Potluck Blog Post

I've been thinking about what I wanted to share in my blog and came up with three things I'd like to talk about - working, VBS and God's plan. Rather than making three entries I'm going to combine them all into one. Think of this as a potluck of blog posts.


It has been a while since I've updated my blog. Life has been a bit busy since I've started working in the office. It is so nice to have a set time of when I'm working and can "turn off" my mind when I'm not at work. This was one reason it was so difficult for me to work and go to school at the same time and why I eventually stopped working while in school (besides a few hours in the church nursery once a week). It is also nice not to have the ever looming homework assignments awaiting my attention. I do think about the office when I'm not working and have small projects I'm working on that are in the back of my mind, but overall it is nice to know if I'd like to "turn those off" I can if I want. My current projects include cleaning out every cabinet and drawer. It's more so organizing than cleaning out, but some things that are obviously trash (like wrappers... who sticks wrappers back in a drawer??? and crinkled copy paper that if used will jam the copier) do get thrown out. Although I love organizing and making sure everything has a place and like items are together it is also nice for me to go through and learn what is already here so I don't go out and buy more. Overall, I love my job. I love I'm serving my church in a way that helps it run smoothly. I love I have time to visit with people when they call or come in. I love I get to send letters to people and hope it brightens their day. On a personal level I love I get to think of outfits to wear to work (something I didn't do when going to school, because it's school and who really needs to get dressed up for school?). On this perticular day I thought Retro Wednesday seemed fitting and tried a new hair style I'm digging!

Retro Wednesday

Side story: I had a little four year old visitor in the office that pointed out she has a red polka dot dress and we should match on Sunday. Who can resist that cuteness??? I'll be matching with a four year old, but it will be so darn cute!

Here's my hair from the back.

When my hair is longer and can all go into the "nest" it will be a cuter hair style, but I think I pulled it off. 

The other thing that is nice about working in the office is as the VBS director for this year's Vacation Bible School I'm in the office four days a week, so I can get a lot of things done while in the office. This year's theme is Incrediworld Amazement Park: A Thrill Ride Through God's Creation. I'm really excited about this year's VBS. I have to be honest though, at first I was really hesitant about being the director. I didn't want to take on this responsibility alone. Vacation Bible School needs a lot of volunteers to run smoothly and I was afraid I'd be heading it up alone. After praying about it I realized if this is what God wants me to do he'll provide the help I need. I still didn't say anything to the pastor because I was hoping somone else would step up and say they'd be the director.

As I was cleaning out the paper closet (which it makes me so happy to look at the organized closet every time I need paper) I kept noticing a pack of neon colored cardstock paper. I wondered when we'd ever use this cardstock, but thought of VBS. Last year I had used cardstock to make the nametags by glueing the name tags on the cardstock and attaching yarn for the kids to wear them around their necks. Although it wasn't the best name tag and some needed repair throughout VBS, it worked for the most part. Well, I figured we could use the neon colors for VBS if the colors matched up. A while later my pastor asked if I'd like the VBS catalog and put it in my mailbox. A few days after he did this I finally took the catalog out of my box and looked through it. What I didn't expect was the colors of a VBS theme to be the EXACT color of the neon cardstock in the closet I had already thought of using for VBS. At this point I knew I needed to be the director and went to my pastor's house where I talked about needing volunteers. Within 10 minutes there was a name for every area of VBS for someone to lead. I knew I was directing VBS and got planning. It has been so nice to know there is time to plan and get everyone on board. The first VBS meeting is in a few weeks and although February may seem early to start meeting for VBS in the summer, it is nice to know everyone will be on the same page.

I'm almost half way finished making the name tags for VBS.

(The green and some of the orange still need to be glued. All I have left is to attach the yarn.)

I like the bright colors of this year's colors.

The last thing I wanted to blog about is how God's plan is so good! I was really sad about not getting the job with MeySen and going to Japan to teach English. The more I think about it the more I realize how much I'm needed right here. Not only in the office and VBS, but to be here with my family and friends. I know someone else could have taken this office job and done just as awesome as I'm doing. I know somone else would have stepped up for VBS and make it just as rockin' as I'm planning. I know someone else would have been here for family and friends. But as I look around at my life right now I know I'm right where God wants me. I may never understand why God wanted me to apply for MeySen knowing I wasn't going to get the job, but I do understand I'm right where He wants me and I can't tell you how sweet this is to be here doing God's will in the plan he's planned all along. I could have moped around, cried, threw my arms up, and threw a tantrum after finding out I didn't get the job, but instead I mourned a little and then asked Him what I was supposed to do. If you feel like you're fighting in life I encourage you to stop fighting and listen to the direction God want's you to go. It's not only much easier this way, life is so much sweeter than ever imagined.