Changes...

It has been a while since I have blogged. I haven't forgotten that I have had a blog I just haven't taken the time to blog and trying to decide exactly what I wanted to say. 
Things have changed since the last time I posted about the new job God provided. Changes that will be forever and are exciting and great.

Memorial Day weekend of 2012 will forever be a huge weekend in the history of our marriage....

Friday night, we confirmed what I was thinking and feeling. I was pregnant! God had blessed us with a new life growing inside of me. Our baby is due on January 21, 2013. We do  not know what we are having and are planning on being surprised. I have been healthy so far and praise God haven't suffered from morning sickness. My belly is beginning to pop :). We had our ultrasound 2 weeks ago and it made it seem even more real. The baby is healthy and growing as he/she should be. The baby is very active, he/she kept kicking and punching during the ultrasound and wouldn't be still for the tech. I don't feel the baby kicking very much with where he/she is laying inside but my midwife said that as the baby grows I will begin to feel it more. After seeing the baby move I came to realize what I thought was just the feeling of stretching and growing muscles and such is really the baby kicking. There are of few times the baby gets my diaphragm and I know it. 
We are so looking forward to God growing our family with this new little one. ( I can't get the picture from the ultrasound to upload.)

That was Friday, as I mentioned the weekend was huge. On Monday we talked to our Realtor about a house we wanted to see. He had been on vacation so we were waiting for him to get back so we could go look at the house. We scheduled to see the house early Monday afternoon. We found out that our Realtor showed the same house to another couple that morning who put an offer in. So we would have to decide quickly if we wanted the house. After looking at it, talking about it we put in an offer in later that afternoon. It was an exciting, nerve wrecking moment  not knowing if we would get the house especially with another offer. We waited till Tuesday afternoon till we heard. They accepted our offer. We BOUGHT a house, a place of our own! 

We closed in July and moved in, complete with a trip to Cleveland to finally empty out our storage unit that we had for almost 2 years. It has been like Christmas opening totes and boxes. We have found wedding presents that we are just now getting to use and its fun. 
We are unpacking, settling in and enjoying it.

God has been blessing us richly lately and I just wanted to share a small portion of the blessings received.  

New Job

I started a new job at the beginning of May. I had been looking since November, really before I quit at Cuna, and couldn't seem to find anyone who wanted me. Who afterall reads the resume's, applications and those questionaire you have to fill out. I think maybe someday I would like that job- it seems fairly easy to send the form letter that says we went with another candidate to people who are probably more qualified and will stick around longer than a few weeks.
So I would like to tell you the story of how I got my job. I had recently had an interview with a real estate company for an afternoon receptionist position and was waiting to hear back from them- as of today I still haven't heard back. Our pastor had a game night at his house for some of us younger people in the church. I was talking with Pastor Jon and he asked me about the interview and the other lady in the conversation asked if I was looking for a job. She let me know that her company was looking for a receptionist and I should apply. The next morning, Saturday, I sent her my resume and cover letter. By Monday afternoon I had an interview with the temp agency that they work with. The lady at the temp agency said that if this position didn't work out for some reason she had some other possibilities for me. I interviewed with the original company and did not end up with the position. I have to say that this was very difficult for me as this was the first face-to-face interview I had that I wasn't offered the position, the real estate position not included having not heard back yet. It humbled me and made me realize that I could not place my confidence in me and my ability to interview, but that it needed to be and must be in God alone.
I waited for a couple of weeks to hear back from the temp agency with other options. I tried to wait patiently, it wasn't always easy. I had one option that I turned down because it conflicted with my Tuesday night small group Bible study and I wasn't going to give that up.
Then on a Thursday morning the temp agency called and asked if I would be interested in a legal assistant position at a local law firm and ended up with an interview that afternoon. I went into that interview with more of sense of God being in control. I was interviewing with the attorney and she was descriping the position and the details. She started with the person will do this and that, half way through she started say you would to this and that. She asked me what my availability to start was and she said she'd see me on Monday. I walked out of the interview with the job, it was such a blessing not having to wait to hear back.
Monday was the first day of my new adventure as a legal assistant. This is something completely new to me and not quiet sure what was ahead of me. I work with the attorney that does the out of state forclosures- meaning not Iowa. I can't go into much detail due to confidentiality reasons.
I am enjoying my job. Everything I do is top priority and some things are an even more of a top priority. The day is very busy, before I know it its lunch time and then its time to go home. The day goes very quickly and is very busy. So unlike my last job where I counted down the hours of the day- seriously.
I am beginning to learn more and more of the foreclosure process. I am feeling confident in what I am doing and feel like I am getting the hang of what I am suppose to do and when and how. The attorney I am working has shared with me that she feels like I am getting the hang of things and I am doing a good job. One of the other attorneys shared with me at lunch that my attorney told the other attorneys at their retreat that she has high hopes for me and that I am already doing a great job.
It is very nice to feel appreciated.
God has provided me a good job, that pays well, that I am enjoying doing, has a 5 minute commute (as opposed to the 45 minute one before, that included a car killing deer at the end), and the chance to learn something new and use the God- given abilities I have.
It is neat to think that it all started with a fun game night at my pastor's house and how God used that to provide me with my job.

Friendships

I know that I have not written in a very long time. I have been thinking that I don't really have anything to say, after all I don't have kids to show pictures of or update on. But as friend recently reminded me, that doesn't mean I don't have things to share and blog about. I actually have several ideas and things I want to share, but I am saving them for later blogs. My goal is to blog a couple of times a week, so stay tuned :-).
I have in the last week experienced some great friend experiences and I wanted to share with you how they have touched me and impacted me.
Growing up I had a best friend, our birthdays were just 3 days apart, we went to school and church together, and spend a lot of time at each other's houses. Many of my childhood memories that aren't just with my family include this friend. In high school we were still friends though we started to develop our own interests. After high school I went to college and she got married. We lived in opposite corners of the country. This summer we were able to get together for just a few hours, that wasn't nearly long enough. We both enjoyed laughing, remembering and catching up. This past week she was back in town and of course getting together was on the schedule.
We met at 9:30 at Panera for breakfast/coffee and finally left about 1:30. That time went so quickly, we laughed, laughed and laughed some more, we talked about our growing up, school, people we went to school with, and what God is doing in each of our lives. It was a blessing to get together, it always is. It gave me some insight to some of the things going on around when we were in school that at the time I didn't know was going on with others, or that other people had some of the thoughts and feelings I did too. ( Like I wasn't the only one who felt like an outsider- it was a bit mind blowing to me actually.) We completely lost track of time, there was a breakfast crowd when we got there and then we were by ourselves. The next thing we knew was we were surrounded by people again and when we checked the time it was lunch time, and then we sat and talked some more.
What was even better was that we got to continue our conversation next day at lunch. We laughed more and more and shared even more with each other. It was hard to say good-bye, it always is, though there is a plan for later this summer to get together again.
And once again, the conversation will pick up right where if left off, that's one way that you know you have a true friend. There is never a lack of conversation, laughs and it does not matter how long you have been apart. I am so very thankful that God has preserved this friendship and has let it last for the past 32 years, and I am sure that the next 32 will be filled with even more laughs.
The other friendship blessing I want to share about happened yesterday. I have been developing friendship with the ladies at church, especially in my small group. Our pastor's wife and I get together every once in a while for lunch and to talk. I think we are a lot alike in many areas and have been in similiar experiences to share. She crochets, I have watched her and she will do that when we are over at their house to play games. I had asked her if she would be willing to finish the baby blanket that my mom had started but didn't get finished, so we could have it for the future. She said she would be willing to do that. When we got together yesterday she gave me the blanket all wrapped up in a box, and with that she included a letter. The letter was written to me as one that my mom would have wrote. This is something she told me she prayed about before writing. I can tell you first of all yes it made me cry! It was so very special and sweet and it sounded like my mom, because in the letter she included things that I had shared about my mom and I. She would have only been able to put those things in because she listened as I have shared with her.
God has blessed me with two different friendships, equally special and sweet. I am so very thankful that God has brought these two ladies into my life and granted a connection with each one of them that will span time, I know that we will worship God together in Heaven some day. I pray that I may be that kind of friend to others.

Craft room

Now that I have not been working and have been looking for a job I have been wondering how fabulous it would be to able to be creative and getting paid for it. I would love that job! Then I found Etsy.com. So I have been thinking and praying about it. I have had lots of questions running through my head about this....
Is my stuff good enough to sell? Will people want what I've made? Will I be willing to sell what I've made? What do I charge? When do I make things? How much time do I devote? Where will I work? How much do I invest to get started?
Russ is being very supportive about this endeavor, he thinks my things will sell and that I should try it. He even helped me create a space to work. I didn't really want to work on the dining room table with everything out all the time. So we changed my old bedroom into a temporary craft room. It was a bit of a challenge as you can see. Now I have a workable space of my own. I have done a little bit of work and just need to devote more time working in there.
I apologize the pictures aren't the greatest as I took them off my phone.

Before....

After

So that is my craft room. Now I just need to make things to sell. I am going to be making cards and possibly scrapbook pages. If you have any ideas or anything you want, let me know I could do custom orders if needed.

Christmas Cookies

It's time to for the Christmas cookies to start coming out of the oven. I actually made my first set last week, and the way they are being eaten I don't know if they are going to make it till Christmas time. I thought I would share my cookie list with a few links to the actual recipes.
My Christmas cookies are a few tried and true favorites that wouldn't be Christmas without. I like to try new recipes, but during this time when time is premium I stick with ones I know and my family loves!
So here is my list and why they make it on my list.
1. Sugar cookies (this is an old family recipe). Who doesn't love sugar cookies with frosting and decorations. I use a Christmas tree, Santa and bell cookie cutter. The majority of the cookies get frosted and just a few get sprinkles. Growing up my mom made these cookies all the time with an appropriate cookie cutter. I have become a sugar cookie snob. I will admit it. I do not like sugar cookies from the store and there have been very few homemade sugar cookies from others that I have liked. I prefer my own! This is a recipe that my mom didn't pass out and share. She shared many recipes, but not this one. I am not really sure why, but I don't plan to share it either :).
2. Peanut Butter Snicker cookies. I actually found this recipe in the coupon section of the newspaper while it college and made them with my roommate. They are now the cookies that I take to Christmas parties and cookie exchanges. They are yummy!!!! http://www.food.com/recipe/snicker-surprise-peanut-butter-cookies-15477
3. Ginger cookies. I do not like these, these are not my favorite, BUT they are my brother's. And for him it wouldn't be Christmas without these cookies, so I make them for him.
4. No Bakes. My mom only made these at Christmas time so for me they are a Christmas cookie. I know that lots of people make them year round. They are one of my favorites.
5. Peanut Clusters. Again these are not one of my favorites, but that is because I do not like nuts. These are simply peanuts in melted chocolate/almond bark and spooned out into clusters or clumps.
6. Chocolate covered pretzels. Enough said. I use white chocolate/almond bark, nothing too fancy, just simple.
7. Whoopie Pies. These are a new addition to the Christmas cookie list. Whoopie pies were introduced to me by my husband. He grew up eating them and I enjoy them now too.
8. Monster cookies. Not really a Christmas cookie, but we had all the ingredients and these are the ones already made and almost gone. This recipe came from Paula Dean and here is the link http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/monster-cookies-recipe/index.html
9. Molasses with Raisins. I have never actually made these before. This was a cookie that my husband wanted when I asked him what he wanted. I have to get the recipe from Grammy and make them for him.
10. Puppy cookies. These are cookies for my puppy. He likes cookies too. I found this recipe on pinterest. Attawolf loved them when I made them for him before and plan on making some for him and some for my brother-in-law's new puppy for Christmas. They were easy to make and have everyday ingredients, if you have a dog make them! http://www.pinkpistachio.com/biscuits-for-boyfriend/.
That's my cookie list. I have several recipes to make this week so we can enjoy them. If you try any of these let me know what you think.

God's timing

God's timing is not our own, He works on His schedule. He is never late, never early or have a missed appointment. He is always on time!

The Lord is teaching me about trust, self-reliance, and His timing right now. After much prayer and wise counsel I have decided to resign from my current job. My last day is Friday, and right now that seems like forever away. I had decided that working in a call center just was not best fit for me. Russ has recently started a new job, which allows me to resign and take the time to look for a new job that fits better. That's where what God is teaching me is coming into play. I am learning again to trust God to provide and not to be reliant only on myself. The only time I have ever quit a job without a new one to go to was when we moved from Ohio to Iowa. This is something new for me. Even after I turned in my 2 week notice I doubted my design, not because I didn't feel it was the right choice for us right now, but more because of the unknowns I will be stepping into. I know that in God's timing He will provide the right job for me at the right place. I have to do my part in applying and getting my name out there, and trust in His timing. I also have to practice relying on my husband to provide for me. This is a first for me, I have not that sort of provision or support since high school, in a way it is difficult. I don't know if that makes any sense. I am glad my husband is working and wants to support me, it's just taking my hands off and letting him- it comes down to a control issue. I know that God is using this time to shape and grow me.

God has provided some new friends into our lives. We have started going to a new church. We are involved with a small group of people who have become sweet friends. I know that God has brought this specific group of people for specific reasons. It has thrilled my heart to meet sweet Christian friends there who have brought much need sweet fellowship, encouragement and spurring onto growth. I am glad God brought us to Grace Brethren and I am excited in how God is going to use us there.

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

And in His word I do hope."

Psalm 130:5

Still alive

I know that I haven't posted in a long time, basically it's because that not everything in life is blog worthy or should be.

There isn't a ton new in our lives. I am still working at the same place. Russ just got a job and starts next week. So we have started the house hunt again. We are both ready to find a house of our own.

We celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary. It doesn't seem possible that it has been a year. We got to celebrate in Chicago with our good friends Steve and Amy and their girls. It was a good weekend of catching up and spending time together.

At that time Amy got me addicted to pinterest. I am glad. I have made a few things from ideas I have gotten on there. I need to take pictures and actually. I have made several scarves from t-shirts, a wreath and a small cake plate. I am enjoying collecting ideas and recipes to try. So know it's finding the time and resources to try recipes and crafts. It has really gotten my creative juices flowing and I am enjoying that "ability" that God gave me.

I know this isn't a huge or deep post. Maybe more will come later. But I am not completely silent in blogger world any more.