Off to Idaho

Tomorrow morning we're driving to McCall, Idaho to spend time with Michael's family. We're excited to see his family and enjoy McCall in the summertime.

We were hesitating to go because we don't want to miss any job interviews/opportunities, but we've been sitting around for two weeks without any leads, so we're chancing it. I have applied to more than 17 jobs now, so my odds have to be increasing, right? If I don't get any of them, it means there are at least 17 social studies teachers in town looking for a job. Hopefully I'll get an interview soon.

In the meantime, we're going to enjoy seeing family.

Whose Plan?

Have you ever felt the Lord leading you a certain way, only to later question that call?

I'm feeling this to a small degree, as the job possibilities get more slim every day. I've applied to more than 15 jobs now, and every day more of them are filled without even an interview. At the same time, new jobs open every day, as I applied to two more just an hour ago. To date, I've had one interview, and that was a phone interview before we even arrived in Colorado.

We know we are supposed to be here in Colorado. I just have to keep reminding myself that our life here and our job situation may end up looking differently than I had first imagined. Isn't that always the way it works? I was getting so excited about the possibility of having my own classroom and having my own students. I'm not saying it can't happen, but I am trying to accept the possibility that I may have to substitute again this Fall. Ugh.

Michael's prospects aren't that much better. Right now we are feeling a bit restless and useless as we are both unemployed and not sure how to spend our time.

I just need to stop doubting and have a little faith, knowing that my plan isn't always His. In college I always clung to the following phrase, a quote from, at the time, one of my favorite TV shows, "Seventh Heaven."

"We Plan, God Laughs."

Back to Blogging

I'm back to my own blog. It's my space to process and write separately from what we experience as a couple, and this week I'm thinking a lot about trusting the Lord for our/my future.

I'm feeling slightly discouraged about all the job applications I've submitted. I've applied to more than 12 social studies positions here in Colorado Springs, and a few of the positions have been filled already. I've had one interview (which ended up being over the phone because we were still in Oregon), and had expected more by now.

So, I'm trying to be patient and put this all in perspective. In some ways I'm sitting better than a lot of people in this economy right now. At the least, if I don't get hired for the school year, I can work as a substitute. At the same time, I've been getting my hopes up a lot about the idea of having my own classroom and getting to teach, so I'd be majorly disappointed to end up subbing again. Maybe the Lord has different plans that I can't see or understand right now. Apparently I have yet to master the art of patience.

Soon

In case you haven't checked out our other blog recently, I've been posting there.

I'm not sure what I'll do once we get to Rwanda. We'll probably post pictures on that blog more often, so I may do more of my own thought processing here.

We are so excited to be leaving in less than 5 days. I have no doubt the Lord has been in this process, and it makes me anxious to begin to see all the ways God will be working over the next few months.

People keep asking us what our biggest fear or apprehension is, and my reply usually has to do with figuring out our future. A big purpose of this trip is to help us determine whether or not we may feel called to Rwanda longer term, and to see in what capacity that could be. We are praying that doors open and close and we have clarity about future jobs. But also, I want to be present to our time in Rwanda, and not be too focused on what's next.

I'm sure I'll have other prayer requests as time goes on.

10 days!

I've been wanting to write a blog post for a while, but it just hasn't happened. And this one isn't going to be too exciting either.

We are leaving in 10 days, and are keeping busy with all the preparations. It's a lot of little things, like buying 3 months worth of shampoo and toothpaste (and figuring out how much we actually use in a three-month time period), packing, seeing people, and so much more.

And now we're off to run more errands.

Four Years Later

Today is our 4 year Anniversary. Even now, looking at pictures from our wedding I can't help but think, wow, we were really young. I wonder what I'll think in another four years.

We've experienced a lot in four years...

We were married at the end of finals week in between semesters during our senior year at George Fox. After graduation in April 2005 we headed on a road trip to Alaska for four months. While we were in Alaska we decided to apply at Twin Rocks Friends Camp for a one-year camping internship.

During our year in Rockaway Beach I felt led to apply to graduate school, to get my Master's degree in Teaching. I spent the spring taking tests and preparing for graduate school. We left TRFC on a Sunday, and I started graduate school the next day in Salem, Oregon, in August 2006.

During our year in Salem Michael began taking classes to prepare for graduate school. We visited Eastern University that spring and decided we'd be heading back there in the fall. In August of 2007 we packed up the rest of our stuff that we hadn't already sold in a garage sale, and headed in our Subaru across country. We had a great year in Philadelphia, though we had a few heartaches along the way. In September, we headed back to Oregon to await our upcoming internship. In less than a month we will be heading to Kigali, Rwanda for three months, and then....


Whoo! We've been all over the place. It's exhausting just thinking about it. But, we've had fun and grown a lot, and our marriage has strengthened through each adventure.

I'm looking forward to what this next year will bring.
Happy Anniversary Michael!

There's no place to go...

This week we have been stuck inside every day. Not only because of the snow storm, or the "Arctic Blast," as the local news channels are labeling it, but because our household all came down with the flu at the same time.

We've been watching a lot of movies, eating a lot of chicken noodle soup, ginger ale, and saltines, and feeling cooped up inside.

We had our computer in the shop for a few days, and so I haven't been able to post any pictures.

Last week I turned 26. To some of you, that sounds young. But to me, I am feeling old! I used to think I would have all of my children before I turned 30. Well, the way things are looking I doubt that is going to happen. And, that's ok. My plan is not the Lord's.

Michael threw me a party for my birthday. My friends came over and we played games, ate pizza, and had the ever-important ice cream cake. He took me out to lunch and we went shopping to get a few items for Rwanda, including a new backpack and a new coat from REI. I had to work on my actual birthday (I believe that's the true sign of becoming an adult), so Michael made me my birthday pancakes and a birthday white chocolate mocha. It was a great birthday and I felt so loved. Now I'm just old. :)

I'm Proud of You, Michael!

In case you didn't know, after two years of school and online classes, Michael has officially completed his MBA in International Economic Development. Be sure to tell him Congratulations!