It's been a while

So it's been a while since I've last updated my blog. It's crazy how time can just seem to slip by. Today's blog is short. I'm in need of prayer right now. More specifically that I would just have peace. Thank you in advance. It's nice to know I have friends and family I can count on to pray.

Photos!

Yesterday Michael and I thought it would be nice to go to a park, walk around, take some pictures, and be outside because it was such a beautiful day. Little did we know that it was Homestead Heritage Day! This was great because I had wanted to practice taking some pictures for my class. I had so many opportunities to take fun pictures! We enjoyed watching the Civil War re-enactment. Although it was really funny because they had the south win the battle. They also painted the North in a really bad light (they were being mean to the southern folks-taking their food, pushing them around, etc.). I guess that's what we should have expected since we're in the south! Since my dear friend Golda has requested to see some pictures (thanks by the way! I was just waiting for someone to ask!!), I'm posting some below. I'm also posting some I took of Colby (our dog) at home. He's a very photogenic dog!

This picture of the little boy is the only one I've tried photo editing so far. The photo came out a little bit blurry, but I still like it!
It was neat to watch this woman. She was taking wool and spinning it into thread.

This was Colby getting a bath. He absolutely hates getting wet! But he's just so darn cute!!
I think Colby's gotten used to me taking pictures of him. The sound of the camera used to make him jump a little. Now it doesn't seem to phase him.

One day at a time

No strike! At least that's what I understand. I think it's just a matter of formality now. Thank you so much for all your prayers! It's great to get to have my husband home with me!!

One of the biggest things that God is showing me right now is how to take just one day at a time. I can't even count the number of people that gave me that advice, but for some reason it never really sunk in until now. I'm a "big picture" kind of person. I like to plan well in advance and know what's going to happen down the road. The best way I can think to describe just how much I like to know the outcome of things is the way I feel about movies or television. Once I start watching a show, I have to now how it's going to end. Even if I don't like it, I just don't like to be left to wonder. Cliff hangers are the worst! It's just pure toture to have to wait a week to find out! So the thought of focusing on one day at a time and not worrying about what lies ahead is a tricky one for me. But still, more and more I've come to realize I have to give all that over to God. He says "So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34. So true! I find when I start to focus on making plans for the future (other than necessary ones... like attending events or planning vacations etc.) I get anxious and stressed out. When I focus on one day at a time and rely on God's strength for that day, wow! I can't believe how much easier the day is. So, that's where I am right now. Learning to rely on God for just one day at a time, enjoying blessings He gives me each day. Not to say it's not still a struggle sometimes, but I'm learning.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. It's such a comfort to know that we have friends and family praying for us!

Great news! The strike is not on yet! Michael went in tonight and was told to go home due to a 24 hour extension. So for now at least he gets to be at home!!! Thanks for all your prayers! I'll continue to post as we found out more.

I enrolled in a photography class! It's online and only six weeks, but I'm really excited. It was weird to study for my quiz. I felt like I was back in college again! It has assignments each week. Fortunately I have a super hot husband that's willing to let me take pictures of him. And yes...I will be posting some throughout the class! I have to say I was really impressed with how long he stood outside in the cold while I messed with my camera settings and tried to get just the right picture. I love my husband!

On that note, Michael's work is possibly going to be striking next week. Since he is not a worker that would go on strike, he would actually have to work extra to replace the workers that aren't there. Plus, the first two weeks of the strike they would lock all workers in and not let them leave since they are unsure of the picket line. This is bad timing for us since next week would be the first week we can officially start trying for another little blessing. So please keep us in your prayers regarding this issue.

4 days ago my music minister at my church asked me to sing a song this coming Sunday. Right after Nolan passed away I heard a song on the radio and decided that I wanted to sing it, but truthfully, it's hard at times to really sing this song from my heart. The song says "let the earthquake, our hope is unchange". Yes, my hope is unchanged, but sometimes I do want the earth to just be still for a while. But ultimately I know that I need to just give it all to God. He is my hope, so who am I to tell Him when or when not to shake up my world. He is my source of strength, so I know that it is through Him I can endure. So, I've decided to sing the song this weekend. I wanted to share the lyrics with you all. They are beautiful. Natalie Grant's songs always seem to really minister to me. Hopefully you'll find comfort in it too.
"Our Hope Endures"

You would think only so much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume that this one has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here

Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear
But our hope endures
the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged

How do we comprehend peace within pain
Our joy at a good man's wake
Walk a mile with a woman whose body is torn
With illness but she marches on
Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear

But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged

Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
We never walk alone
This is our hope

Our hope endures,
the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
let the earth quake
let the earth quake
let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged

Spontaneous!

Michael and I have recently gotten into taking spontaneous trips together. Michael's birthday was the 31st of December, and we decided just a few days before it that we were going to drive up to Colorado and go skiing. It was so much fun to just hop in the car and go. We drove through the night (it took almost 20 hours!) without stopping to Winter Park and enjoyed two days of skiing. We soon discovered we were not the most skilled skiers, but we had a blast! This weekend we went to visit one of my friends from college who lives out in the country. It's so peaceful there. On Saturday night we built a bonfire and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over it. The weather was perfect. It was just a little bit chilly, so I ended up falling asleep in front of the fire that felt nice and warm. I woke up abruptly when the coyotes started howling. It sounded like they had us surrounded, but Whitney assured me that they sound closer than they really were. Unfortunately I forgot my camera and missed many opportunities to take beautiful pictures this past weekend.

I'm really hoping to start seriously getting into photography. I'm really good at starting things, but horrible at seeing them all the way through. So, if you need something to pray about, please pray that I have the discipline to really start practicing photography. I've always enjoyed taking pictures, but I'm hoping to develop it into more than just a hobby. I'd like to be good enough that I can one day join Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and use that as an opportunity to offer comfort to those going through a situation similar to ours.

There are many times that I want to speak up and say something, but I'm to worried it won't come out right so I don't say anything at all. Then I usually regret that I didn't speak up. This morning was one of those times. During Sunday school there was a discussion on suffering and questions we have about why we suffer (at least that's what it was about when I walked in. Praise band practice ran a little late and then I talked afterwards. So needless to say I was super late getting to Sunday school today.). I figured since I didn't say anything this morning, I would go ahead and say it here. So many times I have heard the question "why? Why would God allow this to happen?" I think it's clear, for His glory. I'm so thankful to know what Job did not know. Job has so many questions for God and wants Him to answer. What I find so amazing is that God did answer him, but just not like Job would have thought. God reminded Job who He was and is. He didn't explain why, just that He is Almighty and Creator. After God was done, Job's questions went away. It was enough for him to know that God was God and He was in control. When I read that part in Job, I really felt that God was speaking directly to me. The only thing I need to know is that Nolan's life and death served to bring glory to God, and God is in control.

I think the other reason God allows us to suffer is to give us a yearning for heaven. The book I'm reading that talks about Job points out how Job yearned for heaven because his suffering was so great. Honestly, if this life never had suffering and pain- who would want to leave it? While I find joy in living my life and serving God, I also look forward to the day I get to meet Him in heaven. I think it's hard to even begin to imagine a place with no more pain and suffering. I really don't think we as humans can even start to fathom how amazing a place it's going to be.

Basically, I think it comes down to this- who are you living your life for? Yourself or God. No suffering is to great to bear when your life is centered around God. I think the toughest thing is giving up our own plans and dreams we have for ourselves and surrendering them to God and letting His will be done. When I was reading my book today, I read something that really made me stop and think. The author said that often times we pray for the miracle we want whether it be a miraculous healing or a dream of ours to come true, and then we tag on the end of our prayer that God's will be done. Instead we should pray that His will be done and if it's inside His will that those other things may be done. This is a tough thing to do and something I struggle with. I have my hopes and dreams and plans for my life. But as I was reminded this morning, it is about His will and not mine.