August 29, 2014

Well, here I am again with another blog post and few answers to the questions that everyone wants to ask . . . You can pretty much assume with no blogpost there is no big news. 

But, I will bring you up-to-date on where we are with life . . .

Kylie started school in Fairview on August 21st.  We waited until the last minute for God to do a miracle, but finally enrolled her on August 19th.  I never would have dreamed that one of my children would be a Fairview Yellowjacket.  In fact, if you would have told Mandi Hiett and Kylie that they would be going to Fairview High School together ten years ago, they both would have laughed at you!  But, God must have a plan and a purpose not only for Mandi at Fairview High School, but also for Kylie right now.  
(For those of you who don't know Mandi Hiett, she is my cousin's daughter.  She was in California and her dad came to Fairview two years ago to be the pastor at Fairview MB.)

Kylie misses her friends in Cimarron as well as volleyball, since volleyball isn't offered at many schools in Oklahoma.  But Kylie is making the best of a difficult situation and decided to go out for softball.  She didn't join the team to "play" softball, but merely to be a part of the team and to get to know some girls.  She is perfectly content to sit in the dugout with the other girls and not play!

   Kylie with 2nd Cousin, Mandi Hiett

 

We have been so proud of Kylie and her attitude through all of this.  She is lonely, as Fairview schools (like most small towns) are not real welcoming of new students . . . especially in high school.  Thankfully she has Mandi and a couple of other girls from church that do a few things together, although none of them are juniors like Kylie. Since Kylie is a junior, she is already getting in on fund raisers for the Jr/Sr Banquet/Prom.  She is having to sell mums for Homecoming, which has been a tradition here since I was in high school, although the flowers are no longer real, but fake. 

 

Darren has continued to work on the farm, but they are running out of work for him to do and will not need him once they begin planting, which is in the next few weeks.  So, he has been looking for other employment. He will most likely go to work for another farmer next week, although that hasn't been confirmed yet.  Jobs in small towns that pay more than minimum wage are not real plentiful!

 

Church Update

In the last post, I mentioned that Darren had resumes in at 2 churches - one in Woodland Park, Colorado, and one at a church here in Oklahoma.  Well, we have heard nothing from Woodland Park except that they received his resume.  He has had a little contact with the church in Oklahoma and finally talked personally with the senior pastor there today.  While Darren felt positive about the conversation, it sounds like it will not be a quick process.  This was a brand new position when Darren learned about it and the church hasn't even seen a job description yet.  They are presenting it to the congregation on Sept. 7.  They still have to do interviews and candidating and once someone candidates, they wait 2 weeks before the church votes.  So . . . it could still be quite a while before this would materialize, IF it even materializes. So, we continue to WAIT . . . TRUST . . . PRAY . . . and SEEK THE LORD'S WILL.

 

Living

We are still "camping out" in the campers.  However, we have been contemplating moving into a little 2 bedroom, 1 bath rental house in town that has been offered to us at a very reasonable rate.  In light of the conversation with the church today, I believe we will begin the process of cleaning the house and moving in sometime in the next few days.  It will not be an easy task as we have things in the campers, things at my parents' house, and we will have to go through and pick and choose things out of the semi trailer.  BUT, we will finally be able to have the stuff we are using at one location and have some of the stuff we've been needing that is somewhere inside the truck.  It will give us a little stability, that is much needed by some of us (ahem, me!) It will also give us a chance to air out our stuff from being in the trailer as it all smells heavily of mothballs! (Gotta look for the positives!)

 

Sherry (I) began a new job this week.  After school started, I decided to turn in my substitute teacher application.  Although Oklahoma sub pay is pathetic compared to Kansas, I decided little pay was better than no pay.  I've debated about applying for a job in the past, but who would want to hire someone who couldn't tell them how long they would be around . . . So, I decided subbing was my best bet to bring in some income. 

 

Well, after I turned in my application, they called me and asked me if I wanted to work all this week at the elementary school.  They had a flood of kids when school started and needed help and were still figuring out what/how they were going to manage them all.  They had 75 kindergarteners and over 60 first graders and were scrambling. So, I agreed to work this week.  For those of you that know me, elementary kids are a stretch for me, being trained in secondary education.  But, I figured I could survive a week.  I asked if I was subbing or a para or what I was doing.  They said they didn't really know, maybe a combination of both, but to show up at 8:00 Monday morning and they'd tell me what to do.  I was terrified I'd get stuck in kindergarten. 

 

Well, I showed up Monday morning and the principal took me around introducing me to others as a teacher's aide that was going to be helping for a little while.  He left me in 1st grade to "float" between the classes.  So, I felt my way around that first day "floating" between 1st grade classrooms and ended up there all week.  The teachers are excellent and exhibit an enormous amount of patience and calmness with these little folks.  Yesterday, the principal approached me and offered me a full-time temporary job.  They have a 1/2 time 3rd grade teacher who is having a baby and due on September 12th.  He asked if I would like to teach her class in the mornings and then be an aide in the afternoons.  I went in and helped in her classroom today and within an hour wanted to run away!  That just isn't my cup of tea.  While I would like to help them out and the pay/benefits would be nice, I don't think my nerves could handle it right now given our situation.  So, I kindly told him "no."  At this point, I am going back to continue working with the 1st graders next week.  We are kind of going on a week by week basis.  

 

I have also turned in my application at our local FSA office who has been advertising for a temporary position.  It would pay a lot better . . . so, we'll see how the Lord leads.

 

With school starting and fall programs starting, we are trying to plug in here a bit.  I joined a ladies Bible study this week that is doing Beth Moore's newest, "Children of the Day" which is a study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians.  I believe there is a men's Bible study starting in the next few weeks that Darren will most likely check out as well.

 

I will admit that we are asking God a lot of questions.  Darren and Kylie have both done much better at staying positive and having a good attitude.  I am trying, but the living conditions are taking its toll on this Type A personality.  I appreciate each and every one of you that are praying for us.  That is the only thing that is carrying me along some days.  The break has been great for Darren and just what he needed.  He is doing much better and ready to get back into ministry (Praise the Lord!).  So . . . why isn't God allowing it yet?!?!?!  Someday, we may know, but for right now, we just have to continue to trust that God has a plan in His upper story that we cannot see right now.  We are trying to make the best of our situation and want to honor Him through it all.

 

Thanks for your interest in our lives and reading this blog . . . 

 

Sherry   

P.S.  My eyes are doing better overall.  I am putting steroid drops in them each morning and wearing my contacts 8-10 hours a day.  Not my 12-16 hour days, but better than nothing!  I am thankful they are doing much better and feel confidant in the care of my optometrist here.

August 13, 2014

 Kaitlyn has made a quick transition.  She had her last day of work on Friday, August 8th.  She had worked all summer here in Fairview at an oil company called Cimarron Acid & Frac.  They threw a party for her the last day and had a little fun with her.  While her work was all back-up secretarial work in the office, they took her out to the trucks and took pictures just for fun!

Kaitlyn and Betty, the lady she worked with/for this summer.



On Tuesday, August 12th, Kaitlyn moved into the dorms at Tabor College to begin her sophomore year.  While classes don't start until the 21st, she had to be there early as she is a peer mentor for the incoming freshmen who arrive on Friday the 15th.

While she was sad to leave us in our state of limbo, she was very excited to get back to her college friends.  After living in a camper all summer, the dorms were even pretty inviting this year too!

As far as the job front for us . . . not a lot of news.  However, Darren  learned of two new openings that he sent resumes to last week.  One is a full-time worship pastor position in a non-denominational church in Woodland Park, Colorado.  The other one is a full-time worship/associate position at an MB Church here in Oklahoma.  We have not heard back from either one yet but are hopeful that maybe one of these will be "the one!" 

Please pray with us as we continue on this journey and wait . . . .

Sherry

P.S.  Update on my eyes . . .I have seen the eye doctor here 3 times now.  The left eye has responded better than the right eye.  The vision in my left eye is almost back to normal, but the right eye is still struggling off and on.  I am able to wear my contacts occasionally, but not consistently yet.  Because one eye has responded better than the other, I often have one eye I can see clearly with and the other is blurry.  This has caused me numerous headaches as of late.  So, it continues to be an issue and I continue to covet your prayers on behalf of my eyes as well.  Thanks.  Sherry

August 5, 2014

Well, I guess it is time for another blog post.  Sorry, no fun pictures this time!

We are constantly getting the questions -
"Any news?"
"Any job leads?"
"Where is Kylie going to school? Are you going to start her in Fairview?"

Well, the answers are . . .
No news.
No job leads.
Only God knows where Kylie is going to school, and we don't know if we are going to start her here in Fairview.

These answers aren't very satisfying to most, and frankly, not satisfying to us either.  However, those are the answers we have right now.

God has been very silent lately and we have felt no peace, direction, or leading.  I admit, this is very difficult.  Those that know me well, know that this is completely against my personality.  I am a planner and always like to have my ducks in a row.  This summer has pushed me way out of my comfort zone as we have been forced to live a day at a time.

I have to admit that I had a couple of weeks where I was frustrated, angry, hopeless, and, in a sense, living in a state of panic.  God has not answered us in "my" time and I was not okay with that. However, on Saturday, Darren and I went to Roman Nose State Park and spent time talking, praying, fasting, and seeking.  While we didn't come out of it with any great revelations, I was convicted of my sin of taking control from God and trying to fix it all myself.  I had not been living out the faith I proclaimed.  I was struggling, because I am a Martha by nature.  I am a "doer" and Darren tends to be more of Mary. He was sitting at Jesus' feet while I was stewing that he needed to be "doing" something.  What does Jesus say in Scripture?  "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)

Charles Stanley recently had a sermon on KJIL about Requirements for Answered Prayer.  I have listened to it several times.  He makes many good points, but one point he makes towards the end is a warning.  This isn't exactly how he said it, but basically he said if you pray and pray and don't get an answer, you are better off waiting than to step ahead of God because you think He isn't on time.  It will always get you in trouble.  

I feel like anything we do right now seems like we are stepping ahead of God and forcing something to work.  Nothing seems like a "fit" and we don't feel unified peace or desire as a family in any direction.  What I am sensing is that when God is silent, we need to be patient, be still, and wait.  

So . . . as ridiculous as it looks from a human perspective, that is what we are choosing to do right now.  We are "being still" and "waiting."  We know when we left Cimarron without another job lined up, it also looked unwise from a human perspective.  But, we clearly felt Him telling us to "go" and we felt peace and unity as a family.  So, we are doing our best to trust God, listen, obey, and follow.  For those of you that just went through "The Story" study with us at Valleyview, we are trying to trust that God has a plan in the Upper Story that we cannot see yet down here in the Lower Story.   

We have seen Him guide us all along the way, from selling our house, to providing a trailer for our belongings, providing summer jobs for the girls, and the list goes on.  Our God is too big and too great to bring us this far and just drop us and leave us hanging.

Kaitlyn moves back in at Tabor next Tuesday, August 12th.  Thankfully, we packed most of her stuff at the back of the truck, so we can get to it.  This will be another transition for us.  She is excited to go back to school, but struggling a bit with leaving us in this state of limbo. 

So, please continue to pray for us.  This journey is not easy.  Some days are easier than others.  Please pray with us that God will show us at exactly the right time what His Will is for us.  Please pray that we will know what to do with schooling for Kylie.  Please pray for peace and unity in our family when He does give us guidance.  That it will be crystal clear and we will know without a shadow of a doubt that it is His leading.  Please pray that God will be glorified through this all.

Psalm 37:7 - Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
James 5:7-8 - Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
Exodus 14:14 - The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

P.S.  One additional prayer request is for my eyes.  As many of you know, with my arthritis, I often have trouble with my eyes.  Well, the last few weeks I have had a flare up.  It got bad enough that I finally went to the eye doctor here.  He said I had 3 strikes against me . . . 1) arthritis that just looks for a place to attack in my body; 2) dry eyes; 3) allergies caused by the conditions here.  He gave me some potent eye drops to try to calm down my "angry" eyes.  I went back again last week and they were improving, but I go back again this Friday. They look and feel much better; however, my vision has been affected this time which hasn't happened before.  Please pray that my eyes will heal and my vision will go back to normal.