Better days

Hi, have you met Dale? Than you know why this picture shocks me everytime I look at, it's like I'm seeing it for the first time.

So I'm praying that I'll have at LEAST one writing project done by next spring. With the new home schooling goals, I don't know how practical that is, but without a forty hour commitment to working every week, starting in October, I'll have a little free tiME! WE GOT THE JOB!!! Dale interviewed today. We should have a reporting date in October. Thank you all, with all sincerity, for your prayers for us and the timing on this crazy thing. It has been worth the wait- for this. If we had not been forced to wait the past months, Dale would have gone into the interview totally unprepared, overweight and out of shape. But God...

For years we have lived our lives like Mario- when he's invisible and the fast music is playing- invincible. (my first big word as a kid) When we first got married, Dale worked at Blockbuster as a manager and we only had one car, so I'd go pick him up after he closed and we'd stop at the gas station for a snack... hot dogs, nachos, little white powdered donuts, a full- sugar soda and maybe something with ice cream in it. And then we'd down it all while we watched a movie or two, and then go to bed at about 3AM. That's true. I'm not exaggerating. And that's how we've lived for most of our marriage, the timing changed, the food changed, sometimes it was a large thin crust pepperoni pizza, or a double supersonic burger and french fries, but we've done it for years and it's been normal in our lives. So now when I load up a cup of decaf coffee with sweet n low and plain creamer to get me through the growling tummy part of the night, I breathe a sigh of relief because Dale and I are not loading an artillery shell labeled "heart failure". We have found the path to life and it's paved with salad and sugar-free jell-o. God has given us grace in extending our lives despite our persistence in gluttony. And so we will strive to return the favor in living our lives for His glory.

What's more, we are MOVING!!! HAHAHA! HEEHEEHEEHEE! God has heard and He has answered. It's not the move in location that thrills me to the core; it's the move in our ministry. Dale is going to be living the reality of a dream God began to cultivate in his heart even before he got saved. For me, with the freedom to attend every church service, I am more excited than I have ever been, I've yet to share this with Dale, about taking on a Sunday school class! I have learned that children possess such an incredible ability to retain, and with no obstacles for learning, I want to load my curriculum with all kinds of graspable facts and teach them as much as possible in the time that I'm there. And then start again in the next place. I don't know if this is practical for me; it's something I've been dreaming up for a few weeks as to how I will connect in a church. I've drifted from the desire to sing, I'm not interested in performing as it were... and I don't feel like I am ready to teach women, I have so much to learn... but children, they are so easily influenced. And if I love them, I will be more connected to their mothers than I could possibly be any other way. Plus I can connect my children to other children because every kid loves to party at their Sunday school teacher's house; besides the title gives me a sort of reputability... pray for me. I tend to dream fast and run out of steam before the race. If you know me at all, you know this about me.

At any rate, we are moving forward in an exciting direction and God humbles me at His bidding.
The fact that He would choose us in such dire straits is more than I can imagine. Who am I that He even knows my name? And yet He chose us. But not of our good nature, as we have proven almost by the minute we have none, but by His will. May our lives never be for vanity or worth, but for glory, His glory.