The Pearls: Part II

 Part I- of this post was written well over two years ago.

The young lady in that story has since gotten older and

has never forgotten the lesson she learned from her mother.

A lesson on letting go and trusting God -

Trusting in His timing and knowing that His ways are far

higher than hers.

The fake pearls were given up five years ago.  Really it seems

like a lifetime ago and the young lady has learned so much

and grown stronger because of it.

Sometimes she wondered about her real pearls.

She knew that God never takes something without

giving something far better in return, but there were

times she doubted.  She thought perhaps those

real pearls were over rated and maybe she shouldn't be so picky.

But then one day God brought someone into her life.

Someone who made her a better person.

Someone who made her eyes twinkle.

Someone who made her realize that genuine is so much better than fake.

And then it happened.

He knew her story,

her past struggles, and

had read about her giving up her fake pearls.

So one fine day he presented her with black velvet box

just like the one from her story.

When she opened it she saw a beautiful strand of

genuine pearls. 

He told her that she meant so much to him

and  how he hoped he could be her set of real pearls.

A few months have passed.

Every time that young lady puts on those pearls

she is reminded of the past lesson learned

and she is so grateful that she gave up her fake pearls.

On November 2, 2012 that young lady will put those genuine

pearls on and walk down a church aisle to start a new life with him.

And she couldn't be more blessed.

I have a goodly heritage

I love my family.

I love that a midst our busy schedules we still spend time together.

I want to treasure each one of these moments.

I don't want to become too busy with my future plans

that I forget about my present life.

This past Friday, we took a break from the wedding planning 

and went down to the beach for a picnic.

Picnics at the Dunes are a favorite summer tradition.

We had a wonderful time and I was glad 

I had a camera to capture some of these moments.

Moments that quickly become memories preserved

through pictures.

Memories that I know I will carry with me through all my life.

I am so thankful that God put me in the family He did.

 Thankful for parents who are godly and raised my sisters and I 

to serve the Lord and keep Him first.

Parents who led by example and

practiced what was preached in church.

I am thankful for moments with my two sisters.

Sisters that I will miss, but I know will remain close despite the distance.

Truly I have a goodly heritage.

Pin It Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

A Year in Review

2012...

A new year.

Another blank chapter of life;

one that I must let God write...

Last year was one full of changes and

one  where I learned many valuable truths.

Source: tumblr.com via Nicole on Pinterest

That simple phrase could probably sum up 2011 for me.

A pictorial review::

After working at a Wee Care for 3 years the Lord saw fit to lead me into another field...

I have been working at a local insurance agency for 7 months now.

It was a hard change and took me out of my comfort zone.

However the Lord has given me a wonderful boss and a great working environment.

Grandma and Grandpa came up for my baby sister's graduation.

I know, she really is not a baby any more...:)

Our family took an exciting and adventurous vacation out West

where we saw several breathtaking sites!

I also got to visit my best friend and her hubby in CA.

It was an awesome experience and I can't wait to go back again someday!

A couple of months later my other good friend, Tabitha married David and

I had the opportunity to shoot their wedding.

The Lord also brought another huge blessing our way...

He gave us the perfect house; it truly is everything my parents ever dreamed of.

The Lord also saw fit to take my Uncle Jerry home to be with Him.

He had struggled with an illness for several years and we are comforted knowing he is no longer in any pain and has a new body.

And then most recently the Lord brought a new set of friends into my life-

some fellow bloggers

They are great fun to be around!

Especially this guy :)

(But that I will save for later!)

I hope you all have a great New Years and I am certain that 2012 will be full with changes, but one thing I have learned is that:

Source: rocksinmydryer.typepad.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Happy 2012!

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Something to ponder

 Do not pray for easy lives!

Pray to be strong men.

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.

Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle,

but you shall be a miracle.

~Phillips Brooks

 Greatness comes not by having a mossy path made for you

through the meadows, but by being sent to hew out a roadway

by your own hands.

 I read that excerpt today and it really caused me to just sit and ponder.

How many times have I been envious of others who seem to live a bed of roses.

To me it seems as if everything in life has been handed to them.

I am truly happy for them, but sometimes I wonder...

Why can't my life be like that?

I am not saying this to complain about my life, because I love life...

God is truly so very good to me.

However after reading this I was convicted of listening to the Devil 

and feeling sorry for myself at times.

Convicted of wishing for things that are not necessarily bad,

but are not what God would have for me at this time in life.

And then it hit me...

The reason God does not give me a life of miracles and perfection is because He is working the miracle through me, rather than around me.

I do not want others to wish for my life, but rather to wish for my faith.

I want to live so that others see the miracle living in me.

 The easy life does not lead to greatness of character.

And so I prayed today - not for a bed of roses but rather

the character to rise to whatever God may bring may way.

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost

{Pictures taken in Napa, CA} 

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

God's will

 

Growing up at Fairhaven, I have heard one point pounded by my Preacher - "Find God's will and do it."  So much so that the college alumni had a rock engraved with those exact words.

Doing God's will has never been something difficult for me.  I grew up at Fairhaven and it was only natural that I attended the college on campus, which I believe to be the best Christian college in the nation.  As a girl growing up at Fairhaven the chronological events are usually, go to college, graduate college, get married and ride off into the sunset.  (maybe that is exaggerated a little;) 

And that is exactly how my life was going up until the end of my sophomore year.

Suddenly I knew nothing of what my future held and it was something I struggled with for the next two years through college.

Here is where I would like to insert that were it not for  godly Christian parents I would still be struggling with this concept.  I am so very thankful that I have parents who encourage me to study God's Word and find His will myself.  I am so thankful for my mother's notes to me that say,

God has a divine will for your life~isn't it wonderful to KNOW that you are in His will and He is going to bless you?  It is like opening a gift from God!

It is notes like this that I keep in my Bible and refer to often for encouragement. 

This past May, it had been two years since my college graduation.

The majority of my classmates have married, or are teaching in Christian schools, or are serving in some other church.  It is only through God's strength that I do not question Him or doubt His will.

I have been offered a few teaching jobs but none of them even required prayer.

I visited or would speak to my Preacher and I knew that God would not have me go there.

However, recently a teaching position opened up at a great Christian school in California.

I began to pray if God would have that position be offered to me and if so that I would know very clearly that that was where I should be.  Nothing scares me more than not being in the center of God's will, and this was not a small matter.

My visit to see Liz was already planned and as God would have it I was interviewed at the school where my best friend teaches.  The school was great, the church was wonderful, and the people there were so friendly.  PLUS, my best friend lives there!!!!  How much better could it get??

If I was not a Christian, I would have taken the job then and there!

After all, it sounded like a dream come true!

However I knew this was a very serious matter and that making a decision based on what I wanted would end up in disaster.  So, I came home and talked it over with my family and we began to pray.

Three weeks passed and not only was my family praying that God would give me peace in the decision I should make but also my church family.  In that time countless people would come tell me they were praying for me, something I will be eternally grateful for.

About two weeks ago, I knew my answer.  Or should I say God's answer...

It was not the easy route.

I would love to teach,

to have my own class,

to live on my own,

to experience a new place,

to teach to the class room next to my best friend...

But it was not God's will.

That I was certain.

And so God's will for me is to stay at my home church.

I don't know why and I don't know what the future holds.

Does God want me to teach?

Will I stay in the same town my whole life?

Will God bring my soul-mate here?

All these questions have run through my head, but this I know - that God's place for me now is to continue at Fairhaven, serving on the bus route, helping in a 5-6 grade girls Sunday School, singing in the choir...I have found God's will and I will do it.

 

God has led me to an Insurance Agency where I have been working for one month now. 

I love learning new things and going outside my comfort zone.

I still do not know what tomorrow holds, but I will take it one day at a time

after all the future is God's gift to me...