God-given Saturday!

I'm beginning to realize how much Saturdays are a blessing from God! This week has been extremely amazing, but I've been really busy at work! I opened FOUR new cases...that's right, I went from having juts 1 open, to 5!!! So that means I have all the inial paperwork/treatment plans/ Intake reports to do over the next two weeks times four! It's part of the job, so I'm not complaining...I'm actually a little bit excited. At least I can't say I had a boring day a work anymore!

I also scheduled my Social Work License Exam last week. I'll be taking it this week..... I would say exactly when, but I really don't want everybody calling me that day asking about it. Therefore...just PRAY for me now!! Pray that I will be taking in the last few things I have to study, and this week, that I will remember those things, and be calm during the test. I'll get my results back as soon as I hit the button "Finish Test" so I'll be posting afterwards I'm sure! I feel pretty confident, I'm just really nervous! I trust the Lord will give me wisdom, and it's all in His hands! I've done my part of studying for the past 2 months, and will be reviewing stuff over these next several days, now I just have to take the 170 question test, and make a score of at least 70%!!

I guess that's about all for now.

I'm about to spend my Saturday cleaning my house (which is very much needed) and studying! =)

There will probably be a nap in there somewhere, and several periods of screaming at PennyLane for an array of things. And the best part.....tonight, Michael and I are just hanging out here together! I didn't get home till 8 on Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday...and I had a girls night Wednesday, so we really haven't spent much time together this week. =(

I'm going to rent us a few movies and cook supper (which I haven't done all week) and just RELAX!!

Church day is tomorrow, that's always exciting! I think we're getting ready to join soon, but we want to get to know some of the people some more. Then tomorrow afternoon, Michael is going to the movies with his guys, and I'll probably study! fun fun!

Ok, off to enjoy my God given Saturday! Hope you do the same!

Emotional rollercoaster

Get ready......

So I started my day off today in the most horrible of moods. I woke up mad at Michael to begin with and didn't know why, was getting ready for church all while being just mad at the world. Went downstairs to spend some much needed time in the word to prepare my heart for church, and I just broke down crying. My heart was so bitter, so hard....I read some of Psalms and prayed "Create in me a clean heart, Oh Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." I felt a little better, but I still didn't let go of things to the Lord.
The whole time, my sweet sweet husband is trying to figure out what's wrong with me and "fix" what it was that he must have done wrong for me to be so upset with him. (There really was nothing)
So we head to church, I break down crying again on the way (after Michael asking what was wrong again) and I just said "I don't know....I'm just confused and I feel so lost....I don't know exactly what's wrong!" That was that. During church, I still had this sour attitude, and was on the verge of breaking down crying the whole time. I felt better, being in the presence of so many believers singing praises to our God, and even hearing a great message about how we as a church, a body of believers should be. But as soon as all that was over, and I stepped foot out of those doors, there it was again....my attitude. UGH!!!
So we headed home. When we got home, I told Michael I wanted to go lay down and talk (which is what we do when we have deep conversations) bc I just couldn't hold in anything else. So as soon as we layed down- the faucet broke loose! I broke down crying like I haven't done in a LONG time! He just held me, like he does so wonderfully. I expressed to him an array of emotions I was feeling....and he listened. Without getting into too much details about my crazy head, I'll just abbrieviate everything by saying that I have just been feeling like I don't belong. I'm not in college anymore-I have a "real" job and that's a big adjustment in itself. While most of my old friends are getting ready to start another semester, I'm just working week after week. I feel like I can't relate to them in that area.
Another thing was that with being married and all I just feel like I have to be that perfect wife....to come home, cook, clean and always be happy. I didn't even realize I was doing that until today. Michael reassured me that I was already perfect to him, and that I didn't ALWAYS have to do those things to make him happy. I just thought thats what wives are supposed to do, so I had to do it. (in other words....marriage is an adjustment for me!)
And the last thing was that being married and all, I just really want us to find Godly married couples that we can hang out with. The problem in my head with that is our age difference. I'm 22...he's 28. Most of his friends are already married with kids, mine are still in college as I've already mentioned.
I was just letting all of this get to me, and bring me down.
I don't ever EVER remember being so caught up in emotions like that before in my life. I'm so glad I have a husband who will listen.

So on the flip side of things....Michael listened and told me he loved me and that I was wonderful...blah blah blah. He turned my whole day around. I felt so much better with just him listening. I told him I needed to do laundry, and he said "No, I'm going to do it all...even put the clothes up!" and then a little later he was like... "You want me to go get you some ice cream later today and make you a sundae?" (If you know me at all, you know my answer to this!)

So I sat on the couch, almost finished reading "Eclipse", fell asleep, woke up to the washer and dryer going, and my husband gone to the store....then he came back and fixed me my sundae! What a perfect man! Couldn't ask for more! I'm so thankful God placed him in my life! Well...now I'm off to cook buffalo chicken pizza- not because I have to in order to be a good wife-- but because I WANT to!! =)

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heart my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40: 1-3

Awesome parents!

So I just got back from hanging out with the parents today. I love my job and how the hours are so flexible! I've been studying A LOT lately, and plan to continue to study A LOT, preparing for my test that I hope to take in a few weeks....and good news is, is that I can count those hours as work time! YAY! So anyways....THAT is why I just got home from a day with mom and dad.

We went and toured the winery in Calera (which took a total of 20 minuntes) and then met my brother in Pelham and had lunch with him at O'Charleys. That was sooo good, but now I'm stuffed!

I just had to post this saying how wonderful my parents are! They are so in love with each other and it shows! After almost 27 years of marriage, they actually LIKE to go out together....you don't hear of that much these days! They always come out this way and take us out to eat (which is amazing) and I always love hanging out with them!!

Now I MUST go and study some more before I enjoy my Friday night by going on a home visit! The family canceled last night's session and asked to reschedule for tonight. There are 2 teenage kids and a dad. I asked the dad if the kids realized that they would have to spend their Friday night with me if they canceled....needless to say, we're meeting at 6:30! =( That's ok though, because once again...my job is amazing and I work whenever I want pretty much!

Hope everybody has enjoyed their rainy Friday! I wish I could just sleep ALL DAY LONG, maybe it'll be like this tomorrow and that's just what I might have to do!

Big kid now

So I FINALLY finished up with all the training and stuff that I had to do at work in order to have my own cases. I've been working since May 18th and pretty much just shadowing people on visits and trying to get familiar with what I'd be doing. They do the training at the beginning of every month, but since I got married June 6th (for those who just happened to have forgotten that =0 ) and couldn't complete the June training....therfore I had to wait till JULY!

So anyways, now I'm all finished and ready to get out there on my own! (sorta) I did get assigned my first case, but haven't been able to arrange everything with the DHR worker to meet the family yet. I hope to be officially opening it next week, so that should be exciting! Also, I get to fill in for a co-worker who is going to be on vacation the beginning of next week. So I got to meet all of his families this week, and will be having sessions with them next week. We went over the stuff I'll be doing with them, which consist of anger managment with one mom, domestic violence info with another mom (who just got out of a 10+ year abusive marriage), and stress management with the 3rd mom. 5 families is the typical case load, so I'll be prob be opening another case for m;y co-worker and then opening my own.

Pretty much I'll get to taste what it will be like when I have a full case load...which will be in a few weeks I'm sure. Neeless to say...I'M A BIG KID NOW (at least I feel like it!)

I'm also trying to stay on task with studying for the Social Work Licensure test, which I hope to take in August. I have a study guide that's about oh, 3 or 4 inches thick, and I've been studying since the week after our honeymoon! I'm pretty scared about it, but I know God will help me remember everything! Once I get that, I'll be EXTREMELY RELIEVED because my job will then be secure. It's a requirement to have your license within 6 months of employement...I have till November! So please, PLEASE pray I pass on the 1st go around....it's not a cheap test either!

Oh, I don't think I've mentioned on here that we got a cat! Meet PennyLane! She's pretty

adorable. I'm not much of a cat person, but I like her! You'll probably be hearing more about here later. Recently, she's figured out how to get on the counter tops, in the laundry room (which is pretty much the washer and dryer with doors in front of it), hide under the bathroom sink, get in the TOP of the closet and knock down purses and such....and the one that has made me scream at her and throw her out of the bed room: climb up the plastic bag that my wedding dress is hanging in!! Needless to say, she's a character!

Well, I'll wrap up by saying that I miss my husband! He's been gone ALL DAY helping one of his friends move from the middle of nowhere over by columbiana, to hoover! He left this morning at 7:15 and still isn't home!!!! =(

I think this his the longest we've been away from each other since we've been married! I mean, we usually are both home by 7 or 7:30 at the lastest.....I didn't realize how used to that I was until now! I love him and want him home with me.....

Plus I'm hungry, he told me about an hour ago to go ahead and cook.....it's still waiting! =(

I know he's trying his best to get here, it's just been a long day without him!

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You can't take away

So Thursday in the training that I have to do for my work, we did this little exercise thing where we had to make a list of the 5 most important things in our lives. The leader of the training then went through this story explaing the RC Consent Decree. S My list, along with most of everybody else's list consisted of :

1. God

2. Family (my husband)

3. Friends

4. Work/Education

5. Music (or something they enjoyed doing)

So one by one, we had to cross off each of these, eventually ending up with NOTHING. When it got down to the final 2 thing, smost people had family/friends and God left. Some peopel chose to mark off God before their family, others waited....but when it came down to mark off the last item (GOD) everybody seemed to have a hard time doing this. Most of the people were reluctant to do so and one lady even said "God, she made me do it" others were just complaining about it or whatever saying that they were left with NOTHING. The trainer asked how everybody felt about it, and most were saying sad or depressed and stuff. I had to speak up at this point and I said "I feel fine, because I know that God is the ONE thing you cannot take away from me." I was immediately reminded of the song "Can't Take Away". I can't help but think about our country and where we are today. NOBODY can take away our God. This government can take away and will probably eventually take away our freedom of religion. But let's not let it get that far before we start sharing. Just know that if the world around you is crumblig to pieces, your God is still there.....He always will be!

All around
All of us
Fear has come and so we must
Ask ourselves
In who we trust
What we have here
Is not enough
So let it ring
In freedom sing

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Oh, my God, my God

Waves will come
And winds will blow
But it's not here I've found my hope
My beating heart
My very soul
Is held by one who won't let go
And so I'll cling
To You my King

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Oh, my God, my God

A hope that can't be lost
A love that can't be bought
You can't take away my God
Nothing high or low
Nothing you can control
You can't take away my God

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the Sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God

No you can't
No you can't
Take away my God
No you can't
No you can't
No you can't
Take away my God, Oh My God, My God.

Modern day Acts

So I can already see this blog going in a ton of different directions. The thoughts began in my head yesterday morning and have only escalated since then....so get ready.

My Bible ready this week has been in the life and ministry of Paul, and yesterday I began reading Acts 16. I read through verse 10 and was very impressed I guess you could say with what I read. I was reminded of Steve, Shari, Jay and Denise out in Arizona and the work they are doing for our God....I truely believe after reading this scripture that they are the current day church of Acts. What a great thing to be in a world like today!

Verse 5 says "The churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers." If you have read or heard about ANYTHING that is going on out there in Vail, then you would know that they are growing and being strengthened daily! My prayers for them now is that they would continue with this growth....that each day someone would come to know Christ because of the work they are doing.

Verse 7 says "The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to..." (this is referring to Paul trying to enter Bithynia)

I'm reminded here of when they were first beginning their process of moving out west, and their first thoughts were that they would be moving to Las Vegas to help specifially with that church there. God had different plans and just as verse 7 states, the spirit of Jesus didn't allow them to go. Hence the reason they are now in Vail.

Verses 9-10:

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we (Luke, Silas, Paul, and Timothy) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Once again, these verses spoke to me about the willingness of those 4 to get up and go. I'm sure Jay and Steve both dreamt about people out there begging for help. They have described the city of Vail many times as a lost and dying city. One that is so dark, crying out for help. I can't help but think about those who have already began that relationship with the Lord because of their service. They each "got ready at once" and left....they had concluded that God called them to preach the gospel to those people.

Moving forward.....

Verses 14-15 says One of those listening was a woman named Lydia.....The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message...when she and the members of her household were baptized she invited us to her home.

Have you heard the stories of all the FAMILIES there getting saved?? Need I say more?

and finally...

Verse 20 says They brought them before the magistrates (after they had been arrested for sharing the gospel) and said "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar..."

WOW, how great would it be if the people of Vail said that those at Grace Fellowhip were "throwing our city into an uproar"!!!!!

I suppose I'll close by saying that it is great all the things Steve, Shari, Jay, Denise and even their children are doing in Vail...and those who are about to be there serving, and those who are serving along side of those. That is wonderful, being missionaries for our Lord.

But my question is....what if we, wherever we are in life, started "throwing our cities into an uproar" ?? What if we lived a life of missionaries everyda? I know that we all know that;s what we're SUPPOSSED to do, but when will we begin doing it? God is a God who is big enough to save people. He just needs workers to share his name with those around us.

That's it for now...there are more thoughts bouncing around in my head about this.....those I will dwell on later.