faithful in prayer

erica reyna design

Early last fall I was getting restless with my job as a nanny and I prayed countless prayers that God would send another job my way. I loved the family dearly, but I didn't love the feeling that I was moving backwards.

Nothing happened (for a while). I would hear of jobs that sounded right up my alley only to discover that I'd have a two-hour commute each day. I filled out the paperwork to become a substitute teacher, but heard that the hiring process could take months. I didn't know what to do but pray.

Then, in a matter of weeks, I became a substitute teacher and a freelance writer for Ibelieve.com. These two new jobs have blessed me greatly. I had no idea I would love substitute teaching as much as I do. (Nannying was great preparation!) I come home exhausted but happy. Freelancing has also been wonderful. Getting paid to write about my faith is a dream come true!

If you are struggling with discontentment in any area of your life, I encourage you to go before God and ask Him to change your attitude and your circumstances.

Andy got a new job!

My awesome husband interviewed for a job with Kelloggs on the 13th and was offered the position later that day. I was at Dan and Simone's and had baby Nathaniel on my lap when Andy called. Babe, I got the job. I wish everyone could have heard that phone call... there was so much happiness in his voice. After months and months of coming home frustrated, applying for jobs, praying for patience and contentment.... a job! God's timing is perfect.

Andy will start his new job on August 8th as a territory manager in the Gainesville/Warrenton/Culpeper area. There is a chance that a job in the Staunton/Waynesboro/C-ville area will open up at the end of August and that Andy could transfer to that position. If that works out, we could stay in Harrisonburg. The plan for now, though, is for Andy to move in with my parents (who live in NOVA) for the month of August and for me to stay here and continue working at the DN-R. We would love to be able to keep our home and stay in the area, but if the job closer to here doesn't work out, then I'll quit my job and we'll start looking for a place to live around Warrenton. It's going to be hard to be away from each other, but I have great friends to help keep me busy and my mom already bought some almond M&Ms for Andy.  :)

We are SUPER excited about this new chapter in our lives. I couldn't be prouder of my guy. I didn't get him flowers like he did for me when I got my job, but he did get a goofy "congratulations" card. I still can't quite believe I'm going to get WEEEKENDS with my husband now! We can actually go places together!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

I TGIF'd

I had the wildiest work day yesterday. I had three interviews all over town, didn't have time to eat, had a headache, was super stressed... but, at the first interview I had a family insist I ride their zip-line before I left (it was legit- and awesome), at the second I received the most stunning flower I've ever seen (from the woman's garden), and at the third I was told by a twelve year old that he was a crack baby, and that the hardest part about having foster siblings was worrying about how he could potentially say or do something that would "mess up their life." THEN, right before I left, I was telling his mom that I was about to have a date with my husband and that we were going to talk about my job situation and whether or not I should go full time. She hugged me and out of the blue asked if she could pray over me. She prayed for the date and for easy conversation. She prayed we would have wisdom and peace. Mind you, I had never met this woman before.

I wept the entire way home. Who am I that You are mindful of me? (Psalm 8:4)
Forget the fact I was dead tired. Forget that my stomach had been growling for hours and that I was completely dehydrated and headachy. Forget that I worked a 9 hour day and was on the road for almost 2 of those hours.

God cares enough about little old me to put these kind of people into my life. He knew that riding that zip-line would put a smile on my face. He knew that an unexpected gift would touch my heart. He knew that a child's honesty would tug on my heartstrings, and that the powerful prayer of a stranger would be yet another confirmation that despite all of the evil and sadness in the world, there is GOOD at work.

Andy and I had a wonderful date. We did a wine tasting at Wine on Water, browsed the new toy shop downtown and had a blast flirting and teasing each other over dinner at Dave's. We decided that I should take on the temporary full-time hours (temporary as in I'll be working 40 hours through December, but not receiving any benefits). We'll see what happens. Life is only going to get crazier, it seems, but we have an incredible God looking out for us.

He loves me

Many of you know that my job at the Daily News-Record is part-time. I was video editing from home until recently (project is done, yay!), so for the last couple of weeks I have been able to come home and not go to work down in the basement.

Having one part-time job is a lot different than having two, but all of my other jobs still exist :: wife, homemaker, friend and active church member (err...technically we're not members - that needs to change).

A full-time position as a features writer just opened up at the paper, and the me not long ago would've jumped on it and sent an application in immediately. The me now is thinking I would much rather be successful in my other "jobs" (which basically boil down to daughter of Christ, wife and sister in Christ) than be succcessful as a writer.

Of course, I also thought about how much I love to write and how much I enjoy meeting new people and learning about their lives, and I thought about how nice it would be to make the extra money and pay off the van sooner. I thought maybe, God? It sounds good, but is it what you want for me?

When I had first told Andy that I was considering applying for the job but that I had concerns, he made me feel that he really wanted me to take the job. I didn't tell him so, but I felt pressured. I didn't know what to do, because I didn't feel at peace about applying. I called my mom and asked for her opinion on how I should respond if, after talking to Andy again, he responded "you should apply." I was extremely distraught over the phone and had it in my head that Andy was more concerned with me making money than with me caring for him, the home and others.

oh, how quick I am to worry. how quick I am to think that I have to be in control of it all... that I have to have the answers.

The Lord takes my cautious, wandering heart and makes it beat for Him. This is an example of how:

When I approached Andy about my fear that he would be dissapointed or angry in me, he sweetly took my hands and looked me in the eye. He told me how proud he is of me and that he had only meant to encourage me and support me. He said he is grateful that I want to succeed in my relationships and that the extra money is not important to him. He said, "let me pray over us," and his prayer, so sweet and sincere, made my heart fill up with so much love that it leaked out of my eyes - and in that moment I felt like God was giving me a surprise party. Surprise! This is certainly not how you expected Andy to react. But why? Your fears had no foundation. Your fears are not bigger than Me.
How could I not see the immeasurability and boundlessness of God's love for me in that moment?

You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.

what I do, exactly

"So what exactly do you do at the Daily News-Record?"  <--- I get asked that question a LOT, and I never know where to begin. My job title is "editorial assistant," but that doesn't really explain what I do, which includes

- receptionist duties (answer phone calls, transfer calls, put away mail, file newspapers, etc)
- Editorial assistant duties (edit letters to the editor, confirm letters with the people who submit them, pass them along to my editor)
- Features writer duties (come up with story ideas, interview people, make photo assignments, write the story) -- read my story in last week's Rocktown on tossing the toads in your life and finding your prince. Search my name in the search bar to read more stories published in Rocktown (there's only been a few). My stories published in the newspaper are only accessible if you have a subscription, but Rocktown is free.
- building permits and property transfers on Wednesdays (I have to go to the courthouse to do this... it's very cut and dry, but it's still nice to get out of the office and walk through downtown)
- obit desk duties on Thursday nights (receive obits and death notices, communicate with funeral homes, edit obituaries (grammar and punctuation), file obits, record weather for the day, put away the day's newspapers and file one paper in a big "folder" by punching three holes in the paper and putting it in like you would papers in a binder, except I have to do each punch individually and it's messy and often frustrating)

lots of duties. I usually keep pretty busy. I'm happy.  :)

thought I'd share with you my "on the way home from work" song. 

have you ever- brandi carlile

Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods
if you've ever wandered lonely through the woods

Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back you're asking why
What's the purpose I wonder who am I
If you've ever stared into a starry sky
Have you ever stared into a starry sky

Have you ever been out walking in the snow?
Tried to get back to where you were before
You always end up not knowing where to go
If you've ever been out walking in the snow
If you'd ever been out walking you would know

wish list

This weekend the following things on my to-do list need to be accomplished for sanity's sake:

- complete short and long promo for video editing project + design menu
- laundry
- clean upstairs bathroom
- vacuum basement
- clean master bedroom
- eat my vegetables (yes, this is on my to-do list)
- continue p90x

my wish list, however, reads:

- paint toenails
- get haircut
- clean out + organize master closet
- sit and read at Barnes and Noble
- bake banana nut muffins
- watch a movie

I'm sooo close to being done with my video editing project. I should have been done with it at least a month ago and the longer it takes the more frustrated I am at myself for not tackling it sooner. My plan is to knock out the rest of my work as soon as possible and then I will be back to working one job and I'll have LOTS more time to dedicate to housework and to me-time. Ahhh.

sorry ladies, he's all mine

Andy gave me flowers and a card last night to congratulate me on my first day at my new job. The envelope says "Mrs. Editor" and the card reads "You Suc" on the front. When you open the card it reads "You Succeeded!" HAHA. That is so my husband.

We ate dinner at the table and later read together on our bed with a plate of cheese and crackers between us.

GOSH DARN IT I love him way too much.

don't shoot- it's my first day at work!

A super sketchy dude walked into the newsroom today with one of his hands in his pocket. He had tattered clothes, a disheveled beard and shifty eyes. I instantly put my guard up. He asked to speak with one of the editors who was out sick, so one of the male news reporters asked him what he needed. The man asked, "What's your name?" The reporter said, "Can you please take your hand out of your pocket?" The man said, "I have something to show you, but I don't want everyone to see it."

By this point I was freaking out. I wondered how long before he would take his gun out and how quickly I would have time to react and what it would take to convince him not to shoot.

The reporter told the man he would speak to him downstairs and quickly called over the managing editor to let him in on what had happened. Both of them went to meet the man downstairs. I listened carefully for screams and gunshots.

A few minutes later both the reporter and the editor came upstairs. They were fine, though the reporter was shaking. Apparently the man wanted to show them two articles that I'm guessing he had an issue with.

Isn't it sad how suspicious we are of strangers? Scratch that-- isn't it sad that we NEED to be suspicious of strangers? 

prep

dress pants bought.

outfit ready.

early morning routine practiced.

soup + salad + peppermint patty packed.

prayers prayed (and prayers answered).

new job, here I come!

new job!

I took this picture last week before my interview with the Daily News-Record. I was hoping I would get a chance to attach it to a HOORAY! I GOT THE JOB! post and here it is!

I start next week as an editorial assistant. I will be manning the front desk, writing stories for the Features section and covering obituaries on Thursday evenings.

I am still video editing from home. The project is almost finished and then I will have about 14-15 hours of edited material to review before the final version is published. It will be nice for me to have two incomes for a couple of weeks. Gotta pay off that van of ours!

living each day with purpose

Last week I noticed that my brain had turned to mud. I was having a million thoughts at once but none of them were coherent or stood out from the rest. I was sluggish, cranky, sleepy and I couldn't stand myself. I wasn't able to enjoy time to myself because I felt lazy. My friend Jenny suggested I give myself more of a schedule. She said it's easy to fall apart when you go from having a purpose to your day to flouting around aimlessly.

Ding ding ding! Isn't it funny how the most obvious solutions are almost always never the ones we think of right away? It made so much sense. Last fall and up until the holidays I had very busy weeks. I had coffee dates, I was volunteering at church, I was running around town like a mad woman. I had to make time to work. Last week the only thing going on each day was work.

All of a sudden things turned around. After my meeting with Jenny I scheduled a coffee date. Andy and I went out to a movie. I had three more "dates" with friends. I had a meeting and a job interview. I started exercising again.

I have relished every lazy moment I've had this week. I don't feel guilty about watching television or reading for an hour when I know I had a packed day and it's okay to unwind. Today I'm taking my unwind-time now, because all of my activities planned for the day are happening in the afternoon and evening. I feel myself again. It feels great.

"Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment." - James Allen

content with my portion

Here is one of the greatest little pleasures of all:

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

What does it mean, that God is my portion? I see it as this: God is enough. God will fill me up. If everything in my life were pieces of a pie, the God slice would be all I need. What He gives me, what His plan is for me- those things should satisfy me.

It has been a trial for me to hear about my friends receiving jobs since graduation. It made me question my talents, my abilities. It made me wonder why I wasn't good enough to have a professional job. It made me wonder if my family was disappointed in me. It made me wonder if people talked about me. My flesh and heart were failing. I was being swayed by the world into thinking that my worth comes from how much money I make. In doing so, I was questioning God's faithfulness.

Oh, but He is faithful! Remember my post on rearranging? The past few weeks have been filled with wonderful times with friends, time to work out, time to plan and cook healthy meals, time to study the Bible, time to read, time to take long walks, time to travel, time to organize my closet... :)

I am happier than ever. I am more content than ever. I truly mean that. I know so many people who are consumed by making money and getting better jobs and having more than others and it breaks my heart.  I have all that I need in the Lord, plus some pretty awesome bonuses...(hot husband)! I hope I never lose sight of that. 

Guess what? I got a job. In a couple of weeks I will begin a video editing project for a friend of the family. I get to work from home and choose my own hours. I don't know how long the project will take and what will happen when it ends, but God knows the desires of my heart: I get to use my degree in Media Arts and Design while still having time to devote to my husband, myself and our home. BIG sigh of contentment.

:)

whoop dee do

I quit my nannying job on Tuesday night. Yowzerz. It was the first time I've ever left a family and I couldn't be honest and say WELL MAYBE IF YOU DIDNT ARGUE ABOUT MY PAYCHECK EVERY WEEK but instead I said "I'm going to miss you, I love your family" and then I sobbed like a four year old for a good ten minutes straight. It was incredibly awkward. I know the crying came from all of the stress that I've had pent up for the last six months that I've been with this fam, but at least it came across like I was just sad to leave.

And the worst part of it was the mom had offered me a chocolate from her Valentines Russell Stover's right before the tears started, so as I'm crying I'm taking tiny bites of my truffle. I didn't even get to savor it. Later I LOL'd about the absurdity of it all.

hair extensions? really, Kate Gosselin? ...and other news.

The world is coming to an end.

Today was my first day as the studio manager for Open Air Photography. Unfortunately the one task Katie asked me to do today proved a little too difficult for me. I had to staple a checklist to each wedding contract for 2010. Connecting two pages together with a thin metal strip via a handheld device should not be this hard. Of course, after I banged it to death, Katie came over to give it a try and with a simple tap against her wrist the staple clicked into place. I told her she should fire me immediately.

How annoying is that? It ALWAYS happens to me-- someone else can do something in two seconds that I've attempted to do for ten minutes.

The moral of the story is that Katie's stapler likes to be gently wooed before it submits to twisting itself up for the sake of organization. Lesson learned, stapler.

P.S. Not too long ago I went to get a few squares of toilet paper from our bathroom and nearly cut myself. This can't be right...so I investigated the roll and found a small STICK wedged into the paper. This makes me wonder if some advanced whittler is shaving branches until it turns into triple-ply TP, similar to the way a person would peel an apple and get an impressively long twirl of skin. He (or she) needs to go back to whittling school. I'm impressed by the plys, but honestly I had to sit and unroll it until there was hardly any paper left. I saved the wood chip for a while as a reminder that Big Brother really does exist and your bottom is in danger of receiving a huge splinter.

I don't really believe in Big Brother.

But on the subject of toilet paper, here's some toilet paper entertainment courtesy of Seinfeld.