Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Has anyone else noticed that it's the end of October almost, Halloween is 2 weeks away, my birthday is in 3...wow I didn't even realize that until just now.  How fast time has gone.  Especially since my last post.  I didn't even write about our anniversary really, but this past month (well, the past 5 and a half really) has gone so fast I don't even remember all that I've done.  But I know that it's been fun.

While I don't really like to do, I think bullet points might be best for this post.  So here are some of the fun things we've been up to since I last wrote.

-We didn't do anything really for our 3rd anniversary since the week before we bought a new TV and an Xbox. Steve made lasagna and garlic bread for dinner and grape dessert too.  I was very impressed, and so thankful to have married a guy who loves to cook! (Since I started working evenings he has cooked about 90% of our meals.  I love that man!)

-The first weekend in October we were going to go camping with some friends from Steve's work.  Unfortunately the weather was awful so we didn't end up going, but camped out in our living room instead.  I was bummed that we couldn't go because I had wanted to ALL summer, but Steve had an idea to cheer me up. I got home from work and we went straight to get Taco Bell for dinner.  I wasn't allowed in the house and wondered what in the world he had done that I couldn't go in.  We got home and he had pulled the mattress into the living room and put our sleeping bags on top of it.  We also had our camping lantern to eat by.  It was a lot of fun, and we found out the next day that they had closed all the state parks in our county because so many trees were falling from the high winds. 

-We went to a dairy farm and corn maze that same weekend with our friend Grant.  The maze wasn't a ton of fun, but the weather was beautiful so we had fun anyways.  We also got really good homemade fudge and ice cream from the dairy farm's little shop.

-Steve and I, along with another couple from church have been leading the middle school youth ministry on Wednesday nights.  We've been rotating every other week because of Steve's schedule, but it's been a blast!  The group isn't very big, but they've been asking some good questions and it's been fun getting to know them.

-I had to work last Saturday, and instead of just doing our normal stuff, I decided to get some craft supplies to make fun Halloween decorations.  We had a ton of making goofy pumpkins, skulls, and Frankenstein out of empty toilet paper tubes, foam stickers, glitter glue, and googly eyes.  I love my job most days, but that day I was really excited the kids took to what I brought because sometimes it's hit or miss with what they'll like.  And speaking of my job, my hours have changed and I'm still trying to get used to this schedule.  But that is for another time...

-We enjoyed an extended Indian Summer and Sherman and I took full advantage of it.  We went to the dog park and took a nice long walk with my friend Jessica too.  I wish it would've lasted a bit longer, but I am I learning to be content with the blessings I've been given.  (I joined the women's Bible study at church, and our book is Lord, Change My Attitude by James MacDonald...very good and I am definitely challenged to change my attitude!)

-This past weekend we went bowling with some of the guys from Steve's station.  Then went our with Jessica and her husband, whom Steve also works with.  It was fun to get out of the house and visit with them.

-Yesterday one of Steve's close friends at the station went to church with us.  He's not a Christian, but said that was the first time he ever enjoyed a church service.  He also said he wants us to pick him up every Sunday for church.  So if you think of it this week could you pray for him, that he sees how awesome it is to have Christ in your life.  That he sees it in Steve's and my life as well as through those he interacts with at church.  And that God would work on his heart, and that he would open it up to answer God's call.

-Our pastor also invited us over to his house to watch the New Orleans Saints' game.  He's a huge fan and always mentions it on Sunday as we live in Packer country up here.  Gets a chuckle every time.  Anyways, another family from church was there too and Steve also works with him as well.  So we had fun, even though the Saints lost, talking and hanging out.  Shannon (our pastor) also made dinner, which was delicious!  I even ate the brussels sprouts cause they were so good.

So there's a look at what we've been up to.  It's definitely starting to feel like home here.  We're getting to know people, hanging out and making some hopefully long lasting friendships.  Oh and another note of importance: Steve got Sailor of the Quarter for this past quarter.  Which I think is awesome!  He's only been there for 5 months and received the honor the first full quarter he was part of the Canal Station.  He is working so hard and I am so proud of him.  His name is on the list for Health Services Technician A-school, but won't be going for another 2 and a half years or so.  More that later too...  We're doing well, I also was informed I'd be moved up to an Advanced line therapist, with a little raise after being with my company for about 4 months.  God has blessed us so much.  Even though sometimes things suck such as our conflicting schedules and not getting to see each other much; He is teaching us to rely on Him and Him alone for our joy and peace.

Verses I'm standing on this week (and should be always):
"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth [gain].  After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing  let us be content."  1 Timothy 6:6-8

Babies, Babies and More Babies

No, we're not having one.  3 people, 2 friends, 1 sister-in-law did though.  3 babies in 3 days.  I say that's quite a record.  My friend here in our new town had her baby boy on Wednesday last week.  It's crazy to think he's here already, I met her at the beginning of the summer when we moved, and have gotten to know her and her 2 older boys quite well (Steve and her husband Nick work together on the same duty section).  (Though I have yet to see baby O!)

Then my sister-in-law Amy, had her baby girl on Thursday.  Charlotte Grace arrived safe and healthy!  I am excited to be an aunt again, but unfortunately they live out in CA so we won't be able to see them anytime soon.  I wish it were different, that we could just up and take a little vacation out there to meet the new baby (and of course see Amy and Ryan).  But that's going to be next to impossible with both of our work schedules and Steve not having all that much time to take off anyways.  Maybe we'll make it before her 1st birthday!

Next, a friend from college had her first baby on Friday.  Another little girl.  I don't talk with her much anymore.  We lived on the same floor our freshman year, and didn't really hang out after that, but we are still friends on Facebook.  I'm excited for her and her husband.  Though I will be honest...all these babies give me a little itch.

I have a few other friends who will be expecting later this year and the beginning of next year and sometimes I wish that was me.  But I realize it's just not the right time yet.  We have to wait on God's timing and I know that he WILL choose the right time for us to start a family.  Steve has told me a few times he really does want kids, but we just got into the Coast Guard, we're still adjusting to this lifestyle and we're just not quite ready to give up the freedom that comes by not having kids.  It's hard enough just with the dog, making sure he has a place to stay if/when we travel or finding a pet friendly hotel, and running home between shifts to let him out to go potty.  He's our baby for now.  I know the Lord has plans for us, I have a desire to have children (and not just one), and right now those two things just aren't lining up.  Patience...that is the key for me and to just wait on the Lord.  I truly believe he gives you the desires of your heart, just not always at the time you ask for them.  Someday I'll become a mommy and Steve a daddy, and it will be wonderful...for now though I wait.  And I pray.

I pray for healthy children.  For healthy pregnancies.  For children who grow up to love the Lord and walk with Jesus.  For wisdom in parenting so that our children will love the Lord and walk with Jesus.  And especially, I pray for patience to wait on God's timing and not my own.  For they are his plans that I am following, not mine.

Faith

I read this on a friend's Facebook this morning:

Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." When we are certain God is in control of these areas and we live like He is in control, that is faith. Ultimately, the way we see God will determine the shape of our faith. If we see a big, faithful, all-powerful God, then our faith will rise to those levels. If we see a small, distant, less active God, then faith will plateau at those levels.

She mentioned in a comment that she read it in her Bible this morning and just wanted to share.  Now I just wanted to share it with you.  It's the verse that's tattooed on my ankle, a life verse for me really.  And the essence of what this blog was created for.  To share our journey of walking and living by faith.

I know that God is in control, that we really are walking by faith because on this side of the giant leap, things are wonderful.  It was scary a few months ago not knowing where we'd be living after Steve graduated, but now after being here for almost 4 months it's not so scary.  And we trusted that God would put us in a place where we'd be used for His glory; where we could make a difference not just with the work that Steve would be doing, but with friends and a church family as well.

Just a few of those things include: getting involved with our church in both small groups and now middle school youth leaders this fall, making new Coast Guard friends, and being able to have a successful budget and building up our savings.  God has blessed us with so much here in our new home, and while work may be stressful at times and being away from family sucks, we are so very happy.

I've always been taught what my friend posted on FB, but I've never seen it lived out personally like I have in this one step of faith that we've taken.  I often wonder where God is going to take us next; I'm not worried.  Because I know that as long as we remain faithful, as long as we continue to see a big God who answers prayers (even if it's not how we think they should be answered), he WILL take care of our every need.  And in turn, our faithfulness will increase.  I known mine has...

And as the NKJV states: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen"

Reflections

First...the 30 Day Husband Appreciation Challenge.  I think the biggest change I've seen over the past week is my response to problems that arise.  I used to snap a lot, and get frustrated easily when things didn't get done in a certain time.  Lately though, I've been holding my tongue.  Yes, I do get upset inside, but after I think about not saying anything negative, the emotions subside and I realize it wasn't that big of a deal after all.  Case in point...just this evening my soon to be sister-in-law called to figure out some last minute details.  Their wedding is August 6, and both my husband and I are in the wedding.  She asked what time we'd be arriving since the rehearsal dinner depends on when we get there.  I realized Steve hadn't booked any tickets or our hotel room yet.  He had looked at flights a week or more ago, but never booked anything because he was waiting for his leave to get approved.  So I texted him and asked about this, with a little frustration on my part.  He responded that he's been busy with work (which he has been VERY busy getting qualifications done), so instead of harping on him, I kept the frustration to myself and said I understood he was busy and that I loved him.  He then asked me to call him at work, and lo and behold he had called the airlines 3 different times and gotten a pretty good deal on tickets.  HE CAME THROUGH!  YAY!  And that is why I love this challenge.  It has given me a new perspective.  One that I knew I needed to have, but didn't always say/do the right things in an encouraging and positive way.  I think my husband has seen a change too because he commented the other day about how happy I was, and that he likes coming home to a happy wife.  All it took was a shift in attitude for me, and I am grateful that I stumbled across this challenge...but I think Someone else was guiding my steps as well.

Second...church today was fantastic.  To think that I even considered heading to the lake with some friends and skipping church blows my mind after experiencing the worship I did this morning.  The worship team at our church is always different, so you never know who's going to be there on any given Sunday until you get there.  Today I am so glad I decided to wait to go to the beach til after church.  The group was one that has only been at our church once before, but I loved them and was excited to see them there again today.  They have drums and electric and bass guitars, so it's kind of a rocky feel and they play some of the faster paced worship songs.  They played 2 of their own songs, and then 3 of my favorites and 1 I've never heard before, but it was really good.  Mighty to Save, Glory to God, The Stand, and Forever Reign.  AMAZING!  The words in all of the those songs just spoke to my heart...I was on the verge of tears multiple times and had to just stop and listen and pray.  Here are just a few lines...

"Take my life and let it be all for You and for Your glory, take my life and let it be Yours" from Glory to God

"So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all.  So I'll stand my soul Lord to You surrendered, all I am is Yours" from The Stand

"So take me as you find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again.  I give my life to follow everything i believe in, now I surrender" from Mighty to Save

But it didn't end with worship.  Our pastor started a new sermon series on the book of Ephesians...one of my favorites.  He's doing an expository type series, where we'll be digging in to the book a few verses at a time, taking as long as he wants to teach us and going where the Holy Spirit leads.  I'm kind of excited about this.  I've never been a part of a church quite like the one we've discovered here.  And I'm really starting to enjoy everything about it.  It's different, but different doesn't mean bad.  In this case, different is exactly what I need right now.

Third...I am so grateful for the people that God has placed in our lives here in Wisconsin.  Yes, I miss our families and friends in Michigan and Ohio, but we are blessed to have crossed paths with the Coast Guard families here.  I also feel a weight on my shoulders, seeing that I'm not sure of their faith backgrounds.  I've never been an outspoken person, I'm fairly shy when meeting new people, but I think I've found why God has us here in Wisconsin.  To spread His light and word to those who don't know...which that's what He always wants us to do.  Right now, I hope they see the example of Christ in me as I've spent a lot of time with them over the last 2 months.  I also think they're helping me come out of my shell as well, seeing that I have actually gone out and done various things with these new friends.  I am glad to call them my friends, and I excited to see how these new friendships develop over the next couple years.

I'm sure I could write more, but I'll save those thoughts for another day.

A Community Church

We recently started a small group with 2 other older couples from our church.  The study follows our pastor's messages each Sunday, which have been on Margaret Feinberg's Verbs of God.  It's a great sermon series and study, but an off topic discussion got me thinking the other night.  All of us in our small group come from different denomination backgrounds.  That is bound to happen in a "community church" such as ours.  A comment was made last Tuesday at our 2nd group meeting about a difference compared to another church.  Having to do with an altar call.  Then another gentleman proceeded to reason why it was different at our church, and that he'd be a little uncomfortable with that type of thing since he's not used to it having been from different background.  The discussion could have gotten heated, but we all understand that we come from different backgrounds and have varying opinions on what should be included in a church service.  So the discussion was just that.  A discussion about what one thought could be better but what another was a little wary of.

Another prime example of discussion was lead by our pastor on Sunday.  We have an open forum for Q/A at the end of each sermon because our pastor is much more the "teaching" type than any pastor I've ever listened to.  One lady asked a particular question that could have caused a huge uproar because it's just one of those topics.  It was in regards to "calling."  Pastor Shannon wisely shared his thoughts, but steered clear of giving an answer that would divide.  He said that we should dig into the word for further study for ourselves.  Though he hasn't said it outright, I see that he is an advocate of making sure we're all on the same page regarding dogma, and the overarching beliefs of Christianity, but tries not to get members of our community church to take sides on other things that are more opinion.

This is why I love community churches.  I've never really understood denominations.  Aren't we all one in Christ?  I grew up in a denominational church, went through confirmation and learned about the history of the church in general and our specific denomination.  This church then became in essence non-denominational when the higher ups of the denomination were doing things that our church didn't think was right.  Then I went to a Wesleyan college and my whole belief system seemed to be quite different from theirs.  I had some of them challenged in particular classes, but I see now that it was good to think about what I actually believe.  Since getting married we've had a bad experience with a denominational church and 2 good ones with community churches.

I think that those who've come from a specific background and way of doing things have a hard time when their beliefs are challenged. Of course...who wouldn't?  But the great thing about a community church is that we all have our own opinions and as long as we keep the main thing, the main thing we can find solutions to the problems/differences that come up.  After all, Jesus was one to completely go off the beaten path and do things completely against the norm in his culture.

I wanted to lay out all my beliefs in the post but it might have to wait for another time.  This topic has just been on my mind lately.  I don't like divisions over things that won't matter in eternity.  The important thing is to know that God sent his only son to redeem us from our own sins.  To have a relationship with that son, Jesus Christ through prayer and reading the Word, and heeding the calls and nudgings of the Holy Spirit.

30 Day HAC Update

I meant to link up on Sunday, but Steve was home this weekend and we try to spend as much time together as possible when he's home, so I just didn't get a post in.  So here's a bit belated one...

This challenge is proving to be a bit harder than I originally thought it would.  Not because I'm having a hard time keeping out the negativity, but because I can't seem to let others know about the positives, and I feel that sometimes my only means of communication (a text to my husband) isn't very sincere.  But I'm trying...I just have to be more disciplined about it.  I know he likes hearing the encouraging things I have to say, and that it's very important for men to feel respected, so I hope that my words have let him see how much I respect and love him.

• Day 4 When we were in MI, I used to "dump" on my husband all the time.  I worked in a daycare/learning center and it was always hectic and busy and downright crazy some days.  I would get frustrated with him when he didn't get home at the same (or close to the same) time I did.  Especially if he was on a call and didn't let me know.  I don't want to say that it was the work environment because I know I should not have said/done some of the things I did, but now only working part-time things are much less hectic.  I am able to just listen to him when he gets home about stories from his last 48 hours.  I've praised him for all the hard work he's done in getting qualified quickly, and for being a good example to other guys at his station.  I also made him a 4th of July card today to let him know how proud I am of all the things he's accomplished in the last couple months.
• Day 5 I didn't do so well at this today.  I don't really talk to Steve's mom that much, but I'm certain both sides of our families know how much we love and cherish each other.  I will remember this in the future though, to tell each set of parents something my husband has done specifically well the next time I talk to them.
• Day 6 Today Steve was at the station again.  If he would have been home I would've had him get out his guitar and play some music.  Sometimes out of the blue he'll get the guitar out and play a worship song that's been stuck in his head, or one that he's wanted to play for awhile.  I love just sitting and listening to him, though I get the itch to play like he does, but I don't quite have it mastered yet.  In the end it's better that I just listen and we get to have our own little praise and worship time.  He actually has a lot of things he's very good at, and when other talk about how their husbands lack knowledge in certain areas, I can say that Steve is a pretty well rounded guy and knows a heck of a lot more about various things than I do.  Maybe these things are some of the positives I can talk about...I just don't want to sound like I'm bragging...
• Day 7 Again he was at the station...and this topic was one I definitely wanted to skip over.  I hate talking about finances.  I know this is horrible, that we need to talk about them, and it is the fault of neither one nor the other of us...this is a topic we need to work on together.
• Day 8 Another challenge that kind of got missed because I just assumed he knows how grateful I am to have a husband who knows and loves the Lord.  I realize that it is important to continue to thank him and the Lord for this blessing.  I think I might have to go back and do these challenges I've missed.
• Day 9  Today we had a date night.  We drove up north to eat at the Gibralter Grill.  On the drive up I let Steve do all the talking and I intently listened to him.  He likes to explain how things work, and often I just let him talk without really listening, but today I listened to every word about how boat propellers work and what happens when one gets "spun."  It was an enjoyable ride, and I liked hearing all his stories and explanations.  I know he appreciates when he can teach me something new...that's definitely a gift he has!
• Day 10 One of the things I appreciated most about Steve being gone for 8 weeks at boot camp was the letters.  He's always had a way with words, though writing not as much as speaking, and that is definitely one of the things that drew me to him.  Along with his encouragement and outgoing, fun loving personality.  The night things moved more towards boyfriend/girlfriend than just friends, he told me he wanted to pursue a relationship...and those were the exact words I wanted to hear.  I wanted to be pursued, I had given up trying to find the right guy to settle down with.  God definitely was working back then, and he still is now!

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