Playtime!

So I've spent the afternoon playing around with the blog because I kept seeing all cute ones from my friends. I can't decide if I like it or not. I'm generally kind of plain when it comes to these kind of things - it makes it easier to read and is less distracting. So please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Do you like it the old way or the new way better? It was so hard to choose because there were so many cute ones - my eyes are hurting now from staring at them all!

It does seem that the transition to the new layout lost my counter. I can't remember where I found the thing to begin with. I enjoyed seeing the numbers at the bottom go up - even if it was partly me making them increase! I like knowing that there are people out there reading the blog :)

So in other news, the couple who came and looked at the house last Friday said that they wanted it!!!! YAY and PRAISE THE LORD!! They are such a sweet couple and had a cute little 2 month old with them. We have resent the paper work to the apartment and as far as I know, we are all waiting on the move in/out date, which looks to be sometime around August 12. That will be just in time for the new semester to begin! Classes start on August 17 so that would give the weekend before to get moved in and somewhat settled. I'm praying it all continues to work out and go smoothly. God NEVER ceases to amaze me. He knows what's right for us at the right time, "and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." [Romans 8:28 ESV]

An update to our backyard VBS:

The week went GREAT! The children brought in $240.00 to go to an orphanage (sorry, Britt, I don't remember the details or what it's called)!!! Isn't that awesome that mostly unchurched people will collect money for such a wonderful cause? There were also several families who said they were going to attend church on Sunday. I know for certain that one family did because they showed up at Highview!! How awesome is the LORD! We plan to have an ice cream social/back to school fun night in August to follow up with the kids/families who attended. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. I know it's so cliche, but that phrase is one of the truest I know.

Aaron leaves for Nicaragua Saturday. I'm nervous, sad, happy, and excited for him all at the same time. Please pray for safety for him and the team, and that they would be able to minister to many while they are there - and even on the journey there while in the airports and such.

I am still praying about jobs. I have not heard from the family I visited last week with the 3 month old. They were going to take a week to pray about their decision. I also applied yesterday for a PT position at Gymboree Play and Music to be an early childhood music teacher. I would so enjoy that, and I hope that they call me in for an interview. In the last two days I've picked up "side" jobs. I ironed for two separate ladies yesterday and this morning. One of the ladies said she may call me for odd jobs (such as Christmas decorating, watering plants, ironing, etc.) in the future, and I will resume ironing for the 2nd lady once we return from SC. It's not much, but every little bit helps! I hope one of these other positions pan out too.

The weather here in the Ville {oh, my, I'm beginning to talk like a native :) } has been WONDERFUL the last several days. 50's in the evenings and 70's during the day. I would certainly not believe it's July. It's been nice to have the doors open and no air conditioning!

As always, I would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers for us. We appreciate them more than you will ever know.

As for now, we are Following Him.

Whew! I am tired this week. We have been participating in a Backyard VBS with our Sunday night small group. It has been lots of fun, but I am worn out - just another sign that I am getting old!!! I believe that I will forever be singing the songs from VBS. "On the boomerang express, it all comes back ..." oh, sorry, I forgot I was typing for a second! :) I'm telling you, the songs are contagious. Tonight is family night. Pizza, smores, and showing the parents what the kids have been learning this week. I'm thankful that I participated in this - even if I wasn't as excited in the beginning. God continues to reveal Himself to me in so many ways. Just the other day when I didn't want to do VBS, I heard God gently tell me that He didn't really want to send His son to the cross for me either, but He did. Yesterday was rainy and humid, and again, I wasn't crazy about being wet and muddy, but God reminded me that Jesus didn't worry about the weather. I have just been reminded this week that God sent His Son to die for my sins and that I should be so grateful that NOTHING should keep me from praising Him and proclaiming His message to others. Who better to share with than a bunch of kids?

I am also praying today. Well, I pray everyday :), but more so today. There is a couple coming to look at this house tomorrow. I am praying that it is something that will work for them. There is also ONE apartment still available with no one else waiting in line (as of right now, anyway). So I am praying for God's DIVINE plan for my life and the life of my family and the family that could possibly want to move into this house. I still really want to move, but have come to peace with staying here if that's what we need to do. I am also praying about jobs still, and I went on an "interview" today to talk with a lady about babysitting her 3 month old 3 days a week. It is two houses up from the apartments where we want to move. I almost get a smile on my face as I wonder if God is up to something. Hmmmm. We'll see!

Next week we leave for SC. We will spend a day and a half there, and then Aaron departs for Nicaragua, and Briggs and I depart for Destin. Please pray for us the next two weeks.

Once we get back from our trips, it won't be long and Aaron will begin his 2nd semester on campus. I can't believe it is almost time for him to start again. I will be taking seminary wives classes as well, and I am very excited about that.

Well, I think I will leave you with one of the songs from VBS that I like the most:

WORKIN' ON MY SERVE:

I'm working on my serve

I'm putting Jesus first

Cause He deserves my total devotion

I'm checking out God's word

I'm learning that my purpose on this earth

Is to keep working on my serve for my Savior.

Sometimes I mess and I do things I don't want to

And then some other times I don't do what I ought to do

But I thank Jesus that He's faithful to forgive me

His love will help me become

All that He made me to be

So I'm working on my serve

I'm putting Jesus first

Cause He deserves my total devotion

I'm checking out God's word

I'm learning that my purpose on this earth

Is to keep working on my serve for my Savior.

Ramblings about the Riddles

So today's post is going to be tons of rambling on and on about different things. Sorry! I'll try to put the most important things first so that you don't have to read the entire thing if you don't want to!

Well, Aaron's major is all set and changed (well, for the most part anyway. still need one more recommendation form - Brittney!) so we are happy that's taken care of. The new semester starts August 17. Where has the summer gone? I can not believe that it is almost time for another round of school!

I am still trying to decide on whether or not to get a job, and if so, where. Honestly, I have so enjoyed being home with Briggs these last couple of months. I have had a job since I was like 14 or 15 so it has been really nice to not have to work. We do need the extra income so staying at home may not be an option anymore. I just don't want to take any job and then come home stressed and upset all the time. I've done that before, and it doesn't make for a great life. Then again, I tell myself that I need to "suck it up" and "take one for the team." Easier said than done. This leaves another dilemma - what to do with Briggs. In KY, the cutoff is October 1 so he would actually be eligible for 4K here (whereas in SC he would have another year). I thought I would have another year before having to think about that! Of course, I don't have to send him anywhere, but I do think he would benefit from the social interaction, plus learn at the same time. But, along with that, is the decision to go public or private. I also don't want to work just to send Briggs to daycare or school, but I also don't know anything about the public schools here. I'm sure they are good and fine, but back home, I knew which ones were the ones I would send him to. Plus, in our former circumstances, I didn't really have to make that choice - I just knew he would go to BCBC. Choices, choices, choices ... so many decisions, and at this point, so little time!

The landlord has posted the house for rent on the seminary message board and online. He has received an email from someone who may be interested, but nothing has panned out yet. I am hoping and praying that it does because there will be an apartment available at the end of August in the complex that we really wanted to move to. I'm praying for God's will and Divine intervention in this matter. I want Him to receive all glory and honor for the things that happen in my life.

So having said those couple (!) of things, please continue to be in much prayer for us. I know there are many of you who pray daily for us, and you will never know how much we appreciate and cherish them.

It was raining again this morning when I woke up. The sun is out now, but I think it rains every other day here. I've never seen so much rain as I have this year since we moved here. My dad asked me if we lived in Seattle or Louisville!

I have been trying to get out a little more lately. Briggs and I have gone to play grounds and water splash parks and later today (if he wakes up!), we are going to story time at the library. I have finally decided that I just have to get on with life!

I can't believe July 4th has come and gone. We went to the Crescent Hill Old Time 4th of July on Saturday, but guess what - IT RAINED(!) so we didn't get to stay long. The rain did subside that evening so that we could go see fireworks. Briggs thanked Jesus in his prayers that night for letting the rain stop for us to see them.

Which brings me to him - he is growing and changing every day. He says his own prayers at night without us prompting him. It is sweet music to my ears, and I can only imagine what God must feel like to hear a little child pray!!! He also told us yesterday that he needed a brother or sister so that he would have someone to play with. We laughed. Not in the plans, sweet boy - unless God works it otherwise. This is just more incentive for me to get out and meet people!

So on to stuff that is not necessarily about me/my family, but my feelings on a certain thing. Michael Jackson died a week and a half ago. Boy, has that taken EVERYTHING by storm. Granted, it is sad when anyone dies - especially if you don't know where they will spend eternity, but people come on! I feel for his children, but at the same time I think it is crazy how people have reacted. I enjoyed his music (his early music) just as much as anybody - I even had a MJ doll and special edition book (wish I still had them now - LOL!), but honestly, I am disgusted with the way our world is. This is what I wrote on FB:

Well, there's no doubt that he was a great performer and musician. I just think there were some more important things going on in the world. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been honored, but I think it was a little overkill. There are true heroes - American soldiers and police officers, firemen - who die every day without notice for what they have done. I also think that people have idolized MJ and created him into some sort of god. When we as a people begin to care more about a singer than the orphans, aborted babies, soldiers, 3rd world countries, etc., I think we have totally lost focus. People are worshipping MJ and have put their hope in him when it should be in the loving, caring, all knowing, all powerful God who created them and gave them life. That's why I have a problem with it. just my opinion though. :)

Anyway, that's my rant for today. Sorry. Just had to get that off my chest. Again, it is sad, and the world has lost a great performer, but let's not focus on MJ, but on what really matters in life.

Okay - I'm done with that, I promise!!

Last week Aaron celebrated his 30th birthday. Man, we are getting old! Briggs wanted to pick out a card for him so he got a Madagascar 2 card that sings "I like to move it, move it" when you open it up. I tried to get him not to get that one, but what good is trying to convince a 3 year old? He also told Aaron before his birthday that we got it. He said, "It's a secret. It's a surprise, and I'm not supposed to tell you. We got you a move it, move it birthday card." Can't tell kids anything!!! LOL.

We are excited also to see some friends from SC this weekend! The Pickels are heading this way for a bb tourney so we will get to say hello. I'm looking forward to seeing the games and seeing people we know!

Not much longer now until Aaron leaves for Nicaragua, and Briggs and I leave for the beach. I am happy and sad at the same time. I am happy that Aaron will get to experience his first international missions trip, but sad that he will not be with us as a family at Destin (my favorite beach!). Please pray for both of us during that time, and especially Briggs, who is a daddy's boy. I know it will be hard, but such a rewarding time for both of us.

Okay, well, I believe that's enough rambling for today. I'm sure you're tired of reading!