Change in the Air

I lift up praises to the Lord!  He is infinite and I am nothing.  Each day I am amazed over and over as I relish the changes of the seasons :-)

I wish I lived next to some gorgeous scenery such as this; however, I can always drive a short distance (20 miles or so) and enjoy the beauty of flora and fauna alongside flowing water the Lord has provided.

My daughter and I have been enjoying life for the last two years; free of mental abuse and control.  We have a home of our own and are flourishing between work, school, volunteering and continuing to pursue a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I have recently joined a small group (mentioned in a past post) and we have begun a study on the Book of Daniel.  I am excited to continue learning, understanding and applying the awesome knowledge the Lord has given us.

My life has changed quite drastically in the past two years and I am grateful and blessed.  The Lord has protected me and blessed me beyond all measure.

Blessings abound

Women of Faith ~ what an amazing event! If you have never been, please consider going. The speakers each had a specific topic they spoke to. Each one touched my heart in a special way.

Mandisa and Amy Grant were wonderful as well as the Women of Faith worship group. The ladies led us in spots of praise and worship throughout the entire two day event.

News update:

I have joined a women’s small group bible study on Saturday mornings. What a blessing these women are and I’ve only been going a couple of weeks :-)

Promiseland has started back up at church and I am working in the 2nd-4th grade room.

We are holding off any landscaping in the front yard so it will be dirt through the winter. However, we are going to be building our raised beds at the end of the month for our vegetable garden.

The Lord is mighty and I am glad!

Living ~ is there more?

 

I am feeling dissatisfied and I do not know why. I have a job, a home, a daughter, parents, siblings, co-workers/friends, brothers, and sisters-in-Christ.

I do realize that feelings are of this world and do not mean much in the large scheme of things.

I am blessed with so much that even saying I am feeling dissatisfied seems wrong.

This is a rambling of sorts; however, sometimes rattling stuff off helps to discard the feelings whatever they may be.

Being proactive may be the answer. I am volunteering more at church and hope to join a Bible-study small group. I know these will strengthen my faith and enrich my life.

My daughter and I are also continuing to work on our front yard-landscaping project with thoughts of new projects all the time. Very exciting, yet daunting, as well.

Life is full of ups and downs and this moment appears to be on the lower end of the slide.

My faith is in the Lord and I know He is always with me, especially when I feel “down in the dumps.”

Teaching Update

Teacher positions are few and far between.  I need a full-time position and none are to be found.  I know the Lord has a plan.  I am continuing to listen and wait; only He knows the path I am to follow.  Maybe a full-time teaching position isn't where I am to be; maybe using my degree and passion for reading in another arena...time will tell :-)

Passion

I continue to hear the Lord calling me to serve.  I went to school and got my teaching degree because I listened to Him.  I taught in a wonderful private Christian school due to His grace.  I left my teaching post under pressure from an abusive head-of-household.  I am currently not using my degree and miss teaching (I always have missed it!).

I am actively pursuing a teaching position.  I know that if I listen and obey, God will provide and lead me to the right place.

He is good and I am blessed!

Memorial Day

My daughter asked me about the meaning of Memorial Day.  A tradition our family has is taking flowers to the cemetery of those we love; however, those we love did not serve in the military.

Memorial Day is in honor of those in service presently, past and deceased.  It was first celebrated on May 5, 1868 for Union soldiers who had died in battle.  Throughout the years, the tradition gained popularity; however, it was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, the Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The holidays included Washington's Birthday, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971.

My family will continue our special tradition; however, my daughter's question was a great reminder of our "3-day weekend" and what it really means.

R.I.P.

Sadness abounds in my heart. As I ponder the inevitability of death, I am overwhelmed with emotions ranging from abandonment to confusion to peace. My Auntie Ruth had a full life, she was in her early 90s and was married to a wonderful man, had loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My grandmother’s best friend will be missed by many; family and friends alike.


Death is a familiar word these days. My office has had sadness after sadness: a co-worker’s friend’s husband, a co-worker’s husband, a co-worker’s cousin and now my great aunt. The horror of these deaths is that they have all been within the span of six weeks.

As a Christian, I know that there is life after death. I do not know the spiritual walk of any of those that have recently passed away. My prayer is that they all knew the Lord and believed in Him.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4