Going with God's flow of things... no matter how fast :)

May I just say that I have to laugh at myself this morning. You know how we always want to rush God and it seems like sometimes we have to wait forever for His Divine timing. I think I am so used to waiting and waiting and planning things but then having to wait for God so more that I never know what to do when things fall together perfectly and so quickly that I don't have time to catch my breath. But the funny thing is, God works that way too... So here is a quick story of this last week... I am telling you, God was all over this!

So last Sunday (2/19) after church, Megan and I didn't have anything to do. We decided to take a small break from apt/townhouse/etc shopping because Megan needed time to get settled into her job and my schedule is super busy lately. We had been looking for a couple of weeks now and just needed a little time without that stress because it has been hard to find a place we liked and could afford. So we just decided to get in the car and drive, I would show her different areas of Orlando... Well on the way back, I wanted to show her a cool area of town called College Park but I didn't exactly know where I was going and got a little lost in a cute neighborhood of houses and bike riders and a couple of "for rent" signs. I made the joke we should call them and Megan was like lets do it and we ended up calling this little old cute adorable lady who cracks me up and long story short it was a 2br/1 bath duplex (2 apartments side by side in house format... but super cute) and it has hardwood floors (for Megan's allergies to Sammy and Milo), she accepts cats, the price was PERFECT (what we initially wanted), no steps (good for me)... and its in a safe little neighborhood with a yard...

Well after Megan and I talked, we decided to call her back to look at it. Her response was 'i hoped you would call me back, you sound like a good tenant" (like i said she was cute... but picky, she has turned several people down because she has specific standards for anyone that lives in her houses) ... well the next day, we met her, looked at the place, and ended up filling out an application (no application fee or pet fee!! WOW!!) (also i may have had a small panic attack after we left at the quickness of this but by Tuesday I saw God's hand in it)... and by Tuesday, she called my office and my apt complex and got excellent references (which in the process meant i had to officially turn in my 30 days to Camden... so bittersweet) and we were in... we met her expectations I guess lol... She was relieved that there were two young ladies who loved Jesus ... this made her happy, but it was the truth! Our faith and relationship with Jesus is everything to us! Then Friday, before I left on the Refuge's Escape camp out, I met her to sign the lease and pay the deposit... So we get the keys the week of 3/15 and i have to be out of my little apartment by 3/22....... Crazy how all this started by taking a Sunday drive.

Everything unfolded perfectly :) I may not be too excited about the fact that the house doesn't have a lot of storage space for things such as Christmas Decor... I mean the closets are small and no extra storage anywhere (i don't like clutter, out of sight, out of mind)... but other than that and the size of the bathroom (only bc the one i have now is HUGE) the place is perfect.. and well those two things, I will get over myself and figure out some solution for them lol :) oh by the way, that area I got lost in... was actually College Park and I wanted to live there since i was first introduced to the area, i just didn't think i would. i am also only 2.5 miles from Suzette and Brian :-) and only 1 mile further from work than I originally was, and we are in a cute area with the hospital down the road and a park and lots of cute places... yea, the location is WONDERFUL! Anyway, this is how God has totally showed up in my life this week :)

This Past week

What is God teaching me this week?

I think this is a very important question to ask on a regular basis. I try to do this and try to stay focused on Him... The one thing I have noticed is once you are in God's will, you can quickly recognize when you are not in His will... :)

So a synopsis of this week in the shortest fashion... Adam and finally talked and I am finally listening to God's guidance and finishing my time as a Youth Leader with refuge (March 7th is my last night). This is such a good thing in so many ways, definitely a God thing... lets see what God has up His sleeve. So I am closing out this chapter in my life. It's one of the smaller ones, yet still important. I truly believe God wants me to spend more time with OUR Home and ROCK though... and at the end of the day without going into much detail, this is truly following God's path. Let's just pray for Refuge and new leadership as they step up (BC another leader just left to take a new job)...

Financially God has blessed me more than i could ever realized and i finally feel like i am back on my feet. I mean just a few months ago bc of a long story that isn't important my disability got cut which financially made an impact esp with a car payment and paying rent for a one bedroom (in a safe neighborhood=not cheap) and so i have learned really really well what living on a budget was all about. There were moments it was so tough I didn't think I would be able to pay everything but through Gods miracles and help i slid by............ but my tithing went out the window COMPLETELY....just bc logically i couldn't afford it and bills... but God really touched my heart about it and i kinda collapsed at His feet like 'i know i am suppose to and it is a trust thing, i just don't see how its possible. if you want me to tithe please show me that you will provide for my needs" (now i get you shouldn't pray to God like this but at the time i just felt helpless so ...) well the new week i get a letter in the mail, no return address, just simply "i will provide for all your needs, love, Jesus" and a gift card to a grocery store... NO JOKE and no one about my prayer.... such a GOD story!!!!!!!!! and then Megan found a job (my friend who just came back from Asia and wanted to move to Orlando) so now we can get a two bedroom to save money and other small things that have happened that is so God ordained in God's timing and you get the picture, right?

So if you can't tell God has taught me a lot in this last week. Trust, unexplainable faith and trust.... if I follow Him, I think He has exciting things on the road ahead :)

4 Year timeline - Part 2

2011: What a Year! Wow! This was the year I truly fell in love wholeheartedly.... with Jesus! Yes, He romanced me and showed me that He was enough in this world. We can't control what is thrown at us in life but we can control who we love and trust and just live life for. Through surrendering it all and trusting Him, I was overwhelmed by the blessings He gave me. The most important of which was the unexplainable peace through all circumstances, the peace and surpasses all understanding. That is such an irreplaceable gift. One I have been searching for for years after I dedicated my life to Christ. And though i went through some of the toughest trials i have ever experienced, the end was so much rewarding than i could ever have asked for. and if for no other reason, God should be praised :)

Other things that happened... I settled into my job beautifully. I caught onto things quickly and I realized I am gifted for a job such as this. Also I established friendships at work that make it a joy to come to work daily. (one of which is Megan Ann, who is amazing and irreplaceable). I love my Supervisors and Co-workers and most of my tasks and for now this is where i know God wants me to be. I got really involved with Suzette and GOBA and watched that transfer into ROCK ministries. God is doing big things there and I get to be involved on the front lines as He is doing so... such a blessing. I also got super close to the Woods during this time. Its definitely my second family, filling a gap that has been empty so long here. I also worked with the summer team and was a Big Sister at House of Hope which ultimately led to me creating and running Girl Talk at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission Home. And shortly I will be teaching business classes as well. and i was a youth leader for Refuge as well.

During my free time, I spent time at home with Sammy and Milo (I seriously have two of the most loving cats ever)... the shocking thing i learned about myself is that even though i used to freak out at being by myself and have anxiety at being alone, i know welcome that time with open arms and cherish that time i have to myself. I also bought a car. I mean my first nice car, on my own. Eli, the Elantra (2010)... I am still paying on it... but this is my first huge purchase in life (minus college i Guess).... it was such a big deal and i love that car so much lol......... Also throughout the year, I was able to sit back and see what friendship was truly about and some people left my life and some people were added (the other Megan ... so yes now i have two Megans i am close to where there used to be none so there are confusing times).....

the only not so good things is physically it was challenging... the displaced knee meant that i had to face facts that i actually have CP ;) jk... but my body decided to struggle with my back and hip so i spend all year in PT... and right before thanksgiving, someone broke into my home and stole all my jewelry and laptop. So I now have no personal computer and all the jewelry i received for special occasions over the years is now gone and cant be recovered. its sad... However, my back was spasming at the time so the physical pain overshadowed this and i handled it better than i thought i would have... so maybe things work out in perfect timing... and i learned a lot about materialism as well... you can be happy without a computer and pearls ;)

So I got to go home for Thanksgiving to see my family and I spent Christmas here with my two Orlando families and I welcomed 2012 which a lot of Thanksgiving and Praise to God for all the wonderful things He brought into my life over the past year... numero uno on the list = PEACE :)

4 year timeline

I am still astounded that I had a blog that I hadn't written in in almost 4 years... AND I can still sign on. I guess that shows consistency with username and passwords but i am not sure if that is a good thing or not lol...

Okay, well now lets see how great my memory is... I think I can make a short timeline of the last four years...

March 2008 - Intern for GOBA

Summer 2008 - Intern for the summer Resort Missions team (challenging summer but a total dependent on God Summer)

Fall 2008 - Officially moved to Orlando, Moved in with my roommate Amy (met through past missionary friend from 2007), got involved with RBC, made a lot of random assortment of new friends, started working at Target as a cashier, got Sammy (my furry cute kitten)

2009 - a year of mistakes and regrets and growth and lessons that needed to be learned. In February, got promoted to Cash Office Specialist, still involved with RBC, stopped hanging out with the resort ministry crowd, focused on the wrong friendships, it was a year that I honestly dont remember too many details from... other than the promotion, it was the year of mistakes.

Early 2010-- My whole life got turned upside down with a broken down vehicle, eliminated position, and many other negative things. Also my roommate Amy got married (which was good for her) but it was time for me to move on lol.... so fast forward to

Summer 2010 -- Surrendered everything to God, got focused, got involved in inner city summer missions with Lynn Latham at GOBA (you see the renewing of relationships there ;) )... got the interview that would totally change everything (blessing from God)....... do you see where this is headed

Fall 2010-- Dislocated my knee (not a pleasant experience but it gave me a chance to spend time in SC before i started my new job), yes thats right! two weeks later I started my NEW JOB as Admin Assistant for USDA-FASS (not my ideal job at first bc its with the govt and its in an office doing business stuff all day BUT i love love love my coworkers and the enviroment and its a job i know how to do and there are benefits and this is DEFINITELY where GOD wants me right now), I moved into my lovely apt where I got to experience living on my own for the first time (loved it), sammy got a brother as another black cute little kitten was brought into the family (mainly to keep sammy company bc he is a very social cat), i started purging bad relationships and rebuilding healthy ones, got involved in a church and really started following where God was leading....

2011 -- The most wonderful year ever.... that can be the next post, as a wrap up the timeline of the last four years... i'm impressed! Usually I write more! :-)

time to blog again

I crack myself up because I love the concept of blogging. I mean it may not be for everyone and not everyone wants to read blog posts. But it fits my personality so well. I love reading my friends blogs, esp if God has guided our lives to different locations to where it is impossible to stay close in touch as we did when we were in school or missions or what have you. Also, i think i am a natural journal-er. i mean i love to write out my random thoughts and i like to record God's movement in my life.... and well idk i see a lot of positives in blogging... and well if you dont want to read it, then that is okay as well. But the reason i am cracking myself up is because over the last few months i have thought about blogging once again (since i havent done it regularly since i was a missionary) and i have started a blog on tumblr and on xanga (i cant remember my password for either) and i had this one (which i havent touched in almost 4 Years! bogus, right? i honestly think its bc sometimes i get caught up in this thing we call life and never take little moments to enjoy things such as this, its hard enough to get regular time in with God. also i question whether or not what i write is interesting... bc lets face it, i ramble. However, i read through my posts and saw the things God was doing and i smiled at the memories... so by golly, i decided it was time to start blogging again... i cant believe i have allowed 4 years to lapse... i promise you 4 very eventful years (some moments so full of jesus and some completely lacking in jesus) so here goes........