Uncharted Territory

"The unpredictable twists and turns of life can drive you crazy. Or you can learn to enjoy the journey. The choice is yours." Mark Batterson "Wild Goose Chase"

I am so thankful that even when I don't understand the path that is laid before me, God sees clearly. Right now I am walking in what I feel as though is "uncharted territory." After I graduated college my heart was to get married, be a wife and a mother. I really had no desire for a professional career at the time. David and I have been married now for two and half years. We have completely surrendered having children to the Lord, and for now my womb is not open. However, I do not rely on circumstances to dictate the faithfulness of God. I am still confident that God has plans for David and I to be parents, but must continue to keep my heart desires before the Lord. God has been so faithful though to slowly change my heart. Even though I desire to be a mom, I see opportunities before me to make a difference in children that have already been brought into the world. Slowly, my heart for teaching is being birthed, and have found myself enrolled in graduate work. David and I have a choice we can become frustrated or we can choose to Praise God. I will not waiver in the goodness of God! I will remain open to what the Lord has planned for David and I, I will press in, trusting that God's plans for us is to give us a hope and a future(Jeremiah 29:11-12). I did not plan for this "unexpected journey," but have learned that the unexpected detours in our lives, although unfamiliar have the opportunity to lead us to place we could have never planned for ourselves.
If you are in a place of "uncharted territory" remain confident that God is familiar with all your steps.

My nephew Conner.

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Happy Easter

Spring is here! Well, at least according to the calendar spring has been here almost a month. However, weather wise I am not so sure what season it is anymore. David and I just celebrated Easter with his family. They live just a hop, skip and a jump away from us in Ozark, MO. At the end of April we will have been here officially one year. David will be finishing up his first year at MSU. He has excelled in his course work this year. I am looking forward to summer break. I am so thankful that my husband is able to work full time and go to school full time, but I miss him a lot. We will switch places this summer, and I will get to be the college student in the summer. I will start classes at Evangel University in June. I am looking forward to learning and connecting with other professionals in the area. We are thankful, and continue to look to God to guide each step as we walk by faith.

It is Time...

About a week ago I attended a women's night at our church. The theme was "It is time." This same reoccuring theme continues to come up in my life. The last couple months I have been participating in a Beth Moore Study, Esther: It is tough being a woman. There are many themes throughout Esther, but the underlining one is God's providential timing. Did you know that throughout the book of Esther God name is not mentioned once, but as you read through the pages His name is all over the circumstances. This is where I am at in this season of life. I know confidently that God moved us to Springfield, yet I am walking in a season that requires more faith. However, in the past when I have made steps of faith there have often been aha moments where I was saying to myself, "yes this is exactly where I am callled." Life is springfield is more of a hidden season. I feel as though I am being tucked away, and just drawing on God's faithfulness in preparation for something yet unknown. Eventhough I do not know what the next steps are, there is a confidence growing inside me that timing is key! Be encouraged in whatever season of life you are in God is faithful, and His banner over us is love!

The Fragrance of Spring

One of my favorite seasons is winter, because there is so much happening in nature that the eye cannot naturally behold. Without a season such as winter, new life would not be able to blossom. Such is the case in one’s walk with God. There are many seasons I have experienced throughout my life. Every season is necessary even though at times it may be hard to see a transformation outwardly taken place. Currently, I would say that I am walking through a winter like season in my life where the Lord is doing a work in me that will in turn produce amazing new fruit. My husband and I just recently moved to the Springfield area. With moving there has been a newness to everything which I love. With the newness comes the opportunity to build new relationships, experience new places and consider new career opportunities. Through this transition God has been working in my heart in the area of where I find my identity and getting to an even deeper level than He has before. Although there is so much newness, there is the struggle of wanting to be known. Before moving I was surrounded by people that I had shared rich life experiences with. However, when I moved to Springfield I know longer was surrounded by people who truly knew me, which created a void within my heart. The Lord has used this transition to open my eyes to my spiritual significance in Him. I am sure this is only the beginning of the many moves my husband and I will make together. I believe God is wanting to make sure that I am secure in who He declares that I am, that He knows He could call my husband and I anywhere and together we would thrive, not based on who knows us or what we are doing, but simply because we are in Him. As I walk out this new season in my life, I trust that in time the fragrance of spring will come.

"And you are complete in Him..." Colossians 2:10

Life in Springfield

It is hard to believe that David and I will soon have lived in Springfield for a year at the end of April. With all my heart I believe the Lord opened the door for David and I to move. This is a great season of sowing. With David going to school during the day and working at night. David is really enjoying school. I married a brillant man. I often get so irrated when he will come home and tell me that he thinks he failed a test, and then call me later to tell me he got a 98 percent. My college days were not like that, if I thought I failed a test, I failed a test. What a blessing though that David can still work full time and go to school full time. We are truly leaning into God for the source of strength, and look to Him to order our steps.
As for me I am keeping busy with my nanny job. I am learning more than I want to know about parenting. In the last month my booklist has been Parenting is Heart Work, How to deal with Anger, How to Raise Children without losing your Mind, The Bible etc... The bottom line is all these books is Prayer! Although these children are not my natural chilren, I value the influence that I have in the life. I want to impart the Love of God, and be His hands and feet. Another theme in all these books is looking first at your own heart. The book about anger made me first evaluate my heart and reflect about how I am responding to children. Am I getting angry because of righteousness or because I am being inconvienced? When I stopped and thought about when I get upset with the children, I am erroring on the side of inconvience. I am learning so much, and thankful that God is giving me so much practice time before becoming a parent myself.