So...

Yeah, I'm terrible at keeping a blog updated apparently.

It's been over a year since I posted anything on here, and things have changed quite a bit.  I'm still working in Sanger, taking it year by year, hoping that great things come and that I can build up the program.  Michael still doesn't have a full-time worship leader job, but he is staying as busy as ever.  We have been blessed to be able to share and worship with many different congregations as interims and "fill-ins," and he has recently been extra busy installing audio/video stuff at churches with AST.  Through it all, I can only say that God provides!

Isaiah will be 4 in October, and has the best personality I could ever imagine.  He is so funny and so smart.  I can't believe some of the things he tells me.  The other day, he was playing doctor to his toys and said Woody had a "ignosis."  When I asked what that was, he told me it was how to make him better.  I said, "Oh, a diagnosis?"  And he said yes.  What a stinker!

Before Isaiah turns 4, he will be welcoming a new baby sister!  After being told that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant without medical help, God thought it fitting to send us a little miracle baby to surprise us!  She is estimated to arrive September 11.  I think I am more nervous this time as it was a total shock, and I am one who likes to plan things.  My biggest fear is not really knowing when she will come.  With Isaiah, I was fairly certain of the day as it had to be very planned with being on clomid, but for this baby, I really have no idea.  I guess I am also nervous because my brother is getting married September 8, and I'd like to be able to be there.  So, what do we learn from this lesson?  Anything is possible with God, and He is still actively working miracles!

So, who knows what happens next?  We are still waiting to see what God may have in store for us.  We have seen Him place opportunities in our lives for a short time and then close doors.  Through it all,  He is in control, and we are choosing to follow where He leads even if it seems strange to us.

I will leave with a quote I heard yesterday on the radio.  I believe it is from David Jeremiah.
"If I can trust God to take care of eternity, why can't I trust Him to take care of next week?"  Something for me to continue to keep in mind as we travel this uncertain path before us.

And the adventure begins...

When I named this blog, I had no idea what sort of adventures God had in store for us. I still don't know all the details, but I believe that the adventure is beginning.
Friday, my principal called me into her office to let me know that my district may be cutting choir next year. Translation: I will probably be out of a job. Of course there were tears and fear, but I just kept saying over and over to myself, "The Lord gives and takes away." (Up side to being told you might not have a job anymore: getting to leave early on the day before a holiday.) I had sort of calmed myself down and given it over to God and decided to go about life as usual.
Sunday, we went to church as usual and everything seemed fine. After church, Michael was talking with the elders for quite awhile, so Isaiah and I went ahead and loaded up in the car. Michael finally joined us, and he let me know that the elders were "releasing" us. Translation: Michael no longer has a job. I don't know that I fully understand the reasoning, but I can only trust that this is God's plan for us and that he has something incredible for us in the future. I think Michael had a feeling something like this was going to happen, because he's been asking me what I think about us being co-worship leaders and he'd decided to go ahead and put our resume together this week to do that. From a human perspective, things don't look so great for us right now, but in my weakness, God's strength is revealed, and in everything I want God to be glorified.

Update

Well, I guess the only thing I can say about the last few months is crazy busy. I really have not had any free time to blog. People I work with have seen me pass in the hall and ask, "You still work here?" That's how much interaction with the outside world I have had. I have almost survived the first semester of school-technically it doesn't end until next Friday. Survived the first concert with minimal crying-none by students, all by me. Super stressful, but I was glad to have the two weeks off at Christmas. I don't think I've had such a restful break before, and I loved every lazy minute of it. Spent time with family, ate a lot, watched a lot of TV and took a little trip to the zoo to end our time off. Already hit the ground running on contest/spring music. Hoping to make great headway this semester in regards to my choirs' sound. As soon as I finalize and specify my New Year's resolutions, I may post them here in order to give me more motivation to actually reach them. Here's wishing everyone the best in 2011!

First Week of School

Well, I guess I can say I survived. This week has not been as I expected at all. Things are very hectic and both the students and I are frustrated. I hope that next week is better as we will begin actually working on music. Prayers are greatly appreciated and will be added to the hourly prayers that I have been sending up.

On a side note, I have completed the Decorating Basics cake class at my local Hobby Lobby store. I thought it would be fun taking the class, and I hoped to be able to make a cake for Isaiah's birthday party. The class was a great stress reliever those last 2 weeks, and I'm excited about making a train cake in October. Here are some pictures of the items I created.

The cupcake cake we made the 2nd week of class.

As you can tell, Isaiah likes it!

Our final cake-Week 4.

The flowers were very difficult to make.

I'm glad I have a little boy who won't want flowers on his cakes!

New Beginnings

It's almost time to start the new job. I went Monday to check out my rooms and now I am totally at a loss. The high school room is like any other newish choir room. A large "box" with 2 practice rooms and a little office/library. Not too worried about it though they won't give me a key until next Thursday and I am supposed to have everything ready by that next Wednesday! The middle school room is very interesting. Looks like it used to be a theater room. Risers are built-in as if they used to be a stage with booths that served some purpose years ago on each side. Complete with gigantic lights hanging from trusses on the ceiling and lovely concrete walls. I'm a bit scared of tackling that little project. They were willing to give me a key at the middle school, but all the music is at the high school, so I could only get "room" stuff ready there. I opted to drown my sorrows with a little shopping at Mardel and Target. Still have no idea what I'm going to do.
I know my child is almost 2 years old, but he's never been in a real "daycare." I called today and get him set up in the Sanger ISD childcare. I almost cried while talking to the lady on the phone. I'm sure she thought I was being ridiculous. She kept asking me if I really wanted to enroll him, and all I could think was, "Do I have any other choice?" I'm sure the childcare will be great for him. He loves to be around other kids, and I know they will do some wonderful teaching as well. We go next week to meet his teacher and see what it's all about. Today Isaiah was so funny. I made Spaghetti-O's with meatballs for lunch, and apparently he didn't like the meatballs. He took them all out and set them to side while he ate only the O's. Too funny! Here are some recent pictures.

My little man eating everything but the meat!

Isaiah, aka Woody, watching TV.
Crazy boy! Check out the massive bruise from falling and hitting the cabinet door.

Fearless...well, sort of!

I love watching my child play at the park. I love that he is a bit hesitant when we first get there, but after watching some "big kids," he feels like he can conquer anything. Even a "rock climbing" wall. He never wants to leave. Today we went to 2 different parks. North Lakes park in Denton, and the play area at lovely Golden Triangle Mall. No pictures from the mall, but Isaiah had a wonderful time at both.

He didn't want to go down the slide at first.

Running across the bridge.

Sliding down like a big boy!

Summer Adventure #2

I guess our second big summer adventure has been relocating. I got a new job as THE choir director for Sanger ISD, so we had to pack up all of our stuff and move to Krum. We have moved a little earlier than previously expected, but God answers prayers in His timing, not mine. We met with a realtor on Monday, June 28, and we had a rental application by that Friday! I did not expect for things to go so fast. Our renter also wanted to move in by July 15, so that meant we had a lot of work to do and not much time to do it. Needless to say, we packed up all of our stuff and were out of the house by July 9. Michael still had some projects to finish up at the house and, of course we had to clean everything, but it was all ready in time. It's a little sad to have to move out of your house in order for little projects to get finished. We are almost totally moved into our new place, just hanging curtains and pictures still left to do. It has been difficult going from a house back to an apartment, but it's nice, too. No yard work to do, and less space to keep clean. We've been here about a week, and I'm still waiting for things to slow down a bit. Hoping that things will get back to "normal" this next week. (Have things ever been "normal" for us?) I don't quite know what the future has in store, but I am hopeful and expectant at what God has planned for us.