A New and Old Season

Many of you know that previously I was the older preschool director at our church.  We attend a church that has a lot of preschoolers so I was responsible for the three year olds thru kindergarten.  This included Sunday School, preschool worship, Sunday night preschool choir, etc.  I had the awesome privilege of working with three great women, Angela, Sumer and Amber.  Angela, Sumer and I went to Africa together in December of 2009.  If you know me at all, then you know that Sumer and her family decided to move to Africa in June 2010.  With Sumer's transition, the Lord also presented transition for me.  I left a work environment that I loved dearly to pursue a passion of my heart.  That passion is missions and more specifically Africa.  I work part time at Visiting Orphans and coordinate some of the Ethiopia trips.

Angela, me and Sumer in Africa (April 2012)

I love my job at Visiting Orphans.  It truly is a dream job for me.  VO is currently involved in sending teams to 13 different countries.  The passion this ministry has for the orphans of this world is unbelievable.  The cool thing is that the staff is living it out.  They are leading teams because they want to.  They are adopting because they want to.  They are involved in other orphan awareness ministries because they want to, not because it's required of them or part of their job description.

God began stirring in my heart around Christmas that change was coming.  I thought that it was because a little boy was coming to our family soon, but I then realized that it was going to be ministry related.  I knew that God was telling me that I would be quitting VO.  I didn't understand it.  I love my job!  I love what I do and the people I work with.  I love Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia.  There is great joy in seeing a team leave for Africa and then come home forever changed.

But God knew that my husband's job would be transitioning and that I'd need to be home more.  He knows when our 4th child is coming into our home and that I'll need to be home more.  He knew that my "old job" as older preschool director would have an opening and that I'd jump right back into that ministry and love it.

And so it is with joy and sadness that I announce my resignation from Visiting Orphans, but my new/old job as older preschool director at our church.  I am now working with three great friends at church....Angela, Amber and Ashley.  I will finish out the month of June at Visiting Orphans and still stay actively involved with that ministry and with my wonderful friends there.  I will still be involved with Project 61 and my friend Sumer.  I am also involved in our church's new orphan and adoption ministry.  And I am praying that I can reveal a sweet little boy's face to you soon and introduce you to our son.  And once he's home, I'll have a preschooler in the preschool ministry once again.

God's ways are higher.  2012 has been a year of trusting and obedience!

The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to Him each day and say, "Father, Your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine. I trust You to be God. You lead me today and I will follow." Kay Arthur

Eyes Wide Open

Just finished this little book and oh my, we have a lot of work to do at both educating and equipping our children.  I will definitely be praying more fervently and playing the "what if" game a lot more with my kids, because there are a lot of aggressive girls and clueless boys walking around the middle schools and high schools.

And I pray that Elizabeth is not one of those aggressive girls and that Stephen and Matthew aren't clueless boys.  Because after reading this book, I know for sure that aggressive girls and clueless boys don't end up obeying God, they end up in trouble.

If you have pre-teen or teen boys, I'd recommend this 118 page book so that you're clued in with what's really happening on Facebook and through texting and parties.  This book has a lot of practical information about how to talk to your boys about situations that they will face and to equip them to be "strong and courageous" and turn away from temptation.  It's something that they'll need for the rest of their lives, because aggressive girls come in all ages!  I'd encourage you to be informed and take the time to read this book or another book like it!