Where life is taking me . . .

I just need to say something, and social media isn’t exactly the most appropriate place to say it, but here goes. The Boston bombing was terrible, yes. And the fact that it happened on U.S. soil is even worse. BUT, our soldiers face IED (improvised explosive devices) worse than that pressure cooker bomb just about every day. I don’t see Americans raising 20 million dollars for wounded warriors every time one of those goes off and injures a soldier. Maybe it’s because these men go over there willing to take that risk for our freedom. If that’s the case, they deserve it even more. I am sorry for the families that were affected, but praise the Lord it was only one bomb, and only three people were killed. Soldiers are dying way more often. Where is the money pouring in for their families?

Guess what?? I am still alive!!

But really, we’re halfway through my man’s deployment! I’m so excited!! And I get to go home in a few months for my bachelorette party and shower and I can’t wait to see my siblings and my friends. I’ve been working for six and a half weeks and it has been such a blessing. It has it’s boring moments, but most of the time it’s not too bad. Especially every other Friday when that paycheck deposits into my account. =). Thank you Jesus.

Midnight has been so sweet the past few weeks and it’s like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. He’s so smart. We’ve grown pretty close so I think it was a good thing Mark went away. I am going to be Midnight’s mom anyway…officially on October 19th. I’m so excited!

Okay enough for scatter-brained post. I don’t know if it even makes sense. Oh well.

Noelle

I am so incredibly excited! I just signed my contract for a full time position with a government contractor! I am completely thrilled.

I had applied for this job back in November/December along with several others and forgot about it. Then about two weeks ago I got an email saying that they had my resume in hand and asking if I was still interested. Are you kidding me?? This was my first bite! I immediately responded and gave references and I just prayed that if this is where God wanted me, He’d give me the job. If not, then I know he has something better. And sure enough the next week I had a “meet and greet” with the people I would be working with. It went very well and I walked away excited, but still trusting Christ.

I didn’t hear anything until Monday morning. I got a phone call and they said that I was chosen for the position and if I want it I just have to go through the clearance paperwork/background check and sign the agreement. I got the paperwork this morning, signed it, and sent it!

I’m a big girl! I know that sounds so cheesy, but after graduating college over three years ago and still not having a real job it got really discouraging. Mark has always stood by my side and said that everything is going to be okay, and he’s loved me through everything. He has supported me and pushed me to keep trying. Because of his encouragement I kept applying to jobs, so I can’t thank him enough. And of course he won’t take it and says it wasn’t him, but no matter what it was it’s worth it.

And I know this may sound awkward and I won’t go into details, but when I went home I met with a woman named Heidi who has always been a sort of mentor. She brought up some real heart issues that I have been struggling with and it was offensive to me, but the Spirit really brought about conviction. Not condemnation, but conviction. And I took the courageous step and talked to some people here in Washington. Pretty much I’ve said Jesus, you are more important than comfort. As soon as I said this and took the steps and admitted my sin to others to set up an accountability relationship, God has continuously blessed me.

I can’t even tell you how thankful I am to Jesus. He has blown me away. He is so incredibly good and I’m crying right now just thinking about it. He has changed my heart and I can’t thank him enough. It makes me so excited about my upcoming marriage and thankful that Mark and I are going to do things God’s way. It certainly isn’t easy because sin is shameful, but change is so worth it, and now I have no shame in sharing my testimony because I’ve watched Him transform me and my heart. He’s broken down my pride and while it’s been difficult it has also been the greatest blessing. I no longer feel like a hypocrite.

Thank you Jesus.

Noelle

I’ve been listening to a lot of sermons on marriage and in my quiet time God has really made something clear. This is going to be very disjointed, but here it is:

-A marriage is about being best friends with the person you choose to spend your life with.

-You never fall out of love, you fall out of repentance.

-You should never be afraid to tell someone something that God has convicted you to tell them. If you are, that is fear of man. The only fear we should have is the fear of God.

-If there is an area in your life that you will not give to God, then He is not Lord of your life. He’s either Lord of ALL or not Lord at all.

And just looking at a few posts on my tumblr dashboard, it makes me sad. People are so obsessed with the concept of love and are so set to try to find it in another human being. They will never find it. Because God is love. And only God can give us the love that we long for and are so desperate to have.

I’m so glad that I have the love of Jesus. He is all I need and He reveals that to me more and more every day.

Nope, I won’t say what I want to say because it’s what I say every time it’s taken me forever to blog.

So much has happened in the past two months. Let me see if I can sum it up quick. Midnight got attacked by another dog at the dog park because he stole two balls. Really, he had two balls in his mouth. Dumb dog. So after 10 days with staples, I took him to get them removed. He licked the wound through his shirt and voila. Open cut=vet two days in a row. Praise the Lord the vet didn’t charge me. Figures we finished it out with neosporin and gauze pads and wraps. Mark deployed for Afghanistan November 12. Tomorrow is a month! The time is flying. I’m still unemployed but applying. I know I’ll get something eventually. I met someone at the dog park and we’re now pretty close-working, working out together, and going to bible study together. My washer has been out of order for over a month and I finally got the second set of parts after the first was damaged. The guys have been to my house at least four or five times. Hopefully tomorrow’s the day. That’s the summed up version. Believe me I could type pages on this stuff!

God’s been working wonders in me. I’ve finally gotten my act together and started journaling and reading every night. I HIGHLY recommend that you journal, especially your prayers. You really get to see how God shows off. And He totally does. Like, all the time. (Sorry to go all valley girl on you, but like really!) Right now we’re working on gentleness. Especially with the pupster. He can really frustrate me but I’m learning not to sin in my anger. I’ve watched God provide over and over again and when I really think about it I can’t help but cry. How can a perfect God love me, a sinner so so much? We deserve nothing, we deserve hell, but He has given us a way to be adopted into His kingdom and He blesses us in so many ways! Please do not take it for granted.

Please pray for my sister-she’s really struggling right now. She has an extremely rare blood disease and her blood doctor stinks. She is not compassionate and doesn’t even try to understand my sister’s situation. So please pray for two things. First, for a miracle that Gretchen would be healed. Second, that if God chooses not to heal her, that she would find a doctor that is compassionate and knows about the disease/disorder.

I’m about to get all Jesus on you. I am not perfect, and in fact I know my sin better than anyone else. And as David said, “My sin is ever before me.” But I am soo thankful that my God forgives me, works with me, and heals me, little by little. I still screw up all the time. But He keeps working on me. I am so lucky to have a heavenly Father that holds me in His arms and wipes my tears away. So whatever you think of me, know I beat myself up way more than you ever will, so you don’t have to try. So please don’t judge me, for whatever it may be. God’s working on me.

Don’t really know where that came from. I guess it has been bugging me a lot recently. God is our Judge and He doesn’t need our help.

Well it’s nearly midnight and I need to spend some time with Jesus. I’m crossing my fingers that my washer will be good to go in the morning and it’ll happen first thing so I can go to bible study fellowship with Caleigh. We’ll see!

Noelle