Lead of Love

My husband already wrote a blog about us being here for a year, but I have a few things that I would like to say too.

There is an old Caedmon's Call song entitled "Lead of Love" and my favorite line from that songs says, "I had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view, but looking back I see the lead of love." As I have been thinking back on the past year that lyric really sums up how I feel.

July 20th (yesterday) marked the one year anniversary of Cade and I moving to Henryville, IN. It has been a good year, but there have been a few rocks that we had to climb to get us to the point where we are now...

When Cade and I first decided to move it really wasn't a hard decision to make. I was on board, ready to start a new adventure. I knew I would miss Mississippi, my family, and my friends, but I also understood that this is what God was calling Cade and I to do. I must admit that one of the things that made the move easier for me was the fact that I would get a teaching job that would give me descent hours and pay, really good holidays (and summers off), and snow days (FYI driving in the snow.....NOT FUN). Well I did not and do not have that teaching job. Instead of that job I work two part time jobs. They are good about giving me time off so I can travel home and see my family, but when I don't work I dont get paid and I dont get SNOW DAYS. I am still looking for a teaching job, but in this economy it has been a constant struggle for me. But God is still in control and the way he has provided for Cade and I has been truly amazing. His provision is a constant reminder that we are where we are supposed to be, doing what He wants us to do.

In November, my grandfather died. That was really hard for me because I didn't get to see him before he ded. I knew he was really sick, but Cade and I couldnt go home. We moved in July and between school and work we just couldn't get home. So our first trip back home was in November for my grandfather's funeral. I hate that I didn't get a chance to see him before he died. But I know that he is in heaven with Christ and because he is with Jesus, he wouldn't want to be back on this earth and I will see him again.

One of the smaller rocks we climbed was winter weather. I love cold weather and I love snow but there comes a point when enough is enough!!!! It wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have to drive in it almost everyday - that was not fun at all. But God was my guide and I am thankful that He got me everywhere I needed to go safely. And now we are ready for cold weather again, because we are HOT (98 degrees with a heat index of 110 degrees)!

In April, Cade's grandmother (Memaw) died. I am so happy that he was able to see her at Thanksgiving and Christmas. And take it from someone who knows....holidays without loved ones are really hard. But we survived that too!!!

I know these were a lot of difficult things that we went through, but we have had some amazing times as well and we have done things we never thought we would do likedressing up as a wise man or a rapping cow (Clara!) in a Christmas program, singing a solo in church, leading a women's ministry, driving around the interstates of Lousiville. We have made amazing friends who have become our second family. This past year is one that I will always cherish. It is a year that I will look back on and say was good. It was a good year because we were led by love....the lead of Christ. I am so excited to start our second year in Henryville. Yeah there will be hard times, but the same one that led us last year will lead us still!!!!!

Someday

.I have been thinking about the word "someday" alot lately. We seem to throw that word out there when we are wishing of what will come next in our lives. Its a word that gives us hope and reasons to dream...... I know for me, my thoughts have been:
Someday I will have a bigger house and can have more guest come over
Someday I will have a new car
Someday I will buy nicer things
Someday I will get a better (teaching) job
Someday my husband will graduate seminary
and countless more somedays cross my mind....
I walk in the mall and I see a furniture store, or if I walk in Kirlands, or Hobby Lobby etc.... and I see all these cute things that I want to put in my house and I think, maybe one day I can decorate my house really cute with some of these things.

We live and base our lives on someday. But we cannot count out today. After all, doesn't scripture tell us thats its the one day we have. Tomorrow does not exist yet. (James 4:13-17)

I am not saying to stop hoping and dreaming and planning for your future. Go right ahead and plan. I am going too!!! We cannot help but dream and think about good things that we want. But we must remember that only one Man has the plans marked out for our lives (I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord) and also remember if He choses not to give us everything we wish for someday (big house, new car, TEACHING JOB) we still have everything because Jesus+everything= everything and Jesus + nothing= still equals EVERYTHING

Christ is everything. He is sufficient. Don't grumble and complain when you (or I) dont get what we want because if we have Christ...then we dont need anything else. He died for us, that should be enough.

Having good things is not bad, but remember the One who gave them too you. So dont stop wishing for someday things...its good to dream and hope!!! But remeber Christ and make TODAY count for Him!

Trying New Things

I haven't had much to blog about lately. For the most part things have been normal (work, erands, etc...) but this week has been a little different. It has been a week of trying new things.

1. Cade and I planted a vegetable garden. Cade has had a little gardening experience, I on the other hand had no idea what I was getting into, but I thought it was a good idea and I thought it would be fun. So a gracious couple in our church gave us a little land and we planted our little garden. We planted squash, bell pepper, okra, tomatoes, corn and egg plant. I really hope it turns out!!!!!!

2. I made my first birthday cake (I know you're probably thinking, "big deal: cake mix and a can of icing and you got a cake right?" NO!!! Little did I know that when I started this project, that I was about to embark on a 5 hour jouney!! Thank you Sonia Jenkins for you guidance in this project. I have gained new respect for all of those professional cake decoraters! My cake was just a two layer cake (layers not tiers) So I can only imagine how long it takes to make the three, four, or five tier cake. Although I know they are the professionals and this was just my frst attempt! It may not be picture perfect, but I think my mom will like it. I will post pics later, but I want what it looks like to be a surprise for my mom!


So this may not have been the most interesting update, but its what is going on with life right now!

Thinking Out Loud

So I have been thinking a lot about teaching lately. Being a teacher was my profession before Cade and I moved to Indiana. Well I was a teacher one year and a teachers assistant for two years. But either way I was in a school system...

I don't exactly know what has me thinking so much about it, maybe it has to do with the atmosphere of the school year ending. So I would like to tell you some of the things that I have been thinking.... (Keep in mind that I have taught everywhere from Kindergarten to High School)

I miss teaching. To some that may sound crazy, but its the truth, I really miss teaching. I miss the first days of school where teachers are working frantically to prepare their rooms and lesson plans. I miss the excitement of Homecoming Week and pep rally's or Prom when the girls are talking about how to wear their hair or what color nail polish to wear. I miss the stress of exam week when kids are worried about their test, and getting to encourage them and telling them that I believe in them. I miss the end of the year as we take down or posters and clean our rooms and go to our last meetings and walk out the door to enjoy the summer.

That was more for high school, so know I will turn my head to the little ones. I miss their little smiling faces, I miss reading them stories, I miss having them read to me, I miss their excitement when I played there favorite songs (Bear Hunt) I miss having to explain things to them and seeing their faces once they understood what I said. I miss their hugs.

I miss alot of things about teaching. Now I am not saying it is perfect. There is plenty I dont miss (attitudes, not listening, bad behavior etc...) but the things I miss far out weigh the the things I don't miss.

I chose teaching because I thought it was the perfect career for me. I liked the holidays and the summer off. And that would make things easier living so far away from my families. But before seminary no one tells you that you may not be able to do the job you want, but you gotta have a job to make ends meet. S0 far God has another plan for me. He does not having me teaching right now and I know that He has a purpose and a plan for that. I just wish I knew what it was. So my prayer is that you would pray that I may find a teaching job and until I do that I would have a good attitude about the job I have know. Thanks!

Lessons Learned

Well, maybe I will do better with this blog...we'll see! I have a hard time motivating myself to write. But anyway....Cade made it through his first year of classes at Southern Seminary. Some of his classes were difficult, but he LOVED them all. And it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. He didn't keep himself locked in his office every night. When we were first discussing going to seminary , I thought he would be studying all the time and I would never see him. Thankfully that hasn't been the case!!

Not only has Cade been learning a lot in schoo, but I have learned alot of new things too since moving up here (Indiana) and I want to share a few of those things with you.

1. Being away from home is hard but beneficial. Cade and I are learning better responsibilty and learning to depend on God and each other

2. God provides for our EVERY need. Whether it's finacial, emotional, tangible, etc....God gives us everything we need, when we need it (not too early and not too late)

3. I am capable of doing more than I thought I could. ( leading a women's ministry, teaching Sunday School, singing a solo in the church, and being in a Christmas play)

4. God does things His way. I am a certified teacher, who is not teaching. I really miss teaching, but God has me doing two other jobs right now. I have the jobs I have because thats what God wants.

God is Sovering over all. I wouldn't want it any other way!


So my plan is to keep up this blog...writing every few days or at least once a week. I hope it goes well!!!!