Wonderful Weekend to Remember

Our Anniversary celebration was wonderful. It was Josh's year to plan and he did AWESOME. We stayed at the BeachPlaceGuesthouses (where we got married) for a couple nights. Went to Universal Studios on Saturday and the Melting Pot for dinner sunday. Unforgettable...

Four Years

I am thankful and blessed. I am happy.

My God is perfect, holy, lovely, Father, protector, healer, friend. He knows my every thought and every need. He provides, leaving me on my knees. His Spirit reveals His heart to me. I am thankful for who He is and His relentless love.

I have a wonderful husband whom God chose to be my very best friend and love. Josh knows me so incredibly well and loves me even better. We are about to celebrate 4 years of love, adventures, lessons, joy, growth, and blessings.

I have an incredible family. I miss them and I cannot wait to see them soon. They love me infinity, support me, encourage me, and teach me constantly. I am so proud to call them my mom, my dad, and my sister. All of my in-laws and nephews are amazing people doing amazing things and living their lives in HIS presence.

I am in a place during these economic times, where my husband and I can grow our savings for the future. That is such an incredible blessing.

I have a job with good bosses who truly care. My job allows me to have flexible hours so I can spend time doing things I love with people I love. Animals 5 days a week...what could be better?:)

Thankful....

Rest

This weekend we are taking two days to rest, have space, and pray about our future. I guess you could call it a prayer retreat

(at an adorable B &B :)). We pray together and apart all the time, but this is a weekend we have set aside time to just breathe. We want to get some great quality time in and pray, pray, pray. We have transitions ahead like moving into our own place (renting or buying) and pondering when we might start our family. With both of us at the start of our careers we need/want time spiritually and mentally preparing together for the coming season. We couldn't be more thankful for the home, love, and support that Mike and Laura have provided and will provide until we head out. It has truly been a blessing. Josh begins teaching 6 classes on Monday at Community Christian School. I am more proud of him than I can say in words and cannot wait to see the wonderful things he does with these kids. The Lord has been so faithful in providing for us when we least expect it/most needed it and giving us peace and confidence in our path each step of the way. Now it is time to ask Him what He wants us to do next. All in all, we are thrilled for our weekend away. Here's to a great weekend!!

(pic from http://www.portdhiver.com)

Injured but happy!

So, the job is going great. I enjoy the people I work with. They are each unique, fun, talented, and funny in their own way. It has been six weeks now and I feel like I fit in almost effortlessly. Dr. McCloud comes back on Monday, she has been on her annual vacation for the past three weeks. This year she went to Egypt! crazy. She deserved the break, she is the soul vet and owner and works 6 days a week, 10-12 hrs day. The past three weeks we have had a different relief vet working with us each week. The first week and this past week have been fine, the week in the middle I think we all could have lived without. But, she is back soon and things will be more normal. These three weeks have been good in the fact that I have been forced to know what I am doing more than I would have been if Dr. McCloud had been here. When the boss is a relief vet who doesn't know exactly how we do things at Animal Hospital of Central Brevard it forces the technicians to teach and to KNOW how we do things. Cool.

In the meantime, last Friday I hurt my thumb at work. There was a very scared and angry Persian cat (oh so ugly) we were trying to shave. He had had enough and I was the one restraining him. I had him scruffed and my colleague threw a towel over him so he wouldn't scratch us. He exploded under the towel and did a 180 with my thumb securely clentching his scruff...OWWW! Needless to say, I let it lie for a week and finally decided I needed to use workman's comp. to visit the doctor. I went today to find that I have severe tendonitis of my right thumb from tweaking it just so. I am wearing a brace for a bit and can only have light use of my right hand at work for a week. I am also on a mild muscle relaxant each night and a heafty Aleve dose during the day! I am hoping this blog comes out alright, because I took my relaxant a bit ago. We'll see! It'll heal though and I am just very glad that I (nor my colleagues) got a cat bite from the whole thing. There is not much quite like a cat bite (although, a human bite is worse)!

Starting this Monday. Josh and I are housesitting down the street at his grandparents house for 10 days! I will still be working and everything....BUT we get a house all to ourselves again. We are SOO excited. We will cook, watch movies, swim, and just enjoy. Can't wait. Oh, and Tuesday is my day off work and we have tickets to the triple feature Twilight event! Twilight, then New Moon, then the midnight premiere of Eclipse. I am not even having to drag Josh, we are equally excited! I love him for many reasons, but one is that he is never ever ashamed to have child-like excitement for anything he loves. Such an incredible quality. We are thrilled for this next week and a half!!!

Jobs...check!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source+s_d&saddr=2270+Bent+Pine+Street,+Melboure,+FL&daddr=Animal+Hospital+of+Central+Brevard,+FL&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=28.180622,-80.66632&sspn=0.012843,0.019205&ie=UTF8&ll=28.18047,-80.663424&spn=0.013316,0.019205&z=16

I got a call this monday for an interview at a small vet hospital VERY close to where we are. About a month and a half ago, I realized there was a clinic jsut down the street and called them. The receptionist had told me that they would be hiring in the near future and encouraged me to drop off my resume. I dropped it off that day and then I kind of forgot about it and then they called!! I went in on Wednesday afternoon for an interview and the veterinarian offered me the position then and there. I let her know I needed a couple of days to think about it. So I did, I thought and prayed HARD. The last experience I had taught me a lot and I just didn't want to make a quick decision. I am glad I took the two days. This morning I called and accepted the position! The clinic has a technician moving to Colorado next week, ironically enough! We are switching places, weird. When she leaves I will be one of four technicians. There is one veteriarian, she started the practice in 2001. Take a look at this map (link at top) to see how close this place is, I can literally bike to work and be there in 10 min max! If I drive, which feels silly, it takes 3 minutes. It will be anywhere from 30-40 hrs a week, we will determine that on Monday when the veterinarian and I figure out a schedule. I would love to work 30 hrs a week to be honest:). Because I am a certified vet tech, they will be paying me just a bit less than what I was making when I left CSU, Animal Cancer Center. NOTHING I would have expected from a tiny private practice in Melbourne. I mean, I knew that the salaries for my profession at private practice here in Melbourne were better than the private practices in Colorado, but not close to CSU. That was a university! I am shocked and thankful and excited. I can't wait to see how my day to day will be and I am anxious to get to know the girls I will be working with and the Veterinarian, Dr. McCloud.

Talk about answered prayer!

Oh, and P.S.-Josh has a job for the Fall lined up! He will be working full-time at Community Christian School 15 minutes from here. The only independant Christian School in the area with a wonderful staff and wide variety of students. He is excited to be challenged and to bless and be blessed. Praise God for providing for us, what blessings He has showered us with! So, as Josh goes into his season of the summer off work to prepare for the Fall and the start of his career, I am starting a brand new job.

But, wait, there is more.....We have found our church too. It is called Calvary Chapel Surfside. It is on A1A across the street from the beach. We have met the senior pastor and his wife. This weekend will be our third weekend. It is a small (maybe 60 people right now) church that started 11 months ago. It is a healthy, growing, non-denominational Bible church that loves and serves the Lord. Let's just say, there are quite a few surfers there and some sweet families of all ages that love the Lord and love the ocean! Our kind of people if you ask me! We are so excited.

Laura (Josh's mom) and I started the womens Bible study that meets once a week for 6 weeks and began yesterday evening. The study is on Discerning the Voice of God, How to recognize when God speaks. It is a group of 13 ladies including us and I am thrilled to see what the Lord has in store for us spiritually and realtionally. More to come on how my new job is going. Thank you for all of you who have been praying for a door to open.

Thank you Lord, thank you for blessing us richly after we obeyed and jumped in faith moving to Florida. Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 11:1

Be Still and Know

Tonight I had the chance to just BE. I went out on the back porch swing by the pond and spent some time in the quiet of the evening. The ducks were so lively and hilarious. They were diving, chasing, flying, and playing. Widget, the Kucharysons Beagle sat next to me on the swing asleep with her head on my lap. It was so quiet and serene. No matter how long a time you get, treasure any moment you get to just be still and listen to what HE has to say to your heart. I cleared my mind and just sat there for a few minutes in the stillness. It's easy to get caught up in everything the world pushes us to fear in our busy lives. There are so many problems that seem so big at the time. Even if it's just for a moment, take time to be still and remember faith...driving in the car, 5 minutes in your room before you get out of bed, a short or long walk with your family or by yourself, a couple of minutes in the kitchen while you cook, and the list goes on.

Psalm 46...BE STILL AND KNOW.

Florida

Lately, due to the fact that I am not working, I have had time to get to know this area we've moved to. Thought I'd share everything I love about FL thus far and everything I miss about CO.

Melbourne, Florida (loving)...

1. a 'freeze' is a smudge of frost on the car window I can wipe off with a rag (or my hand!)

2. the ocean is always there to cool you off, or the pool in the case of this house

3. there's something amazing about sitting on the beach and watching the waves....praying there is my new favorite thing.

4. I can wear sandals and paint my toenails cutesty nearly all year

5. there are palm trees and hibiscus flowers..oranges, mangos, and other wonderful fruits.

6. key lime pie, that's all I have to say

7. my hair and skin love it here

8. most of my PJs are shorts and t-shirts

9. my husband is really happy, and I am enjoying getting to know his family more

10. the days seem longer somehow

11. I can get a suntan...sunscreen smells good and I love the feeling of being 'sunkissed'

12. Our new church is wonderful

Colorado (missing)....

1. My family being close, their hugs and faces

2. My lifetime friends

3. the mountains and the snow (not the cold, just the peaceful romantic atmosphere of it)

4. the dog park in Fort Collins

5. everyone at Colorado State ACC

6. hiking and snowshoeing

7. pine trees...smell and sight. weird, but true.

8. my cat, Twinkie

9. less bugs!

10. the smell before it snows

11. Our little apartment, first home

P.S.-The two dogs at the top are the breeds Josh and I love and would like to own someday. Vote and tell we which one you'd like us to get first. Beagle is on the left, bottom and Boston Terrier is on the right, top. :):)

Fear to Faith

Remember that job I got a month ago? Well, I quit it a week ago Friday! I know, crazy. I knew within three weeks of being there that I was going to be miserable. I prayed and sought council from my family and found that the environment of all women and some issues with respect for management...etc., etc. was just not something I could handle. I know myself, it wasn't for me. SO...now I am looking for the right place after having an incredible learning experience.

I studied Numbers 13-14 this morning and the FAITH in my soul is resurfacing itself. In this situation of not having a job, as I know is the situation of many right now...I am remembering that FEAR exaggerates circumstances, is easier than faith, paralyzes me, robs me of God's best, and is selfish. When I live by sight in my natural/worldly eyes I am miserable, depressed and FEAR takes over. FAITH is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1. It's hard.

Faith is acknowledging the promises of God, remembering His previous provision, trusting Him, being careful who I listen to, and remembering my future. It is natural to have FEAR, but it also makes us very unstable thinkers. I have so very much to be so thankful for and so much to look forward to, this time of waiting and praying is a time for me to take a deep breath, take a look at my heart. The beautiful ocean is down the street, I am healthy, I have a wonderful marriage, I adore all my family.....I am going to heaven someday. It's not about life being a box full of hugs and kisses, it's simply about where is my perspective, where are my eyes?? Some verses about faith that encouraged me to repent of my fear this morning....
Hebrews 11:1, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Joshua 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:7, Psalm 34:4, 1 John 4:18.

The sermon I studied alongside was "Facing our Fears" by Dave Folkerts, CCM.

Happy

I got a new job! I started this Tuesday and I work three days a week from 7:30a-5:30p. It is just a 20 min. drive. I am a veterinary technician in training right now. It is a general practice, meaning they practice most if not all aspect of veterinary medicine. Before moving to FL I worked at a specialty practice that was just centered on Oncology. Now I am in a place where they do internal medicine, surgery, general wellness care (ex.vaccines), in house lab work, ear care, skin care, nutrition, and on it goes. I am definately still getting comfortable and the staff is very patient and understanding with the learning curve for a new employee. Still feeling out and praying if it is a perfect fit for me. It is an all female staff. The three veterinarians seem very nice and from what I have seen they treat their help (technicians) very well. So, pray for me please. As I am praying I ask for the Holy Spirit's discernment as I go into my second week at my new job this coming Tuesday. I know that the Lord will make it quite clear to me if this is where I am meant to be. I haven't had a job as a technician in a general practice since I graduated. When I worked in general practice while going to school I was a veterinary assistant, which is more of a technician's assistant than anything else. So it's a new experience for me and it's intimidating. I have people here and back in CO cheering me on a praying for me, and that is one of the many ways I know that HE has me in the palm of HIS hand.

At the house here in Melbourne Josh and I are blessed every day to be able to get to know Laura, Mike, Jon, and Steve. Also, we can enjoy our little haven in our room, we have our computer, our TV, and all of our books in here. We've had several date nights picking up food and bringing it home to spend the evening here together. This new chapter for us and this big move was bound to be scary. But it is a wonderful feeling to have a family-in-law that is so easy to be around. I'd say that's kinda rare!! Josh and I have had some talks about what this season of our marriage is meant for. We both think a part of is is gently preparing us to be parents... sharing our time with more than just each other on a much more frequent basis than we have for the first three years of our marriage. Kinda neat! I also miss my family and friends in CO...and where are the mountains?! Woah, it is so weird to not look west and see them. I catch myself trying to do that sometimes when I am driving somewhere new here. The ocean at the East is slowly becoming my new marker.




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