Blessings

Well, its been a while since i posted last. I am bad at remember to do things like that. Easter was fantastic. It was probably  the best Easter service I have been to. The Spirit of God just feel on the church that day. The service was longer than usual but actually felt shorter. It was a great day in the Lord. 

Recently I was told by someone that they would not make their child come to church because there were not enough other kids there. This makes no sense to me. Isnt that why less and less kids are coming because one stops coming then another. It actually does nothing to solve the problem. I wonder when church became an option. When I was growing up, I did not have an option for church. I went every Sunday, Sunday night and Wednesday and then more if there was something else going on at the church later that week. I had to have everything done by church. I did not get to skip church to do homework or sleep. Its crazy to me how much freedom parents give kids to choose church. I know some parents say they dont want to force it on their kids because then they will rebel. That is not entirely true. Aaron and I both had to go to church all the time. We never rebelled hardcore like parents are afraid of and he is a youth pastor now. That theory is false. We need kids in church learning about him. But, I guess if we cant get them to the church, we should be going out and finding them and ministering to them right where they are. 

We had a speaker at general assembly named Reggie McNeal. He cracked me up. He was really funny. But he had some really good point. We have to be there church and not make the building the church. We have to reach out to others! He told us to try and ask 3 people a week “How can I ask God to bless you”? I have done it twice. The first guy I asked was outside working in his lawn while i was walking tex. He simply said, pray we dont get swine flu. So, I did. Thats all I have to do. The rest is up to God. I asked a lady in wal mart yesterday but she didnt speak english so I guess that does not really count. It makes you feel so good though knowing you blessed someone that day. 

Well i must go. Hope you have a blessed day and go out and bless someone else!

 

Karlee

The Small Things

I subbed today in a special ed aquatics class. This is my favorite thing to sub for for several reasons. I get to swim all day. There are only a couple kids per class. It is only 4 hours so technically its a half a day and i get paid a full day! i really do love the kids though. There is just something about special ed kids that I love. I guess that is why I want to teach them. I dont know what it is. They always (well most of the time) have a great spirit, they are kind, and they are loving. I worked with a girl named annie today. She has cerebral palsy. She cant control her body very well so I basically held her the whole time. We did laps in the pool while she kicked her legs. This is hard for her but she never complained. She kept saying again because she knew she had to do 8 laps. She smiled and laughed the whole time just gabbing to me. It makes me want to be a better person. I have no physical challenges whatsoever compaired to these kids, yet I complain when I have a headache or my legs hurt from walking all day at the zoo or the amusement park. At least I can walk. At least I can talk. I am sure these kids would tell me, just be thankful you can do that because I cant. I realized i need to not take things like that for granted, which i often do, and be thankful for what I have. 

So i did that then I worked out with nicole. I really enjoy this time with her. We are really starting to bond well. We are both kind of shy with people we dont know well, but we are clicking really well. I am really glad I have someone close to my age who I can connect well with. I miss all my friends in OK so much so it is nice to have her and feel like I am gaining a good relationship here, although none of you can ever be replaced With working out, it takes me to my point earlier. I am really hard on myself on how i look. I realized, I am fine and it is good for my body to work out but again, I am so thankful I can do that and am able to. I enjoy it and I dont want to take that for granted. I am just thankful i am healthy. I dont have to be a certain size to be happy. My happiness comes from those around me that I love and just being healthy and able to live life to the fullest. 

I was reading through old facebook messages today. I came across a lot from my husband. It was during a pretty dark time for me. Some of you know about this and some dont. You are more than welcome to ask. Anyway, most of his messages during that time said “i just want you to know i love you and that will never change. I am also praying for you everyday and that you will be ok.” One of them he said ” I pray to be only yours”. He may not want me to put all this up but thats ok. I realized how truly thankful i am for him. he stuck by me in a really hard time. I love him more than words could express and I thank God he placed him in my life to be my husband. I take him for granted sometimes but he means more than anything to me. Thanks for being amazing aaron. You are an amazing husband, brother, friend, and son! 

well now that this is forever long i will let you go. Have a great day. Count your blessing and remember to be thankful for the small things in life.

kar

Here and now

So my parents brought us some furniture last weekend. Along with the furniture they brought boxes from their garage of my stuff. I found lots of junk and threw a lot away. I found tons of pictures, some were very interesting. I found one though freshman year at a retreat with both aaron and i in it. It is just interesting because at that time we had no earthly idea we would get married. kinda cool. 

I got to meet aaron for lunch. I love doing that.I am so blessed to be able to do that right now. I try to do it often since I wont be able to next year if I get a job. I am sending out my resumes this week so hopefully I will hear something soon! Please pray!!

I am going to hang out with my cousin Kayce tomorrow! That will be fun. We are going to see confessions of a shopoholic. We may be spending 40 days straight together around september. we will see!  

Tex is good. He is in this bad habit of jumping on people. I made some obedience spray and that has been working some. I do love him bunches though and am so glad I have him with me everyday. 

We are going to chandler and kim pardues house tonight. Yes, there are related to keith pardue. Kinda cool. There will be 3 to 4 couples there. It should be really fun. We are enjoying getting to know couples our age. 

My jaw has been killing me lately. My doctor thinks i may have TMJ. i really hope not. I dont want to go to the dentist because 1) i hate it 2) my insurance does not cover it right now because i am just buying the smallest package hoping i get it next year with a teaching job. If i dont get a teaching job i will have to up the insurance. 

That is all that is happening here in houston. I am excited to go back up to okc in march to be there for baby cooper to be born. I am excited i get to be in the room. I also get to see my okc friends. The only thing that would make it better is if my hubby could go! i hate being away from him. 

kar

Oh the Unknown

My life is full of unknowns right now. I dont know if I will have a job anytime soon. I dont know how many photography jobs I will have this year (3 right now). I dont know when I will have my first child. I dont know how long Katy will be my home. I dont know when I will get to see my family and friends in OKC again. I dont know when we will see aarons family again. I have no idea what I will do next week. 

Although i have many unknowns, I know a lot as well. I know I have a husband who loves me with all his heart. I have a family who supports Aaron and I so much. I have  friends that love and miss me. I know that when we do have a child it will be Gods timing. I know that I will have a job when I am supposed to. I know that God will take care of me no matter what. 

Life is full of unknowns. I have realized that to focus on the unknown does me no good. I need to focus on what I do know, thank God for it, and trust Him in the unknowns.

Trusting

Well life has been interesting lately. Some things have happened that I dont quite understand but I know God is in control. I am really settling into the role as a pastor’s wife. I have realized that I am also a pastor. Although I dont teach the kids, they are watching my actions. They are waiting for me to be at events with aaron, not really the boys but the girls. I am becoming a role model to them. I only hope I can be the best that I can be. I love supporting Aaron and letting him know I am behind him 100% if the way. I am so proud of the job he has already done with these kids. I got to pray with one of our girls recently and feel like i am drawing closer to her and a couple other girls. This is great!

I am still looking for a job. I subbed today for a special needs aquatics class and i LOVED it. i wish that was my job. I know God will provide though. I am just waiting on Him. so while i am waiting, i am working on my photography stuff. I am going to a bridal show on feb. 1 and i hope to book some weddings! i am excited! i really love photography and i hope this is somethign i can do!!! 

i have learned that as long as you wait on the Lord he will provide. That is what i will do with my job. While i dont have a job i am enjoying time spending with my husband. It is a blessing to be able to do that so i will be thankful. love you all

kar

Life Lately

Well, i decided to do one of these things after I read my husbands. Life have changed huge for me. There are so many things that are going on that were no going on this time last year. 

I graduated in May. That was huge. I got my first teaching job at a great school. Bethany High School. It was not exactly what I wanted but I jumped right in and learned to like it. My circumstances were not great. I had to work with a teacher who did not care for me to much, in the same room. I learned though, by showing her love everyday that I could have an impact on her. By my last day, she was hugging me and telling me she would miss me. 

This summer I married the love of my life. Although it is a change to be married, it has been a very easy change. It is like living with my best friend. We have not had a huge fight, yet I know it will come but we just get along great. 

Aaron got the call to come interview in Houston. Although, he was very surprised since i sent in his resume . Everything worked out and now, here we are in Houston. I had to quit my job, say goodbye to my sister who I finally got to live by, and say goodbye to all i had ever known for the past 4 1/2 years. It was hard, really hard. But the thing that makes it easy, i know we are exactly where God has called us. I know God had this job for Aaron for a long time and we just had to be patient and wait.

God has really blessed us with this church, people who already love us, a house, a dog, and family and friends who support us. But we miss them all. One of the hard things for me as well is seeing aarons disappointment when he does not get to see his family on the holidays. Or when he gets that twitter and all his friends are getting together. we both know it is where we are supposed to be but it is hard at first.

so, since i quit my job in oklahoma, I have not been able to find one here. The first couple of weeks without a job were wonderful. I got to set up my house. Now, there are days where i get really lonely and bored. I keep myself busy with different projects around the house. I try to stay positive and support aaron as much as i possibly can. I try to keep laundry done, and the house clean as much as possible so he  can just relax when he gets home. Although, i have been watching quite a few Christmas movies recently. I will start subbing in jan. and hopefully get my name in some schools.

That is it for now i guess. God is good and life is good. Aaron and I are learning to depend on each other more everyday. Our marriage is already strengthening. We love each other, God, and the people here. We are adjusting, not quit all the way yet, but getting there. Thank you for all your love and support.  Aaron will be getting home soon so i must go. This is my favorite part of my whole day!!!

 

Karlee

Phil. 1:3