Here we go....

So, I'm new at this blogging thing. Well, kinda new. Chad and I had a blog for awhile that was all about family life but I wasn't great at keeping up with it. To be quite honest, I was awful. So, why am I trying this again? I'm not real sure. I feel like I'm at a time in my life when I am learning more than ever before. It's crazy to think I went through elementary school, junior high, high school, 4 years of college and 3 years of masters work and I can still honestly say that, even through all that formalized education, I've never felt more excited about the possibilities of learning and growth than I feel right now, at this stage in my life. I am challenged DAILY in my faith to learn more and live more accurately the life that Jesus has called me to live as a wife, as a mommy, as a friend, as an employee, as a co-worker, as a mentor, and on and on and on...

So, my thought is, if I'm blessed to be challenged in all of these areas in my life right now, I need to be keeping record of what God is teaching me and why not share some of those challenges and the resulting learning that is taking place? We'll see. Just so you know, I'm putting no pressure on myself. If this works for me, great! If it doesn't, great! You see, that's one of the lessons I'm learning. I put too much pressure on myself and I definitely don't need to set myself up for another area in which I could possibly fail so as my mom always said, que sera sera (whatever will be, will be).

I've written a lot already and I'm sure I've already lost many of you... so I'll briefly share one of the lessons I learned or perhaps re-learned yesterday (unfortunately I seem to be a slow learner in this area). GOD HEARS OUR CRIES. Yesterday afternoon I spent about 30 minutes just crying out to Him about a situation that is breaking my heart.  I cried out in anger, in frustration, in confusion.  God was quiet.  I felt nothing in my spirit when my crying out was done.  I didn't feel His presence.... God was quiet.  I went on about my day... trusting in my heart that God heard my cries... but, to be honest, doubting in my mind that He did.  Fast forward a few hours. I was sitting playing spades with a group of my favorite friends - women that really had no idea where my mind and heart was at that moment. And wouldn't you know, that's when God showed up.  He spoke to me DIRECTLY through a story that one of my sweet friends told.  I know it's rare that people hear the audible voice of God....and while I often long for that... this was just as clear. This was God speaking through a friend that I love and trust.  This was God confirming to me that HE HEARD MY CRIES.  The part of the story that God used to speak to my heart was wisdom that a dear lady had passed on to my friend years and years ago.  HOW INCREDIBLE IS THAT??? Years and years ago a sweet lady, who is now in Heaven celebrating with Jesus, shared God's wisdom with my friend.  Then last night, my friend (without even having a clue as she spoke) shared that same wisdom and God used it to let me know HE HEARD MY CRIES!!! THAT'S THE KIND OF GOD I SERVE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! That was not the first time He reassured me He hears my cries, and I'm CONFIDENT it won't be the last but it will FOREVER be a moment of strengthening my faith. 

For now, I'll leave you with an encouraging verse... One that sustains me on a lot of days when I realize that I have SO MUCH to learn and SO FAR to go in becoming the person God has created me to be....
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10