Think Positive

We have had a tough couple of weeks at work. We contract with a state-funded program that works with adoptive families. Due to the economy (I know, I'm sick of hearing about it, too), the state took some cuts. Due to the cuts in the state, we took a 15% cut. So for the past two weeks, we have known that one or more of us would have to be laid off... we were just waiting for the official word. Tuesday morning, we were all called in to the conference room, where our director let us know who had been let go - one of our therapists, Christie. Someone in our Jackson office had to be laid off as well. (Please keep Christie and Jason in your prayers). Although it was a relief to know that I would be able to keep my job, it is difficult to see a co-worker have to go through something like that. There are few words that can be said to bring comfort and encouragement. Morale is low and the office is pretty depressing. So I go home and turn on the TV to try to find some relief and take my mind off things... but that doesn't really work. I used to enjoy watching the news... now it is more depressing than ever. I feel like I'm being bombarded by negativity. It is affecting my thoughts and actions, and at times I feel like I'm drowning in bitterness. But in all reality, we still live in the wealthiest country in the world. We, and more to the point, I have so many things to be thankful for. I have seen some people do this on their blog, and I'm going to steal it... in an effort to ward off the bitterness and negativity, I am going to think of ten things that I am thankful for today:

1. I woke up this morning in good health.
2. I woke up this morning with my husband laying by my side, which means he made it through another night of work safely.
3. I woke up in a bed in a home with air conditioning... 3 things that a huge number of people in this world do not have and will never have.
4. I had a car to drive to work this morning.
5. God has blessed me with a job through which He provides for Michael and me financially.
6. I received an encouraging facebook message this morning from a friend who probably debated on whether or not to even say anything - it has helped me to find strength to get through the day.
7. Even though I forgot to pack my lunch this morning, I still found something to eat at the office, and I have never had to miss a meal because I could not afford food.
8. Spring is here and it is finally warm outside. I love when it is warm outside.
9. My husband and my dog make me laugh ever day... they are two of my greatest blessings.
10. God had forgiven my sins, and no matter how bad things may get, I know that this world is not all there is. I have something awesome to look forward to!
    

Okay, I wasn't sure that would work, but finding 10 things to be thankful for was pretty easy... and I actually do feel a lot better!! I hope that, even when you are having a bad day, you take time to count the blessings that God has put in your life!

The American Dream

Michael and I plan to move to Asia to do mission work in January 2014. It seems like forever, but there is much to be done and we are trying to be patient. Before we even got married, we came to terms with the fact that we may never own a house. It didn't seem so bad a few years ago when we were just getting out of college, and all of our friends were living in apartments and working temporary jobs like us.... it's gotten a little harder to swallow in the past year. Now our friends are getting married, settling down, starting careers, buying houses, and starting their families. And we're still waiting. I was having a really tough time with this, so Michael and I decided to sit down and have a heart to heart. My husband is wise beyond his years. At some point during our conversation, it hit me. Life is not about pursuing the American Dream. While others around me are building their earthly homes, I am at peace knowing that each I step on earth is building my real home - my eternal home. I may not have a lot of nice stuff - we live in an apartment, we drive old cars, our couch was free from a friend of a friend and has a few holes in it - but I have great treasure in Heaven. Now I think about things and believe that people have reason to envy me! I'm not settling on this earth. I have something so much better in store. Maybe that's one reason why Jesus tells us that it is harder for the rich to get to heaven. They have settled on earth. They have stored their treasures here and feel perfectly content with this life and the treasures that they have. But for those of us who are storing our treasures in heaven, we have no reason to hold on to this earth. Sometimes when I'm having a really tough day, I find myself thinking "I can't wait to go home." And then I realize that I am at home. The first time I noticed that I did this, I was a bit disturbed. Now I understand. Even my "home" isn't really my home. My home is in heaven, and I can't wait to get there!

Long Time No See

So, it has seriously been forever. I have decided that it is time to update the blog! There have not been any major events as of late, but there has been a lot going on.

Last month (March 6-7), I got a chance to go to Louisville, KY to visit one of my good friends Tarah. She got engaged a few months ago, and I had not seen her since this exciting development! Nor had I met her fiance. So I trekked over to Nashville and met up with my college girl friends to take a road trip to Louisville. I had such a great time... it has been forever since I got to have a girls' weekend. Daniel (Tarah's fiance) was absolutely wonderful - so she got my official approval over the weekend. We stayed up until about 2AM (I didn't even stay up that late in college), just talking, goofing off and having an all-around good time. Saturday, we got up and went to Daniel's apartment to find that he had fixed us a big breakfast. Then we headed over to downtown Louisville to spend the rest of the day. We got to visit the Louisville Slugger Factory and then played Catch Phrase (a must at all get-togethers) by the river. The weather was perfect and the company was perfect. Here are some pictures.






















Fast forward a few weeks. Last week I went on a retreat with work (I work for the Adoption Support Center - a ministry of Agape). We spent Wednesday through Friday at Fall Creek Falls. I had never been, but was so excited. I enjoy hiking and all things outdoors. We decided to leave on Tuesday so we could stop in Nashville for lunch and take our time getting there. We decided to have lunch at Buca de Bepo in Cool Springs... YUM! It was quite interesting ordering for 15 but we managed and it all went on Agape's tab....so, thanks Agape! After getting our fill of pasta, we decided to hit the road again and move on to middle Tennessee. Our car got to about Mount Juliet when we had to turn around. We got a call from one of the other cars in our caravan. They had been badly rear-ended on the interstate. The back windshield busted and hit someone in the head. Everyone seemed fine but they needed to go to the hospital to get checked out. So, the rest of us tried to entertain ourselves in the emergency room for about 4 hours. We were finally cleared and all reported to be in good shape. We got some pain medication for the soreness that was sure to follow and headed on the the Falls. It was beautiful. We only got to hike one day (it rained the other full day that we were there), but it was great. We hiked to a lookout over the gorge and had a devotional. All-in-all it turned out to be pretty decent considering it was a work trip!