Changes

     To my dear friends and family that read this blog, this isn't a post I particularly wanted to write, but as it is what God has ordained in our lives at this time, I feel the need to write it down.  God is working in our lives, and I'm sure someday this will be an amazing story to tell.  Right now in the middle of it, I don't know where it is going, or how it will turn out other than to say that God is working all this for our good, and He will be faithful to complete the good work he started in me so long ago.  This is all part of that story.
     Friday, Ron was asked to lunch by the owners of his company.  They kept their explanation brief.  He was being replaced.  They knew he had been pursuing a new career path, after a conversation with a background investigator.  It's all a part of the hiring process.  They decided to replace him on their terms rather than waiting until he decided it was time to leave.  So Saturday, he returned the work truck, keys, and phone and said good bye to coworkers he's labored beside these last twelve years.  I am saddened by the way this chapter has ended, but not that it has ended.  I am confident that God will provide.  Ron has been looking for a new job for a long time.  I expect that at the right time a door will open to him.  In the meantime, we are entirely dependent on his grace (as if there were ever really a moment when we weren't).  We just don't always think of how dependent we actually are.  Thankfully God's tender mercy toward us and His Faithfulness hasn't changed. 
     We know he is working for our good, and we can trust in that outcome no matter how it looks from here.  We don't know where God will take us from here.  We have lived check to check for some time, and now there are no more checks coming in.  There is an urgency in our prayers that God would provide, so I am asking you dear readers to join me in that prayer.  Please pray also for Ron and I that we would continually focus on God throughout this time, that we would not be overcome by fear and worry, but continually praise the God who provides.  I really am not afraid and that can only be attributed to God and the strength and peace He gives.  I know if I were left to myself I'd be a mess, so I'm thankful He has given me that peace to rest in His goodness.  I know it'll be okay.  I don't know how that will look, but God willing the conclusion to this story will be one that brings praise to our God!

God is faithful

It has been nearly a year since my last post.  As life gets busy, I forget to take the time to sit down and write.  I don't mean to let so much time go by, but before I know it, it's been a year already.  It's hard to know where to begin with an update that encompasses nearly a year.  God has been so good to us!

      I went back to work this year.  I was an EL teacher for an elementary school in Oakley.  It was a difficult decision to go back to work, but in the end it seemed to be the only way.  I did have mixed feelings about it, but I must say I am grateful for God's good provisions for our family.  Ron has faced cutbacks at work over these last three years, and we have explored many options and possible career paths.   The only immediate solution God provided was for me to go back to teaching part time.  This job did not involve a long commute, and allowed me to be home in the afternoons and evenings to continue homeschooling the kids. It was hard to leave my favorite job ever to go work outside the home, but it was necessary, so I'm thankful God gave me this opportunity.  It was a rewarding job, teaching approximately 80 first through fifth graders.  He gave me many more children to love and minister to and pray for.  The job ended at the close of the school year, so now I am home again, and thankful to be here.
     Ron applied for several law enforcement positions back when I applied for my teaching position.   He is on the eligibility list for two, but has not received an offer for employment, yet.  He scours job sites daily and is considering going back to school.  In the meantime, we wait and we pray that the Lord will provide.  We pray that He will orchestrate this hiring process and make a way for my husband to embark on a new career.  To be selected, he must be chosen out of the over 1,000 applicants, and he must pass an extensive background investigation process as well as a series of tests and interviews.  It is a long process and the wait is hard, but we are hopeful.   I know God knows our needs and He cares.  He has already made possible the impossible in so many ways. 
     I'm trying to be patient, but some days I rest better than others in His perfect plan.  Some days I battle my own fears about what the future may hold for us.  I'm thankful Ron hasn't given up hope.  I am thankful to be home with my kids again and planning for the upcoming school year.  I am thankful for the time I have to talk them through their disagreements and help them see how good God is.  I am thankful for cuddles and hugs and homecooked meals. I'm thankful as I switch the last load of laundry today that I have clothes to wash and a washer to wash them in!  Ron's mom sent a box of coloring books and bubbles that occupied the kids today.  What a sweet blessing!  God has been faithful to provide our every need.  So while this doesn't really tell you what all has transpired this year, it does tell you where we are right now, and a little of how we got here. 

Charlie

We have a new addition to our family, and as you can see he's well loved by all. I just hope he survives all the love! He seems to love the kids back just as much as they love him. He sleeps in Braden's bed at night, crawls up under the covers with him every night. And even though Emily carries him around all over the place like a dolly, he'll hop up and sit with her so she can pet him. The big girls are enamored with their new kitty, too, but I don't have any pictures with them to share yet.

Happy Birthday Mom

69 Years ago she was born. The first of her mother's four children. I don't know a whole lot about her early years, but I know the woman she became. She was smart and strong, yet quiet and soft spoken. She loved freely, gave generously, and served tirelessly. She loved the Lord, and I know today she is with Him. What better way to celebrate her birthday than with her greatest love? I miss her, but am thankful for the thirty years I was blessed to have her here.

Romans 8:18-39

(Listen)

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death and Suffering

Death is not my favorite subject. I doubt it is for anyone. It is a painful reminder of our fallen state. It reminds me how sinful our sin really is, that death is the penalty. Today is my parents wedding anniversary. She would have been celebrating 42 years of marriage to my father, and turning 69 in five days. Instead I remember her birthday and anniversary, but cannot call her to tell her how precious she is to me. I miss her greatly, but hers is not the only death on my mind. My Dear Aunt told me this week that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and liver cancer. There was a lot of information in her email that I didn't understand, but I know this isn't good news. The treatments she will face are only to prolong her life, not cure her. Her greatest prayer isn't for her healing, but for the salvation of her husband and sons. As a believer, she knows that at the end of her hard-fought battle, she will be healed and forever beholding her God and King, so her prayer is for them. So I am asking you, dear friends to please pray for my uncle, and cousins. That they will know that their sin is against a Holy God, and that they will turn to the Only One who can save them. And please pray for my Aunt who is suffering from this horrible illness. Pray that she will endure by His strength this very painful road. Thank you.

Behold Our God