Be Anxious For Nothing...

...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. -Philippians 4:6

**This blog has potential to be ridiculously long, but it will be necessary**
I wanted to blog about this so that when Brandon & I look back into the pages of our lives, the faithfulness of Jesus will never be debated.

Honestly, I don't really know where to begin as I sit here trying to blog about all that has taken or has not taken place within the last few months. Brandon and I entered into a specific season of our lives a few months ago, a season that required patience, perseverance, & trust, a season that would stick around long enough to challenge all we had to offer - The Season of Waiting.

More and more I realize that I am no where near the patient person as I would like to think I am. In fact, I possess very little patience at all. This fact is extremely frustrating to me as my dad is probably the most patient & laid back person on earth. All through my childhood I watched him demonstrate his patience with all four of us kids. He taught us how to ride a bicycle, catch a softball (with the glove up :)), any math homework, drive a car, etc. The man is patient, but I lack the gene. However, I am learning that possessing patience really isn't a matter of genetics, but instead patience is learned and oh, how I am trying to learn it.

In March of this year, I posted Decisions, Decisions. Brandon & I could easily look ahead and see that decisions would have to be made in a few areas of our lives. One specific decision, the most identifiable, was what job would I have when the summer was over. At the time of this specific post, my graduation from WCU was two months away. I would have my degree in Elementary Education and my North Carolina Teaching License. I would have everything I needed to teach in North Carolina Public Schools. The decision was this, would I go out of my way to get a teaching position or would I stay at the theatre and continue working there for a while. A lot of people would never understand the way my heart was truly torn between the two places. Yes, I loved being in a classroom, but I also loved being at the theatre. By no means do I hope to down-play all that went into this decision I knew I would have to make. This decision consumed my thoughts and it wasn't until months later that I truly came to the conclusion and answer I needed. I was going to teach.

In April of this year, I posted Change Is Coming. During this time, Brandon came along side of me and together, we sought how the Lord was calling us to serve Him. Together we sought, together we prayed, together we listened, together we waited. This is when we entered the new season of our lives.

In May, I graduated from WCU and a week later, I had an interview for one of five teaching positions that was available for the next school year. I had my interview on May 7 and on May 8th, we headed for the beach. Even as we were on vacation, we had one choice: to wait. At this point although we had fun and exciting plans for the summer, we had also stepped into the new season of our lives.

Ends up, I didn't get one of the positions that were available earlier in the summer. I think one other position opened between that time in May and the middle of August. All summer long, we waited. Last Tuesday, August 24th, the day before school started, I checked the Macon County Schools Website and low and behold, an Elementary Education position had been posted! I applied for the position and have waited and I still wait to hear from the Schools. I know that something must be done pretty quickly as school is in its second week and there is not a teacher for the class, however, for me, every morning I wake up with a hope that "today will be the day" that I hear something, but until then, we wait.

Although my teaching position has most definitely required us to wait, there are other areas of our lives that we seem to be just waiting on as well. We are watching a few aspects of our lives change and we are waiting to see the affects and our response to them.

Regardless to all that our hearts are waiting on, I am confident that when I melt with the overwhelming of the unknown, the exhaustion from waiting, the frustration, impatience, questions, plans of my own, and the brokenness, I know that Jesus is whispering "Be still and know that I am God".

So for now, Brandon & I are doing our best to be still...and wait...so that when we walk out of this specific season of our lives, we do so just as we walked in, hand in hand as we follow Christ.

New Neighbors

Today, our great friends, Aaron & Tiffany Garrett closed on their new house. The best part about is, the house is right across the street from us! This is going to be fun!!!!!!

Tool Box & Spray Paint

This week, Lucas has been out of pre-school, as it will start back next week when "big school" (public school) starts. Throughout the week, he has been doing different things with Moma & Daddy.

Today, Moma went to work and Daddy had Lucas. They built a toolbox together and decided they would paint it. At some point, Daddy left Lucas' side and when he returned, Lucas had spray painted his hair black!

Daddy was able to get most of the paint out of his hair but his scalp is still black. When Daddy asked him why he did that, he said, "Girls do it all the time, Papa."

I was coming through town and when I stopped at the red light, Papa & Lucas were beside me. We pulled over so I could see his new painted toolbox and scalp.

Lucas & his tool box

Papa & Lucas

Lucas & his "Fire Department Boots"

Steven Curtis Chapman

Last night, the Steven Curtis Chapman was in concert at the Theatre, where I work. Brandon and I were able to watch the concert, which was AMAZING! The opening band was CALEB, which is Steven Curtis' son, Caleb, as lead singer and drummer for both CALEB & Steven Curtis, was the other son, Will. The entire night was great.
Throughout the night, Caleb as well as his dad shared about Maria Sue, an adopted sister for Caleb and daughter for Steven Curtis, that passed away in 2008, due to a tragic accident at their home. Steven Curtis allowed all of us in the audience to step into their lives and share their grief and heartbreak along with them through the songs and stories that were shared. I felt as though I could relate to the songs he had written after losing Maria, as his heartbreak was reflected. Although I, along with 800 other people, laughed & cried together as Steven Curtis shared so transparently and raw, we were able to celebrate at the end of the concert right along with one another: celebrating the life of Maria & celebrating "How Great our God" really is.

Although I don't have any pictures to prove it, I was able to see my best friend, Julie and her mom, Debbie. It was precious to sit and talk with them (even if it were only through intermission). I definitely miss the times we used to have together, but I am thankful that we have special times like last night that leave me thankful for the people that God has put in my life, even if we only share "moments" together, they are Special Moments all the same.

Steven Curtis Chapman singing "I Will Be Here", the song that we played at our wedding.

I was excited to get my picture made with one hot man and Steven Curtis Chapman. :)

Happy 4th Birthday, McKenzie Faith!

McKenzie celebrated her 4th birthday on Monday, August 16th. We celebrated along with her on Saturday before her actual birthday at The Factory. We had a great time. She hugged everyone there over and over. We had pizza, she opened presents, and then we all ate cake. I was able to get a few pictures as the batteries in my camera were going dead. My favorite picture is the second the last one that I posted. She is SUCH a DIVA. If McKenzie sees a camera, she is ready with a smile and pose.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Dollywood Pictures Continued...

Raise your hand if you are excited!!!!

Ready to drive the cars.


Lucas is ready to go....Brandon is not so sure.

Speed-demon, McKenzie

I love her smile.

I love his freckles.

All of us.

Dollywood

Earlier last week, I realized that there was not a show at the theatre on Saturday and that we didn't have plans for the day. Brandon and I called to see if Lucas & McKenzie could go with us to Dollywood. McKenzie had been with us already and remembered enough about it to know that she wanted to go again. Lucas on the other hand, had never been to Dollywood, although he wanted to go, he didn't understand why I was so excited about it.

Saturday morning, Lucas came to my house ready to go - pack back and all. We loaded him in the car and went to pick up McKenzie. We got to her house and she met me on her porch with her bag in one hand and chocolate milk in the other, ready for a day at Dollywood.

We started the day off with the two having Rice Crispy Treats and Chocolate Milk for breakfast. It's the Breakfast of Champions, I know. As we entered the Parkway, we saw a few Elk, which in my vehicle, was something extremely exciting. We had to pull over, look at them, ooo and aaahhh, then we got back on the road. Lucas & McK talked all the way there...it was humorous to listen to their conversations.

We got inside the park, found the bathrooms and then got on a simulation ride, which was fun. When we came out though, it was raining. Ugh. We rode the cars in the rain. I was hoping the whole time that the rain would stop, however, even when we finished riding the cars, it had actually started raining even harder. :( We ate lunch at Red's Diner. After we ate, Brandon and I thought it would be best if we wait out the rain. So we put Lucas & McK on the hood of an old truck that was under shelter and we stood beside them and just waited. It was definitely getting hard to keep them occupied so I was glad to see the acapella group come under the shelter, where a crowd had already assembled. They stood right in front of where we were standing, so once they began singing, they had the attention of Lucas and McKenzie. I was thankful.

The group really interacted with the audience. One of the songs they sang to McKenzie, the next, to Lucas. I have tried to post videos of each. McK was great. She performed right along with the singers, however when he finished singing, she realized there were A LOT of people looking at her and she had a mini-meltdown as she busted out into tears. :(

A girl sang to Lucas and when she did, he grinned the biggest freckled face grin he could possibly offer. He was definitely proud.

Thankfully, the rain stopped and the sun came out. We were able to ride rides, eat junk, and have a good time. By the time we were back on the parkway headed home, both, Lucas & McKenzie were sound to sleep.

Here are a few pictures:

On the first "ride" the tram, from the parking lot to the entrance of the park.

Brandon, the trooper

Lucas
McKenzie
Rain, please go away.

Waiting....

VeggieTale Rollercoaster

In front of the big log.

On the carousel

Seeing who could fall asleep first, I think it was a tie.

World Changers

July 19-24, World Changers came to Franklin. With those of you unfamiliar with World Changers and what it is, allow me to explain. WC is a program of the North American Mission Board. It allows youth groups to select from a list the location they would like to do a project. Nationwide, there are 80 different locations. The groups travel to the project on the specific week, sleep on the floor of a school or church, are divided up with people they do not know to create "crews", sweat during the day, and to beat all, they pay to do it!

I have been a part of WC since 1998. From '98 to 2002, I was a participant of WC. 2003, I went to Penang, Malaysia for International World Changers. In '04 & '05, I worked for WC Summer Staff, meaning I traveled for the entire summer with a team of three other people and did 4 to 5 projects each summer. In '06, I went back to Malaysia. I didn't do anything in 2007 as we were planning a wedding for the fall, in retrospect, I totally could have done something. In 2008, I traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand with IWC. In 2009 and 2010, I served as a Project Coordinator for the Franklin, NC project.

July 19-24 of this summer was the week that WC came into town. The summer staff came in a few days earlier than the project starting so that we could do set up and have everything ready to go as the groups arrived on Monday.

The project went really well. We had groups from Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Total, we had 240 participants, 26 crews, and 19 homes worked on. We were thankful and praised Jesus for having very few injuries and nothing serious. For sure, it was a great week and I am thankful to have been a part of it.

Groups arrive on Monday, work Tuesday - Friday, and go home on Saturday. Each night, we had worship. It was great and definitely the highlight of each evening for me. It was also a major help that the speaker was super good looking.... his name was Brandon.

Brandon Breedlove. :) Really though, he did a great job, even though he was nervous speaking to students. I feel as though the week was an encouragement to the both of us and I am grateful that we had this experience together.

I want to point out that World Changers is not only to change the world of the homeowner, but it is to change the world of the participant. The hope is that the participants that travel to a project location will return home prepared to share the gospel and meet the needs of those in their own community.

Enjoy a few pictures from the week:

This is the Summer Staff: Rachel, Neal, Meredith, Cameron

A radio interview with Charlie at WPFJ, The Dove.

This is two participants and Rachel from Summer Staff.

This is Allie. She was my right arm, left arm, and brain throughout the week. She is a trooper and does ANYTHING that needs to be done.

A special girl and I am so glad she was with us for the week, it wouldn't have been the same without her.