Let me start off with...it's been a wild ride the past few months since the last blog post (Oct of this year). Major decisions happened, and life is about to change as we know it.
If you didn't know, I have been trying to look for another job for awhile now. Last year, Eric and I were talking about it, but felt that it wasn't time yet. There was good to be done. At the beginning of this year, we once again took it to the Lord, each in our own way. We felt the go-ahead to begin the search for a new job.
Hundreds of applications later, and still nothing. Then, I got a nibble. The nibble didn't pan out. And I lost hope for a minute. I remember coming home in tears so many times, frustrated, stressed, anxious, emotionally drained. If you didn't know, I work at what's called a BMC campus...behavioral management. And I love my children. I enjoy our families. And admittedly, it's emotionally draining at the end of the day, day after day. I hear the stories of the families, see the behaviors of the kiddos, attempt to sit and plan out the best for our children and the program I work for...which doesn't leave much to invest in our corner of the world.
After months of prayer separately, on the drive home one night, I started talking to Eric about what the Lord was revealing to me as the next step. Remember, we hadn't talked about it with each other much, just agreed to take it up in prayer and generally prayed together without getting into specifics as we continued to hear. Lo and behold, what I was hearing, Eric was as well. We again agreed to take this up in prayer TOGETHER, as we knew it was a big leap of faith. We also talked with our family and requested prayers as we listened.
After 10 years in the education field, I put in my two week notice. I love my kiddos, staff and families, but it's time to invest into the family I was placed in, into my husband and our little corner of the world. I'm currently waiting on paperwork to be processed for a new job (which I won't explain here). But suffice it to say that...we're excited. The world tells me I should fear, be anxious and worried. I was telling Eric the other day that I feel none of those. After we made the decision, I woke up the next morning with Out of the Grey's song, Walk by Faith (I think that's the title...Eric had found it from my olden days and posted it on my FB wall). After so many months of dreading the drive, the emotions...I woke up with joy, peace and an excitement.
Most people would think I'm crazy. I have a staff that's supportive, if not shocked. Parents who are e-mailing and calling, wishing me well and speaking life. And students who are giving hugs and smiles as they begin to realize they only have 2 more weeks with me. (I'm glad I'm not surrounded by most people. :D)
I was talking to hubby last night. I didn't realize just what an impact I had made on everyone. I do my job because I love our children, and the families, even on the crazy days. It brings tears to my eyes to hear the stories the parents are telling me, and the words of love and encouragement. It's going to be a rough two weeks as I begin to pack away the office/classroom, but I also know it's with joy that I leave my kiddos, knowing that a light has been shined in each of their lives, a light that I hope one day leads them to Him who loved me first.
Now is a season to walk by faith, to grow in my knowledge of Him and worship Him with everything I have. It's a short season of rest before I hopefully hit the ground running. It's also a time of leaning on His strength as I say good-bye to the past 10 years.
If you pray for me, please pray for His strength and grace as I learn to say good-bye to so many people and children. It will be hard for all of us.
And know that my prayer for you all in all of this is that, no matter what's going on in life, you walk by faith and not by what you see, your circumstances, troubles, issues, concerns. That you stand on His Word and His promises, because He is a God who provides, Jehovah Jireh. He has a banner over you, one of love. Walk in it, praise in it, relish and cherish His love for and over you this season...rejoice that He was born and gave His life to celebrate in freedom and victory!!
In Him,
AF
If you didn't know, I have been trying to look for another job for awhile now. Last year, Eric and I were talking about it, but felt that it wasn't time yet. There was good to be done. At the beginning of this year, we once again took it to the Lord, each in our own way. We felt the go-ahead to begin the search for a new job.
Hundreds of applications later, and still nothing. Then, I got a nibble. The nibble didn't pan out. And I lost hope for a minute. I remember coming home in tears so many times, frustrated, stressed, anxious, emotionally drained. If you didn't know, I work at what's called a BMC campus...behavioral management. And I love my children. I enjoy our families. And admittedly, it's emotionally draining at the end of the day, day after day. I hear the stories of the families, see the behaviors of the kiddos, attempt to sit and plan out the best for our children and the program I work for...which doesn't leave much to invest in our corner of the world.
After months of prayer separately, on the drive home one night, I started talking to Eric about what the Lord was revealing to me as the next step. Remember, we hadn't talked about it with each other much, just agreed to take it up in prayer and generally prayed together without getting into specifics as we continued to hear. Lo and behold, what I was hearing, Eric was as well. We again agreed to take this up in prayer TOGETHER, as we knew it was a big leap of faith. We also talked with our family and requested prayers as we listened.
After 10 years in the education field, I put in my two week notice. I love my kiddos, staff and families, but it's time to invest into the family I was placed in, into my husband and our little corner of the world. I'm currently waiting on paperwork to be processed for a new job (which I won't explain here). But suffice it to say that...we're excited. The world tells me I should fear, be anxious and worried. I was telling Eric the other day that I feel none of those. After we made the decision, I woke up the next morning with Out of the Grey's song, Walk by Faith (I think that's the title...Eric had found it from my olden days and posted it on my FB wall). After so many months of dreading the drive, the emotions...I woke up with joy, peace and an excitement.
Most people would think I'm crazy. I have a staff that's supportive, if not shocked. Parents who are e-mailing and calling, wishing me well and speaking life. And students who are giving hugs and smiles as they begin to realize they only have 2 more weeks with me. (I'm glad I'm not surrounded by most people. :D)
I was talking to hubby last night. I didn't realize just what an impact I had made on everyone. I do my job because I love our children, and the families, even on the crazy days. It brings tears to my eyes to hear the stories the parents are telling me, and the words of love and encouragement. It's going to be a rough two weeks as I begin to pack away the office/classroom, but I also know it's with joy that I leave my kiddos, knowing that a light has been shined in each of their lives, a light that I hope one day leads them to Him who loved me first.
Now is a season to walk by faith, to grow in my knowledge of Him and worship Him with everything I have. It's a short season of rest before I hopefully hit the ground running. It's also a time of leaning on His strength as I say good-bye to the past 10 years.
If you pray for me, please pray for His strength and grace as I learn to say good-bye to so many people and children. It will be hard for all of us.
And know that my prayer for you all in all of this is that, no matter what's going on in life, you walk by faith and not by what you see, your circumstances, troubles, issues, concerns. That you stand on His Word and His promises, because He is a God who provides, Jehovah Jireh. He has a banner over you, one of love. Walk in it, praise in it, relish and cherish His love for and over you this season...rejoice that He was born and gave His life to celebrate in freedom and victory!!
In Him,
AF
