Rise and Sing by (Steve) Fee

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Sometimes you need a hard kick in the bottom to realize you’ve got to change something...whether small or a big deal, sometimes you need a jolt of reality to get you to take some action. I have had a few such weeks and got a big ol’ kick in the pants recently. This has forced me to evaluate how I’m doing life now, in the present…with work, as a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend …and how that could affect how I do life in the future…as a wife, as a mom, and as a friend, sister, daughter, and employee. Something had to change. I was hit with the realization that I was trying to carry everything myself…but I was dropping things…stuff was getting broken as it fell…I wasn’t being incredibly loving in my interactions, and people were getting hurt as I continued to try and carry myself through this life on my own. Even though my mind knows that’s not how a relationship with Christ is supposed to go, my life was being lived out in such a way that someone who didn’t know me probably would have no idea that I claimed to have a relationship with Jesus that I was continually leaning into.

Something God reminded of a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been clinging to it as though my life depended upon it: “Do not be anxious about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He’s done. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4.6-7 When I’m truly hanging onto the Truth, I find incredible rest and peace. I have had a few times over the past week or so where I’ve just grabbed my 3x5 card that I wrote that verse on, walked into the other room and just begged Jesus to take away my fear and anxiety about things I have NO control over and to please grant me His peace that I can’t even comprehend, it is so unprecedented. He has promised “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13.5 God has a beautiful plan for my life, even though I feel like I've made it ugly, and a beautiful plan for yours…He really does and the great thing is, we’re living it right this minute. Yeah, it might not feel like such a beautiful plan today, May 19^th 2010, but I am confident we will look back on this season of life and know that God was IN it, lovingly walking us through our days, showing us how to love more like Him and do life the way He intended for us. Lean into Him...He loves you; even when life sucks, He is crazy about you.

Update on us - Kate and I are really doing great. Kate is now 2 years old, has moved into a “big girl bed” and we are getting ready to begin potty training…really big things happening in our house :) Work is going very well for me…I continue to be amazed that God brought me to such an incredible company. We are still loving being by our family, minus Bekah, but miss Dallas mucho. We are attending Newspring Church here in Greenville and the pastor is one of the most authentic and genuine people I have ever heard speak. My world is rocked every time I hear him teach. Still trying to find the “place” that we fit and can plug in, but I am confident that God has something for us and that He’ll lead us to it.

In closing – You and I have no idea what the person next to us might be going through, in secret, all by themselves…maybe a hurting or broken heart, a painful loss of a friend, parent or love, or a seemingly impossible situation with no end in sight . Go love on them…I guarantee you they need it.

Livin' the good life...

Last Thursday night, as I was sitting at home watching "The Office" with two of my favorite people - my precious sister, Ruthie, and her boyfriend, Mikey Z - I was overwhelmed by the fact that I am really living the life...seriously. It is truly a gift to have relationships like the ones I get to experience with each person in my family and the people I get to do life with on a daily basis. Too often, I get caught up in "business mode", as my Dad calls it, and I forget to acknowledge Christ for the great things He's doing around me and the gifts He's given me in the people I get to walk through this life with. When I'm truly walking closely with Him and my focus is on a bigger picture than what's in my own field of vision, I am so much more aware of what He's given me, and what He's doing in and around me... and life becomes about so much more than what I don't have. I am committed to embracing the life I have been given now and am determined not miss out on today because I am not promised tomorrow.

Ok. I'm off my soap box. As I've said before, when God is doing big things in my life, I just want to shout it out to everyone I know, but I'm done now...promise.

A quick update on our lives here in South Carolina...Kate is talking and having her own opinion on how things should go. We butt heads often and I am daily challenged by how I show her love, even when she's not doing what's right. She turns two next month and the time has flown by. I cannot believe how quickly life goes by us. Kate is a wonderful ly precious girl and, I know I say this often, but I am amazed that God chose me to be her mom. It's probably the best thing I've ever done...be a mom, that is. I love it.

I absolutely love my job and the people I get to work with. There is never a day when I'm not excited to get into work. It is the toughest job I've ever worked, and yet, I still love it. For those of you who don't know, I am working with a company here in Greenville, Find Great People International, on the Executive Search team as a Health-Care Consultant - basically, I help hospitals across the country find the best fit on the C-Level, VP and Director Level. I get to talk to all types of people, learn about their families and career goals...I love it.

Alright, Kate's waking up from her nap so I've got to get back to life, back to reality. Go make today the best day and keep loving on those around you...more than likely, they need it.

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It's been a few months since my last post and my only excuse is that life has been happening...which is good news. Kate and I are finally settling in here in Greenville, South Cackalacky. Kate is enrolled at Pennington Child Development Center and loving it. Her teacher's name is Miss Lovely....it really doesn't get any better than that. She is loving spending lots of time with her family. I am daily in awe of the fact that I get to be her mom. God's grace is unfathomable.

The biggest news is that Kate and I are moving into our very own home next weekend!! I am thrilled! It is a great little house down the street from my Dad. It's got a great yard and a cow pasture right next door. It's perfect. We are so thankful.

Unfortunately, sometimes life doesn't play out the way we think is best. The truth that I continue hold onto is that God is in control. He knows what's going on and I am daily challenged to rest in that. "But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me." -Michah 7.7

I will do a better job of keeping the world wide web apprised of our lives here in South Carolina. Have a wonderful day today!!

On The Move

Sorry there haven't been any blog updates lately. We have been so busy getting ready for our big move next Friday! We can't wait! I am currently training my replacement at work and things are really coming together. My Dad will drive in on Wednesday, July 1st and we will pack up the U-Haul and head to Greenville, SC on July 3rd. This is a decision that has been difficult to make but I am confident that the timing is God's and that He is leading in this next step of my life. It is exciting. I will update more as we get closer to moving. Thanks for all of the encouragement and for loving on Kate and I both.

What do you say, Old Friend?

I remember at band camp (yes, I was a total band nerd), when the seniors would graduate, they would play that song "It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" by Boyz II Men. Every time I hear that song, I have this mental picture of Sharon Wood and all the other seniors that I can't remember their names right now, dancing in the middle of that old wooden floor at camp, hugging each other, not knowing what the next step in life looks like. It's scary - change. I don't care who you are - change is a scary next step.

I have often wondered why the Lord has chosen to keep me in Dallas, seemingly by myself. Of course, I've had the wonderful company of Kate for the past year, but even with a child, life has been more than a little lonely. The weekends have been the most difficult. Going to breakfast at Corner Bakery on Saturday mornings with an infant have been precious, don't get me wrong - the conversation is just a little limited :). However, I am confident that God has had me in Dallas for a very specific purpose - to draw me into a completely dependent and intimate relationship with Him. It has been 2 of the most difficult years of my life, but truly the best 2 years of life, with respect to the relationship with Christ that has come out of it. I have been a child of His for 17 years, but over the past 2 He has drawn me to Him in a way I never knew was even available to me.


So the change that's coming into my life is that on July 3rd, Kate and I are moving home to Greenville, South Carolina. We will pack up our sparse belongings and head home. I am ready. It is time. I would covet your prayers during this time, as any change is difficult, even when you're moving near the ones you love. Even though our time in Dallas has had it's challenges, we have developed a routine here. We have fallen in love with the people God has surrounded us with here. What will I do without Annette and Karl to make me dinner every night when I pick up Kate? That is really the biggest dilemma of it all....


Here is the plan: I will complete my time here at Taylor Winfield on July 2nd - they are all on board with the move and are assisting me in my search for another opportunity. We will be home by July 5th, hopefully have some final interviews that week, and start a new job within a few weeks of moving home. That would be the ideal situation. We will just see how God chooses to work out His plan. I want to do this part of my life differently than I have past changes/moves. I'm not going to get all wacked out, anxious and nervous. At least, that is how I'm praying. I'm leaning into Christ, trusting that His plan is best - mine is not. If you see me doing otherwise, I give you permission to call me out on it.

That's all the news I have for now. Excited for what the future holds, to see how God's plan plays out, continuing to pray for restoration and healing......

"But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me." Micah 7.7

"Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act." Psalm 37.7a

Going Home!!!!!

Whoo hooo!!! Kate and I are heading home to Greenville, South Carolina tonight at 7:45pm. I can't wait!! We are going to celebrate her 1st birthday with our family and then she will be a flower girl in her Aunt Colleen's wedding. She just started walking, so we will see how that goes....Anyway, I will post pictures of the week as soon as I can! Have a wonderful weekend!