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Decisions, Decisions...

...began celebrating school being and realized summer is gone, haha! Lame. I've been working in ETBU admissions and doing grad school which has pretty much sucked out all that is good about summer and left the heat...gross. East Texas summers are HOT. The humidty here leaves us swimming through the air daily.

BUT, onto bigger news...

Tim and I have some big decisions coming. Today we leave for Spring, Texas to interview with the personnel committee at Memorial Baptist Church. They are paying for our gas, meals, and hotel stay...so it's kind of minivaca! I'm excited...but nervous. This is the church where the associate pastor showed up to our house in Longview a month ago to chat...odd...but sure, why not? The next day, the pastor called us to meet him in Lufkin the following Friday to have an interview over dinner with his wife. After feeling like we had blown that chance and walked out thinking, "at least we met nice people and got some free food," we got a call back asking for out testimonies and philosophy of youth ministry. 1 week later, we get another call saying that the personnel committee had fallen in love with us based on our testimonies...we are paying your way down here to interview...what? Hm...okay. Pray for us as we interview and seek guidance on our decision making.

After this happens, Tim gets a call from a church in Teague, TX informing him he is in their top 5. They had him make a video answering questions and doing a mini-lesson. They meet Sunday to watch the videos...pray for this one, too!

Two days later, a guy from San Antonio called. He runs a ministry through the schools and they contacted Tim for interest in him being the junior high pastor. The guy has since Skyped with Tim and has been in close contact wanting to get him out there ASAP. It's not ministry through an actual church...but an organization through the schools. I'm not clear in what the job entails, but the guy has been pursuing Tim eagerly.

All of this to say...there will be no teaching jobs in any of the big cities. That is totally nerve racking. We are open to God moving us wherever...but me not having a job is kind of a big deal...I need health insurance. No job=no insurance. Our pastor preached on being called out of easy decisions and living the American dream...we were convicted. We had been starting to doubt all of these doors that were opening. BUT, we are open...we just need clarity.

SO, please pray for us especially in the next few weeks...we have some BIG decisions to make!

One Month Later...

I accidentally let about a month slip by with no posts, bad....

My two biggest pieces of news:

First of all- I am officially an ETBU Tiger AGAIN! I started graduate school and I'm working towards my masters in education for instruction and curriculum. Don't ask me what I want to do with that, because I'm not sure. But, I am two weeks in and almost done with my first two classes! The program is a 13 month program where I take six classes this summer, one in the fall, two in the spring, and one next May and I will be walking across the stage! WOOHOO! So, this time next year, I will be recieving my diploma once more. Sorry ETBU, you just thought you'd got rid of me. Also, sorry bank account...you just thought we were done hurting you!

Second item- I got a new car! Well, it's an SUV. It's a 2007 Jeep Patriot, black. Unfortunately, it's a standard and I have not quite got the hang of it yet...but atleast it's nice! The Focus was trouble from day 1 and after the alternator died for the third time in six months, we decided it was time. We still have CarCar, my hyundai...but hooray for JeepJeep!

VanGO

Please check out the awesome work some friends of mine from college are doing in the name of Christ!

http://whoismyneighborvango.blogspot.com/

41

41 days until SUMMER!! WOOOHOOO!! Can I get a what what? How about a Hallelujah? Maybe a yeah baby! Just thought I'd share...now if we can just get past TAKS. NERVOUS? Yes...

I realize I usually blog on Wednesdays...this is because after my p90x is over, I have a quiet house on Wednesday nights. So, I have time to blog. I was going to do another awkward video post, but I decided to save that for you another time. Maybe I'll do a video post on a day I don't work out and save you from the grossness that is my hair and face post-workout.

Anyways, Happy Birthday to the beautiful Sarah Stapleton! She's great!

On another note- I have my job next year for sure. If God doesn't open a door for Tim for youth ministry somewhere else, I will definitely be teaching third grade. This is a nice feeling because I know many districts in Texas are CUTTING probationary teachers. So, hurrah for a job!

On a more serious note, let me share a new development. God has decided to work in a way that I did not ask him to. As a normal woman, I have always desired to settle down, have a cute brick house, and grow my family and accumulate the things that make my house pretty (i.e. the new living room set I'd like to have, a bedroom set where we can fit our clothes in, new wall decor, painted walls, etc.) These things aren't bad...BUT, God has released me from that desire (again, not that I think it is wrong to want those things.) All of a sudden, I am willing to sell everything I have and GO.

Excuse me?

Yes, I (we) will GO. Wherever God wants us to GO, we have committed to say, "yes, Lord!" Although it could mean staying here, it could mean leaving the country, leaving the state, going to a new city where my job situation could be nerve racking for lack of positions available...we've said, "Okay, God." YAWEH...that's what's important...I AM. So, if I AM says go...we will!

What's crazy is I never said we wouldn't go certain places. BUT, God just gave me a peace and I am no longer attached to the American dream. Sure, God could just be using this as a means to remind us live simple and Christ-like lives. But, we may end up somewhere unexpected! Again, I ask prayers for us as Tim seeks youth ministry...somewhere.

Looking forward to a weekend in Arlingfun! Tim is going to a concert for his birthdayand I am doing a 5k with my beautiful cousin! Watch out DFW!

Awkward post alert! Have Fun :)

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, March 2, 2011...

Outside my window...it's dark and cool...it makes me excited for summer. Not that I'm ready for heat, goodness NO! I HATE Texas heat and if it weren't for my family I would probably not stick around! I think I was made for up north: I love hockey and cold weather and I don't have an accent.

I am remembering...I got a message from a friend of Tim's today. He just randomly messaged me to tell me that he had a random memory of talking to Tim the day after we had broken up in 2006. He told me how Tim was upset and he had given him some advice to wait for me because if Tim really thought we should be together, God would bring us back...SO, I'm remembering the sad times...but rejoicing in what became of them :)

I am thankful for... Friends and family in Arlington! We went to the Stars game for my birthday on Saturday. It was fun, but even more than that, I was surrounded by people I love! AND, I got to spend an afternoon just chit-chatting with my Granny and Papa. I adore them! <3

I am creating... Critical thinkers in my classroom :) Woohoo higher level thinking!

I am going...To Ennis to see the other side of the family this weekend! We haven't seen them since Christmas!

I am reading... Exodus, Job, Luke, and 2 Corinthians! Tim and I are reading through the bible in a year and it is the best part of my day to sit down and read and discuss with my wonderful hubinero!

I am hoping... God opens and closes doors! Tim has started sending out youth ministry resumes again and we just want clarity and direction! Join us in prayer!

On my mind...I wish I was talented with hair...I can't figure out getting it to wave or curl! Suggestions??

From the learning rooms... We have begun our unit on How to Eat Fried Worms! I branched out from the other teachers these next few weeks to do something fun! We are enjoying it! We need a little fun before TAKS!

Pondering these words... Oh death, where is your sting? Oh hell, where is your victory? Oh church, stand in the light! Our God is NOT dead, He's alive! He's ALIVE!

From the kitchen... Taco soup!

Around the house... I just cleaned the living room and kitchen. NOW, if I could just keep our bedroom clean! Our dining room table is a crap collector! I hate cleaning it off, but it looks AWFUL! I will get up to clean it soon.

One of my favorite things... I love makeup! I know this is silly and most days I only wear base, eyeliner, mascara, and blush...but I just love it! I love to enhance my features...it's like a blank canvas every morning! FUN!

From my picture journal...

Blast from the past...don't laugh too hard! Homecoming 2005! (speaking of Tim and I dating forever ago) LOOK AT THAT HAIR, on both of us! GROSS!

To all of my thousands of readers (ha!), I haven't posted because I haven't felt like I've had any exciting news...so I leave you with the plethora of thoughts that is, SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK!