So lets review what has occurred in the pastt 33 days..
1. We got hitched!! ;)
2. Had the most amazing time in Maui
3. Celebrated Christ's birth at 6 different houses
4. Packed everything and moved to H-Town
5. I started the full-time job as JUMP and GiGL director at Second
6. Brandon started Seminary at Southwestern to pursue a Masters of Arts in Christian Education
7. We began out CARES team part-time job at our apartment complex (weekly welcome visits, along with three parties per month, plus many other fun things)
8. We are experiencing a brand new building opening for Second in Pearland (opens January 24!)
All this to say that I feel a lot wiser than I did 33 days ago :)
And, although I feel like Im swimming in things to do (plus literally swimming in boxes in our apartment that have yet to be unpacked), I have the most amazing man alongside of me through it all. And I am blessed, thankful, joyful, excited and at peace because God placed all of this before us and gives us Philipians 4:13 to stand on!
Now, I'm going to lay down in my pjs, enjoy the delicious dinner my hubs is cooking, and learn JUMP and GiGL songs until the sun goes down :)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Our next two years...
God has really opened up the doors for Brandon and I to be in such a unique place in our lives right now. We are seeing job opportunities unfold, but are knowing that we are being called certain places.
We had known that we wanted to do CARES ministry for a long time. We both LOVE entertaining and getting to know our neighbors... so what better way that to coordinate the community events?!? I LOVE event coordinating and pulling pieces together to make a party -so this is JUST up my alley! And Brandon thrives off getting in a deep conversations a relationships with people - so this will open up so many ministry opportunities that we are beaming with excitement about!
Brandon and I went last Tuesday for our CARES interview. She approved us the join CARES halfway during the interview. What an amazing answered prayer that was! We were hoping to find out soon wether or not we'd been accepted - but God didn't hesitate to let us know. The normal turn-around time to get placed in a CARES apartment is about 6 weeks; at the end of our interview, she offered us a location to go look at that evening. Another AMAZING burden lifted. Jesus knew our hearts cry to be somewhere soon!
We then interviewed with the apartment manager on Friday - and again, about halfway into the interview she informed us that she knew we were the right people for her from the moment she saw us - God is amazing. She then offered us the position on the spot and took us to pick our apartment! WOW. We had NO idea this would all happen so quick but we are LITERALLY jumping up and down, in tears, excited! We are very very much aware that this was ALL God's handy work. We heard His calling and sought after it - and we have landed in our new home! PLUS Our manager is so so so sweet and very excited that we will be joining their staff.
On a side note, last night John, Brandon, Allison and I went to the Nutcracker Festival at Reliant Stadium.. and I get this tap on the shoulder from someone who looks a lot like me...it was my half-sister whom I haven't seen since the 7th grade. WOW. It was awesome seeing her and catching up for about 15 minutes. Brandon and I look forward to going to their house soon for dinner to really catch-up and reminisce about our Dad. Im so excited to hear her stories about him :)
God is amazing. He has taught me over and over this summer that if I wait for Him, listen to His calling, and follow it obediently, then I will be blessed far beyond my imagination.
Apartment 337... here we come :)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
For You Alone Be Glorified
I'm at a point of exhaustion that I have never reached before. Every level of my being is worn down to the core - emotional, mental, physical.
But I know it's times like these where my true testament of my faith shines the brightest - no matter what I am enduring, He should be glorified through it all.
Never should my weakness become a burden; instead, let it be an opportunity to let His light shine brightly in my life.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him
Nehemiah 8:10
Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
But I know it's times like these where my true testament of my faith shines the brightest - no matter what I am enduring, He should be glorified through it all.
Never should my weakness become a burden; instead, let it be an opportunity to let His light shine brightly in my life.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him
Nehemiah 8:10
Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Life of a Pre-K Teacher
WOW. I am overwhelmed with how much work is required to teach the little tykes! They are such busy bees... if you turn your back for, literally, 10 seconds, you have lost all their attention. They are at such a curious, striving for independence, learning to not bite/hit/say mean things, age. I am with the precious babies, all 19 of them, from 8-5. And I have no planning period. So calling my life "overwhelming" right now is a light term. I try and run and laminate a sheet of paper here and there on my way in and out of lunch. And I attempt to get things organized for the next day while the kids line up for recess. I really am trying my absolute best to give these children the best knowledge and education...and as long as I'm trying my best, that's all that I can offer.
I can't complain though - the Lord put me here to learn, grow, gain experience and make a difference in the children's lives. I have to be completely honest though - there is nothing I look more forward to than the last hour when we are in our "learning centers" and I get to work on enrichment art with different small groups. It's at this point that I can give each kiddo individual time. I love to chat with them and hear what they are feeling, thinkin and learning. They have the cutest things to say.. it makes my heart melt.
I also love when I hear the kids using sayings that I say and when they start singing with me randomly. A favorite of mine that they have started joining me in on when I start to sing... "Good morning, good morning, its great to stay up late... good morning, going morning to you and you and you and you and you, etc etc." (From Singing In The Rain).
Altogether, I am learning tons and am bombarded with support from my amazing fiance, who comes to visit me for lunch at least 2 or 3 times a week!
Oh, and we are 72 days from being man and wife!!! :)
Our class represented China at our school-wide cultural celebration. In their little minds... we definitely flew to China and it was amazing. :)
I can't complain though - the Lord put me here to learn, grow, gain experience and make a difference in the children's lives. I have to be completely honest though - there is nothing I look more forward to than the last hour when we are in our "learning centers" and I get to work on enrichment art with different small groups. It's at this point that I can give each kiddo individual time. I love to chat with them and hear what they are feeling, thinkin and learning. They have the cutest things to say.. it makes my heart melt.
I also love when I hear the kids using sayings that I say and when they start singing with me randomly. A favorite of mine that they have started joining me in on when I start to sing... "Good morning, good morning, its great to stay up late... good morning, going morning to you and you and you and you and you, etc etc." (From Singing In The Rain).
Altogether, I am learning tons and am bombarded with support from my amazing fiance, who comes to visit me for lunch at least 2 or 3 times a week!
Oh, and we are 72 days from being man and wife!!! :)
Our class represented China at our school-wide cultural celebration. In their little minds... we definitely flew to China and it was amazing. :)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Unemployment rate is 9.4% of US Citizens...
And I contribute to that statistic.
So, as stressful as it is to have no money, except the tiny pay check I get from The Gap every other week, you gotta look at the sunny side of things:
1. We're mastering how to use coupons and price-match at grocery stores. Brandon and I get a kick out of the $2.10 we get back from Guest Services for our coupons :)
2. Everyone has that "we were so poor at this one point of life. we thought about selling our house/car/jewelry/dog"... so I guess this is ours. But it's not so bad... we've got each other, so we'll be okie-dokie!
3. I am learning every technique to job searching online. And that you must email your resume in every sort of format you eown, so the employer might potentially have one of the programs you use! "My resume is attached as Word Document, PDF and DocX" lol
4. The dog is always happy - no matter how poor you are :) He eats his ice cubs and is as bouncy as can be!
5. 84 cent packaged mashed potatoes are amazing - especially when Brandon makes them
6. Good friends always come to the rescue and pitch in to buy some D.P.'s for the apartment!
7. Brandon has learned some great ways to make me stop crying - he is pretty much the funniest person ever.
8. My Big sister always comes to the rescue and makes me smile... "Brig, I've called some people in Houston and they are going to keep their ears open for a job. Also, Juicy Couture at the Galleria is hiring full time sales associates!"
9. Window shopping is a little fun. I go in stores I would never dream of going in bc I don't have any money at all - Louis Vuitton, Coach, De Beers... just to name a few
10. God loves us no matter how much money we have. I mean, hey, we are eating 3 meals a day and have gasoline in our cars and Bibles to read - what else could you REALLY need (besides a job!)?
Anyhow... writing this out has made me a little happier... thanks for visiting :)
Brigette
So, as stressful as it is to have no money, except the tiny pay check I get from The Gap every other week, you gotta look at the sunny side of things:
1. We're mastering how to use coupons and price-match at grocery stores. Brandon and I get a kick out of the $2.10 we get back from Guest Services for our coupons :)
2. Everyone has that "we were so poor at this one point of life. we thought about selling our house/car/jewelry/dog"... so I guess this is ours. But it's not so bad... we've got each other, so we'll be okie-dokie!
3. I am learning every technique to job searching online. And that you must email your resume in every sort of format you eown, so the employer might potentially have one of the programs you use! "My resume is attached as Word Document, PDF and DocX" lol
4. The dog is always happy - no matter how poor you are :) He eats his ice cubs and is as bouncy as can be!
5. 84 cent packaged mashed potatoes are amazing - especially when Brandon makes them
6. Good friends always come to the rescue and pitch in to buy some D.P.'s for the apartment!
7. Brandon has learned some great ways to make me stop crying - he is pretty much the funniest person ever.
8. My Big sister always comes to the rescue and makes me smile... "Brig, I've called some people in Houston and they are going to keep their ears open for a job. Also, Juicy Couture at the Galleria is hiring full time sales associates!"
9. Window shopping is a little fun. I go in stores I would never dream of going in bc I don't have any money at all - Louis Vuitton, Coach, De Beers... just to name a few
10. God loves us no matter how much money we have. I mean, hey, we are eating 3 meals a day and have gasoline in our cars and Bibles to read - what else could you REALLY need (besides a job!)?
Anyhow... writing this out has made me a little happier... thanks for visiting :)
Brigette
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Decision Day
Today at VBX, tons of children made decisions to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. How exciting! I'm so excited that they made the decision to want to know Him. And how lucky they are to know him at such young ages - they have their whole lives ahead of them to tell the world about Him. AMEN!
Anyhow... Brandon was one of the leaders who counseled the children who prayed to accept Jesus in their hearts. He told me such a precious story - I had to retell it on here so hopefully someone will hear it and share in our smiles!
Brandon said he was speaking to a group of kids and was reciting Romans 10:9 to them... "If your confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe He has raised from the dead, you will be saved"
Well, right after he says "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.." The cutest 5th graded you have ever seen interrupts Brandon and says " Jesus is Lord!" Brandon looks at him, smiles and says "Good Job" and continues with the scripture.
Priceless. :)
Anyhow... Brandon was one of the leaders who counseled the children who prayed to accept Jesus in their hearts. He told me such a precious story - I had to retell it on here so hopefully someone will hear it and share in our smiles!
Brandon said he was speaking to a group of kids and was reciting Romans 10:9 to them... "If your confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe He has raised from the dead, you will be saved"
Well, right after he says "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.." The cutest 5th graded you have ever seen interrupts Brandon and says " Jesus is Lord!" Brandon looks at him, smiles and says "Good Job" and continues with the scripture.
Priceless. :)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Honeymoon
I am getting SO excited about our honeymoon!! I mean - obviously we are both looking VERY forward to it; however, it hasn't really felt real until we booked the room!
Hello Maui.... This is one of the rooms at our hotel....
And of course... the view...
And we got such an AMAZING deal for our 7-night honeymoon! Well, 8 including the wedding night, but that will be *cross-fingers* at the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas!
After booking the room today, we started talking about all the activities we want to do... here's our list: surf lessons, attend a Luau (which will be easy, considering our hotel hosts one every night!), take hula classes, couples massage, snorkeling, go whale watching (holla for whale mating season in December, ha!), travel the Road to Hana, along with many other things!
Anyhow... just had to share my excitement!! :)
Hello Maui.... This is one of the rooms at our hotel....
And of course... the view...
And we got such an AMAZING deal for our 7-night honeymoon! Well, 8 including the wedding night, but that will be *cross-fingers* at the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas!
After booking the room today, we started talking about all the activities we want to do... here's our list: surf lessons, attend a Luau (which will be easy, considering our hotel hosts one every night!), take hula classes, couples massage, snorkeling, go whale watching (holla for whale mating season in December, ha!), travel the Road to Hana, along with many other things!
Anyhow... just had to share my excitement!! :)
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