Sometimes there are bumps in the road.

My dad said that this afternoon, when I called to tell him that I GOT A JOB! He's right, you know, "sometimes there are bumps in the road."

It's no coincidence that I posted this just days before I lost my job back in October, from my study of Job's life. God was preparing me with that study. "Life is characterized by change, and change often means loss... While God may not restore exactly what we have lost, He can bring new sources of joy to us if we let Him. We can pour our pain & frustration to God when we are going through difficult seasons, but we should look past the pain & remind ourselves that the future holds more blessings."

If you know me, you know that I don't "wait well." I like surprises, but I can't wait to give them! Apparently God knows this about me too, because for the last 4 months I have been in a season of waiting...waiting in expectation of something great! I'm not going to lie and say that it's been easy, it hasn't. Although I have been strangely at peace about the situation (most of the time), there have been days of frustration, anger, sadness, envy, and days that I felt I couldn't wait any longer. But God said, "Am I not still God?" Amidst all the frustration. Amidst all the anger. Amidst all the impatience. "Am I not still God?" One thing that we must remember is that He provided for us yesterday, He's providing for us today, and He'll provide for us tomorrow. Over the past few months there was never a time that God did not provide, and we are so thankful. He has provided freelance, dictation and other "odd" jobs that have given us a little money, with the flexibility of still looking for a full time job & doing other things at the same time. He has used this time to refine this more in me, and now that we are on the other side I really do think that I am better because of it.

When I was a youth minister (for that brief time) I gave a talk & used this illustration – It was soon after Caleb was born, and I was able to witness something that really made sense to me regarding my relationship with God. Caleb was crying, pretty hysterically; he was hungry. But what that precious baby did not know is that his mommy was in the other room warming up a bottle for him, which would bring him instant "relief" from those tears. Aren't we that way? We cry out & cry out for "relief" from God, for answers to our prayers, and all the while He is preparing something wonderful for us. We just can't see it. The challenge is to just trust that He is going to give us what we need (what He knows we need) at just the right time.

I've been waiting for this post for a long time. I want to say "thank you" to my husband for being so wonderful...Brian, you are my rock. You were calm & trusting when I thought I couldn't be any longer. I am so thankful to be married to you...thank you for standing by my side when my patience wore thin. I really believe we are closer & stronger having walked through this together! Thank you to my friends & family, I am so thankful for the support & "cheerleading." Also, thank you mom, for being here unconditionally. I can't tell you how lucky I am to have you as a friend, and someone I can call & cry to whenever I need to. I really tried to make the most of the last 4 months and am so thankful for the extra time at home for the holidays, my time with friends that became new mommys, old friends I hadn't seen in a while, time we could house train Grey:), and for the time of endless organization at home.

"Devote (express faith that God answers prayers) yourselves to prayer (communication to God), being watchful (alert) & thankful (the process AND answer are worthy of praise)." (Colossians 4:3)

God is so good!