News!

I was going to hold back on this until October, but I'm bubbling over! I just can't hold back anymore, I'm so excited!

In 17 days, for the first time in our lives, Shaune and I will become HOMEOWNERS!

We got our mortgage approval last night. The inspections are completed and everything's fine -- the few cosmetic issues, my hubby knows how to fix. Of course, the bathroom could use renovation, as any older home would, if anyone feels like a Fix-It and wants to help! Now we just have to pack and wait for closing.

There's hardwood floors thoroughout (except the kitchen, with laminate)... and these built-in bookcases in the living room are to die for. My house looks like a library. That's a good thing, because I already have so many books, and my wish list is even longer!

The kitchen was renovated just a couple of years ago. I love how the cabinets go all the way up to the 10' ceilings. There's even a built-in desk in the kitchen with more bookshelves -- can anyone say, Cookbook Collection?! The only thing that's missing is a dishwasher. I've gotten a little spoiled (alright, entirely spoiled) by having one where we've lived in the past. But, there is a place for one and running a hook-up wouldn't be too challenging, come spring. I've just got to make friends with handwashing between now and then.

There's so much more I didn't get pictures of. There's a full basement, unfinished, with some brilliant storage solutions already built in. 2 big bedrooms with giant closets. The foundation is all brick and in great shape. Considering it's in-town, the lot's a good size, and the beautiful community park is a half mile up the road. Within walking distance, there's multiple convenience stores and restaurants, a Wal-greens 24hr pharmacy, and an Urgent Care center (non-emergency medical facility run by the local hospitals) that's in our insurance network.

I still wish we had found property outside of town where we could begin a small homestead, but alas, now isn't the time. This is our perfect starter home. Can't wait for October 8!

What is this world coming to?

Just a quick note to post something that I wish you would join me in prayer over:

Evangelical Lutheran Church ordains 3 openly homosexual women

Whatever your opinion on homosexuality is in terms of people, just people, living lives out in the world, this is different. This is a church proclaiming to be evangelical... proclaiming to stand for and teach the word of God... disregarding it. Cherrypicking the love and grace, while ignoring the sin and justice. The Bible is a whole package and can't be broken down.

Just to shed a little light on my own beliefs, I believe that humans should be treated fairly under the governmental law, regardless of their religion or sexual orientation. No one, under the American constitution, should be in fear of bodily or economic harm based upon their beliefs. But that's the government. This is the church... as a private institution, their first call is to the Lord. The church has voluntary membership, voluntary leadership. The church has the right and responsibility to stand firm to their values -- the Bible, the Word of God. Or, stop pretending you value them.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear

I'm Still Here

I have some big news, but I don't want to jinx it :) I'm still here, just overwhelmingly busy with the joy that is my life. Hopefully by this time next week I'll be at liberty to spill all the beans to the world!

I'm still reading all your lovely blogs, even tho I haven't been writing much here or commenting much on yours. You're still all such a blessing to me and I'll be back in business very shortly -- 1st of October at the very latest.

God Bless!
Jenny

Doing Hard Things

Last spring, I was approached by the leader of the large Bible study class that I attend. Over 200 of us meet together every week for worship, small group study, and teaching. For small group time, those 200 ladies are broken down into groups of 10-12 lead by a leader who is also responsible for shepherding them during the week. And as of... now... one of those leaders is me.

I got my group assignment last week and it took my breath away. Although I met with, and prayed with, the assignment team several times last spring, and have continued to pray/worry about it over the summer, I wasn't prepared once the envelope actually arrived. God's definately pushed me out of my comfort zone on this one.

You see, I've always been aware that I'm young for the groups I'm involved in. I married young (by today's standards at least), gave up on teen ministry and joined the adults when I was young, have friends with kids my age. I teach at my evening Bible study regularly, despite being years younger than the other members. But I've never been *responsible* for leading them before. In the group I've been assigned, the next youngest person is 16 years older than me. The oldest is literally 3 times my age.

God's good at stuff like this. He has a better grasp on the situation than I ever could. One thing I've learned very firmly this year is that I have NO real control. I may PRETEND I do sometimes... but it's an illusion. So while this isn't the group I would have chosen for myself (I was hoping for the young marrieds/moms group), this is exactly the group He wants me to have.

This is a big "hard thing" for me. I hate phone calls anyway. I hate calling strangers even more. Strangers many times my age, who I want to respect me? I'm shuddering.

But alas, God has proven himself, once again, to be good. I've reached half my group and most of them seem very excited to get started. The rest? They'll come around. Or leave. Or whatever it is that God wants to teach both of us.

The best thing I've found about doing hard things is that I can't do them. I can't -- it's beyond me. But God can -- and He will. This is another opportunity to revel in my own weakness because it is here, when I keep trying even without hope of success, that He can take over for me. Hard things teach me no my own abilities, but to rely on His strength.

What hard things do you have to do this week? I encourage you to give up early -- not to quit, but to quit trying to do it alone. It's a freeing experience.