Saturday, October 6, 2012

Life.

It has a way of sneaking around the corner, tapping you on the shoulder, and running the other direction when you turn around to see what it is.

I am tired, but it is a good kind of tired. If you had told me two years ago that Jeff and I would be living in an apartment in Chattanooga, leading a small group for Harvest Bible Chapel, working full-time as a med-surg nurse in Cleveland (of all places!), and homeschooling Braeden, I'm quite sure I would have considered you crazy-loco. My life is a whirlwind of one event to the next, and though I am never quite sure what it feels like to have energy, I am content.

God moves, as He always does, and I can sense it and feel it. He is directing steps, and though I don't yet have the road map, I will wait on Him to use me as He sees fit.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

God at Work

I'd like to share something with you. This video doesn't tell the whole story - for the sake of propriety, most of the gory details were left out. But it does tell what is important, that, by the grace of God, a life was changed.

God at Work Jeff McCain from Harvest Bible Chapel Chattanooga on Vimeo.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Been a while since I posted, huh? Since I couldn't begin to explain all that has happened in a condensed enough format for anyone to read, I will give you a list instead. Should you be so interested, I might even elaborate (in another post, on another day).

1. I graduated school, finally. Got an A, too. :)

2. I passed my nursing boards. I am officially a Registered Nurse (also known as Rescue Ninja)

3. I got a job working at Skyridge Medical Center as a Med-Surg nurse.

4. Jeff and I started working in Children's Ministry at church.

5. We decided it was time to move, so sometime in April I started packing. I needed to cut my drive time from the 45-50 minutes it was taking, and we really wanted to be closer to all the goings-on at church.

6. By the end of May, we'd decided to move to an apartment - all I had to do to convince Jeff was remind him that he would never have to mow the lawn. We found a 3-bedroom, 2 bath, third floor apartment that is much bigger than any other place we've lived.

7. Less than two weeks before the move, Jeff got laid off from his hospice job.

8. A week later, he was hired on to Amedisys hospice. He didn't actually get to start work for nearly four more weeks.

9.  This strapped us financially, but God provided, and I wound up being very thankful that Jeff was home to help me with the move. I'd never have made it without his muscles!

10. We moved. Love the new place. It is not almost completely unpacked, but at the moment I haven't got the money to decorate. It will come, though.

11. Somewhere in all that we sold Jeff's truck. He took the Kia (better gas mileage for his job), and I got a Ford Explorer Sport Track. I love trucks, always have - and now I finally get to drive a truck. *happy sigh*

12. I got pink zebra print curtains for my office. (I realize this is not earth-shattering, but I absolutely love them, and I am so thrilled to finally have a chance to have my own girly space.)

13. Today was the first day of homeschooling. Third grade was not pleasant for B, so we made the decision to try it ourselves. I have committed to a year, and the first half of the first day is now done. I do believe we will make it. :)

14. In a month or so, Jeff and I will begin leading a small group for our church. While I very much feel the weight of the responsibility that carries with it, I am also quite excited. It blows my mind when I think about how much Jeff & I have grown in the last year and a half.

15. I have a craft space again. It will also double as a small group breakout room for the ladies, a classroom, and an office - a true multi-purpose room, if there ever was one! My scrapbook supplies are stashed neatly into the walk-in closet, and I hope that soon the creative juices will be flowing like they once did.

That's all for now. There's more, I'm sure. Unfortunately, the dishes will not wash themselves, and an afternoon of math, cursive writing, and Greek vocabulary is facing me, so "more" will have to wait.

Adios, and God bless!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

So... it's been a while, huh?

Since my last post in October, life continued to crash ahead at breakneck speed. I am proud to say that I successfully graduated nursing school - with an A my last semester, no less! This morning I took the board exam. Even though I won't know for sure until Thursday, I feel great about it. I could not have been any more prepared than I was, and I was calm and level-headed for the whole thing. It was an incredible blessing to have the texts and Facebook messages from friends who were praying for me. In all my years as a church-goer, I've never had a group of people who loved me like this little church of mine does.

I'm still searching for a job. I never dreamed that finding a job as a nurse would prove to be so difficult, given the constant hype about the supposed nursing shortage. I guess in my part of the country the "shortage" is somewhat fictional - or at least dependent more on finances than need for workers. I've had one interview so far, but didn't get the position. I do interview tomorrow and Thursday, and I am praying that there will be an offer for me soon. God is providing our needs, but there is no room to spare. Our grocery budget is minimal - $50 a week is the best I get, and that has to include all our toiletries and household items as well. I've learned to coupon, and in the month of January managed to save 45% off of the retail price on the things I purchased. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

In all this, I've had to learn to lean on God. At times I have been so frustrated and angry; after all, I'm doing my best for Him, so why are we so broke? - but then I remember that His ways are not my ways, and that we are still eating! Yes, it may be Tuna Helper or spaghetti, but we aren't starving.

In October, we had an out-of-the-blue moment, and Jeff was offered a job with Hospice. This was an area he truly wanted to work, and it was almost a 40% pay increase. Had that not happened, we really would be starving now, and probably homeless, too.

Yes, God is good. I may not have a job yet, but I trust in Him and His provision. In the meantime, I am rejoicing in multiple blessings - from precious friends to an unbelievable spiritual growth spurt that has nearly knocked my socks off! Greater things are coming, and I can't wait to see what is in store.