20
Nov
Me: Jules, give me a Ninja pose.
And he obliged.
18
Nov
One month ago, I wrote about how boring my life is, and how my son gives me a sense of purpose. Well….while my son is the primary focus, things have definitely changed.
The day I wrote that post I found out that my oldest friend had passed away after an 8-year battle with breast cancer. We had been friends since we were 5 years old. I cannot even begin to describe the loss and grief I felt. She truly was the sister I never had. She was the one friend who I could truly be myself with, the one who knew me, understood me, and loved me anyway. She has 3 children who I love like my own, and now I have to honor her by looking after them. They won’t be living with me, but I make sure I stay in close contact with them. I can’t replace her in their lives, but I can do my best to make that hole a little less empty.
Church happenings: My church is going through a period of transition. In February, our pastor, Rev. Maurice Doss, suffered an aneurysm. Since then, the church has kept on, but there is something in the air…some kind of spiritual renewal that is coming. When the associate pastors took turns preaching each week, as different as their sermons are, the same message was coming from the pulpit: We need to clean up our act and get back to basics. These messages were not coordinated beforehand. I think we need to straigten up and pay attention. In these months since our pastor has been away, I’m noticing changes all the time: We’re re-evaluating how we’re doing things, in light of God’s Word. Two areas that I am passionate about are the Youth Ministry and Sunday School. I am seeing GREAT changes there. We are about to adopt a truly Reformed curriculum which is not watered down or trying to be “relevant”. As a Sunday School teacher, I asked our pastor last year if I could begin going through the Westminster Shorter Catechism with the teens, and he gave his permission. This new curriculum is going to blend right in with that. Now…it might require more time. The Catechism study will probably have to be moved to a different day of the week. I’m cool with that. I’ve also been asked to help choose topics/books to study for the whole church. One book that I recommended in the summer is going to be used in 2009 as a study for the entire church.
Youth Ministry: We have a new Youth Minister. Well, not new to the church, but new to the position. He’s mapped out structure and strategy for the Youth Ministry. In his structure, there are plenty of positions that need to be filled so that the strategy can be implemented effectively. I have been name as the Discipleship Director, which means that I will be responsible for what they learn, as well as for explaining and providing ways for them to live out their Christianity in tangible and God-glorifying ways. So I get to check out books, come up with ideas, and implement new things to point the youth in the right direction. One thing I definitely want to do is to start a small group for the girls in my home (when I move in early 2009, yet another change!) and to encourage one of the godly men to begin one for the boys.
Just this past Sunday, my pastor came back to preach. Everyone was overjoyed! We had one service instead of two, since he’s not strong enough. You could just feel the joy, thanksgiving and expectation in the atmosphere. It was so wonderful to see him in the pulpit again. He preached, and his voice and mind were just as they had been. However, at the end of his sermon, he tendered his resignation, citing health issues. He did not name the issues, but from the words he used, I clearly understood that they were serious. He said that he did not want to be a part-time pastor, and based on how he had pastored before his illness, I can certainly understand that. He’s been the pastor for 25 years, 22 of which I’ve been a member. He’s well respected and well loved. It was a sad day….because he was not just resigning. He was saying goodbye….as if he knows his time here is short. I still don’t feel right. But I am confident that his past leadership and trust in God has gotten our church to where it is now, and I am even more confident that God will lead us on where to go from here. I believe all of these changes, the sweet and not-so-sweet, will work out for our good. I’m grateful to God that I can be a part of it.
On the work front: I stared my job as a temp in August 2007. From the beginning my supervisor liked my work. So much so that she fought to make my position permanent. I was officially hired in March 2008. At my six-month review, she encouraged me to become part of the Quality Assurance Committee, which oversees standards and practices, evaluates outcomes, and suggests changes. I joined it, and now she wants me to be the chairperson of the committee. She told me today that I have leadership skills and that this would be great for my personal and professional development. I had my doubts, because everyone on the committee has been here longer than me. She said she would help me and point me toward the training I need. Our next meeting is two days from now….and it appears that the job is mine. More responsibility, but definitely not boring!
In the midst of all of this, I got a letter stating that my extremely old, but unpaid student loans were out of deliquency! I had been going through loan rehabilitation since March. It was supposed to be for six months, but in the midst of all the other things going on in my life, I had totally forgotten about it. Now I am eligible for more financial aid, and I plan to take advantage of it. So prayerfully, in 2009, I will be going back to school to begin studying for a B.A. in Media and Professional Communications.
30 days. All of this happened within 30 days. I can no longer say my life is purposeless. I can no longer say I’m bored. I most certainly do not think that all of this is a coincedence; I know that it’s because the Lord heard me. He is AWESOME, and I am humbled that He is even mindful of me!
YouTube - BTW I’m Voting For Mccain / Palin.
Although I probably will NOT vote for McCant or the Obamination, I consider myself a conservative and I LOVE THIS DUDE!
From Desiring God blog:
When we help a young, unmarried mother in the midst of a pregnancy crisis save her baby, by God’s grace, the baby can save the mother.
The baby saves the mother out of a sinful sexual habit that was hollowing out her soul and self-esteem.
The baby saves her out of the entangling lies and stalking anxiety that attends premarital sex.
The baby saves her from blood-guilt.
The baby saves her out of a mechanized Christian walk and into a shaken-down and overflowing experience of biblical mercy.
The baby saves her out of a shallow, undirected faith and drives her to trust God for the forgiveness of her sins and for her daily bread.And all this can be true for young fathers, too.
When pregnancy is a crisis, it is a crisis of faith. When we are there to encourage faith by honoring life, it is amazing how often it turns out that Christ is formed in them.
Man….I know this is true. How do I know? Because I have lived it…and I still am.
23
Aug
20
Aug
My son is the happiest, silliest kid that I know. He knows nothing about being cool, or hard or being a tough guy. So why, now that he’s 8, does he assume this pose when I point the camera at him?
He couldn’t be hard if you wrote it on him.
I think he’ll have a great career in Hollywood.
15
Aug
Finished the second washcloth today. This pattern, Grandmother’s Favorite, was very easy. I started it this morning, and finished it this evening. I really love the colors (Peaches & Creme Pink Lilacs). I almost hate to give it away. BUT…..I did go to Walmart and I picked up more Peaches & Creme…..so I’ll be alright.
Knitting these cloths is addicting! Such a quick project. Instant Gratification. I’m all for that. There are so many patterns, with varying difficulty. It’s a great way to learn a new stitch without committing to a big project.
The next one I make will be a facecloth for myself. I’m not used to this knitting for other people. I feel deprived.
14
Aug
This is my first cloth. Started it at lunchtime while I was at work today and finished it during the Steeler game this evening. It was easy..AND I learned a new pattern.
The ends need woven in, and I’ll need to wash it before I give it to my coworker. She’s having a baby. I’m going to buy some bath stuff for the baby and include this cloth, and possibly another one, since they’re so easy to make.
13
Aug
This is my first real, COMPLETED, knitting project. I knitted this bag and felted it…OVER A YEAR AGO. I love it. So why haven’t I made anything else, other than a scarf for my mom? I DON’T KNOW!
I read about knitting and buy yarn more than I actually knit. I love knitting..I need to just DO it.
So starting tomorrow, I’m starting a quick and easy project: a dishcloth. Pictures will be forthcoming.
13
Aug
This is my current favorite picture of myself. This doesn’t happen often, but every once in a while, I take one that I really like. So..if you see me on a site that requires an avatar…this will most likely be it..until I take another favorite picture. lol
Why am I blogging with pictures now? Cuz Flickr makes it easy..and I’m testing out the feature!
