Lesssons From the Snow

Last year I could totally relate to Jacki's sentiments about growing up and losing the child's sense of the term "snow day." Working for my Dad full time, I fully expected him to graciously allow me to escape the weather and stay home whenever we got a significant amount of snow. After the first few calls for "Take is slow, watch out for the crazy drivers," I began to realize I was a big girl now, and needed to get used to driving in bad weather. College at Southern my first year certainly didn't allow me to practice my winter driving. Last year I learned.

This year, with dismal hopes and the awareness that I really was in the "work world," I mentally prepared to face the blizzards in my little volkswagon bug. To my great surprise last week, I was told I better stay put, since we didn't have too much going on that day anyway. What wonderful news! It was all the more wonderful because I didn't expect it. I got oodles of fun things done I wasn't planning on having time to do. Figuring it was a one time deal, I savored it and moved on. Then today, with forecasts of snow, turning to freezing rain and ice, I got another call. Another unexpected "hurray!" I got some extra school work done, lovingly tended to my piano, and am taking a little break on here.

I think what I am learning from all of this is that is that I really am growing up. You'd think that at 21, married, and in my last year of college I'd have figured that out. Oh well, I don't catch on so quick. Even amidst this realization, God and my Dad gave me a few unexpected blessings. The real beauty is appreciating them for all their worth when they come.

New Side Job

Here's another one of those things I never though I'd find myself doing: being paid to be a church pianist. No, not in the Adventist church, clearly. Playing for our own dear church was something I never pictured doing as a kid either, but here I am doing that, and now I'll be playing for an Episcopal church as well. I'm not quite sure how it originally got started, but I have played for Episcopal church and Federated Church in Arlington as a sub when their organist couldn't be there. News travels quickly in a small town, and it soon led to me playing for the Arlington Elementary and High School, for their music concerts (A much greater pay I might add). It had been about a year since I had been asked to play for any of these place, though, when I got an email asking me to sub for the Episcopal church in Bennington, for their Christmas pageant. Another little side note about small towns: you see people you know everywhere. Sitting in the front row of that church during the pageant was my gynecologist! I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised, because she is our neighbor as well, just 2 houses down.

After playing for the pageant, I discovered that the church had been without an organist for months. This seemed quite strange, as most churches try to get subs whenever they are to be without music. Due to this interesting fact, the members were overwhelmed with gratitude after being without music for so long. The arrangements have thus been proceeding for me to be a regular pianist there 2-3 Sundays a month. This surprised me, as most churches prefer the organ. Be that as it may, they wanted me to do it, and I am delighted to oblige. A few more $s every month lessens the financial crunch my schooling creates. God is good. :)

The Beginning of the End

With the beginning of the new year begins my 2nd to last term with Kaplan. More than a little ecstatic about that! Not only will I have more free time when I am done, but my bank account can actually do some prolonged growing without monthly depletion! More than these things, however, I have begun to truly fall in love my degree. Too many terms were spent on courses all supplementing my core nutrition classes, and now that they are finally here, everything has come together. All of the interest and excitement I had during my first nutrition class at Southern and now intensified, as I learn continually more, and approach the time when I can put it all into practice. As to what I will actually end up doing when it is all said and done, only God knows. But as I strongly feel He led me into this profession, I also believe He will lead me to the right job when I am done. Until more news....

Are we worthy to wear their coats?

So we went to a very Adventist event yesterday: William Miller annual campmeeting. It was a really nice service. Normally the sermon consists of a recap of the events during William Miller's era, but the sermon had a grander focus this time. The question was: are we worthy to where the coats of those pioneers? The speaker recapped on the fact that every 20 years or so, the pioneers would consider the question, "What now God?" They would with prayer and bible study evaluate whether the methods they'd been using were working for the society of that day; whether holding onto religious traditions were hindering their greater purpose of evangelism. It was a very thought provoking sermon. This has always been the scariest question for me to ask of God. What do you want from me right now? Scary because I don't know the answer to it. Scary because it will probably take me out of my comfort zone. But I also know the times I have trusted God in answering this questions and followed where He led have been the happiest and most exciting of my life. Can you imagine how different our churches might be if we all were collectively asking, "What now God?" Might we not just be warming pews every Sabbath, but reaching out to the hungry, thirsty, and sick in our community. I really think God wants to do something big with our church. I'm praying He'll bring me to the place in my walk with Him that I am willing to go wherever He leads.

Catching Up: thoughts on life.

It shouldn't be a surprise to any of you by now, or even to myself, that several months have gone by since I visited this lovely place of putting down my thoughts. There just comes a time when a facebook status can't fulfill the need in me to write things down. No, I'm not talking about reports on the state of our damaged environment, or the challenges of healthcare. God knows I've been doing plenty of those on a regular basis. No, sometimes my mind needs to let out things other than schoolwork.

I've had a lot of thoughts on my mind lately. Some concerning the trials God allows us to go through in order to strengthen our faith. Others to do with trials He allows to show us our faults. Both types I've experienced in the past month. Its such good news to me that God is actively working in my life. No, I certainly don't have it all together, but the fact that God is taking the time to address the small issues in my life reminds me that He thinks I'm worth something.

God also blessed Adam and I by bring us to our first wedding anniversary on Monday. Its seems crazy to think that its been over a year now since we said "I do." Time flies. It just seems like life was always this way: waking up next to each other, eating breakfast together, enjoying hobbies together, and taking care of the many aspects of "home." Our garden survived this year and is producing wildly! Ever meal we cook at home now consists of garden veggies, otherwise it would grow out of control! I say 'every night we eat home' because two nights a week we have dinner with our parents, one with Adam's, one with mine. This didn't begin until a couple months ago, but it has become a weekly tradition we love and cherish; one of the many joys of being only children and living close by to parents.

The end of my schooling is also in site...Hurray!!! I will most likely finish in April of next, but graduation won't be until August. Each term I finish now has me counting down the number of classes I have left. God really has been so good to us in allowing me to continue schooling and paying my way through now that we're married. So many little gifts from above have blessed us financially and spiritually. I'm reminded continually that God has a sincere interest in His children.

One last thought I'll stick in here was an experience I had on our anniversary this week. I was downstairs doing laundry when I heard a knock on the door. I went up to see who it was, and it was Jim (Adam's Dad). He had a bag of sweet corn in his arms, which he gave me, and said "If there was a ever a day worth celebrating, I think it should be today." He then gave me a hug, and when he pulled away there were tears in his eyes, and an expression so deep it was hard for me to handle. I can be emotional, but it takes some arousing. Seeing his intense emotion just over happiness of us being together was unnerving to me. It made me wonder if that is what God experiences when he is proud or happy with his children. Funny thing was, that same expression seems like what God might have when he sees His children wandering astray. It was a combination of deep love and intense passion. I think God was there through his eyes saying "Happy Anniversary my children. I love you with a love too deep to understand; one strong enough to hold you through the pleasant and unpleasant times. Continue to live in My love."

Vacation = restoration, shopping, guilt, renewed love for learning

Breaks from Kaplan are always welcome, and generally rejuvenating. Such was this one, though I greatly wished I could have escaped to some warm, tropical area of the world that too me completely away from my obligations and responsibilities, but life doesn't often allow such fantasies to come true, so in VT I remain, with snow in the forecast every day this week. On the upside, a gained a little bit extra needed sleep this weekend, which was a blessing. Even more gratifying was my shopping trip with Mom and Sunday. We don't go shopping often, as a mother + daughter shopping = lots of fun, but too much $'s spent! Lots of good deals were found though, a shoppers reward :) I felt guilty afterwards, as I always do when I spend more money on myself than I do over the course of a couple months, but that is why its a treat, and it doesn't happen very often! Ok, I'll stop trying to justify it. It was fun though :)

Its amazing how a mere week off from school stress, and a new set of textbooks can renew my passion for learning. Up until last week I was so crazy from school I was pleading that graduation would come sooner than next year. Now, with Public Health and Abnormal Psychology books in hand, I am ready to start a new 10 weeks with Kaplan tomorrow. I have even read through the first chapters in each book! Dad thinks its a waste of vacation. I think its pretty interesting, mostly because at this point I "want to," not "have to." That will all change in a matter of days..... Here we go!

Week Break and Valentine's Banquet Result

Last night completed the most taxing of Kaplan terms yet. Epidemiology really pushed my limits, as it had me writing papers for it every week, along with the the other projects from my religions class, working full time, and planning the Valentine's Banquet or our youth group (which went really well!!!). Unfortunately I was not able to see my grade after completing the exam, but thanks to the Professor, if I am "average," that means a ranked among the rest of his normal students with a 50%! Talk about a way to scare your students before taking an exam! Oh well. I figured out that even if I did get a 50%, I would still have an A in the class, so I guess it all works out.

As for our Valentine's Banquet, it was awesome! We arrived at the church at noon on Sunday, and began decorating, as our amazing cook/help (Gail and Lorraine) worked in the kitchen. We all got so much done before people started arriving at 5:00. The youth group was a little disappointed that not many people form the community came, but we have great church support, and several people from neighboring churches. It was a hit! And the best part of all was that they helped us to raise $350 for ADRA to go to Haiti relief! Thanks to everyone who helped, came, and made this all happen and be a success!!!