This Season

Last week was the end of my temp job at ACT. Jeremy and I had been debating this decision for weeks- was this really where I was supposed to be? And then last Tuesday while at work I realized that it was time to leave. I'd made enough money to help us get by and there were so many other things I felt I should be doing with my hours of the day right now. I'd also just had an interview and realized there are jobs out there that would fit my gifts and interests. So, I gave a few days notice and worked through the end of the week.

I once heard the story of a man who felt lead to go to seminary but did not have the money to pay for school. Should he continue working and ignore his calling? The answer that was given to him was to never take away a chance for God to work in your life. Go to school and take as many semester hours as you can pay for and then do what you have to. The man put his trust in the Lord, went to school, and through miraculous gifts was able to finish it straight through. God provides.

In my own life I see God providing. Just like he provided the ACT job right at the point that Jeremy and I knew we needed additional income. This week when our coffee pot broke we had one $20 target gift card left from wedding gifts- guess how much our new one cost. Jeremy has been pretty sick the past week and guess what they did in lab the other day- flu tests on each other (& he is also not pregnant according to the other test)! It is just incredible to me how he provides for us in great and small ways.

The Lord has been putting a lot on my heart lately. In my work situation he has revealed to me my issue of pride. This is something I didn't see while surrounded by beamers and Texas women at TCU or the families I incredibly respect at church. But being in a production building working hand in hand with people from different status levels and educational backgrounds was an incredibly humbling experience. I gained so much respect for the work ethic held by workers taking home $9/hr that did not exist with my eyes set at a distance. I realize the weaknesses and challenges that are innate in so many that make it hard to secure a job with a steady income. Break my heart for what breaks yours. I've also felt broken towards parents who are missing the love of the father. I've realized what a burden it must seem to have to care for little ones full of energy and needing constant attention without understanding the love that God has for us and desires for us to love our children like he loves us. Without love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, all the fruits of the spirit that god works to grow in us where would we be as wives, husbands, mothers, and fathers? This thought makes me want to share. It makes me think of the precious little ones that are missing out on an incredible love. I just can't describe how much this thought tugs at my heart.

I'm afraid that this feeling will dissipate just as quickly as it came & I'll lose my passion while seeking other things in this life. I feel like this is how it's been for me in the past- for a period of time I feel an incredible desire to serve in all the ways the Lord could possibly use me, but I am only human and prone to stray. I fall down to busyness and distractions. If anyone has wisdom to share on this I would love to hear it.

Right now I am loving being a wife and having extra hours open to serve and learn. I am very much looking forward to my first holiday season with Jeremy and am so thankful for all of our blessings up here that we did not have just 3 months ago: a home with a place for everything, a husband who teaches me new things each day, and a church to help us grow. For the love of old hymns: All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto thee!

Yours from the Land of Corn,
Leanne

October Morning Suprise

This morning I woke up at 8 am unable to fall back asleep. After a half hour of trying to lie very still and not wake Jeremy I decided to head out to the living room and start my day. Unfortunately, Jeremy's sleep did not last much longer once I reached the living room, opened the blinds to let sunlight in, and met my eyes upon tiny white dots floating in the air. At first I thought they may be tiny bugs, but as they began to fall more thickly I realized- It is Snowing in Early October!!! To be fair, I had heard that it may snow this Sunday, but it didn't seem real until that moment. After running to the bedroom to open up the blinds and show Jeremy what I'd found I spent the rest of the morning staring out the window in amazement. We called my parents, Jeremy's parents, and Caity to let them know the news. As I sat on the couch the words "I can't believe it is snowing" came out of my mouth almost every thirty minutes. I started to feel the warm and fuzzy Christmassy feeling and Jeremy reminded me that it is still a few months away. A lot of the trees around here are still green and almost all still have their leaves, but we have snow.

After a few hours of enjoyment I began to realize that my winter clothes are still down in the garage. "Jeremy, I don't even have my snow boots out." I do not need my snow boots YET Jeremy(while trying not to laugh) told me, today a pair of tennis shoes will work just fine. If this were Texas at any time of the year and it was sprinkling snowflakes we would be outside in snow boots, a ski coat, scarf, hat, and gloves playing in the snow. I think the Real Iowans know that there is plenty more to come and inches more around the corner to play in. The pretty snow disappeared this afternoon and it is probably a good thing for Jeremy who is headed to the Hawkeye football game tonight! I am staying home and packing up my tees and shorts. Hello sweaters, coats, and boots :). We will be seeing more of each other this year. What an adventure!

Yours from the land of snow & corn,

Leanne

Fall Is HERE

Jeremy and I got to spend this past weekend with some sweetie pies in Johnston, IA doing lots of fun fall stuff: glittering pumpkins, soccer games, football, getting his sisters ready for Homecoming, gymnastics...

Jeremy babysat for Emily and Nick in highschool so it was a lot of fun to have a whole weekend together with them...another perk of living in Iowa. We wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way!


Emily & Grace picking out their first pumpkin. Emily later picked the biggest pumpkin in the entire bunch!

Nick and Seth playing football & Emily and Grace glittering pumpkins.