Goodness and Love and Getting Uncomfortable

*So the other night when I was writing my first post, I kind of had to end it abruptly as we needed to leave for the fire station since the NW part of our county had a tornado warning. I don't know how I would've liked to end it, but that definitely wasn't it. The way I would've maybe ended it is at the bottom of this post.*

After Thursday, I've just had such awe at the goodness of God. I read an acquaintance's blog the other day about just that topic, so I'm reflecting a bit on His goodness this Monday night as well. A few things happened yesterday that got me thinking that I am sure glad I have a relationship with Jesus and I can turn to my heavenly father whenever I need him and he will be RIGHT THERE!

First, at our church, our pastor was talking about patience. He used Abram's story (where God promised to make him the father of many nations and that he had to go out to a place that he didn't know) as an example and how fitting for us to hear when that was the same example Steve's former boss Bob gave when he talked to Bob about going into the Coast Guard. Ah...it makes my heart glad to have all these things (and by that I mean wise council, a Word from the Lord, and prayer) lining up with we want to do to serve! Finally, it seems it's been too long since I've heard God speak directly to me, but ever since joining Moorepark Community Church (and starting my days in the Word) he's been loud and clear!

Second, I learned of the passing of a friend from camp. Steve knew him better than I did, but I'm going to miss him and his kind smile. I happened upon his wife's facebook and there were so many comments about how much people loved him and were encouraged by his walk with the Lord and willingness to serve. The situation in how he died makes me angry and upset at stupid drivers, but seeing the numerous comments about him helps me know that he is with the good Lord, and God has a plan for his family that is left behind. In life and death God is good, and as much as death hurts (and life does too sometimes) I must remember that goodness and love, and the feeling of His arms wrapped around me.

To go back the comment of "these things lining up," I have another testimony to share with you all. When Steve and I first started discussing the idea of the Coast Guard, I was a bit apprehensive. It is the military after all! I didn't like the idea of moving every couple years and eventually having to take our kids out of school and winding up having to live on a base, but Steve told me that he could get a guaranteed district (a region/area of the U.S.) if he was towards the top of his class (which he plans to be because he is as high of an achiever as I have ever seen!). So I was comfortable with that because we both wanted to move south to North Carolina, and hey I'd be by the beach. Then things changed because the Coast Guard retains a lot of it's members each year (unlike most of the other military branches), and spots aren't readily available for new members. So they allowed the newbies to pick 3 different units in each of 4 districts for a total of 12 units. Great, even more to like about this CG thing, if he's high in his class he'll more than likely get his 1 or 2 choice! We proceed to look at different units in district 5 (NC, VA area) as well as some out on the west coast too. I even made a spread sheet of those 12 units to help me understand the areas a little better. God definitely didn't like us getting too comfortable, though. A few weeks later Steve comes to me and says honey I've got some good and not so good news. All right, what now I thought. He says he can only pick 4 different districts, and we both start wondering if this is really what we should be doing. Or if we could just stay in Michigan and Steve would work at the fire station and I would stay at KinderCare. It was around that same time that our pastor's son spoke about his family's plans to head to the Dominican Republic to do mission work for 2 years. He talked about having the faith to do what God wants them to do and to actually step out and do it. On the way home from church Steve mentioned that we were doing something similar to them. He said that what both of us like the most is being comfortable, but that's not what God wants for us. He wants us to put our FAITH in HIM and TRUST HIM! He even brought up the fact that I have a verse of faith tattooed on my ankle as one of my life's verses. And that is where we are at right now, like Abram stepping out in faith, not knowing where we are going, but willing to go and see what kind of promises lie in wait. Hopefully we both can have a little more patience than Abram did (he went about trying to make many nations the wrong way with Hagar), and so far so good.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:1, 8

Quite the Day

Today has been quite the day. I've been wanting to start a blog for awhile now because 1) I enjoy writing and sharing my thoughts and 2) I like reading others' blogs and seeing what they have to say about life. So I decided to create one tonight because today has been a very interesting, uplifitng and pretty fulfilling day overall.
It started off with getting to sleep in a bit since I didn't have to work until 11 am. Steve and I had decided the night before to work out in the morning too, so reluctantly I did. I did a sprint cardio workout on the bike and it didn't kick my butt too bad, and I actually felt like I had more energy at work today too. I hope that becomes part of my morning routine in the near future because it just feels great to get that adrenaline high by exercising. Plus I listened to Todd Agnew on Pandora and it was pretty sweet to workout that way! After that Steve treated me to coffee and a muffin at this cute little coffee shop just down the street from out apartment. It was definitely nice to spend the morning together before we both had to go to work. I almost like date mornings like that better than date nights. Then I went to work wondering which class I'd be in for the day and lo and behold I got to join Lori in the pre-k room. I appreciate those 4 and 5 year olds so much! It's nice every once in awhile not to have to change diapers (I normally work in the 2's room). I eventually let my co-teacher go home and went back to my toddlers, whom I love even when they throw temper tantrums every 10 minutes. Things went smoothly though until I heard the tornado sirens. I think I was the only one who heard them because our classroom is on the frontside of the building and everyone else was towards the back half and had noisy children. Our former assistant director acting as director today didn't even hear it because she was on the phone with her good ear. So I calmly alerted the preschool teacher who frantically alerted our former assistant director acting as director who quickly got off the phone and proceded to tell us to go into the bathrooms with our kids. Fortunately this was around 4:15 4:30 pm when most of the kids are getting picked up anyways so I only had 2 kids left and Kathy in the 2 & 1/2's had 5. We spent about 30 min in the bathroom singing songs and reading books and letting the kids chase the light from the flashlight. It was a good time, and I'm thankful that we had the younger kids who didn't really comprehend what was going on they just knew they got to hang out in the bathroom which is normally not allowed.
Then one of the best parts of my day happened...I got to talk with a parent who was thinking about enrolling their child at our center. She had never done daycare/learning center before so I tried my best to explain what we do at our center and as long as the price didn't scare her away I think that she will bring her little boy back (at least I hope she will). I also realized tonight that I really do enjoy my job. I love teaching kids and seeing them learn and grow and acquire new skills. It's been a little stressful lately with floating from class to class and having to close most nights of the week, but tonight I remembered why I work where I do. I have a gift to teach and I am going to use that to serve my Lord God to my fullest potential, and when I can't do that I am going to rely on His strength and patience to teach and love and serve the kids at KinderCare.
But my night gets better...I scheduled an appointment to get my hair cut last week because it really needed it. I was a little nervous because I've had the same lady cut my hair since I was 10 and it's hard to find somebody new. But I decided to give the lady that used to cut Steve's hair a second chance. I am sure glad that I did. I love my new haircut, and I had an awesome conversation with Shannon. The places God decides to show up when I'm not even looking is what has me in such a good mood tonight. I love that He shows up through my testimonies even when I think I'm just telling someone about how I met my husband or what I remember about my wedding day or how I like my job. God sure is good...ALL the time. I don't know how he did it, but tonight he used me in some way to help Shannon's day end a little bit better than it started I think, and all I did was mention one of my favorite worship songs from this past week at church. "You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek, You are my all in all..."
And that is what I wanted to share in my first blog entry. A little long maybe, maybe not the typical first entry but it was what was on my heart.