Week Forty-Three in Review

So we're another week down.  This was another pretty calm week though work is picking up in intensity.  I'm definitely not complaining, I love the job, but we've entered into a project that we don't have a lot of control over so navigating the "politics" involved is interesting.  I am thankful most every day though that God put me in this position.  We are doing good work that is important to the overall health and well-being of children in GA.  I feel like I'm using my passions and professional skills to the best of my ability.  It's such a great place to be!

I've really started the sorting/cleaning/purging process that precedes packing.  I've gotten three bags of stuff together to donate and am attempting to really thin out my "stuff."  If I haven't used it or it doesn't have a sentimental story, it's going.  I'm hoping to really streamline before the move since I'm losing a bit of storage.  As far as I know, I am still on schedule to close on November 30th and hope to move December 1st.  Since there's construction involved, there's no guarantee closing will happen on time but I'm praying hard it does!

This has been a neat week spiritually.  Last Sunday, we had an event at church to get people connected to City Groups (our version of local discipleship).  I went to meet the people that are in my new City Group.  Changing City Groups has been my one "concern" in this whole move.  I've been in the same group since the beginning and hate the thought of moving away from them.  BUT, it turns out I know several of the couples in my new group and really like them.  I think it will be really neat to do life with these people.  Then today, I went to a brunch for people interested in serving with Renovation's Mercy and Justice ministry.  It was so neat to be in a room of people who are passionate about meeting needs in Atlanta AND sharing the gospel while meeting needs.  If we don't provide the gospel while meeting needs, we're no better than any other humanitarian group.  I can't wait to see how God is going to use this team to change this city!  So thankful He put me at Renovation!

I guess that's all for now.  I'm headed to the couch to watch the rest of GA/FL.  More next week...

Week Forty-Two in Review

Can anyone else believe there are only 10 weeks left in 2012?  Where did the year go - it seems like just yesterday was New Year's Day and now Target has Christmas ads on TV.  Seriously, can we at least wait until November 1st before being inundated with the crazy, consumer-driven Christmas commercials.  I'm finding more and more reasons to appreciate my DVR. :-)

This post will be super-short because this week was quite boring and I didn't have anything "pop" out at me while reading Scripture this week.  I was reminded how much I love my Renovation family and my city groups.  I just love getting together with those folks both on Sundays and during the week.  It just nourishes my soul so much.

I did try two Pinterest recipes yesterday.  One was quite successful and a keeper and the other was a giant waste of time.  I didn't waste any food, the cauliflower is just mashed, not turned into pancakes.  I'm becoming quite domesticated and am actually making dishes where the main ingredient isn't sugar.  Who knew cooking could be so simple?! :-)

I think that's about all for the week.  I still have two book reviews to post and I hope to get that done tomorrow at some point.  Might be lunch hour activity.  I'm beginning the packing process so who knows what the coming weeks will bring.  More next week...

Weeks Forty and Forty-One in Review

So somehow I managed to miss blogging last weekend.  Probably because I was out of town and just plain exhausted when I got home Sunday.  By the time I remembered, it was Tuesday or Wednesday and I said the heck with it. :-)  Both weeks were good weeks - found out this past Tuesday that I've cleared underwriting (Praise the Lord!) and we are set for closing.  Now the waiting and packing begins.  I'm so thankful for how smoothly this entire process has gone.

Sarah and I took a meandering trip through North Georgia last weekend.  We went up to the apple orchard we normally go to and we took the "back way" up and then meandered through other back roads to reach the outlet mall so we could run in one store.  On our way back to her house, we decided to go to the state park up there to check out the waterfall.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we thoroughly enjoyed our trip.  I think it was more fun because it was outside our personalities.  We're both planners so to just randomly drive, off the interstate no less, was a nice change.  We both commented how much we enjoyed it.

This weekend she and I went to Macon to celebrate my mom's birthday.  I love being with my family and this weekend was no exception.  I'm so thankful to have family members that enjoy being with each other.  It makes going home such an enjoyable event.  Probably won't happen again for me until Thanksgiving so I enjoyed the weekend even more.

Spiritually these last two weeks have been spent in the New Testament, early in Christ's ministry.  Last week I was struck by how important it is to really know Scripture because Satan and the demons do. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, Satan was twisting Scripture to tempt Jesus.  It just struck me that if we don't know Scripture and have it imprinted on our hearts, we can easily go off course when temptation calls.  This week was totally different - I saw something new in the story of the woman at the well.  I've long been familiar with the story of how Jesus saw right through her and confronted her about her sinful behavior.  What I noticed this time was what happened after the encounter.  Scripture says she went and told everyone about her encounter and her tale prompted them to have their own encounter with Jesus.  How many lives were saved because she was excited about what happened to her and shared Jesus with others?  That got me thinking about whether or not I'm still excited about what Jesus did for me (and is still doing) and how often I share it.  It was definitely something I've been mulling over and will probably be mulling over for quite some time.

I guess that's about all I have for now.  Life is pretty calm around here and I'm liking that.  I do have two book reviews written, I just have to get them posted.  More to come next week...