The Way God Works

Well, He works in mysterious ways. In completely humbling ways. God works in ways that completely catch us all off guard and leave us asking ourselves why we doubted that He would provide for us in the first place. I had once such moment today...actually 2, but since they were within the same 15 minute interval and the fact that I don't know how you measure a "moment" ( I mean, how long is a "moment?"), anyway I will count them as one huge God moment.

I have been extremely stressed all day. The holiday has completely messed me up. Not to say that I didn't enjoy my Monday off work, but it has put me behind. Instead of my usual short week of Monday through Thursday, I have been trying to cram about 2 weeks' worth of work into 3 short days. I've had newsletter and bulletins to work on and proof, announcements to send, a 3-month calendar for children and adult events to organize, plans for our last Sunday school class this weekend, the huge load of VBS, finding volunteers, and tons of other stuff that have bogged me down and resulted in me carrying an arm full of papers and folders home last night to work on. Needless to say, I really didn't need anything else on my plate. Well, I walk in this morning, and I am told by the administrative assistant that our church's VBS budget is actually about half of what I was told it was by my committee members. Woohoo! I really like how this came after the fact that I have already bought all the VBS supplies under the notion that our budget was adequate. This sent me into a downward spiral. Now I need to not only cut my budget but have church members volunteer to buy food items for our VBS snacks to save our budget as well as volunteer their time at VBS. So, I have spent part of my day making a huge (and bright-colored) bulletin board with volunteer sign-up sheets to grab everyone's attention as they pass through the fellowship hall. I have sent out an email begging for volunteers and food donations, and I have typed up an insert for the worship bulletin with the same plea. Also, I have worked on planning a beach trip with the kids, sorted out room assignments for VBS, bought gifts for Sunday School teachers, worked on my children's sermon, planned a meeting with my committee to approve my summer events, and done insane amounts of math to decide how many boxes of crackers and other snack ingredients I will need for the 80 kids we are planning VBS for. Whew!

Bet you're wondering where the God moment comes in. Well, I was sitting right here at my desk, writing a quick email to my sister-in-law Katie, and someone knocked on my office door. It was a college student that goes to our church, and he wanted to talk to me about the youth program. He is back in town for the summer, and we talked about the plans I had for the kids these next couple of months. The whole time we chit-chatted, I kept wondering why he was here. He then blew me away with his reason for stopping by...he had a year's worth of tithe money that he wanted to put into the youth ministry. Holy Moly! An amount that is triple what our VBS budget was (or at least what I was told first). My first reaction was "WOW!" My second reaction was, "How the heck did a college student get that kind of cash?" And my third reaction was "This is totally a God thing!"

We talked a bit more, he offered to come and help out with some of the events this summer, and then he went to the office to give the administrative assistant his check. I sat here at my desk, closed my inbox, and thanked God for such an uplifting and truly generous act. I then walked up to the office to see if this had actually happened. After this miracle was confirmed, I walked back to my office and received a phone call. A lady at our church called to volunteer to help register kids for VBS and greet them as well as to donate 3 of the snack ingredients we needed. Then I opened my inbox to find 2 emails from adults wanting to volunteer and donate whatever ingredients I didn't receive by the day before VBS. I was overwhelmed...and for the first time that day, I wasn't overwhelmed by stress and a mile long to-do list, I was overwhelmed by God's gracious nature, His faithful love, and His mysterious ways.

Memorial Day and Summer Plans

Well, Josh and I were both off work on Memorial Day, and we managed to sleep most of the day away. Seriously. We took 2 naps! Eventually, we did get some things done. We were going to put up these copper window boxes that we had fallen in love with at Target, but once we put them up to our windows on the patio, well, we quickly fell out of love with them. Needless to say, they will be returned to Target soon. Instead of window boxes, we decided to go to Lowe's and find some flowers to put on the front porch to replace our dead petunias (that I accidentally forgot to water for a whole week). When we arrived at Lowe's. an elderly lady was walking out of the garden section pushing a cart full of palms. She came over, touched my shoulder, and in a conniving/secretive kind of voice told me that the palms were $1.98 each and that I better get me some. I thanked her for the kind, yet sorta creepy, advice, and Josh and I planned to grab some on our way out. We found some amazing lollipop gerber daisies, got some red salvia, found a hanging plant for the front porch, and went to the check out counter to grab some palms. Unfortunately, the creepy lady had bought the last ones. The ones left were $7.98 each, but with Josh's smooth talking, we were able to get 2 of them for $4 each.

The palms look wonderful on the patio, and I think the discount we got makes them look even more beautiful! :)

The lovely daisies are sitting in front of our mailbox, and Josh said 3 of our neighbors came by yesterday to comment on them. I will try to get a picture of them this week (the rain has made me keep my camera indoors). We planted the red salvia in the flowerbed at the back of the carport (the one that faces the Magnolia tree). They look wonderful too. Now if only I could keep the plant on the front porch alive...we will see how I do.

The past 2 days have been filled with tons of work and planning. Yesterday, Josh worked on cleaning out the storage rooms, and they look amazing! He is so proud. Today, he is back to work on the ambulance. Yesterday and today, I have been working my butt off trying to get VBS and the rest of the summer planned and put together. I am trying to have at least one event each week this summer for the kids, and it is quite a job. We plan on starting the summer off with a cookout at the house. Only one of the kids has seen the house, so we are excited about having them all over to see it. Other events planned for this summer include: a pool party, a canoe trip, a trip to Jackson to watch the MS Braves play, 4 Wonderful Wednesdays, and a trip to the local water park. Wonderful Wednesdays include dinner, games, a lesson, a service project, and dessert (of course!). I am in charge of planning all of these, and there are a few other events that might be added. We are trying to figure out if a beach trip or a camping trip are plausible this summer. Let's just say, it is a very busy week for me, so I better get back to work.

Work

Well, I was supposed to lead a VBS meeting this morning, but no one showed. Apparently none of them can remember what they all wrote on their calendar unless I send them a reminder email. Sorry, that was mean of me to say. They are all working moms and have a lot going on especially since this is the last week of school. Hopefully we can all get together on Thursday instead.

Tomorrow I am going to 2 awards ceremonies at Stanton Elementary, which is one of our AEE Adopter schools. Our church is supplying 14 gift cards...one for each of the 2 students in each grade that has made the biggest improvement this year. I am really looking forward to going and meeting some of the kids.

Thursday, I will hopefully have a make-up VBS meeting, and we have sooo much we need to finalize. VBS is less than a month away, and our to-do list is starting to scare me.

Friday, is my usual off day, but I will be spending that evening with the kids. I am planning to make tacos and cupcakes for the kids here at the church. Then, after we enjoy our "kid-friendly" dinner, we are going to the movie theater to see "Night at the Museum 2." I am super excited about it...more so than some of the kids. What can I say, I'm a kid at heart.

Now I just got to get all the logistics done...call parents, recruit chaperones, find out the cost of a movie ticket, get an estimate on the number of kids that will show up, have a back up plan if the movie is sold out, buy ingredients, and start cookin'.

A Christian Educators job is never done :)

Busy Weekend

This weekend has been exhausting...but well worth it. Josh was off all weekend, so we had quite a few things on our To-Do List.

Friday, Josh and I did some things around the house and then went to a high school graduation. Lauren, a senior in my youth group at the church, graduated from Laurel Christian High School. It was great to see her get her diploma. I'm going to miss her next year.

Saturday, we got up at 6am after getting a call at 1:00am from Josh's sister Katie to tell us that she is engaged! Saturday was a long and busy day. We got on the road a little after 7am and went to Butler to have breakfast with Josh's parents. We showed them the wedding slideshow, the proof book, and our honeymoon pictures, then we got back on the road toward Birmingham. We stopped at Caroline's house where my mom met me with my bridesmaid's dress. Caroline and I got ready and left for Beth's Entertainment Bridal Shower in Oneonta, and Josh apparently had lunch at Jim N Nick's and went shopping. We had a wonderful time at Beth's shower. Her sister almost had to hitchhike home due to all the gifts Beth received. Goodness! After the shower, Caroline dropped me off at my dad's house. Josh had been there for a while, so when I got there we all went to Frontera Grill to eat. Oh, it was wonderful! After dinner, Josh and I headed back to Laurel through storms and crazy drivers to finally arrive home after 11pm.

Sunday, I got up early to get my children's sermon prepped and to get ready. We had to be at the church by 8:30 (an hour earlier than I normally arrive, and about 2 hours earlier than Josh arrives) for a breakfast for Lauren (the graduating senior). We had the breakfast, then I got my children's sermon supplies together, got children ready for the worship service (to carry the Bible, candle, and cross), and then had church and my children's sermon. After church we had a church project lunch to attend. All of the events were fun...but we were exhausted. Instead of taking a nap (like we wanted to do), we forced ourselves to work on the house--cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, and paying bills. Yes, I know, so is married life.

Now we are both back to work. He is already on a call this morning and I am prepping for a Vacation Bible School meeting that I am leading tomorrow. Back to the grind of work...but it seems like we worked our butts off more on our off days this weekend.

Some Honeymoon Pictures

Since most of you haven't gotten to see any of these yet...I thought I would post a few.

Seagull on Edisto Beach, South Carolina

Sailboat with impending storm clouds on Edisto Island, South Carolina

One of the many roads encased by live oaks and spanish moss

By the fountain in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia

Freezing on Edisto Beach, South Carolina

Eating at the best Italian restaurant we have ever been to...Bocci's in Charleston

Fun Wedding Pictures

Just thought I would post a few fun wedding pictures. Enjoy!

Caroline, Katie, and Rachael showing off their massive hair...which was then redone before the wedding.

The bridesmaids, the flowergirl, and I showing some attitude.

Our awesome ring bearer, Will Morris!

Cheerleader pose!

Serious model pose!

Adventures in Babysitting

Josh and I had the privilege of watching Trip (a little boy from our church) yesterday afternoon. He is absolutely precious! He is by far the most laid back 1 and a half year old I have ever seen. He went to the bank with me and was quiet and smiling. The car ride to the house was absolutely silent, and he wasn't even asleep.

When we got home, Josh was still working in the yard, so Trip and I went inside and had a snack. Josh came in later, and while I started dinner, Josh and Trip sat on the couch together watching a children's show. It was so cute! Trip helped me a little bit with dinner, and we made a mess! It was fun though.

We even let Charlie inside, and she did great with Trip. He even got her ball and threw it for her. Then he would laugh and squint his eyes when Charlie would run after the ball. He wasn't scared of her at all...I think he just found her funny, especially when she would lick his arms.

Josh went and found a toy ambulance he had in the back guest room, and Trip just loved it! He couldn't stop pushing it down the hall and pushing all the buttons (Note: Please do not buy our future children any toys that make sound, lol). He was precious though, and he would look up to see my reaction everytime he hit a button.

All in all, we really enjoyed our time with Trip. I enjoyed seeing Josh with him, and Josh enjoyed seeing me with him. It was just a very sweet afternoon...an afternoon that thoroughly exhausted our poor puppy.

Back Home

Josh and I had an amazing wedding. It was perfect! We both enjoyed ourselves, and it seems that our guests did too. Of course, there were a few hiccups along the way. My bouquet was, well, pathetic...but that kept me from having to figure out a way to save it since it went right in the trash can when we got back from the honeymoon. Our ride to the reception from the church didn't show up, but this allowed us to stand on the front steps of the church and thank everyone for coming. My dress didn't bustle right, but this allowed me to catch up with my Maryville College friends in the ladies' room while Beth safety pinned me. All in all, it was a great night, and we wish we could go back and do it again (the fun part, that is...we don't want to do the planning).

We had a wonderful honeymoon on the coast of South Carolina. We took day trips to Savannah and Charleston, and just enjoyed being with each other. It was so great to have that time together to relax, be free from planning and work, and just get to know each other better.

Josh and I came home a day early from the honeymoon, not because we weren't enjoying ourselves but because we wanted to spend some time together at our house (and with our puppy) before we had to get back to our jobs. We were so happy to just curl up on our couch with Charlie and relax without having to say, "Ok, we can cuddle for 10 minutes but then we really need to look at this flower order and call our photographer about this..." Needless to say, we were loving newlywed life...especially since there is no wedding planning involved once the wedding is over.

We have spent our days off working on our beautiful home, and it is just so nice to finally have a place I feel complete in. The last time I had a place I could rightfully call "home" was when I was in high school. Gosh, I loved that house on Parker Street. We practically grew up there, and I will never forget that home. It's where my brother taught me how to ride a bike, it's where we had Thanksgiving dinners, it's where we would have family game night, it's where my friends threw me a surprise 18th birthday party, it's where we were snowed in during the snow storm of 1993 and all slept around the fireplace and cooked hot dogs and ate cheese puffs. I've never lived anywhere since high school that made me feel the same way. As soon as I left for college, that home was gone. My room was moved and changed, it wasn't the same. College dorms were great, but they didn't give you that indescribable feeling of being "at home." Throughout college my family moved a couple times, and I just didn't feel the same in those houses either. There was no past for me in those homes, no background. I lived in 2 apartments after college, and no matter how many old pictures I put on the walls or how many quilts and family recipes I kept, they didn't become "home." My new home is just that...my "home." It doesn't hold my past in it, but it holds our future. It's where our children will learn how to ride their bikes, it's where we will host Thanksgiving dinners, it's where we will have family game nights, it's where our friends will bring their children to our children's birthdays, it's where we hopefully won't get snowed in for a week but we would be okay if we did. This home is filled with our dreams...dreams for our future, our marriage, our family. Now all it needs is the pitter-patter of little feet...but we'll give that some time.