Answered Prayers!

Sorry for updating once a month. Hopefully I will get better at this. This past month has been a challenging one. I have been spiritually exhausted praying and leaning on God's faithfulness. I know that in hard times we can get weak which makes it harder to speak truth to ourselves, but God wants us to hold on just a little bit longer and trust him. This is what Vince and I did. If it wasn't for 1 Corinthians 1:9 stuck in my head I don't know how far I might have fallen. "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" Reminding myself that even though I might not feel God there, he is. And what a sight it is when He reveals himself in the most time of need. What a joy it is to experience God this way. Don't get me wrong it has been extremely hard, we have struggled and sacrificed so much. If you want to see God's love for you, then Go sell everything you have and buy the field!

The Answered Prayers:

Vince got a full time job with benefits!! Can't wait to go to the doctor's just because I can! For some of you that don't know I am a nanny. We have one camp deposit and should be expecting more!! Vince coaching track has been a blessing, we have a lot of interest from the team. I have a girl that wants to go but she was going on a mission trip and decided not to go but they are making her pay for the whole thing even though she's not going anymore, so her mom can't pay for both:( Her name is Patty.

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for us. What an encouragement it is to know people are praying when I feel to weak and defeated. And you are a part of these answered prayers.

What's Going On!

It has been a month since I lasted updated about our life, probably because nothing was really happening. Since we took our trip home for the Kruskamp wedding a few exciting things have happened. First of all, our trip home was refreshing and much needed. Mom and dad picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Larosa's! I spent just about every morning with Andrea and Braylen, he is so big and talking more. It was great to spend time with my family, I miss them so much. It was fun playing games with the family, outburst(the ladies won!), and scattergories ( Andrea's favorite plus Guy wasn't there he hates that game), and Just Dance, dad and mom both played it was awesome! Dad bet Andrea a couple of times.

I got to surprise Jen for her bachelorette party we both cried. It was a joy to see her and spend the day with her and the bridesmaids. Vince and I were very busy trying to see everyone. Hanging out with Lloyd students, to friends, bachelor parties, going to the reds game which they won!

Jen and Keenan's wedding was so much fun! I enjoyed how we all got to be together and ride on the party bus(haha). Jen looked beautiful and her dress was awesome! The food was delicious! On their way home from their honeymoon Jen and keenan had a four hour layover in Charlotte so Vince, Andrew, and I got to have dinner with them and walk around the city. God had that planned from the beginning!

It was sad to leave home again but our life is in Gastonia right now and God kept affirming that even when we were gone. I got a phone call from someone (Megan) who wants me to babysit and then the next day got an email from someone (Heather) who wants me to be their nanny. Megan is a stay at home mom with three children who wants help and Heather is a part-time nurse. It turns out that I will be able to do both! I am putting my two weeks in at Pier One! Vince got a call from the Census in Gastonia and got the job. Its for 8 weeks and is good money. He also has two interviews, one today and one tomorrow! (he really wants the one from today, a bank job). It has been a crazy ride so far and I know its going to stay that way for awhile but what an exciting, scary ride it has been. We have been seeing God in ways we would never have if we didn't move.

Sleepover!

Sorry it has been ten days since I last wrote. Friday night I had a sleep over with the high school girls I lead the bible study for. There were 3 Forestview girls there and 2 girls that go to a Christian school. We had fun, played Just Dance thanks to Casey for getting it for us. I made them watch How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days because only one of those girls has seen the movie, I was shocked. They are a great group of girls and I enjoy being around them. It was different than home because parents dropped them off and picked them up and I was thanked over and over by the parents for having them over. To me this is normal, this is what we do with high school students. I feel encouraged about Young Life and getting in started. I know five girls that are all friends that could go to summer camp! That would be awesome. Vince is coaching track and meeting new people and trying to build a friendship with them.

Vince, Andrew and I joined Gaston Community Church this morning. Being a part of this church has been great. Everyone has been supportive of Young Life. The hardest thing is there is no people are age that attend the church.

Pier One is good. I work about 3 days a week. I wish I could decorate my home with just about everything in the store! Vince isn't to thrilled about that!

On tuesday we went to the Charlotte Bobcats game. Paul and Casey came to visit so it was a fun thing for us to do and the tickets are $10 on tuesdays. I have never been to a NBA game and they sure are fun. Vince was even getting into the game.

Go Cats!!!!!!!

Answered Prayers!

God has been working even if we don't see it. I finally got a job. I will be working at Pier One, it's not full time but I have to take what is given because we need to have some source of income. Vince is so close to a sale, we are just waiting for the lady to say yes. Thank you for all the prayers about a job for me because it's answered!

Vince, Andrew, Andrew S.(a guy we are trying to get to lead), and I went to Windy Gap in Saturday to give Andrew S. a little taste of Young Life because he has never been a part of it. It was Wyld Life weekend camp. It was so different not just because it was Wyld Life. I'm not sure how to describe it. It sure was great to be at a Young Life camp reminding me of the purpose, to reach high school students for Christ. God has been teaching me a lot about stepping out in faith. I have been reading The Cross and the Switch-blade and it is awesome! The way David listens to God and goes without questioning is amazing. The things that could happen in Gaston Co. if all three of us obeyed like that is unimaginable! Our God is big!

It is still hard being away from everyone and feeling like I'm missing out like on Cory's baby shower, and Jen's wedding shower, and seeing a picture of Steph's baby boy, dinner with my family, putting Braylen to sleep on Tuesday nights when they are at bible study. Those are the things I miss. As hard as that is I know in God's big plan there is purpose in us being here.

The Weekend

Had a great weekend with the family. I'm so thankful that mom, dad, Andrea, Guy, and Braylen were able to come visit us for a few days! Yes that means there was seven of us in our two bedroom apartment but I loved it! Braylen is getting so big! Here is a list of what we did:

Friday:Hung out at our home and took naps, roast for dinner, then went to the camper show (ironic there's a camper show the same weekend my parents visit)

Saturday:Went to World Market which is a really cool store!, Dad, Andrea, Vince, and I took a walk while Guy did homework and mom took like a two hour nap! We had dinner with Andrew and his parents who came for his birthday. Watched the UK game during dinner, C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS!

Sunday:They left:( It was a great time and I loved every second of it.

Had an interview yesterday with Pier One so pray that I get it.

God has been providing money for us through other people. What a way to experience Him. There are so many ways we are experiencing Christ that we wouldn't experience if we didn't move. It's not easy, this is the hardest thing I have ever gone through but this is where God wants me to be.

It's Been Awhile!

Sorry I let two weeks go by without updating my blog. Not much has changed, I still haven't found a job but I'm still applying. I am meeting with someone tomorrow that Steve Gardner has set me up with that might have a position for me. I also have an interview with Pier One on monday, at this point anything will do. Vince hasn't made a sale but he has a meeting tomorrow that looks promising! He is also applying (right now) for the Census Bureau which will start in April if he gets it, lets hope so!

Vince and I celebrated Valentines Day with dinner at home. We made chicken squares our favorite! We got dressed up and that was fun. We also went out to Hickory Tavern with Andrew because the UK game was on and we didn't want to miss them beating Tennessee!

This weekend my family is coming to visit and we can't wait. We miss them so much. Can't wait to see how big Braylen has gotten.

This time that I have shared with Vince has been great. Learning new things about each other and helping each other with the move. Its been a challenge that is only bringing us together in Christ. We wouldn't be able to this at home. God is good!

Snowy Weekend

Vince and I had a great weekend hanging out with Danielle and Tyler. She almost didn't come but thanks to Tyler hopping on last minute she did! We didn't get to go out and do much because it snowed like crazy friday night and no one knows how to clear the roads. School was closed monday and tuesday but it only snowed on friday. It's hilarious how everyone freaks out, everything was closed saturday night except for McDonalds, Walmart. Because of the snow Danielle stayed an extra day!

Vince has his first potential sale! Something we need cause I still can't find a job. I signed up for two babysitter/nanny services so hopefully something will come from that. I found out the unemployment rate is 13%, 3% more than the nation. Still trying to trust God with money and being smart with what He gives us.

We miss and love everyone! Adjusting a little bit every day.