Big Hug from God!

Matt and I were talking LATE one night and I shared with him how I just felt like God wasn't around anymore - how I felt that I prayed and prayed and He just wasn't listening/answering. We continue to pray about our move, some struggles we encounter here, and also how we can be used while we are still here.

Yesterday, a friend and I took Lucy to a waterpark. When we were getting out of the car, two young girls came over and asked if they could wash the windows of my car. I said, "Sure!" and then they said, "it's free." As we got our gear together and left the car, they said, "Have a blessed day!" I really thought they were from my church, as we do many outreach things like this. They were not from our church, but from another local church doing outreach. They left a handwritten note on notebook paper on my windshield. I had to really hold back the tears. It was folded up and on the outside it said, "We LOVE YOU!" Inside??? :

We washed your windows so you could see more clearly. :) God loves you and your family. You are so blessed to have each other. Times may be hard but with a a little faith and some love lives can be changed. God just wants to let you kow He is here and has never left you. Things will get better. We'll be praying for you! Love, Some girls from (name of church)

God is here - He sees, He hears and He loves us so deeply.

Esther Study

I've been doing a Beth Moore study with my bible study and it has really been amazing. Her latest study is Esther - It's Tough Being a Woman. I'm putting a good word in for Beth Moore. I know some of my friends find it hard to keep up with - I do too - we all get busy. But she has truly been blessed by God. I love studying along with her. This has been one of my favorites.

This particular quote from a book (mentioned in Beth's study) just really hit me the last few days. I've been reading it over and over. It is an exerpt from The Queen and I. It reads:

"When, because of your faith, your life too becomes perceptibly different; when your reactions are quite opposite of what the situation seems to call for and your activities can no longer be explained in terms of your personality; that is when your neighborhood will sit up and take notice. In the eyes of the world, it is not our relationship with Jesus Christ that counts; it is our resemblence to Him!"

Amen!

Family Vacation

We are home from the beach - it went by way too fast. It was nice to be able to be in one place with my whole family. As we were driving home, Matt mentioned how he really enjoyed being at my parent's house the most. Lucy was still saying "Pap!" and "Nan!" on the way home. :)

We started out (and ended up) in Shamokin. Enjoying all the local favorites. We had such a great time at Knoebel's Grove. It was so fun to see Lucy and Tallie enjoying the things that my sister and I were able to experience when we were little. Lucy loved the train and the carousel - saying "more" every time the ride was over. Tallie loved the rides too (she's able to do the 'bigger' kid rides now!) yet she loved to just be around Lucy. And many thanks to the men of the family for trekking over to Bloomsburg so that Kim and I could have the famous Berrigan's subs. James' pizza didn't happen (boo)- but I guess that'll be first on the list next time.

Lucy loved the water and we had to hold onto her because she kept running INTO the ocean. She would cry and kick when I picked her up to take her out. She was shivering and the water was freezing, but she kept going back in.

Missing the family to hang out with during the day and how well Tallie plays "mommy" to Lucy. Also missing the games of Phase 10 after Lucy went to bed. Ah well, still praying that we end up in MI so that we'll have some card nights and just be able to hang with Dean, Kim and Tallie.

Long drive = very tired family!!

Our Move Update

Well, as of right now - we are in the waiting game. It's not what we had expected, but there aren't many pharmacy jobs right now in the Grand Rapids area. Matt had an interview with someone and it went very well. But they wanted to know if Matt was willing to travel (to Muskegon - about 45 min. away from GR) and we just aren't sure about this yet. Matt does have one application in at a hospital for a job that he is doing right now - and, of course, this would be PERFECT. He did recieve word that his materials were recieved and they are currently reviewing his application. As of right now, we just ask that you all pray for us as we seek to do His will. Please also pray that God would move on our behalf. We have been praying about this for a year now - and we have been so excited about moving. But, as things sometimes happen, it's not going as WE planned.

So, we were going to put our house on the market this upcoming Friday -but don't feel a peace about it right now. After talking to my family and our pastor, and gaining some wisdom from them, we feel that we really need to secure the job before selling the house.

Another thing that popped up is the amount of jobs in Muskegon. Once I told Matt that if we were going to move near my sister then I'd really like to be within a 1/2 hour because really, what would be the point? :) Well, Muskegon is about 45 min. away from GR. Technically, we wouldn't have to live in Muskegon. We could live in between Muskegon and Rockford (where Kim, Dean, and Tallie live). I'm not sure if Matt wants to live in GR and then have to drive 45 min. each way daily for a job. I'm not so sure I want him traveling like that esp. when the winters come. We had been praying this whole time for a job in GR, so we never thought to pray about Muskegon. So that's on our list now too. Matt shared with me that he wants to give the whole GR thing until the end of June and then we'll refocus our attention elsewhere if need be.

I have to share how hard this is right now. There are times when I feel that God isn't listening. But I know that this isn't true. I know that He knows the desires of our heart. Although we feel that now is the ideal time, doesn't mean that it's God's time. So, here we are....waiting.

If you would please pray for us - that would be amazing! We know that we are in His hands.
Please pray that:
**God's glory would be revealed in all this. We are excited to see how He is going to move. How amazing will it be to see Matt get a new job, sell our house, and buy a house to the tune of His symphony?
**Matt would find a job in MI that he will both enjoy doing and be able to serve our Lord. (whether that be in GR or Muskegon - or maybe He'll surprise us with something else??! oh geez!)
**the stress would be minimal. Just cleaning a whole house for real estate pictures was crazy enough!
**we would continue to trust Him with all things - our future, our home, our hearts.
**I don't become a nag. I want to fully trust that my husband is able to lead our family.

We'll keep you updated as things move along!