Lee and I work with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Lee's NEW truck!!!

We feel so loved. I know that we are loved, but we really feel it today. Joey & Angie Harville have been on our support team since our internship. They have been so faithful and encouraging to us. We've hung out with them several times through the years...and Lee's been able to talk trucks and hunting and all kinds of guy-country living things with Joey and the guys from Jena. Lee made the comment once that it was his dream to own a Chevy Silverado Z71. When it was time for Joey to get a new work truck, they remembered what Lee said, and they decided to give the old work truck to Lee. I think they were more excited about giving Lee the truck than they were to get the new truck!! So, Lee is the proud owner of a '98 Chevy Silverado Z71 4x4!!!
A crazy thing about the Kingdom of God is that we all have to trust God with our finances and everything else that we own. He gives it to us - whether we're in full-time vocational ministry or not. When I was a teacher, HE was the One who provided my job and my salary. Sure, the money came in at the same time every month, but He was the One who made it happen...not the school board. Now that we're missionaries, and our finances come through people who choose to support us, and it's not always the same amount or at the same time every month...we know that God is still in charge of our finances. Being missionaries, He just chooses to have us partner with people. It's been a test of our faith on multiple levels, but God has been so faithful to us. He has given us more than we need...like a Z71 truck...a house with a yard..."Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." He really has. He's been so good to us. In the times when things are hard, we can look around and see the things that God has provided for us. We can know that He has our best interest in mind. He cares so deeply for us...not because we're missionaries, but because we're His children. He cares for you just as much too...

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Preparing for a New Baby

I'm not due until August 30th. I tell everyone that I have a feeling that this baby is coming sooner. Honestly, I don't know if I'm more ready for a baby or to not be pregnant! :o) I know that everything is going to change...there will be 2 babies crying instead of 1 - because I know that Bella will be inspired to cry when the new one cries. We've already seen that happen with other babies. I know she'll get used to it, but it will be an interesting beginning, I'm sure.
It's exciting to know that our family is going to grow. Bella will have someone to play with. That will be fun to watch. We've talked about how the older baby doesn't get a lot of attention when the new baby comes around, but I don't think we will have that problem. Bella is the star of Chi Alpha. Of course everyone will want to see Brennan, but Bella still has the floor. Everyone gets so excited to see her, afterall, they are her friends! They love her and want to see her. She's going to be ok.
I'm actually going to ask for help more this time around. When we had Bella, we were just getting on staff. I don't know why I felt like I needed to be supermom and do it all myself. It was such a rough time for me. This time, I'm already planning to ask our babysitters to come over just to play with Bella while I take a nap or take a shower. They can bring a friend even! I've heard that girls open up even more when there's a baby around! I just know that God has brought us to this community of students for a reason, and it's important for us to open our lives to them. The girls who watch Bella regularly have great families...but a lot of our students come from broken homes. They need to see what a functional Christian family is like to have the hope that they can have this for themselves someday. We're happy to be a model of what God can have instore for them! We have been told before by a student that they actually considered having kids after they saw me & Lee with Bella...because they didn't think it was possible to have a "happy" family. That's a powerful compliment!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Fulfilling the Call of God...

I have a degree in secondary education with a specialization in English. I taught in public schools (high school and middle) for a total of 6 years. Teaching was a great experience for me...I really did enjoy it. I can say that I was fulfilling the call that God placed on my life. Now, I'm fulfilling that calling in a different way. I don't know if I believe that God calls us to do just one thing for our whole lives. Now, I'm teaching my little Bella. Her mind is a sponge. She soaks up so much. She has an uncanny, photographic memory.
I also get to teach different classes for the Learning Parties for the Chi Alpha Diversity Project Internship. That is something that I really enjoy. It's my degree at work.
Another thing that my degree/experience allows me to do is to talk with students about their observations and student teaching experiences. I can encourage them as well as give a few ideas of what might work for them.

I may not be using my degree in the function that I originally planned to, but God is still allowing me to use all that I have learned and experienced. Honestly, if I could teach right now - my kids were in school and I was looking for a job - I don't think that I would. I would want to spend my time at Cafe Chi Alpha. I'd want to work full-time there furthering God's Kingdom here at UL. I'd want to work alongside Lee. That's my calling. We're in ministry together.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Bella's Friends...

Around Bella's first birthday (September 09), I started freaking out a little. I thought to myself, "Bella doesn't have friends." I know that she was only turning 1, but I felt like the most awful mom because she was going to grow up not knowing how to socialize with other kids her age.

I was at the cafe at the end of a Free Meal with a Message (which happens every Wednesday from 12:00-12:45 pm during the semester), and I expressed this fearful thought to some students. I said, "Bella doesn't have any friends her age." Tyren was quick with his genuine response, "I know, all of her friends are college students!" This is so true. Bella has a large group of friends who just happen to be college-aged. They absolutely adore her, and she loves them in return.

This weekend has been our Leadership Advance. Bella and I went to visit, and everyone has been so excited to see her. At the same place, there was a family reunion happening . There was the cutest little 4 year old girl who played with Bella...and Bella knew how to play with her. Bella is actually really sweet with other kids. It's like she's fascinated with them because she's so used to being around college students. She's always wanting to hug little kids - something that she's not too fond of with big people. But she knows how to play with kids around her age. The only thing about babies is that she gets frustrated that they don't give her a high five when she asks.

God has blessed us with a precious little girl who has unprecedented potential to change the world. At her age, she knows more people from different countries and ethnic groups than most people will know in their whole life time. Color will not be an issue to her. Socioeconomic status won't be an issue to her. If we teach her to love and accept people like Jesus does, nothing will stop her from making a new friend.

Friday, July 23, 2010

The Adventure Begins...

I'm just jumping into this. I know that this is a great way to communicate what is going with our family and our missionary journey at the University of Louisiana Lafayette (UL). So, here we go! And the adventure begins...

What an adventure it is! School is starting soon. Brennan will be here soon. Bella is turning 2. So many changes. So much to be excited about. I'm reminded of the statement, "God is always working around you...and He is always wanting to work in you and through you." That's definitely where we are at. We know that He is working in us, and we want to be available for Him to work through us.

As things change, and I am staying home more, I am seeing different things that God is working on in me. I'm also seeing how I have to let Him work through me. Everyone has a circle of influence...some are bigger than others. My circle is changing...it will revolve around 3 of the most precious people on this planet...my husband and my babies. My attitude will affect their days. It's a big responsibility. It is also an honor. Something I should cherish.

Thanks Syl for pushing me to do this. It's a great way for me to stay connected beyond our newsletter.