Days 3 and 4

If you're following, I must apologize for not posting yesterday. I laid down next to my sweet son last night at 8:45, thinking I would get up when he fell asleep, but it seems I fell asleep as well.
Yesterday (Day 3) was the first day back to school, and the first day of my fast away from home. I must admit, it's easier to fast at home. I had someone offer me pizza and Cinnaboli that they had ordered from Mazzio's for lunch. Let me just tell you: I. LOVE. CINNABOLI. But, I didn't even look at it. I ate my salad and my apple. I had a great first day back. All my classes were chill and we had a good day. 

Today (Day 4) was a little rougher. While most of my classes were good and focused, some kids in my homeroom started slipping back to old ways, and I got so frustrated. The stress is real, people. I don't know how to make them understand that education is important. But that's a different blog for a different day. ;) 

We are hungry. Both my husband and I have said it to each other. But I think that's when you're supposed to realize how hungry your soul becomes when it is starved of God. We're going to dig our heels in and continue to press on towards Christ. 

-R

Please pray for my Baby Girl. She started with a new babysitter yesterday, so she isn't quite adjusted, and today her ear has been hurting. Thank you!

Day 2

I cannot tell you how badly I want an Oreo. 

It is day two of our 21-day fast. As I posted yesterday, I had an extra day off today. I had hoped to be very productive, but I can't say that I have been. I ended up going to the dentist in the middle of the day and not getting much of anything accomplished (aside from snuggling the baby a little). 

This morning I prayed specifically for the adult leaders of our youth group. We get a lot of credit for being the "pastors", but we could not run our ministry without the adult team. They are our Sunday school teacher, our sound and media technician, our praise and worship team. They are our cheerleaders, our helpers, our friends. We are glad to work with such great people who give their time and effort each and every week. 

Tonight I'm praying for a financial miracle. One of my big, main goals for the year is to reduce debt. We will be able to pay off an auto loan this fall, and I am so excited! Today, however, I got some news that is going to result in an extra $300 monthly expense. If this were the fall and we had that loan paid off, it wouldn't be a big deal, but it's not fall and it is kind of a big deal. I don't know how God will do it, but there's nothing I can do. I know my salary won't be changing, and I'm not willing to get a second job and miss out on time with my kids, so He's going to have to do something. Money is a struggle for me lately...I don't understand sometimes. I want God to deliver me from the "debt pit", but I wonder if He honors that kind of request when I'M THE ONE WHO PUT MYSELF IN DEBT! I feel frustrated because, if I wasn't in debt, this new $300 monthly expense wouldn't be a problem. Besides this new expense, at the dentist I learned that I need two crowns. I don't know if you've ever had a crown, but those babies aren't cheap. I'm just struggling tonight. I know God's the biggest, and I'm trying to lean on Him. I need Him to help me believe and help me to trust Him. He can do anything. 

"With man this may seem impossible, but with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE." Matthew 19:26

-R

Day 1

Today has been the first day of a 21-day fast for my husband, Michael, and me. We have disconnected from social media, and have selected only to eat vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fruit juices. 

On this first day, I have been praying for our youth group. My husband is a student pastor at a small church in east Broken Arrow. We have been at our church for nearly two years. Over this time, there have been ups sand downs, but it sometimes feels like mostly downs. Much of that feeling has been due to bad communication and poor planning on our part. Michael and I both work full-time jobs aside from what we do at church, so planning has been tricky. Today we got a surprise day off from church because of bad weather, so we put the time to good use. We sat down together and planned out youth events for the year. I am so relieved by all we wrote down today. I know that writing it down doesn't get it done, but it's a huge step in the right direction. 

This year, we want to see our youth group GROW. I do mean that in a numerical sense...we've been teetering between 15 and 20 for far too long, but I also mean it in a spiritual sense. Many of our students remain stagnant and apathetic. We want them to see what God can do in their lives, and we want to see them excited about what He is doing. God is so much more than what we can ever say or teach them about Him. We are believing that they each will find a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him this year. 

Tomorrow, I was scheduled to be back in school (I'm a teacher), but I get another surprise day off because of this awful, cold weather. I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet, but hopefully tomorrow is as productive as today has been. 

R

P.S. I should give a quick kid update too... 

When Ephram (3) woke up, he said to his sister Rayna (8 mo), "Good morning, Sister! Your ponytail wooks great!" I've been trying different things with her hair because it is getting longer. The aforementioned "ponytail" was a little Cindy-Lou-Who-esque... :)

21-Day Journey

I've had this blog for several years, but it's been 18 months or more since I've posted anything. I'm a busy, working momma...what can I say? I've decided to start blogging again, but this time I plan to be more intentional. In the past, I've posted random thoughts and ideas along the way, but now I want to write with purpose. 

2014 is just getting started, and like in many previous years, I am starting out with a fast. My husband and I are wanting this year to be a break-through year in our youth group and we have many family and personal goals as well. 

For the next 21 days, he and I will be fasting social media. (He told me blogging doesn't count because it's like writing a journal. ;D ) This is a big thing for both of us because we are very connected through social media. We put out updates and reminders to our students. To be honest, it's where I come across most of the news I know about! But we recognize that we need to unplug from it, even for just a little while. 

Another part of our fast is based around our diet. We will not be eating meat, dairy, grain, pasta, or sugar for the next 6 days. After 6 days, we are going to evaluate how far we've come and go from there. 

I will be blogging each day about my feelings/progress/epiphanies...whatever my heart is led to blog. You're welcome to come along with me for the next 21days. Who knows?? After that I might be a regular blogger! 

Above all else, I welcome your prayers. I'm believing for many things this year (hopefully things I will be able to share over the next 21 days..) and I know The Lord is strong enough. 

Rachel

I want to remember.

My son is now about 75 weeks old.  That's 17.5 months.  That's almost a year and a half.  It sounds totally, TOTALLY cliche, but every day I fall more in love with this child.  I'm trying really hard to keep up with him in photos, videos, memories...I can't take pictures in my mind fast enough, though.  How can I possibly commit all this to memory so that I never forget this brief season of his (and my) life?  

Right now, Thomas the Train is his favorite character.  But, he can't exactly say, "Thomas" yet.  When he sees the character in the store, or wants to watch his only Thomas DVD, he says, "Whoo whoo!" like Thomas does.  It's very sweet.  I want to remember that. 

In the past two weeks, his language has picked up dramatically.  Suddenly, he's repeating what I ask him to repeat.  He's practicing people's names and animals and noises.  And I want to remember how he can't really pronounce the "s" sound, but that he somehow gets the word "sissy" out with incredible accuracy.  I want to remember that his favorite words are "mama" and "dada" and that he practices them over and over again.  I want to remember "peeeeeeese" because it's so darn cute, and impossible to turn down.  

I want to remember.  Because someday he will be grown up.  Someday, not so far from today, he'll be very articulate and well-spoken.  And I will be very proud of him, but I will miss these days.

April 16

I know that today is not April 16.  In fact, April 16 with nearly a month ago!  But that date is of great significance to me.  
In 1998, April 16 began to be important to me.  My little sister was born on that date.  I was 14, in the 8th grade.  I already had three younger brothers, and I had wanted a sister for as long as I could remember.  
It wasn't until 2007 that another important event happened on April 16.  My husband, who I had been dating for just a couple of weeks, kissed me for the first time.  After he kissed me, I said, "This changes everything," and it did. 
On April 16, 2010, my doctor confirmed a pregnancy that had taken more than 8 months to happen.  I was beyond happy.  
And this year, 2012, April 16 has become significant once again.  
This year on that date, the District Youth Director of the Assemblies of God of Oklahoma called Michael with a lead on a youth pastor position.  If you know my husband, you know without a doubt that he is a youth pastor through and through.  He has a heart for students and a passion to see them hungry for a relationship with God.  We have served as volunteers in youth departments, separately and as a couple, for years.  We had the incredible opportunity about three years ago to serve as interim youth pastors while our church was searching.  That opportunity fueled his desire even more for a life of ministry.  So, after that position was permanently filled in 2010, he began looking and applying for positions.  It seemed that none of the positions was a good fit for us.  Michael wasn't working a full-time job at the time, so we needed a full-time youth pastor spot.  Many of the open spots were part-time or no pay at all.  We had a baby on the way and could not make it on part-time or no pay.  Others that were full-time were very far from home.  We didn't want to move any further away from Kamryn.  Michael decided to take a secular full-time job, and the desire for a ministry position went on the back-burner.  When he first took the job, he was on the midnight shift.  It was no fun.  He was on that shift for a year before a new shift opened up.  He went to days, but worked Sunday through Wednesday.  It was good for our family, but bad for our potential ministry.  No church wants to hire a youth pastor who works on Sundays.  He tried to get his schedule changed many times to be off on Sundays, but it just didn't work out.  We had all but given up on a ministry job.  Michael was no longer sending out resumes, no longer making phone calls.  But he was not fulfilled. 
Then, the DYD called.
At first, Michael was nervous about contacting the pastor at New Bethel Assembly.  He sent a quick email, telling about himself and his interest in the ministry.  After a whirlwind series of emails, phone calls, and recommendations, we were meeting the church board a week later!  It felt so comfortable, like we were where we belonged.  The boss at Michael's full-time job allowed him to work the opposite shift, allowing him to be off work on Sundays.  Everything just seemed to fall into place.  Michael accepted the position, and we have now begun our new ministry journey.  
We have been at New Bethel for about a month.  Our teenagers are gearing up for youth camp this summer.  We are very excited to be where we are, and we are looking forward to finding out just what the Lord has in store.  
Who knows what the next April 16 will bring?


You can keep up with our new ministry by "Liking" us on Facebook: MomentumBA.  You can also join our Facebook group page: Momentum Youth Ministries (facebook.com/momentumba).  
Lastly, follow our tweets: @momentumba.  
If you need more information, contact momentumnba.pastor@gmail.com.  

Sleepless

I'm not one who normally has trouble sleeping.
Nope. Generally when my head hits the pillow, I'm gone. But tonight, I can't sleep.
In just a few short weeks, my baby will have his first birthday. I cannot believe how quickly a year can fly! I remember being so nervous about holding him properly...it's like it just came to me, like a second nature, and we were instantly in love.
From that time, the moment when I first held my newborn son in my arms, I was completely changed.
This year has been one of absolute wonder. When I reflect, I see the Lord's hand in so many places. Ephram was a complete miracle from the beginning. We were told early in my pregnancy that I had miscarried and that we would not deliver a baby in December. Then, he came; 9 pounds and 3 ounces of amazing.
The next miracle of the year was the purchase of our house. When I went on maternity leave, I had plenty of days to take off for 12 weeks. I also had short-term disability insurance that paid me for the time I was off. We were able to put money down on our beautiful new home and pay the fees. The sellers of the home paid all the closing costs. It, of course, doesn't end with the purchase of the house. The sellers also offered to pay for a home warranty for the first year. In the first month and a half that we owned the house, we had to use it twice! Praise God we had it!
The third miracle happened when Michael was able to leave the midnight shift to work days! That was such a blessing!! I had been the only one on overnight duty 4 days a week for 8 months! Since he changed shifts, he is not as tired and is able to spend much more time with us. One pitfall is that he works Sundays, so he misses church with us.
The last major miracle I will mention is that I have been fortunate enough this year to have an incredible class of fifth graders. They are the best students I've had in my 6-year teaching career.
There have been so many other exciting things...Kamryn started gymnastics, Ephram has gone from a eat-sleep-poop baby to a crawl-all-over-the-universe toddler...it's hard to settle on the four most important, but I think they help tell our story best because they are the things of the most importance.
So this is all running through my head, keeping me from sleep because I could never be thankful enough. And when December 21 rolls around and I celebrate the birth of my sweet baby, I don't know if I'll laugh or cry. :)