New beginnings

As the new year fast approaches so does so much more. A baby shower is coming. Most importantly my little Rae of light's arrival is fast approaching. The nursery should start coming together soon. Though we still plan for the first couple of months to have her in a bassinet in our overnight and than have her nap in her crib. After the first couple of months well transition her to sleeping in the nursery overnight.

We have a doctors appointment coming up soon. We still need to tour the maternity ward at the hospital. I still have to get the paperwork for maternity leave and have the doctor fill it out. 

The start of a new year and the beginning of a growing family. Finally after three years of marriage we get to embark upon the adventure of parenthood. Time to prepare for the journey of parenthood that officially begins when our little Rae of light arrives. We need to install the car seat yet that shouldn't take to long to do and then have it inspected for safety.

Even though I feel her move and can't wait to finally meet her. I'm still in the excited stage. I imagine that as the due date gets closer it'll feel more and more real.

Rae of Sun

So last Monday my hubby and I had a doc appointment while we were at the end of 30 weeks. Everything is golden. Our little Rae of light is growing well and is healthy. She is extremely active and loves to kick me and keep me awake from time to time. She even responds some to some foods. At least she has learned my work schedule so most of her movements occur while I'm at work. Though she she has started to become more active on my days off. Our little angel enjoys kicking from time to time as if to say mommy let us hydrate.

Oh baby

I finally found a job I enjoy and have been working for almost 5 months now. Shortly after starting the job my husband and I found out we're expecting. I'm now six months along and everything is going great. We moved not to long after I started working. Downsized and moved closer to my work. We gave up our cat so that the cleanliness factor would be better for our little one. 

Life's Surprises

I have been married for almost three years and am loving every minute of it. I miss Oregon at times because the view of mountains from the apartment was so awesome to have in both directions and the weather was less humid. I am happy to be back in Illinois for two years and be near to family. in the course of almost three years of marriage I have had only temporary jobs.  I didn't have a full job in Oregon though I had done a few vendor shows and a home party for Thirty-One it never really took off because Oregon's economy was worse than Illinois. Then when we moved back it was really just me and my family that bought from me so I still never got it off the ground.  I enjoyed the two temporary retail jobs that I had even though I was surprised that I enjoyed them so much. Then I worked for a while with a before and after school program but it wasn't the right timing for that position.  I finally got my licenses about a month ago after lessons with a driving school.

Back in December I had found a job with a company working with those with mental disabilities but because it took me so long to get my license I lost out because they couldn't keep the original position open indefinitely and then about two weeks before I got my license they called again because they had another opening but because I didn't have my license I missed out and by the time I got my license they had filled the vacancy.  So I was back to square one and had to start applying places again. Thank God there was a similar position at another company that I was able to apply to. That company called and I had an interview and am in the hiring process.  So now I am doing a little research on the side to learn more about autism and how it can affect the brain chemistry and what autism is.

Since my husband and I have moved back to illinois we had moved once and probably will move again. I have not been as stir crazy because my husband works from home and I have the cat. Though I still have not gotten myself on a cleaning schedule for the house or the cat box.  I need to get on a cleaning schedule with the house so that I know when to do a deep clean and then tidy up the rest of the time.

I need to get back to working some on my story that I had begun and see if I can break ground on it. I haven't been able to get past chapter 3 because I keep restarting it since the flow doesn't feel right for it. I also need to get myself in the Bible and study more regularly. I am at a standstill with the marriage study that I was doing so I need to finish the book Marriage is a God thing and then maybe read and research so scriptures about marriage. Eventually I will get another book that was suggested to me to read as part of the study. But I also need to read at least twice a week so I need to get myself on a reading schedule. I need to compel my husband to join me in bible study but I think we need to find a couples bible study to do.

We have been regularly attending a church and now we are going to try a different church that my husband now the pastor at. So hopefully soon I can also find a ministry to become part of through volunteering. I am glad that spring has sprung. My husband and I have started taking walks again. There for a while I was doing the just dance game on wii to give me some energy and to get me moving every so often. I also want to start using my nook again so that I can get more use out of it. I hardly use it.

Struggles with employment

As I hear; Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength" and Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know that plans I have for declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I think about how difficult it has been for me to find work. The whole time I was in Oregon I had no job. When I got back a had two temporary jobs and than a third job that only lasted roughly a month. Then when I found I great job I couldn't start it because I had  no license. The license finally was achieved but the job I had was no longer there since it could not be held for me and it took more than 90 days to get my license. In the process of interviewing for jobs there were two other jobs that seemed like they would have been great fits but those employers went with other candidates. Because I didn't have a ton of experience in the youth ministry field with bigger churches or long enough experience as a paid youth pastor not many churches ( in fact none) really want to take a gamble and consider me for an interview. That third job I worked at for nearly a month was the Y's before and after school program. It just wasn't the correct timing for that position. I think a lot of it had to do with my not having my license and how that affected myself esteem.  I enjoyed the  position for the short time I was working there and it would have been a great way to use my youth ministry and psychology degrees together even though the age groups represented were not age groups with which I had as much experience they were grade school kids (k-5) to be exact and my experience is mostly with 7-12 graders.  Plus I was trying to observe and be in a leadership role which didn't appear to be a good mix for me all at once.

Needless to say once I allowed God to step in I was able to achieve getting my license now on to finding a job even if its just a temporary position until I find on in either the psychology or ministry field. Though ministry doesn't necessarily mean in a church it can be just the mindset I have when I do any job.

Free Will & Faith

To start off frree will is needed in order to enter into faith. Before faith comes you have to repent sins and accept Christ as the only way to be saved. Romans 3:21-24 states that righteousness is from God and is given through Christ because all of humanity has fallen short of God's glory and the only way to be justified is by grace through faith in the redemption of God.  Ephesians 2:8&9 states that it is by grace through faith that we are saved therefore we cannot do anything to earn it because it is a gift from God. Without God's grace we cannot live life and through his grace we can cling to the cross of Christ and allow him to save us and relinquish our own abilities and thoughts that we could ever do it ourselves.
Free will allows us to be able to start the relationship with God and by faith receive salvation and grace. Without free will we cannot honestly say that we stopped buying into society's belief that we can do everything ourselves. Free will and faith go hand in hand. Free will affords us the ability to make choices and enter into relationships with God and others.


I urge you to read the summed up bible passages in context not just the short few verses.