Verse for July

Here's the Bible verse currently sitting on my desk at work--

"Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6

Below it I wrote: "Love Big! Give Much! Forgive Always!"

To life...full of giving more and taking less.

July

is going to pass me by in a flash. But I wanted to write at least one post for the month. I have a new job--it's great! The next 9 days I am going to frantically try to adjust to my new role and prepare for orientation for new students which begins July 26th. In the meantime, I am also preparing for my trip to Romania. I leave July 15th and will be gone until the 25th. Yes, getting back just in time for orientation the next day! Then we'll be celebrating our 3-year anniversary! Then August will begin just a few short days later. Needless to say, I may be away from my blog for a time, but I promise to come back and write again. If nothing else, I will attempt to put up some pictures from time to time to fill you in on what's going on in my neck of the woods. Otherwise, this may be it for awhile.

To life... full of new experiences!

Whirlwind!

Sometime life changes fast...I'm talking 24 hours fast...and one of those times is now. In the past day I've been called about a possible new position at work, interviewed, talked to the person I'd be replacing, talked to my current dean, -- instead of getting into all the "talking tos", let's just say I've done a LOT of talking-- been through some negotiations, done lots of praying!, felt excited, guilty, encouraged, disappointed, sad, confident, stressed, to name a few. I was then offered the position and accepted it. So no more of that, "Transitions are happening to everyone but me" bit, because I'm right in the middle of it, right now. I've officially been promoted to a career position here at Southwestern. It is a huge, wonderful blessing from God... I'm just praying that the people I've leaving feel the same way. That's my day in a nutshell...

To life...full of unexpected changes!

This guy...

will be starting home tomorrow. Please be in prayer for his (and his team's) safety as they travel by foot, car, plane, and bus. Only THREE more days until I get to see his smiling face.

To life...full of waiting patiently on our loved ones to come home!

Transitions

A transition is defined as movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change. I'd say this sums up my life right now-- a life in transition. Although my particular life is not the one in direct change, I feel like everything and everyone around me is moving, liquid, rearranging itself. Therefore, each of those changes does affect my life. Some to note are: one of my best friends is moving-- the results of this are yet to be determined. She hasn't moved yet, but will be very soon. I already miss her at work and that has definitely been an adjustment to not have her to talk to each day! Another: my supervisor has accepted a new job. He will be leaving and I am left here at work trying to run a program with my one year of experience and someone else's (whoever takes his place) brand new knowledge and training. More you ask? We have been getting involved with the college group at church and just yesterday the couple that is in charge of our group announced that they would be leaving to accept a position with FCA here in Fort Worth. We have been getting new neighbors at our apartment...louder, unfamiliar, different. The girl I worked with at the nursery on Wednesday night decided to quit. Many, MANY, of the girls I originally started working here with have had babies, graduated, and/or moved. I'm talking... let's see... eight or nine, maybe even ten!

All of this to say, it's a challenging time in my life. I'm choosing to stay optimistic because I know I can grow through these changes, learn more about myself, meet new people, etc. I am not opposed to change, especially when I know it is positively effectiving someone else's life: promotion, job, baby, graduation! How can I be sad when those are such positive things for my friends? I choose to remain faithful to the tasks God has given me while we live here in Fort Worth. I choose to remain positive and put my best foot forward each day to embrace changes at the work place. I choose to encourage my friends and truly feel joy and happiness for them. I choose to rely on God and fall in His arms when it all feels too overwhelming!

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them." Philippians 2:13-15

To life...full of current transitions and more to come!

It's starting to sink in...

I really miss you!

I Reedz Rill Guhd!

I've been reading more recently... and I like it. For a long time I felt I could only read one book at a time. I needed to focus. I didn't want distractions. I didn't want to confuse plots, storylines, and characters between books. I wanted to digest every detail that I read. But now, I'm moving on to bigger things: multiple books at one time! Currently, I'm reading, "Girls Gone Wise" for a Bible Study I'm about to start up on Friday, "Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver (reading it with a friend), and "Moment of Weakness" by Karen Kingsbury (have to throw in a little fiction over-the-top drama!). I like the new challenge it is providing me, especially when I have certain time-lines to complete chapters by, review, answer questions, etc. I have to be more aware of how much I'm reading and make sure I'm completing my "assignments" on time. I like the challenge because from time to time I feel inklings of wishing I was taking a class or at least doing something to stimulate my learning and cause me to do some critical thinking. And I love how some times, the books align and reinforce the material I'm learning. And to top it off, I've been reading from Ezekiel recently and some of what I've been reading in there conincides with the material from my books. How cool! Now granted, I've gotten to the point where I'm starting to need to write something down somewhere to show how all of the ideas/goals/concepts relate, so I'm a little overwhelmed. But overall, instead of being frustrated at too many details going into too many directions, it's been great to see it all come together. I love when trying something new pays off!

To life... full of books to read and thoughts to share!