Tuesday at 3:45pm

So, many of you are probably aware that a few weeks ago, Marc's work decided to no longer have a 2nd shift. Marc has been working 1st shift the last few weeks (4:30am-3pm) and that has been going okay. The problem is that come September when classes start, he will no longer be able to work this shift.

One of our pastors gave us some information about a woodworking place that is hiring 2nd shift right now. The very next day Marc updated his resume & headed over there to drop it off. He called on it today & has an interview tomorrow at 3:45!

Please pray. Pray for the interview to go well and for God's will to be done. I'd love to have you pray for a job offer, a pay raise, great benefits and more vacation time, but I guess God's will is a better way to go. :)

Training my mind & body

I am on the 4th week of training for a triathlon. I started week 1 by running for 15 minutes - and that wasn't a straight 15 minutes. I would run for 2, walk for 2 over and over again. I'm now up to running 3 miles straight - even while pushing a baby jogger with 30lbs of Isaac in it! I can feel myself getting stronger and can even see a little less of the love handles around my waist.

Along with swimming, biking and running, Marc and I have been doing Weight Watchers. This isn't necessarily an attempt to lose a ton of weight, merely trying to make healthier choices and watch our portions. I do feel much healthier and have lost about 5lbs so far.

I'm training for something else as well. Through meeting with the seminary registrar last week, I have discovered that I am 9 classes away from my MA in Youth & Family Minstry. This can be reduced to 8 classes if I pass a Bible Knowledge exam in the fall. I've been taking a few practice tests recently and I'm no-where near passing! I took the 2006 test last night and got 62%. Yikes! It's a little pathetic for being a youth pastor.

So, this summer will be dedicated to training both body & mind.

If you want to try the practice tests, here is a link. 100 multiple choice questions per test. Good luck!!!

http://www.whitneyhq.com/biblecontent/

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy

I'm not sure where my joy is lately. It's not down in my heart.

As I was talking with a student today about the fruit of the spirit, I realized that I'm lacking joy. The other ones needs some work as well, but I've decided that I need to focus on joy this week. I am allowing little things to steal my joy and put me in a foul mood. I mean little things. It's a bit ridiculous. I'm focusing too much on the things causing stress in my life, rather than the positive and uplifting things. The good things are there in abundance and I need to start recognizing them and giving God praise for his goodness.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

June (so far) in picture form

adding to my last post...

I'm pissed at my tennant for smoking in our house & having a kitten. Can you say 'broken lease' lady? Not a good night.

Feeling...well, it's hard to say!

This week has produced a mixture of emotion for me. I go from a sense of peace and contentment to fear, anxiety, sadness and worry.

I am sad because Kerri has moved out of our house.
I am anxious because Marc's schedule has changed.
I am overjoyed that Marc is home in the evenings.
I am at peace about a empty house (for now).
I am grieveing after learning about a dear friends miscarriage of one of the twins inside of her.
I am grateful for the other baby still living and growing.
I am tired after setting up a garage sale all day.
I am upset because our tennant at Quimby apparently has not let us know about some sort of water leak & our next water bill may eat up our entire emergency fund. The fund that we just built back up this week.
I am stressed about money in general.
I am thankful for my friends and Isaac's friends.
I am apprehensive about the Bible knowledge exam I have to take in the fall.
I am longing to have another baby.
I am thrilled about getting a current Calvin Sem ID so I can use the workout facilities.
I am annoyed by the ants all over my kitchen counter.
I am blessed with my family.
I am fascinated with all the Isaac is learning these days.

Well, now I'm feeling exhausted and have to get up early for the big church sale! To bed I go!

My prayer today

All to Jesus I surrender; all to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live.

Refrain: I surrender all, I surrender all, all to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender; humbly at his feet I bow, worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now. (Refrain)

3. All to Jesus I surrender; make me, Savior, wholly thine; fill me with thy love and power; truly know that thou art mine. (Refrain)

4. All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to thee; fill me with thy love and power; let thy blessing fall on me. (Refrain)

5. All to Jesus I surrender; now I feel the sacred flame. O the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to his name! (Refrain)

"Do not be anxious about anything..."

Our sermon today was on Philippians 4:4-7, which is a passage I have had memorized since my year living in California. This passage has always been meaningful to me, and hearing it again today was obviously God's timing.

God has often times given me a peace that transcends all understanding when I am faced with anxiety-ridden situations. This peace comes usually after I realize that I can't control the situation, and I finally surrender what was never mine to control in the first place, and present my requests to God. He is faithful. I have journals of examples of God's faithfulness and hand in my life.

Today I needed to be reminded of this faithfulness and the peace that comes with allowing God to work.

During our silent time of prayer during the service I was praying about several situations:
1. Marc's current job situation is changing, and although I don't know for sure what will happen come fall, there is a possibility that he will not have a job.
2. We somehow have to come up with $15,000 to pay for Marc's last year of college.
3. I'm anxious about how all the people in our house moving out will affect Isaac.
4. I'm in general, anxious about money.

Most of the time, I truly feel a peace about all these things. However, when I start trying to figure out the details, or get turned down for yet another loan, anxiety rears it's ugly head. I'm finding it difficult to try to figure out details without becoming anxious.

I praise God because we can trust what his word says:

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understand will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-7

Before & After - Parsonage yard

The bright idea to move all the parking lot snow into the parsonage backyard resulted in some lovely yard damage. A little disappointing since Isaac is at the fun, very mobile stage and we had a lot of potential hazards in the yard!

I was able to dig up and transplant to peonies, and they acually replanted my daylillies and iris' for me! I only lost some rubarb. Good thing I bought some at the famers market today!

And after...much more yard space, but no garden. Oh well, who has time for a garden!?! Someday, perhaps. It'll be so nice when it's all filled in and grassy!

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

That is a quote by Jim Rohn which I appreciate especially today.

I have a goal of doing the Reeds Lake Triathlon (see last post). Today took enormous amounts of discipline to get up at 6:15am and head to Calvin's pool. It took maybe even more discipline this evening to put on the running shoes and hit the pavement.

I suck at discipline, but I did it. I hope that each time I accomplish a goal, the next time will be a bit easier.

I desire with all my heart to lead a very structured life, but often lack the... well, discipline to be disciplined.

I do sense a domino effect whenever one area of my life becomes more structured. Typically when I start to exercise, my eating habits improve. That usually helps my bedtime routine and amount of sleep I get. That often helps me use my time more effectively, etc. Discipline often leads to a simpler, more content life for me.

I've decided that you can get a glimpse into my mind and heart by looking in two places:
1. My kitchen.
2. My car.

If they are clean, picked up and orderly, you can bet my mind is settled and calm and I am, for the most part, on top of things in life; I am disciplined. If they are in a state of disarray, however, things aren't good. That's often a sign of chaos and stress for me.

I'm not quite sure which leads to what. Those living in my house can tell you that a dirty kitchen can quickly lead to me being stressed & upset. Hmm. The age old chicken/egg question.

So, if you ever want to get a glimpse into the life of Gretchen, stop by my kitchen or take a cruise in the mini-van & you'll get a pretty accurate look into my current mental and emotional state. Hopefully this triathlon training will help me, and in turn, my family, lead a more simple & content life.

High hopes for a simple triathlon, huh?