Merry Christmas 2011
Well, I know it has been a couple of years since I sent out a Christmas letter but honestly, I was just content with my simple life of working at Trinity and had nothing particularly newsworthy to share. This year, however, there have been some new developments that I want to put out there!
I am still teaching 2nd grade at Trinity Lutheran School. This year I have eight students, my biggest class yet! I have three boys and five girls but when you add myself, Happy the parakeet and my dog Maggie who comes to school with me each day, the girls outnumber the boys eight to three so they don't even stand a chance! I continue to love each day at school, rarely thinking of it as 'going to work' but instead, getting to spend the day with my wonderful students and coworkers. I love the chance to share Christ with them, bringing Him into our conversations at any time and hearing my students share the prayer requests on their little hearts is such a blessing and encouragement to me each day.
I moved a year ago into a little house in town and love it! I have a separate bedroom and living room as well as central air in the summer! I already mentioned Maggie, she continues to be such a source of joy and laughter in my world. I love that I can take her to school with me each day and all of the students are excited to see her each day. I still have my calico Calli but this last summer, I had to put Christopher down. After 14 happy years of living, he was completely blind and going deaf and I finally made the decision to let him rest in peace. It was extremely hard and I still miss him dearly at times, but in the midst of my sadness, God provided a blessing in the form of a cat from the shelter named Lola! She is such a ball of personality and it's been amazing to watch her grow from the pathetic little thing from the shelter when I got her to a healthy, happy cat.
My dad still lives in Dubois and I see him almost weekly. Our relationship is better than it has been in years and I love the time we get to spend together. We spend Christmases and a few days in each spring with my brother Bryan down in Arizona and my niece Lilly. My best friend Amy and her two little ones were able to come for about a week this last summer and I enjoyed sharing with them my life in Riverton. We spent some time in Dubois and it was so nice to have them here. I enjoy being an aunt to those little ones so much!
Now for the exciting news that has come about lately! One Saturday at the beginning of November, I got this idea that I should look at graduate programs online to see if there was anything that caught my eye. A local radio station advertised Grand Canyon University and I visited their website and began filling out what I thought was an account that would allow me to apply at my own pace if I decided that was God wanted me to do. After answering a bunch of questions, I got a screen that said, 'Congratulations! Your application has been received!' Unknowingly, I had applied to GCU and in less than three weeks, I was starting my first class! I am pursuing a Master's degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis on youth. The program is perfectly suited to my lifestyle right now as I am able to take one class at a time as I continue to work full-time. I finished my first class this week with a 96% and now begin to delve into the classes suited for my major. I am a bit overwhelmed at times and have moments of self-doubt, but I have a wonderful support system behind me that cheer me on every step of the way.
The second piece of news goes hand-in-hand with the first and can only be described as the hand of God at work. Last year, Trinity started the process of becoming accredited. In November, we had a site visit and were approved for accreditation, though on probation until a couple of criteria are met. One of those requirements is that all staff be Lutheran. I, of course, am the token non-Lutheran on staff and I have been faced with the choice of joining the Lutheran church or realizing that after the 2012-13 school year, I will no longer have a job. I don't believe becoming a Lutheran is what I am supposed to do and so I have accepted that unless God moves otherwise, I will be out of a job come May 2013. Wouldn't you know that my projected graduation date of GCU, if I stay on track, is May 22, 2013?? :-) Now tell me that doesn't have the fingerprints of God all over it!
I'm not sure where God will take me with all of this but my dad and I have been seriously talking about a move down south to be closer to my brother and niece. This would also put my closer to Amy and her family. I have no idea what I will do for employment once I get my degree but I am confident that God has something up His sleeve and I am trying to just walk in obedience each day. Leaving Trinity and Riverton with the friends God has given me will be one of the hardest things I've ever done but I've already begun to pray for God to prepare my heart. Only He knows what is to come!
In all of this, I ask you to come alongside me in prayer. I want so much to follow God in all of this and I ask that you pray for my eyes to be open to His leading and that if it is His will for me to leave Riverton, I would do so with no regrets. Please pray that I would be courageous in all the unknown details and trust that my God will never lead me anywhere that isn't safe to follow.
Lastly, as we celebrate another Christmas season, remember that without Jesus, there is no reason to celebrate. It is His birth in that stable that makes Easter morning possible and for that, I am eternally thankful! Happy Birthday Jesus!
I am still teaching 2nd grade at Trinity Lutheran School. This year I have eight students, my biggest class yet! I have three boys and five girls but when you add myself, Happy the parakeet and my dog Maggie who comes to school with me each day, the girls outnumber the boys eight to three so they don't even stand a chance! I continue to love each day at school, rarely thinking of it as 'going to work' but instead, getting to spend the day with my wonderful students and coworkers. I love the chance to share Christ with them, bringing Him into our conversations at any time and hearing my students share the prayer requests on their little hearts is such a blessing and encouragement to me each day.
I moved a year ago into a little house in town and love it! I have a separate bedroom and living room as well as central air in the summer! I already mentioned Maggie, she continues to be such a source of joy and laughter in my world. I love that I can take her to school with me each day and all of the students are excited to see her each day. I still have my calico Calli but this last summer, I had to put Christopher down. After 14 happy years of living, he was completely blind and going deaf and I finally made the decision to let him rest in peace. It was extremely hard and I still miss him dearly at times, but in the midst of my sadness, God provided a blessing in the form of a cat from the shelter named Lola! She is such a ball of personality and it's been amazing to watch her grow from the pathetic little thing from the shelter when I got her to a healthy, happy cat.
My dad still lives in Dubois and I see him almost weekly. Our relationship is better than it has been in years and I love the time we get to spend together. We spend Christmases and a few days in each spring with my brother Bryan down in Arizona and my niece Lilly. My best friend Amy and her two little ones were able to come for about a week this last summer and I enjoyed sharing with them my life in Riverton. We spent some time in Dubois and it was so nice to have them here. I enjoy being an aunt to those little ones so much!
Now for the exciting news that has come about lately! One Saturday at the beginning of November, I got this idea that I should look at graduate programs online to see if there was anything that caught my eye. A local radio station advertised Grand Canyon University and I visited their website and began filling out what I thought was an account that would allow me to apply at my own pace if I decided that was God wanted me to do. After answering a bunch of questions, I got a screen that said, 'Congratulations! Your application has been received!' Unknowingly, I had applied to GCU and in less than three weeks, I was starting my first class! I am pursuing a Master's degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis on youth. The program is perfectly suited to my lifestyle right now as I am able to take one class at a time as I continue to work full-time. I finished my first class this week with a 96% and now begin to delve into the classes suited for my major. I am a bit overwhelmed at times and have moments of self-doubt, but I have a wonderful support system behind me that cheer me on every step of the way.
The second piece of news goes hand-in-hand with the first and can only be described as the hand of God at work. Last year, Trinity started the process of becoming accredited. In November, we had a site visit and were approved for accreditation, though on probation until a couple of criteria are met. One of those requirements is that all staff be Lutheran. I, of course, am the token non-Lutheran on staff and I have been faced with the choice of joining the Lutheran church or realizing that after the 2012-13 school year, I will no longer have a job. I don't believe becoming a Lutheran is what I am supposed to do and so I have accepted that unless God moves otherwise, I will be out of a job come May 2013. Wouldn't you know that my projected graduation date of GCU, if I stay on track, is May 22, 2013?? :-) Now tell me that doesn't have the fingerprints of God all over it!
I'm not sure where God will take me with all of this but my dad and I have been seriously talking about a move down south to be closer to my brother and niece. This would also put my closer to Amy and her family. I have no idea what I will do for employment once I get my degree but I am confident that God has something up His sleeve and I am trying to just walk in obedience each day. Leaving Trinity and Riverton with the friends God has given me will be one of the hardest things I've ever done but I've already begun to pray for God to prepare my heart. Only He knows what is to come!
In all of this, I ask you to come alongside me in prayer. I want so much to follow God in all of this and I ask that you pray for my eyes to be open to His leading and that if it is His will for me to leave Riverton, I would do so with no regrets. Please pray that I would be courageous in all the unknown details and trust that my God will never lead me anywhere that isn't safe to follow.
Lastly, as we celebrate another Christmas season, remember that without Jesus, there is no reason to celebrate. It is His birth in that stable that makes Easter morning possible and for that, I am eternally thankful! Happy Birthday Jesus!
My niece Lilly and I last Christmas
Amy and I with Peyton and Lola in Yellowstone
Happy and Maggie in my classroom
Calli Lola
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