Come, read with me

I have struggled for at least 15 years to establish a regular Bible reading routine. I am constantly battling my desires to check my email or Facebook in the morning, knowing I should be quietly reading the word.

Via Twitter and some great blogs, I heard about "She reads truth" (google it!)

Here's a gem from today's study: "God’s character never changes. His one face is righteousness. His one word is holiness. And His one undying, unrelenting call for His people is love."

Getting into Hosea daily has been a wonderful way to start my day right and come before The Lord regularly, with a focus. Won't you come read with me?

meeting Jonathan

On Saturday, we got to meet Jonathan Davis:

He's the son of our friends Duane & Julie, who came to visit this weekend for the first time since they moved to Asheville last spring. We love love love their family & were so thrilled to hang out with baby Jonathan for the afternoon.

 

There were a few unhappy moments where Joel & I just weren't cutting it in the caregiver category. Apparently Jonathan doesn't like the sun in his eyes ;) Most of the time, though, he was sweet & content. We managed to capture those moments with the camera on our iPad, not the crying ones.

 P.S. Look how tiny Jonathan's siblings were a few years ago! 

on track & cross-country: how God changed my heart

As a newlywed, I was soooo bitter toward the seasons where Joel coached. I was frequently angry at track, annoyed at cross-country, frustrated with late parents, and just plain grouchy toward it all.

My responses were all totally selfish: I wanted Joel home when I wanted him home. I didn't like sharing him with the other coaches and kids. I thought parents should get there exactly at 5pm so Joel could leave immediately to come home and hang out with me. I didn't want my dinner getting cold. Nasty stuff, y'all.

This year, with the loss of my full-time teaching job and the beginning of after-school care, my schedule changed. And through it, God changed my heart toward track & cross.

Now that I get home at 6:45 pm, Joel is almost always there first. He can shower and relax before I arrive. We can chat in the kitchen while I cook dinner. He helps me clean up, then does whatever work he has for school. This schedule has proven to be so peaceful... I'm not sitting at home, all angst-y. I'm working, he's working, then we're together.

Plus, my eyes have been opened to the many joys of this whole coaching gig... The extra money from coaching allows us to save more each year. Joel is an amazing coach and has the opportunity to connect with kids outside of school. Joel loves being active and running is fun for him. These are all good things.

Through a change in schedule I didn't ask for and certainly didn't welcome, God has changed me and molded me for the better. I'm less selfish about the ways track & cross might inconvenience me and I'm more excited about the ways Joel's coaching jobs impact others in a big way.

... Jealousy

Last week I was feeling sorry for myself because Joel wasn't home when I got home at 7pm. He had a track meet that ran late and I was waiting to cook dinner. I finally decided to go for a run so I wouldn't just sit around and waste time online. I put on my shorts and headed out around the neighborhood. About 6 minutes in, I ran into some friends of ours who just had a baby girl. They had their toddler in one stroller and the newborn in another.

When I commented that Joel was gone so I had decided to go for a run, my friend casually said, "Oh, that's awesome. I'm so jealous."

My immediate thought was: jealous of me!? You have two beautiful babies and you are walking around leisurely with your husband in this nice weather. I'm running. Alone. Without my husband and without any babies on the horizon.

I struggled for most of my run with the idea that my life sounded appealing to her. I finally decided that she surely loves her life and is quite content. But she doesn't have the same freedom I have. She can't put on her shorts and go for a quick run before dinner. Her season of life is just different.

Even though I was actually jealous of her, I prayed for contentment in my freedom, in my season, which is this one. Right here, right now. And which is truthfully pretty wonderful.

(Edit: the title of this post comes from a very old story. When my friends Ann & Mandy & I went to Okinawa for spring break 2008 we met two guys and traveled with them for a couple days. In some text conversation- can't remember the details- one of them wrote "...jealousy" and we thought it was hilarious! So now whenever I think about being jealous, I say that to myself "Dot dot dot Jealousy" Ha!)

meals ministry

Our church uses this awesome site to coordinate meals for families with new babies, deaths, illnesses, moves, etc. I'm one of many people who make meals every once in a while for those in need. Last year, with a full-time classroom teaching job, I didn't make very many meals. This year, however, with my flexible schedule, I've been able to make a lot more.

Almost all the meals I've made are for people who just had a baby. I've gotten to meet a lot of people in our rather large church who I never knew. It's been an sweet opportunity to connect with them, show interest in their lives, see what we might have in common, and love on any other kids they might have. And, let's be honest, it's therapeutic to get some baby snuggles whenever they'll share their newborn with me :)

A couple times I've struggled with the effort, though. I get disappointed because so few of them pursue friendship with me later. Some don't remember my name. Some don't answer the door so I have to leave food on the porch. Some never say "thanks" or acknowledge the meeting. None of these are reasons I would be involved in the ministry, but I'm sinful and those selfish thoughts do enter my mind.

The thing I come away with is this: God has given me good, good gifts. He doesn't always get thanked and he never gets anything in return. Yet he continues to give to me, to provide for my needs, over and over and over. He blesses me and he cares for me. Because he loves me. Bringing meals to families is a microscopic opportunity to love like that.

(image here)

Boston

Yesterday while I was wandering around the cafeteria helping kids with homework, my friend & colleague called me over to look at her iPad. That's when I saw the first headline: explosions at the Boston marathon.

So many thoughts ran through my mind, mostly about our two friends who were running it. Then about my parents and brother who live nearby, in Providence. Then about my husband who ran that marathon not so many years ago and who ran the Philly half in November. I actually remember thinking while watching him run that it would be a prime target for terrorism-- all those people milling around outside.

It was hard to sleep last night, even after hearing everyone I know is safe and sound. This morning I read an article that was eye opening and heart-wrenching all at once.

I'm not at a place where I can process the sadness and confusion, but my prayers are filled with pleas for the Lord to work in Boston. For the families whose loved ones are lost or damaged. For the churches there, who have such a big role to fill as their community grieves. For the children, oh goodness, the children.

(photo from here)

Granada: the back story

Well, if you haven't heard, Joel & I are going to Granada this summer. We'll be gone from July 9th to the 21st. Our goal is to support workers in Granada as they host an English camp for local kids and teenagers. Since we love teens and kids, Joel and I are pretty pumped.

I wanted to write a little bit of the back story, mostly just for myself, but also as a testimony for others to see God's goodness to us in this season.

Last June I lost my job. In July Joel went to an amazing educational leadership conference in Washington and came home with a passion for change- in his schedule, in his opportunity to support kids & families, in his teaching responsibilities, in his relationships with colleagues, in Christian education overall. We had a wonderful summer traveling, working a little, seeing our families, and preparing for the school year ahead. I applied for at least 10 classroom teacher jobs and didn't get any of them. I ended up with three really great part-time gigs this year. Joel didn't receive any opportunities for real change in his school situation and his heavy work load continued. We have both been plugging through the season, not really enjoying it at all.

We have been asking & asking & asking God to give us the good things our hearts desire. And he's been saying "No." He's been closing doors. We have been grateful for that because our prayer was for the Lord to open and close doors and give us wisdom to obey. But truthfully, it's been awful. It's terrible to see dreams die. It's devastating to be rejected. It's confusing to not receive the things we desire.

Basically, Granada is the only door that's opened for us in a long time.
It's the only "YES!" we've received from the Lord.

As heartbreaking as that fact is to consider, it's also incredibly hopeful. We have no doubts in our minds that God has given us the precious gift of ten days in Spain. We know we'll be encouraged and challenged in our faith. We know our passions and gifts will be a blessing to those we meet. We know this will be wonderful for our marriage.

We are excited that, this time, God's will lined up with our hearts' desires. We are excited to hear a resounding "Yes!"