In Every Thing Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 -  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This is where I have found myself over the past couple days, and having a thankful spirit has been harder than normal. It's mostly surrounding work, nothing extra ordinary just feeling like I can't do anything right. I know that's not true, and that any pity I may feel the enemy loves to perpetuate even further in my own mind. This is not a fun place to be. Which is why when I woke up this morning I made it a point to continually thank the Lord for my blessings, like my job, my new home (another source of recent stress), my Riley:), my friends, my Bible, even the recent trip to the Dentist office which had me diagnosed with TMJ (I clench my teeth at night) got a praise because now that I know why my jaw hurts I can fix it (hey, no cracks about how much I talk;)).

See yesterday I made a couple mistakes on some of my write-ups, and with business being slow right now, it didn't make the boss to happy, which bummed me out because they were really ridiculous mistakes (I like my job and I always strive to do my best so I took it really personally, probably more than necessary). Then I found out that my new land lord decided that she wanted to change her mind on me not paying last months rent, although she is giving me a little more time to pay it since I wasn't prepared for it. This was a major disappointment though, because I had planned on using it to make a big payment towards paying down my credit card, especially since my rent is more expensive now and bigger monthly payments will be a bit more challenging. This was my day yesterday. The only pleasant thing about it was that it ended with me sitting in my usual pew at church for mid week service and prayer, boy did I need it. The message didn't relate to my situation at all, but just being where I could hear from the Lord was all I needed to end my night on a peaceful note.

Thank you Lord for my long exhausting day.

Today was better at work, although I was still mad at myself. I accepted my plight with the rent and I got to take Riley on a walk before the rain came.

Thank you Lord for holding back the rain so I could walk my dog and gain some perspective. It may have been gray outside, but it wasn't snowing like it is on my friends & family back east and it was over 40 degrees.

Shortly after the walk I decided to go to H&R Block and ask them a question about my 1098-T from WSU. I only usually file a 1040EZ, but I wasn't sure what to do with the new Tax form from the school. So the lady explained it to me and I basically had to do a 1040A (well really Tax Slayer did it for me online). I inputted my information when I got home, and the outcome was good...at first, but then it turned GREAT!!! Without talking actual numbers lets just say that after using the education credit I'm getting ALL of my $ back from school and that will help me make an even BIGGER payment on my credit card then I had planned, and pay for my last months rent, AND have maybe a little left over for some paint for my room:)

Thank you Lord for exceeding my expectations and for making me patient, even if I was whining a little. I apologize. It may be the IRS doling it out, but no one can out give God!

If you're facing your own set of trials I hope that you remember to take the time to thank the one that gave them to you, you never know where the blessings will come from. 

Out of the mouth of babes

Most of the time my work is pretty mundane. I create ads for publications and enter information into my companies various data bases, I answer phones and take messages, and I copy and scan various information that is pertinent to the boat that my company sells. I like my job, that's not really what this post is about though, because today part of my job involved child care. And I wouldn't really say anything except for the fact that a 3 year old brought up the difference in our attire, which if you've been following my blog of late, you know that this is my new passion (read the two posts below to find out more).

It was a simple conversation, if anything. He pointed to his pants, or as he called them "his shorts", and then pointed to my skirt and said "Your shorts are different." To which I pointed out, "This is a skirt. I don't wear shorts. I wear skirts". I purposefully chose not to say it in the context of boys wear this and girls wear that because I know that's not what he sees at home, and I'm not about to alienate my coworkers in an office that small, and for a 3 year old all that really matters is that he noticed a difference. Ahh ha. . .the first point in my devotion, the distinction that dress give us as women. Normally this would probably not be such a revelation in the circle that I'm in, but for a boy that only sees me maybe once every 3 or 4 months and whose family does not attend church his observation was notable, if simply for the fact that it made me feel satisfied to point the difference out to him.

Like I said it's my new passion and any chance I get to talk about it or inform people on it, I'll take it.

Final Grades for the Quarter

I just got my grade on my Marketing Plan and out of 150 points possible I received 150 points! Seriously, this is the only class that I've ever taken where I've received full credit on all discussion points, and the big projects of my marketing paper, which was on ethics in marketing and my big marketing plan. If you'll indulge my enthusiasm, IT FEELS REALLY GOOD!!! I always work hard for those grades and usually fall a little short of my goal, but nothing worth complaining about. So when those things happen it always feels really good. I got B's & C's on my quizzes, and all B's on my 3 tests so there wasn't a full A in the class for me, but really it's nothing to sneeze at because as most of you well know I work full time as well, which makes the good grade even sweeter.

So the final grades stand at:

Interpersonal Communication: A
Marketing Fundamentals: B+
Statistics: B

God has been very good in helping me get this far. All my praise goes to Him. The rest feels good too. I can't wait to see what God will do next. I'm living in the moment, but looking forward to the future.

~ Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Thanks to Bro. Casteel for expounding on that verse last night)

Graduation is this Saturday, June 13th. Ironically that it also 12 years to the day that I graduated from High School.

My SPS

Once a month, on the Second Monday of the month us ladies at Bible Baptist Church are able to get together for a Ladies Bible Fellowship. Here we are ministered to by Mrs. Vicki Sargent, out Pastors wife and we also get the opportunity to participate in the monthly Secret Prayer Sister draw. We write our names down on pieces of paper and any special prayer requests that we have, which is getting spoiled enough, but we also get to spoil each other with gifts, if we can, cards of special thoughts are always good too. Just something to let them know that you are keeping them in yout prayers.

Anyway, last month for the first time in 6 years Sherri drew my name (I also finally drew her name earlier on in the year). So on the last day of the SPS month she (this past monday) she sent me this cheerful bouquet of flowers. Which was a pleasant sight after the long weekend, and even nicer throughout the very trying week that I've had. They definitely made my desk a much happier place to be at.

The Gerba daisies were bright and cheery and they were just a pleasant surprise to recieve. Of course my co workers with were hoping for some juicier news than I got them from my dear friend, but no such luck. Later that night I also received a very nice card and some chocolate from her candy shop.

Thank you again Sherri for just being there for me over the past 6 years. I'm so glad that we've gotten to not just be friends, but work with each other in our Sunday School class. Your friendship has simply been a blessing to me. Thank You!

Be still and know. . .

Normally I am very bah humbug when it comes to snow. It used to be that I was nervous about driving in it, but I'm getting better about driving that now, slow and steady gets you home alive. But I really hate having to go out and do anything in it. It never snows on a Friday/Saturday when I don't have anything to do, which would be a nice treat. It always snows on a Sunday, or weekday, that I always have a tons of stuff to do. I'd like to be Sheri and stay at home and just watch it fall while my little doggy sits on my lap dosing, and me catching up on some much overdue reading. That idyllic situation, however, is not my existence. Instead I make sure that I double up on my socks, trudge through the snow, trying to keep myself vertical while I walk on the ice coated sidewalks, to make it into work 10 minutes late. I only live a couple of blocks away from the office that I work in, but I take my time in the snow, especially when it ices over as I have a hill in my town that I have to navigate.

I do have to say though, that I am grateful that we don't live in the Midwest, or New England, states. The ice storms and wind chills they face are not for the faint at heart. WA, and specifically the island I live on and Seattle, get a couple of inches of snow and everything shuts down. People go into a tailspin here. Rarely do we get multiple days of snow like we've received this week so inevitably there are always those that are not prepared for the ma lay that awaits them. Which kills me because it's not like they don't know that it's coming. Between you and me I get a chuckle out of watching the cars on Queen Ann hill slip and slide as they try to scale the obstacle. That might sound mean but we are given a lot of notice prior to these storms coming in so I don't exactly feel sorry for the people that our news anchors choose to interview about their lack of preparedness. However, I do think that the city of Seattle also has an obligation to make that particular incline as salted and sanded as possible to avoid the debacles that take place on that road. For my readers that live in the Bay Area, imagine what would happen if Knob Hill or California and Lombard St. were to suddenly get snow dumped on it and then have it frozen over. Now that would be a catastrophe. (I wasn't able to find a pic of what I was talking about but use your imaginations).

That rant being over with, I have to admit that the snow does offer up a feeling of stillness that is otherwise not felt throughout the bulk of the year. It is a time that people use to stay home from work, depending on the treachery of the roads they are on, and be still. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." I don't know how a person cannot notice the beauty and purity that the first snow fall offers and not appreciate the quietness that it offers. Like a peaceful dream. The first snow that I got to experience, here on the island, I was house sitting for my pastor, who was in South America. I was in the Navy and I remember the complete calm that enveloped the piece of land that I was on. The sea of white that lay before my eyes was untouched, it's lines, shared with the ground it covered, were soft, like a cloud passing in the sky. Calm and peacefulness were not adjectives that I would use to describe that particular point in my life, Navy life is, at it's best, controlled chaos, so it resonated very deeply within my soul that this was something to take in and appreciate; and I did. That day the base was closed and I had nowhere to go and nothing to do, and I got to blithely stare out the window, sip on hot chocolate and meditate on this verse. If I had one day to live over and over again that would be the one. That night that it snowed, the snow became a noise and it was the most peaceful sleep that I've ever had!!! (I don't sleep well to begin with so that is saying a lot)

The snow also offers up the hope of childs play. There is nothing so fun as picking a snowball fight with your friends. I didn't grow up with snow in my backyard, but I'm all for instigating a good snowball fight. Game On!

Here are some pics that I took today of our winter wonderland. I hope that you enjoy them and take some time to be still yourself and enjoy the Christmas holiday. Whether you have snow or not.

Frozen Berries

Snowy Lights

A View From My Porch

Can you say Duh! My snowy town

Guess where I took this one?!

I know I've been remiss in my updates. . .

School is taking precedent right now in my life and I went away for a long weekend with the SPG's to St. Louis a couple weeks ago, so I know I haven't posted anything in a while. I'll try and be better, because I have had some interesting things happen over the past few weeks. I may nor wax vey elloquet right now but at least it will be an insight as to what has been going on in my world lately. Here's a synopsis over the past few weeks:

HWY 20: My church is praying for direction and guidance as to where the Lord would lead us to plant a church along HWY 20 here in WA. We had a campout a few weeks ago re-reaching out to the surrounding areas of Lyman, Hamilton, Concrete, and Sedro Wooley. The Lord is opening many doors and many people filled out our post cards desiring to have bible studies, either sent to them or to have men from our church come into their homes and hold bible studies one on one. It's very exciting and challenging, but it will be worth it all in the end. There was another campout this weekend in Twisp, Okanagen, and Winthrop, but I couldn't go because I've been training my replacement at work.

Work: I'm still working for the same company that I have been for the past 2 years, but Monday I start working in my new position there as the Marketing Assistant. I'm super excited about it. Not just because it's new, but because my boss asked me himself if I wanted the position. Basically I'll be creating it from scratch, which is another reason that I'm looking forward to it. I like a challenge, and learning new things and this will be a fun, and I'm sure at times, challenging process, but I'm ready for it.

St. Louis: As like last year, the SPG's went to St. Louis a couple weeks ago. It was fun. Two weeks before we left though Kali finally found a song for us to sing. It's called, Keep the Race Before Us. It was a very challenging song, but well worth it. The theme of this years conference was Absolute Surrender. The idea of holding nothing back from God in our service towards him, and those things that would keep us from serving him more diligently. It was a great conference which brings me to meeting 2 more people out of my 30, the Wrights. Bro. Wright preached at the conference last year, but I ddin't get to meet him. This year I did though. He and his wife were great to talk to, and he gave a great lesson through Romans 12:1. I got to see my friend Amy, which was nice also As I hadn't seen her in about 6 or 7 months.

4th of July: It was fun. Fireworks are legal to have here in WA and so Josh, Joel, and Daniel shot off fire works on the Waldron's property. I stayed the night and the next day accompanied Maggie and Josh in the purchase of their new (to them) vehicles. Both got what they were looking for and at really decent prices.

White water rafting: At the beginning of June Kali, Maggie, Nicki and I all went up to Leavenworth for a weekend of whitewater rafting as well as celebrating Nicki's birthday. It was awesome!!! We had so much fun and it was a nice couple days away.

Anyway, I think that's it for now. Hopefully I'll be able to write again soon.