo!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Since December I have been looking for a job out here in St. Louis. I have sent more than 50 emails (unfortunately I have a MO job file to prove it). I have applied for everything and anything that fits under the title of Early Childhood Education. We got out here early just so I could find a job. We arrived Sunday and Tuesday I was out visiting all the places I had applied, putting a face with my name. All I heard that day was have you applied online or thank you we will keep you in mind if any positions open up. I knew they had budget cuts here too. I also found out that there are many wives out here with degrees in education that are working in other fields because they couldn't find jobs in education.

It was June 24th we had been here two weeks and I had not gotten one email or call for an interview. That day my passage in my devotional book was on Isaiah 45:11 Concerning the work of my hands command ye me and John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name. "Knowing that God invites us to command Him to act reveals a surprising change in our relationship!" That night I prayed that God would give me some sign that he is working on providing me a job. I told him that I trusted that he would eventually give me one, I just needed him not to be so silent in doing so. The next morning God answered my prayer, I had an email for an interview as a Children's Director/Preschool teacher at a Lutheran Church. For those of you that don't know this would be one of my dream jobs. So, a week later I traveled 35 minutes into Illinois for the interview. On my way there I called Patrick almost in tears. I told him I was ready to turn around I could not travel this far in such heavy traffic every morning. Thankfully he encouraged me to go. The interview went great! I walked out of there wanting the job. The next day they offered me the job. However, I had to turn it down because we could not survive off the pay. They could not afford to pay me more but offered to give my name to other churches in the area that could.

God answered my prayer that's all I asked for. However, later that same day I got an email back from Bright Horizons (wustl.edu/childcare/). They are a company that opens childcare centers for large companies, for their employees children, and they are opening one here at Washington University in the town I live. They were voted one of the best companies to work for by Fortune Magazine because all the staff is ECED certified, they pay well, have great benefits, and many other perks. They invited me to an information session and group interview based off my application and resume. After learning more about that company I realized this opportunity was another one of my dream jobs, to be able to work with babies and get a decent paycheck. The next day I got called back for a one-on-one interview with the director. I went for that Tuesday. Felt it went great but she told me she had interviews all week and I wouldn't hear anything till Friday or maybe Monday.

This was the longest week of my life. I told Patrick he would have to keep me busy. I kept getting this feeling like I wasn't going to get the job (60 people and they were only hiring 6) and I couldn't figure out if it was God preparing me or Satan making me doubt. Once again I was trusting that God would eventually provide me a job. I just told him that I didn't want to wait anymore. I didn't want to go through anymore searching, applying, and interviews, even if he had a better job out there. God used my dear friend Holly to reassure me. She called a few days after my interview to tell me they had called her as a reference, so I knew they were still interested.

Well today I got the final call. I GOT THE JOB! One of my dream jobs. Great is Thy Faithfulness even when ours isn't. I love my Lord!

Oh well

So, yeah, the post before didn't turn out right. If you click on the pictures you can see the larger view. Follow it the best you can. I am fed up with it tonight. I'm still new at this thing.

Our Place

Picture taken from the "Upper U" in our neighborhood. Walter and Laura's House
(see my car and Patrick's covered scooter) (Our place looks basically the same)

And now....welcome to our home in St. Louis. No we haven't moved in yet, can't wait till July 31st (Literally). Before you go any further let me explain myself. I was looking at our new kitchen thinking how am I going to fit all my stuff in these cabinets. So, I decided to draw a blueprint, not believing it was possible, and thinking Mom could use it when she unpacks my kitchen (wink wink). Where do you draw a blue print? Why on your computer in the good old Microsoft Paint program. I got started and realized two things. Number one, my stuff will fit. Number two, this is really fun and time consuming when your sitting around the house all day waiting for interviews. I started adding decor, and before I new it I had a folder full of drawn bedrooms and cheap decor (we are on a budget) that I found online. So for all those who will visit, you will know what to expect. For all those who can't you can feel like you've been here. Oh, wait I haven't even been here yet! But it looks oh so good on paper! Go ahead...open the door and go on in.

You walk in to our living room. Same stuff as before, just a bigger room and a different arrangement. The walls are a light gray/blue and we plan on buying brown curtains. No our rug and pillows aren't that ugly, my skills on Microsoft paint are.

Down the hall and down the stairs is our basement.

Our bedroom is also down the hall. We already have the the blue sheets, curtains, and the gray duvet. We hope to buy these brown curtains from target to cover our closets. Found this rug for cheap at Wally World . Just maybe...cross your fingers...they will let us paint our room a burnt orange.

The ONE AND ONLY bathroom located across the hall from the bedroom. I bought the following blue rug (2), shower curtain, and green lantern from World Market before I left Lexington.

The kitchen and dinning room are back down the hall by the living room: Which is where I began all this madness.

Joann Fabric that I am going to use to make a shade for the kitchen.

Blog where I got the directions: http://http//littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/02/make-shades-out-of-mini-blinds.html

Rug, spoon rest, and dish towel I bought at Cate and Barrel for the kitchen. Love that store!

Finally the patio off the dinning room. Now you know what to expect when you come to visit us (anytime). See ya soon!

Beauty and the Beast

No, I'm not talking about us. We went to see the play Beauty and the Beast at The Muny (http://www.muny.org/)! One of the seminary students told us that we had to go to The Muny. It's an outdoor amphitheater where they put on Broadway plays in the Summer. I was so excited, I told Patrick he had to take me if they happened to show Beauty and the Beast (My favorite Disney movie, that I already saw on Broadway). Guess what play they showed the next week....you guessed it....Beauty and the Beast (Let me just mention that The Muny has been around for years and this is the first time they have shown Beauty and the Beast...Thanks God!). So, that's not even the coolest part. We get there at 7:15. The play starts at 8:00. We had hopes of getting the free seats (where you have to use binoculars), however, come to find out you have to be in line for those at 5ish. As we turned to walk away Patrick could see the disappointment in my face. We couldn't afford the tickets....but...we got in line for tickets anyway. We stood in the ticket line for 30 minutes. We were almost to the window when this nice old man walked up to us and said,"Is this the line for tickets?". I replied, "Yes". "Well it's your lucky day because I happen to have two extra tickets. They are good tickets!" We tried to give him money but he wouldn't take it. See the excitement on my face! Doesn't Patrick look just as thrilled (a trooper that ended up enjoying the show).
So here is a picture of the stage from our seats. May not look great but this is the section right behind the box office($40/person). Wish I could have taken pictures during the play, but it's not allowed. Let me tell you, it was awesome! I thought no way will it be as good as the one in New York with all the dancing plates and bling during "Be Our Guest" however, it was! It was just like the movie, and the people sounded the same. We couldn't thank the people enough for our tickets. They were so nice, we stayed after the show and talked with them for a while. I sang the songs the whole way home. I LOVED IT!

Coming soon: Pictures of our place and 4th of July cookout

Mans Best Friends

I promised these pictures before I viewed them. It stinks to be in such a great city with a broken camera. The cell phone just didn't do the day justice. Anyway, introducing Solomon, our foster dog. This is for his mommy, Laura, who misses him.

It's hard enough to get two dogs to hold still long enough to take a picture...to complicate problems even more add squirrels, ducks, and birds all around them.

A bonding moment.

Much needed water, it was a hot day.

Blessed!

Well, we have been here in St. Louis for a week. Talk about culture shock! I feel as though I am in a different country! Lexington and St. Louis are like night and day. I have yet to figure out which one is night and which is day, they are just so different. I wouldn't call Lexington country, but I feel like a small town country girl compared to this. No doubt God is having us step out of our comfort zones to trust him.

St. Louis is awesome! The opportunities here are endless (however, somehow I haven't found a job yet-It's all in God's hands).
Few cool facts I have learned about St. Louis:
1. Nelly is from St. Louis (Just in case you didn't know I was a huge fan back in high school). Erin- Sheryl Crow is also from this area.
2. Forrest Park (which I could spend every hour of everyday in) is the largest park in the U.S. It's larger than Central Park. Pictures to come of us and the dogs there.
3. The worlds first skyscraper was built here and still remains. Visit and I will take you there along with all the billions of other cool places here (had to throw that in).
4. If your driver's license is suspended you can't even drive a moped out here. Know how I learned that one? Patrick bought a moped from a man who had his license suspended. Mopeds are cool and respected out here, an easy way to get around the city. That's right, once again my prayer life will be increased.

Well like I said we are blessed! Today we found a church in our community. It reminds us a lot of our church in Charlotte, very much an inter-city church. In my daily bread I am learning so much (Thanks for the devotional Streams in the Desert Kristen)! I am learning to TRUST, and BE JOYFUL IN ALL TIMES because GOD must BREAK ME of my NATURAL CHARACTER to MAKE ME MORE LIKE HIM. I am learning WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LIKE HIM. And that is just what the pastor spoke on! Isaiah 28:28 Grain must be ground to make bread.

Photos From Along the Way

The car is all packed and ready to go.

So...how much can you fit in a Toyota Matrix?

A lot.



Daisy didn't look so happy...



The sun is finally coming up...but we still have a few hours to go



Patrick and Daisy getting some sleep.


Dara finally takes the wheel.



Daisy is still a little groggy.

Our best friend, Mr. Garmin.



Finally, the city is in sight.

The Arch.



More Arch.



We made it.