Am I Ready?

Last Sunday, we were challenged to take some time before the new year and plan for our spiritual growth. It was a great sermon that asked a lot of questions, and since then, I have wanted to sit down and plan out my year. What will I study? What will I read? Is my theology ready for whatever comes in 2014? (Click here to watch to that sermon by Rick Holland.)

This morning, I finally sat down to think through the sermon and make a plan for spiritual growth this year. I started off by reading a sermon by J.C.Ryle, "Are You Ready?". It is a short little read (from which Rick Holland quotes frequently in his sermon) and it started me thinking soberly about the next 12 months. (Click here to read that sermon by J.C. Ryle.)

Never before have I really prepared for the year ahead, but I want to make sure I am ready for whatever happens. Not that the trials will be easier, the loss will be less or the growth will be exactly scaled at what I think it should. But that what I believe about God and his Word will be the solid foundation I need to be tossed against when both hard times and good things come.

SUR.REAL

When you reach the finish line of a race, the course doesn't seem as long or as difficult as it did while you were in the midst of it. That's how I feel this week, and it wasn't even my race.

On Saturday, Hubs graduates for the second time in our marriage. It's a lot different this time. When he graduated from dental school [2009] I threw a big party [click here to review], we left for Hawai'i two days later, we moved for the first time two weeks later, I had just quit one of my favorite jobs and life was a bit crazy. There was a ceremony and a cap & gown and he was officially pronounced as a doctor for the first time. It was exhausting and stressful and the very next day I accidentally locked myself outside our apartment and sat outside for hours with a migraine headache.

When he graduates from orthodontic residency in a few days, there will be no party or vacation, we have no moving plans yet, and I'm still working at my job. Life is normal (depending on your definition of that word) and we are celebrating in a much calmer way. There is no ceremony and no cap or gown, just a nice dinner and a program with awards and congratulations. Although it is different, the excitement is just as high.

The first part of the race was hard. We struggled to find our stride. There weren't a lot of people nearby to help keep us going and it really felt like the end was forever away. The work was long and strenuous, but Hubs kept pushing through. We kept trying to find the new normal for our life.

About halfway through, we found our pace. People came alongside of us to cheer us on, to support and to encourage. We were enjoying it, and although we hit a few bumps and found times of fatigue, we knew we would make it to the end.

For the last few weeks, we have been sprinting to the finish line. We have been thinking about what happens after we finish and trying to prepare for it. We still aren't sure what will happen, but that will come in a different post.

It's kind of nice that this time is much calmer. We get to enjoy the finish much more. Hubs has raced extremely well and he is finishing with excellence. I couldn't be more excited for him and am so thankful to have shared every moment by his side. And I'll keep on cheering for him even after he runs through the tape at the end.

And, just like finishing a race, I'm so glad that we did this, but I'm not interested in doing it again for a really long time.

Great resources

There are some really great resources that I have found over the past few months. I really want you to know about them.

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. If you've never heard about this book, then I'd be surprised. I feel like it is a must read for everyone. God is trustworthy in everything and I have been so comforted by studying God's sovereignty, wisdom and love.

"Sorrow, Suffering, and the Sovereignty of God" by Rick Holland from Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong.  A short article, again on God's sovereignty, but focusing on how we handle our trials and asking ourselves: What do I know? What do I think? What do I believe?

"The Believer's Right Response to Difficulty" sermon on Lamentations 3 by Rick Holland.  He says at one point, "Complaining is the most serious of all spiritual threats because complaining puts yourself on the throne of God and says, 'I expect and deserve better than what you have dealt me in my life, God.'"

"Trusting God with Infertility and Miscarriage" lesson by Lisa Martin. I listened to this after my first miscarriage, and then again after my second. It is a great perspective for you if you know of someone dealing with this or are that person dealing with it.

"Heart of Hospitality" radio series by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I'm still listening through these, but they are great on learning what hospitality is and is not.

"Unmet Expectations" series by Lisa Hughes.  This is a great series on unmet expectations, which we all have! I really love that you can print off the notes, which have a section for you to do extra study in your own personal time in the Word. I've been incredibly thankful for this.

What I will miss about St. Louis

There are a lot of things, but for sure this:

Not sure if you can tell, but this tree is keeping up with the times and has decided to go ombre this year, starting with a light yellow at the bottom and turning to you a flame red at the top. It stands strong and tall at the entrance of our neighborhood, and I had to snap a photo from my car before those leaves dump to the ground.

Where we are [most likely] going has trees, but not like this. I'm so thankful for such a beautiful Fall this year!

The Big 3-0

It was inevitably going to happen. Turning 30, that is. I think the reason this was somewhat dreaded is that I understand how fast time goes by. Now that I know how fast the past ten years went, I know I am going to blink and be turning 40. So, I guess I'll just keep my eyes wide open for the next decade.

I figured today would be pretty normal. For everyone else it is Halloween, or a beautiful fall day, or Reformation Day. So, I thought I would quietly pass through my 30th birthday, working through being a year older and having unmet expectations in life on my own. But it wasn't like that at all. Instead, my day was so great that I hardly noticed that I entered a new decade!

You know what made this birthday so great (besides the incredible fall color and our waitress thinking I was only 22)? People. I'm so glad to have people in my life. From a 6am coffee surprise, to lots of texts and messages, to an overflowing mailbox of cards, to unexpected gifts - people showed me their love and their care. And it meant A. LOT. I'm so thankful we don't have to go through life alone.

So here I go into a new decade of life. I can't imagine what the next ten years will bring, but I'm sure it will fly by faster than the last ten!

And now all of the sudden I'm really sad Ransom won't be around when I turn 40...

Halloween 2013

I noticed this week that stores are decorated in orange and black. Usually this would make me super excited and I would buy some candy corn and peanuts to have around the house. And some orange & black m'n'ms. 

This year, I would be okay with them holding off on decorating for Halloween. Because this year, it means we are getting closer to a major milestone. THIRTY!!!!

Okay, I'm not really dreading it as much as it may seem. But, it does seem unreal that I should be turning 30. I don't feel like I am that old. And yet, 30 seems a lot younger now that I am almost there.

So, my ideal 30th birthday is a trip to New York City to shop, eat at really awesome restaurants and see shows on Broadway. It just isn't really the right time for that, so I'd settle for a trip to the beach. But, it isn't really the right time for that either. I think I'll celebrate my normal way - with a good cup of coffee and a book. As long as I don't have to go to a costume party, I'll be fine. [I can't stand costume parties.]

Well, ready or not, it is coming. In 55 days!

Orthodontic Residency - In Review

Two days ago it really struck me: there are only 3 months left of Orthodontic Residency. That is only 16 weeks. Where did the last 2 years go?

Moving to St. Louis wasn't the easiest transition. It was hot and humid that summer and I had to look for a job. Two things I don't love. Though thankful for the job I found, I didn't enjoy it and we had gone "backwards" in life. We were in school again, working within a tight budget. We didn't know our way around this giant city and had met very few people. Hubs was adjusting to being a student again, and jumping through all the hoops and doing all the tedious work that comes along with that. We tried not to think about the large sums of money we were paying for him to be doing paperwork and thought about the end investment. We often wondered why we moved, but deep down knew it had been the right things to do.

A year into residency, and things were getting better. It was still hot and humid, and I still don't love that. But, my job was much better - a new position was created just for me with more responsibility, we had adjusted to the new lifestyle and we weren't pulling out the Garmin every time we needed to go somewhere. Hubs was enjoying resident-life more, and although it still took up a big chunk of his time, we still found the time to have fun. We had met some great friends and a were starting in a new small group. We had found our place here.

Two years into residency, and major hurdles have passed. Hubs passed his board exam with a great score. His thesis is halfway done with experimentation dates planned. I have a new job and we have made even deeper friendships. Driving 30 minutes to get somewhere doesn't seem as crazy as it once did. We have come to love the many conveniences of a large city and Hubs even received a huge scholarship to help us out financially. The past months have consisted of conversation after conversation about our future, each conversation getting more specific and closer to the end. We are to the point of making major, most likely permanent decisions. I take more trips to Forest Park, soaking in my favorite part in St. Louis. I plan more time with friends, treasuring the friendships we have.

There is no more school after this. We have neared the end and it is a little scary for me. The theme of our marriage has always been trusting in the Lord and leaning on each other, and this is no different. In one more year, our life will look completely different and that brings with it a mixture of excitement and trepidation. So, I rest in the Lord during these days. I constantly pray and read His word about His sovereignty, wisdom and love. And the goal of our life hasn't changed. No matter what the future holds and where we go, our desire is to love God more, love others more and love each other more.