Hi friends and family! One week of pastry school has come and gone and week two has begun. I thought I would pass along a quick update and some insight into my daily routine for those who have asked. So here we go.... I am slowly but surely getting used to my early wake up call. I am on the bus by 5:40, on the train by 6:00 and in the locker room of the Pastry School by 6:20 to put on my lovely uniform. (I haven't decided yet if I will share a picture of this look just yet :-) I'll keep you posted).
By 6:45am my class is in the kitchen and we are scaling our ingredients for the day. (Interesting note, we don't use cups and tablespoons to measure, we use the metric system and weigh everything on a scale...hence scaling) Once scaling is completed, next we gather around our chef for that week and watch a demo of each thing we will complete that day. Then it is off to our tables to make all the yummy goodies and prep items for future use.
So far we have made a traditional British Fruit Cake (don't knock it or laugh...it smells delicious! It will soak for the next few weeks and be ready around Thanksgiving. I'll let you know how it turns out), Shortbread Cookies and Sugar Cookies (we will be decorating these next week), 2 kinds of Royal Icing (gotta practice our piping skills), Chocolate Sable Dough (to be made into a cake next week), Gum paste for making sugar flowers, and Pressed Sugar figurines. I may have missed something but you get the idea...we stay busy!
Once we get through the day's assignments we then tackle the cleaning of the kitchen. This work isn't for the faint of heart. All dishes, work surfaces, equipment and floors must be washed and sanitized. My 14 member class does a great job of getting everything done efficiently and quickly each day. They are a great group of people!
By 12:45 class is over and we head down to the locker room to change back into our street clothes. Then I begin the journey home via train and bus. Did I mention that my school is next to the Sears Tower (I guess I should say the Willis Tower since that is its legal name, but nobody here calls it that :-)) It is definitely a unique and wonderful experience to go to school next to such an iconic building. The view never gets old!
We have the great opportunity every couple of weeks to have a new chef in the kitchen with us. Each chef specializes in something different and they share their wealth of knowledge with us. These chefs are world renowned and I am soaking up as much as I can from them. One of our chefs even made a cake for Princess Diana!
Part of our program also includes students getting their Sanitation Certification. We started reading the book last Monday and we take the official test this Friday. Please pray for me to pass! It has been a while since I had to study for anything :-) And let me just say that eating out at restaurants has forever changed for me. I see violations everywhere! Our chef warned us of this when we got started. I have a new respect for folks in the food industry. Keeping things up to code and perfectly clean and sanitized is hard work!
I leave you with a fun story from the train. As you can imagine, there are some characters on the train. My rides are never boring. I think my favorite thus far was a gentleman who kept addressing our particular car every couple of minutes. Each little speech was filled with random topics but my favorite was when he mentioned that Taylor Swift had called him last night and asked him to fly out to hang out with her. Then he proceeded to serenade us with Shake it Off :-) It definitely woke me up that morning!
So, that is about it for now. I'll try to post more updates and pictures of completed projects as I have them. Thanks to the many of you who are praying for me and supporting me throughout this journey. I am truly thankful for it and hope to do the program justice. Practice makes perfect...or as close to it as possible :-) Love to you all!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
The Dog Days of Summer
I have always found the phrase "the dog days of summer" a bit confusing. The phrase seems to evoke a kind of slow or prolonged enjoyment of summer before the busyness of fall is upon us. I don't know about you, but the time leading up to fall is one of the busiest times of the year...hence my confusion. Amidst all the the end of summer parties and the back to school parties are the preparations for a new school year, getting those last days in at the pool/beach (or lake in my case) and for those with full time jobs (not too long ago I was among you!) you feel some of the laid back summer attitude slowly slipping through your grasp. In other words, it is back to the business at hand before summer even ends.
If we aren't careful these things can overwhelm us. These things can rob us of our joy and contentment in the Lord and they most definitely can make us take our eyes off Him. I have had to fight against this myself recently. I am about to enter a very new phase in my life. If you had asked me 10 years ago when I was graduating from college (that really hurts to admit it was 10 years by the way) if I would be embarking on a new career path and going back to school, I would have laughed at you. The 22 year old me and the 32 year old me would have found each other quite amusing.
Monday morning I will set out on a new journey where excitement and insecurity abound. I can't wait to start attending class at the French Pastry School and learn so many skills I can put to use in a future business and new career. But...and that is a fairly large but...there is insecurity there as well. I might be in my 30's but that doesn't stop me from wondering if I will be any good at this pastry school thing. It doesn't stop me from wondering if my classmates will like me...we all want to be liked no matter what age we are. It doesn't stop me from wondering if I can balance being a wife, a student and a useful servant in my church simultaneously.
What's my point you might ask?! No matter what phase of life we are in or what new adventure we are embarking on, it is so easy to let life take control of us and not allow the Lord to lead. These feelings I am having about starting school again aren't the first time I am feeling them. They are recurring emotions from any other life changing event that has come my way in the last 15 years of my life. I am sure so many of you can relate.
I don't know about you, but I fight against my desire to control my life daily. I somehow think I am doing a good job at it when in actually I am not, hence the feelings of insecurity. If my eyes are on the Lord and I am trusting that he has led me to this place at this time to work towards something that will help me better glorify him in someway, why would I ever feel insecure? When I have an audience of 1 to glorify, my motives for how I live my life change. I find myself not worrying about if I will be any good at his school thing or if people will like me. And I can trust that God will help me fulfill all the roles in my life because He has called me to it. In other words, by stopping the pattern of thinking only about myself, I think about the Lord and what he wants and while the road may still be bumpy at times, I can trust that He has things under control. (I will need to remind myself to come back and read this over the next several months as my sin nature creeps up time and again ;-))
Can I ask you a question I ask myself sometimes? What is one of the greatest detriments to the christian faith? If I took a poll I am sure I would get some very long lists with many different answers on it. Laundry lists of sins and the people and things that aid us in our sin. What it all boils down to though is that followers of Christ allow life on this planet to become more important than the life we look forward to in our eternal home. Yes, we have to live and work and eat and be viable contributors while we are here, but when we take our eyes off the Lord we end up doing these things with only a worldly gain in mind at the neglect of the work we are to do for the Lord. We tend to care more about our portfolios, climbing the corporate ladder, how many likes we got on Facebook and if our personal opinion on the issues of the day are louder and more profound than someone else's.
It is hard to be a Christ follower in our day and age. This has been a summer like no other in our culture where the very Biblical truths we uphold have been attacked on many levels and some of the very people that have been held up as standards have disappointed us and given us a so called black eye. In spite of all these things, Jesus is still Lord! In spite of all the opinions floating around in the media, Jesus is still Lord! In spite of those times where we feel like we are losing a spiritual battle both personally and as the church, Jesus is still Lord and we can trust that in the end he's got this.
This summer I have had the opportunity to study I Peter with the ladies in my small group and also hear sermons at church as we walked through the book. The title of the sermon series is Hope Alive. I have loved that phrase as I have studied I Peter. Peter shares a great deal about suffering as a christian in his letter but that isn't the major take away. The major theme is Hope. No matter what may come our way, hope is alive in Christ. We aren't promised an easy life on this earth no matter what the property gospel folks might tell you. But we are promised that as followers of Christ he will never leave us or forsake us. What hope we find in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
If you have hung in there with me until this point, I applaud you! For many, this is nothing new. If anything you just got a glimpse into my personal thoughts on life right now. They aren't brilliant or profound and who knows how many will even read it....what matters is that God laid it on my heart and if it is an encouragement to even one person then I am glad I took the time to write. The Lord works in mysterious ways and I for one prefer those ways to my own!
All is well here in the Windy City. It is hard to believe we have been here 8 months. There have been challenges but there have been so many blessings. We are thankful for the community that we get to do life with. Be in prayer for us as I begin classes on Monday (I go 5 days a week from 6:45 to 12:45) and as Michael continues a full work schedule and teaches Theology on Sunday mornings. We leave the Dog Days of Summer behind very quickly, but the future is oh so bright with the Lord leading the way! Much love to you all!!
If we aren't careful these things can overwhelm us. These things can rob us of our joy and contentment in the Lord and they most definitely can make us take our eyes off Him. I have had to fight against this myself recently. I am about to enter a very new phase in my life. If you had asked me 10 years ago when I was graduating from college (that really hurts to admit it was 10 years by the way) if I would be embarking on a new career path and going back to school, I would have laughed at you. The 22 year old me and the 32 year old me would have found each other quite amusing.
Monday morning I will set out on a new journey where excitement and insecurity abound. I can't wait to start attending class at the French Pastry School and learn so many skills I can put to use in a future business and new career. But...and that is a fairly large but...there is insecurity there as well. I might be in my 30's but that doesn't stop me from wondering if I will be any good at this pastry school thing. It doesn't stop me from wondering if my classmates will like me...we all want to be liked no matter what age we are. It doesn't stop me from wondering if I can balance being a wife, a student and a useful servant in my church simultaneously.
What's my point you might ask?! No matter what phase of life we are in or what new adventure we are embarking on, it is so easy to let life take control of us and not allow the Lord to lead. These feelings I am having about starting school again aren't the first time I am feeling them. They are recurring emotions from any other life changing event that has come my way in the last 15 years of my life. I am sure so many of you can relate.
I don't know about you, but I fight against my desire to control my life daily. I somehow think I am doing a good job at it when in actually I am not, hence the feelings of insecurity. If my eyes are on the Lord and I am trusting that he has led me to this place at this time to work towards something that will help me better glorify him in someway, why would I ever feel insecure? When I have an audience of 1 to glorify, my motives for how I live my life change. I find myself not worrying about if I will be any good at his school thing or if people will like me. And I can trust that God will help me fulfill all the roles in my life because He has called me to it. In other words, by stopping the pattern of thinking only about myself, I think about the Lord and what he wants and while the road may still be bumpy at times, I can trust that He has things under control. (I will need to remind myself to come back and read this over the next several months as my sin nature creeps up time and again ;-))
Can I ask you a question I ask myself sometimes? What is one of the greatest detriments to the christian faith? If I took a poll I am sure I would get some very long lists with many different answers on it. Laundry lists of sins and the people and things that aid us in our sin. What it all boils down to though is that followers of Christ allow life on this planet to become more important than the life we look forward to in our eternal home. Yes, we have to live and work and eat and be viable contributors while we are here, but when we take our eyes off the Lord we end up doing these things with only a worldly gain in mind at the neglect of the work we are to do for the Lord. We tend to care more about our portfolios, climbing the corporate ladder, how many likes we got on Facebook and if our personal opinion on the issues of the day are louder and more profound than someone else's.
It is hard to be a Christ follower in our day and age. This has been a summer like no other in our culture where the very Biblical truths we uphold have been attacked on many levels and some of the very people that have been held up as standards have disappointed us and given us a so called black eye. In spite of all these things, Jesus is still Lord! In spite of all the opinions floating around in the media, Jesus is still Lord! In spite of those times where we feel like we are losing a spiritual battle both personally and as the church, Jesus is still Lord and we can trust that in the end he's got this.
This summer I have had the opportunity to study I Peter with the ladies in my small group and also hear sermons at church as we walked through the book. The title of the sermon series is Hope Alive. I have loved that phrase as I have studied I Peter. Peter shares a great deal about suffering as a christian in his letter but that isn't the major take away. The major theme is Hope. No matter what may come our way, hope is alive in Christ. We aren't promised an easy life on this earth no matter what the property gospel folks might tell you. But we are promised that as followers of Christ he will never leave us or forsake us. What hope we find in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
If you have hung in there with me until this point, I applaud you! For many, this is nothing new. If anything you just got a glimpse into my personal thoughts on life right now. They aren't brilliant or profound and who knows how many will even read it....what matters is that God laid it on my heart and if it is an encouragement to even one person then I am glad I took the time to write. The Lord works in mysterious ways and I for one prefer those ways to my own!
All is well here in the Windy City. It is hard to believe we have been here 8 months. There have been challenges but there have been so many blessings. We are thankful for the community that we get to do life with. Be in prayer for us as I begin classes on Monday (I go 5 days a week from 6:45 to 12:45) and as Michael continues a full work schedule and teaches Theology on Sunday mornings. We leave the Dog Days of Summer behind very quickly, but the future is oh so bright with the Lord leading the way! Much love to you all!!
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
City Livin'
Hi Friends! I know it has been a while. I have sat down to write an update post on multiple occasions and often, I seem at a loss for words to describe our new life here in Chicago. Not because it has been bad, but because God has truly blessed our time here and we can see his hand in our move. As with any move, there have been quite a few adjustments, but the joys have far outweighed the changes. So, here are some long awaited updates from the Windy City...
City living is truly so much fun! We love our little apartment in the sky. It is very open and has a great view of the city. It has been wonderful being able to have the space to host people in our home, and have a little safe haven among the busyness of the city. One thing we have had to get used to is the vertical commute. It is definitely a new experience to add in travel time down the elevator and pulling the car out of the building garage. Not something we are used to in the burbs! I will say, we are very thankful for that garage. It saved us a lot of time and trouble on snowy days :-)
Michael is loving his job at Park Community Church. He has a great team that works with him and he is so happy to be in a position where he can use both his accounting background and his seminary education for the Lord. Recently, he has been teaching a theology class on Sunday mornings at our campus in Lincoln Park. It has been such an encouragement to see so many come out and want to learn more about their faith and how to defend it. We have also had the joy of starting a small group that meets on Thursday nights at our apartment. God has blessed us with such an incredible group of 6 couples to grow together in Him and serve our community together. They are all truly a blessing and we can clearly see God's hand in bringing us all together at this time.
So, how am I spending my time you might ask? Those that know me well, know my love for baking and will smile with me when I say my kitchen is fabulous :-) It has given me the space and opportunity to bake until my heart is content :-) I have had several opportunities where people have hired me to bake things for various events and I have loved every minute of it. So, I have started my own little in home bakery called Sweet T's: Homemade Southern Desserts. Stay tuned for more updates as I am currently looking into possibly attending the French Pastry School to get further training on cake decorating. Chicago has so many culinary opportunities....when is Rome right?! :-)
We have had so many fun adventures while we have lived here. The food in Chicago is amazing. I can honestly say we haven't had a bad meal since we have been here. It is also so fun to be able to just walk down the block and grab dinner when we need/want to. Chicago is a very walkable city and has so many parks, not to mention the Magnificent Mile, river tours, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the theaters, the lakefront and The Art Institute (which has a whole gallery of impressionist paintings...be still my heart :-)) There are still many more adventures ahead of us. Wrigley field is only 2 miles away so I think a Cubs game is on our radar soon.
I can honestly say that with all of its greatness and all of its faults, we have truly fallen in love with this city. Not just because of all the exciting things there are to do but because of the rich field there is to do ministry. Our country, even our world, is quickly becoming more and more urbanized. People are moving to the city in droves and we as believers need to be there to shine the light of Christ in the dark places. People here in Chicago are hungry to know Christ. It is a kind of hunger I haven't ever seen before. It has grown me and challenged me in my own faith and reminded just how blessed I was to grow up in Bible Belt America. God swung the door wide open for Michael and I to do ministry in this great city. Many people thought we were...or are...nuts for coming here, but isn't the Christian faith about counting the cost for Christ and not counting the cost to our comfort. Aren't we called to be the image bearers for Christ in every part of this world? I'm not saying that living here hasn't had its ups and downs, but our home is not this planet, our home is in Heaven. We are simply passing through and have a job as believers to accomplish. I have no idea how long the Lord will have us here in Chicago, but while we are here, we will be all here. We are excited to partner with our church to "Know God and Make Him Known," both to Chicago and the world! Please pray with us as we do ministry in this city....and of course, we would love for you to come visit!
I leave you with a passage I have been studying this week that has resonated with me as I have pondered our almost 5 months here in Chicago. I Peter 1:3-7 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Much love from the Windy City!
Michael is loving his job at Park Community Church. He has a great team that works with him and he is so happy to be in a position where he can use both his accounting background and his seminary education for the Lord. Recently, he has been teaching a theology class on Sunday mornings at our campus in Lincoln Park. It has been such an encouragement to see so many come out and want to learn more about their faith and how to defend it. We have also had the joy of starting a small group that meets on Thursday nights at our apartment. God has blessed us with such an incredible group of 6 couples to grow together in Him and serve our community together. They are all truly a blessing and we can clearly see God's hand in bringing us all together at this time.
So, how am I spending my time you might ask? Those that know me well, know my love for baking and will smile with me when I say my kitchen is fabulous :-) It has given me the space and opportunity to bake until my heart is content :-) I have had several opportunities where people have hired me to bake things for various events and I have loved every minute of it. So, I have started my own little in home bakery called Sweet T's: Homemade Southern Desserts. Stay tuned for more updates as I am currently looking into possibly attending the French Pastry School to get further training on cake decorating. Chicago has so many culinary opportunities....when is Rome right?! :-)
We have had so many fun adventures while we have lived here. The food in Chicago is amazing. I can honestly say we haven't had a bad meal since we have been here. It is also so fun to be able to just walk down the block and grab dinner when we need/want to. Chicago is a very walkable city and has so many parks, not to mention the Magnificent Mile, river tours, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the theaters, the lakefront and The Art Institute (which has a whole gallery of impressionist paintings...be still my heart :-)) There are still many more adventures ahead of us. Wrigley field is only 2 miles away so I think a Cubs game is on our radar soon.
I can honestly say that with all of its greatness and all of its faults, we have truly fallen in love with this city. Not just because of all the exciting things there are to do but because of the rich field there is to do ministry. Our country, even our world, is quickly becoming more and more urbanized. People are moving to the city in droves and we as believers need to be there to shine the light of Christ in the dark places. People here in Chicago are hungry to know Christ. It is a kind of hunger I haven't ever seen before. It has grown me and challenged me in my own faith and reminded just how blessed I was to grow up in Bible Belt America. God swung the door wide open for Michael and I to do ministry in this great city. Many people thought we were...or are...nuts for coming here, but isn't the Christian faith about counting the cost for Christ and not counting the cost to our comfort. Aren't we called to be the image bearers for Christ in every part of this world? I'm not saying that living here hasn't had its ups and downs, but our home is not this planet, our home is in Heaven. We are simply passing through and have a job as believers to accomplish. I have no idea how long the Lord will have us here in Chicago, but while we are here, we will be all here. We are excited to partner with our church to "Know God and Make Him Known," both to Chicago and the world! Please pray with us as we do ministry in this city....and of course, we would love for you to come visit!
I leave you with a passage I have been studying this week that has resonated with me as I have pondered our almost 5 months here in Chicago. I Peter 1:3-7 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Much love from the Windy City!
Monday, February 16, 2015
When Food & Presidents Collide
Today is President's Day! It isn't usually a particularly exciting holiday except for the fact that kids are out of school and banks and government offices are closed. For most it just means traffic isn't as bad. But when you think about it, it should be a holiday that is recognized a little more than just special mattress and car sales. It is a day when we can honor the 44 men who have given of their lives to serve this country. Now, just like you, I don't agree with all the decisions that have been made by these men, but I can respect the office they have held and their service to this great country of ours.
Being the history nerd and foodie freak that I am, I thought it would be fun for history and food to collide today. I'm not sure our presidents necessarily want their legacy to be about their favorite foods but rather their diplomatic and political successes. I would like to think that they had/have a sense of humor and know how to have some fun. After all, they were/are human and had to sustain life from day to day. So why not have a little fun by stating some fun foodie facts about some of our presidents. Not all are listed, just a small group. This is a non-partisan list so please do not protest one way or the other :-) Happy Presidents Day! And don't forget to pray for our leader today....whether you like him and his politics or not. Take the time to pray for those former presidents who are still alive and doing great charity work. And go and eat something yummy too! Love from the Windy City!
1. George Washington - Our first president really loved nuts, hazelnuts to be exact. I am sure it was interesting to hear him chewing on those with false wooden teeth. Martha Washington must have stories :-) He also liked sliced tongue...not sure I will be giving that one a try. Do you think he likes cherries after cutting down that tree?! ;-)
2. John Adams - Our second president loved cider. He also loved a dish called scootin-long-the-shore. Yes, I looked it up. It is hash browns. Wonder what my local breakfast place would say if I ordered that next time I went in?!
3. Thomas Jefferson - Jefferson would definitely be a modern day foodie. During all of his travels in Europe before becoming president he had the opportunity to try so many unique foods. His favorites seemed to be Madeira wine and anchovies.
4. Andrew Jackson - He was a little rough around the edges but the man loved cheese...I can't fault him for that, it is one of my favorites too!
5. Abraham Lincoln - Lincoln had very simple tastes where food was concerned. He liked apples and coffee. His wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was known for preparing some outlandish dishes but Lincoln kept it simple. There are many reasons he is one of my favorite 2 presidents, his simplicity is just one of them.
6. Ulysses S. Grant - I don't think it would shock anyone that the great General of the Civil War loved all things meat. It seems only fitting. He also loved rice pudding, it was his most favorite dessert.
7. Teddy Roosevelt - It is hard to believe President Roosevelt was not born in the south, because he loved fried chicken and white gravy.
8. Franklin Roosevelt - FDR loved simple yet yummy cuisine. One of his favorites was grilled cheese. The simplicity continued even when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the US and the Roosevelt's served them hot dogs. Part of me wishes I could have been a fly on the wall at that meal.
9. John F. Kennedy - Not surprising, JFK was a huge fan of New England Clam Chowder.
10. Lyndon B. Johnson - LBJ loved Fresca and sweet potatoes.
11. Richard Nixon - This is the weird one folks.....the man loved cottage cheese and ketchup...I don't mean separately, I mean ketchup in the cottage cheese. He was an intriguing man on many levels obviously.
12. Ronald Reagan - Reagan loved all things sweet. He loved dessert and his favorite candy was Jelly Bellys. He is tied with Lincoln as my favorite president.
13. George H.W. Bush - #41 loves Tabasco Sauce and he really loves putting it on pork rinds. New Englander by birth but Texan at heart isn't surprising. Book suggestion....I just finished reading 41 written by George W. Bush in honor of his father. It is a great read and I highly recommend it.
14. Bill Clinton - The man loves cheeseburgers. In particular he loves McDonald's and he also enjoys Kool-Aid...who knew?!
15. George W. Bush - There is some debate over what his favorite foods are, but anything Tex-Mex makes the list. A Texan at heart just like his dad, it looks like the Bush's can stand the heat. Pun intended ;-)
16. Barak Obama - It seems as though our current leader really likes Chili but he also has a sweet tooth for caramels.
*All of this information came from various web sources.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Windy City Update
Hi friends! Greetings from the Windy City. It has been a busy few weeks as we have been settling in to our new home. We are still busy emptying boxes and getting our condo organized so a longer post will be coming as soon as we are a little more settled. For now, here are some highlights of our new city!
1. Week One - We lived in our condo with only an air mattress and two camping chairs. Not to mention it was the coldest week of winter that Chicago has had thus far. I can honestly say that -25 degree windchill is painful!
2. Week One Highlight....Deep Dish Pizza...seriously, there is nothing better in the realm of pizza.
3. The Moving Truck Arrives - One week after we arrived, our stuff finally got here! I had been so happy to see my couch and most importantly my bed! We are currently trying to organize and find a home for all our stuff.
4. Michael's Job - Michael started his new job the day after we got here. He is enjoying this new position and all the great people he is working with.
5. Church -Park Community Church has already been a huge blessing! We have joined the Lincoln Park Campus and look forward to starting a new small group in the next few weeks. We have met many sweet people and we are excited to begin new friendships.
6. Our Neighborhood - Our condo building is in a great location. The grocery store is just around the corner and we have a couple of great restaurants just down the block. The city definitely has its perks! Our condo is on the 5th floor and we have already met many of our neighbors and look forward to cultivating relationships with them.
Those are the highlights for now. I'll be back soon with more details and info once we are a little more settled. For now, I am off to organize and hopefully hang a picture or two. Let me know if you have any specific questions about our new journey. I'm happy to share! Love to you all from the Windy City!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Reflections of a Seminary Wife
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a Seminary as follows, "an institution for the training of candidates for the priesthood, ministry or rabbinate." Since we are neither Catholic nor Jewish, Michael and I obviously fall under the ministry part of the definition. But I must say, this definition falls woefully short of what a Seminary truly is and does, especially SEBTS and what it has meant to our lives.
In May of 2010, Michael and I set out on a journey that has been quite the ride. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been a wonderful ride nonetheless. I am sure if you sat us down separately, Michael and I would have a somewhat different description about what our time at SEBTS has meant. But the important things like spiritual growth, growing in our marriage and the amazing friendships we have made would definitely be the same! So, I guess this is my chance to share my side of the story and to thank the Lord and SEBTS for the preparation of these past few years.
The day I married Michael I knew that I was going to be a minister's wife for the rest of my life. I was excited about it and looking forward to hopefully following in the footsteps of so many wonderful women I had watched over the years in my churches. It was with that excitement that I set off to Wake Forest with my new husband. Little did I know the refining that awaited me.
I think the best way to sum up my time here is by using the word refining. Isaiah 48:9-11 says, "For my own name's sake I will delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I will hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another." Everything is for the Lord's glory....absolutely everything...every struggle, every difficulty, every joy, every dream fulfilled, every blessing...it is all to bring glory to His name. I didn't see this clearly at the beginning of our seminary journey but through the refining only the Lord can bring, I am thankful to see it so clearly now. (It seemed only fitting that our pastor preached on Isaiah 48 just 2 weeks ago. I highly recommend listening to this message. You can find it at www.fbcdurham.org). In light of these revelations and the end of our time here in Wake Forest, here are some reflections from a Seminary wife.
Where I struggled...
In the beginning the struggle list seemed much longer than the blessings list. There were times where I felt lonely and bit like a bystander watching my husband experience this new and exciting time in his life. There were times where I saw my husband drinking from a fire hydrant of knowledge while I was hoping for a drip from the faucet. There were times where I longed to be closer to the family and friends I left behind in Georgia. There were times where I didn't want to meet anymore new people, I just wanted one real friend. There were times where my relationship with the Lord was dryer than the Sahara. Basically, there were just rough times and they really stunk. Don't get me wrong, there were some wonderful things that happened in those early years, but there was a very real struggle as well.
But God...(one of my favorite phrases)...But God was refining me and preparing me for the future and even for the new adventure we are about to embark on. I see now how He knew that I would be able to give Him the praise for all that has happened in these years and to bring glory to His name for all He has done. I see now how those struggles turned into blessings in the last couple of years and everything that hurt turned into undeserved blessings that brought joy.
What I have learned...
Being a minister's wife is a calling in and of itself. Women cannot just rely on their husband's call to be sufficient for their own lives. We must seek the Lord and ask Him what it is He wants us to be in His Kingdom and how that fleshes out in our support for our husband's ministry. If I only rely on my husband's call to ministry then I am not relying on the Lord. As we seek the Lord in our marriages He will show us what we can do as a couple and as individuals to further His kingdom.
I have also learned to find joy in all things. We are going to have things come our way that we don't like and that we aren't prepared for, but the joy of the Lord is our strength as Nehemiah 8:10 says. When things are rough, find joy by counting your blessings, because they are always there.
I have also learned to rest in the Lord. Isaiah 26:3-4 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." When my world seems to have tilted upside down I remind myself of this verse because I am at peace when my mind is on the Lord alone and not my never ending to-do list.
To all you other seminary wives who might be reading this or to those women who have men in ministry, my advice to you is this...find the Joy of your Salvation each and everyday. Find a ministry you can flourish in as you also support your husband in his. Talk to your husband about the things God is teaching you in a bible study or in a ministry you are leading/helping. If he wants you to proofread a paper or just listen to him share about what he learned in class...listen (even if it makes no sense to you!) Iron sharpens iron and there is nothing better than you and your spouse supporting each other in ministry. It is also nice when your husband acts as your Greek or Hebrew reference :-)
(Please note I am still a work in progress on all of these things!)
Why I am thankful for SEBTS...
Two years into our time here in Wake Forest I was blessed to get a job in the Provost Office on campus. I now not only had the experience of being a seminary spouse but also a seminary employee. It has been an honor to work with the faculty and administration on this campus. These men and women are a true gift to the kingdom of God and they love the Lord with all their hearts. They pray for their students and hope that each of them are equipped to go and spread the Gospel once they leave here.
It has also been a joy to work with the support staff on this campus. From the administrative assistants to the secretaries to the directors of various departments, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt these people work here not for money but as a ministry God has given them. The friendships I have made here will last a lifetime.
What I am most thankful for though is the vision of this school. Their passion is for everyone to GO! No matter where that is...across the ocean, across the country or across the street. They want people to leave this place and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what. The minute you step on this campus you quickly feel that and I am thankful Michael and I are equipped to go to Chicago. Thank you SEBTS for being faithful to the Word, for being servants willing to teach and for equipping students to go. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts and we are thankful God led us here even for a brief time. We look forward to being a part of the many that have gone out before us and the many that will come after!
When I walk off this campus for the last time on December 30, it will be with joyful tears. God took me on a journey and refined me for His glory. As a new journey and refining process begins, I can say I am ready for the future because I know who is in control and I know He has called me to GO!
Love from the Forest!
In May of 2010, Michael and I set out on a journey that has been quite the ride. It hasn't always been easy, but it has been a wonderful ride nonetheless. I am sure if you sat us down separately, Michael and I would have a somewhat different description about what our time at SEBTS has meant. But the important things like spiritual growth, growing in our marriage and the amazing friendships we have made would definitely be the same! So, I guess this is my chance to share my side of the story and to thank the Lord and SEBTS for the preparation of these past few years.
The day I married Michael I knew that I was going to be a minister's wife for the rest of my life. I was excited about it and looking forward to hopefully following in the footsteps of so many wonderful women I had watched over the years in my churches. It was with that excitement that I set off to Wake Forest with my new husband. Little did I know the refining that awaited me.
I think the best way to sum up my time here is by using the word refining. Isaiah 48:9-11 says, "For my own name's sake I will delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I will hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another." Everything is for the Lord's glory....absolutely everything...every struggle, every difficulty, every joy, every dream fulfilled, every blessing...it is all to bring glory to His name. I didn't see this clearly at the beginning of our seminary journey but through the refining only the Lord can bring, I am thankful to see it so clearly now. (It seemed only fitting that our pastor preached on Isaiah 48 just 2 weeks ago. I highly recommend listening to this message. You can find it at www.fbcdurham.org). In light of these revelations and the end of our time here in Wake Forest, here are some reflections from a Seminary wife.
Where I struggled...
In the beginning the struggle list seemed much longer than the blessings list. There were times where I felt lonely and bit like a bystander watching my husband experience this new and exciting time in his life. There were times where I saw my husband drinking from a fire hydrant of knowledge while I was hoping for a drip from the faucet. There were times where I longed to be closer to the family and friends I left behind in Georgia. There were times where I didn't want to meet anymore new people, I just wanted one real friend. There were times where my relationship with the Lord was dryer than the Sahara. Basically, there were just rough times and they really stunk. Don't get me wrong, there were some wonderful things that happened in those early years, but there was a very real struggle as well.
But God...(one of my favorite phrases)...But God was refining me and preparing me for the future and even for the new adventure we are about to embark on. I see now how He knew that I would be able to give Him the praise for all that has happened in these years and to bring glory to His name for all He has done. I see now how those struggles turned into blessings in the last couple of years and everything that hurt turned into undeserved blessings that brought joy.
What I have learned...
Being a minister's wife is a calling in and of itself. Women cannot just rely on their husband's call to be sufficient for their own lives. We must seek the Lord and ask Him what it is He wants us to be in His Kingdom and how that fleshes out in our support for our husband's ministry. If I only rely on my husband's call to ministry then I am not relying on the Lord. As we seek the Lord in our marriages He will show us what we can do as a couple and as individuals to further His kingdom.
I have also learned to find joy in all things. We are going to have things come our way that we don't like and that we aren't prepared for, but the joy of the Lord is our strength as Nehemiah 8:10 says. When things are rough, find joy by counting your blessings, because they are always there.
I have also learned to rest in the Lord. Isaiah 26:3-4 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." When my world seems to have tilted upside down I remind myself of this verse because I am at peace when my mind is on the Lord alone and not my never ending to-do list.
To all you other seminary wives who might be reading this or to those women who have men in ministry, my advice to you is this...find the Joy of your Salvation each and everyday. Find a ministry you can flourish in as you also support your husband in his. Talk to your husband about the things God is teaching you in a bible study or in a ministry you are leading/helping. If he wants you to proofread a paper or just listen to him share about what he learned in class...listen (even if it makes no sense to you!) Iron sharpens iron and there is nothing better than you and your spouse supporting each other in ministry. It is also nice when your husband acts as your Greek or Hebrew reference :-)
(Please note I am still a work in progress on all of these things!)
Why I am thankful for SEBTS...
Two years into our time here in Wake Forest I was blessed to get a job in the Provost Office on campus. I now not only had the experience of being a seminary spouse but also a seminary employee. It has been an honor to work with the faculty and administration on this campus. These men and women are a true gift to the kingdom of God and they love the Lord with all their hearts. They pray for their students and hope that each of them are equipped to go and spread the Gospel once they leave here.
It has also been a joy to work with the support staff on this campus. From the administrative assistants to the secretaries to the directors of various departments, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt these people work here not for money but as a ministry God has given them. The friendships I have made here will last a lifetime.
What I am most thankful for though is the vision of this school. Their passion is for everyone to GO! No matter where that is...across the ocean, across the country or across the street. They want people to leave this place and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what. The minute you step on this campus you quickly feel that and I am thankful Michael and I are equipped to go to Chicago. Thank you SEBTS for being faithful to the Word, for being servants willing to teach and for equipping students to go. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts and we are thankful God led us here even for a brief time. We look forward to being a part of the many that have gone out before us and the many that will come after!
When I walk off this campus for the last time on December 30, it will be with joyful tears. God took me on a journey and refined me for His glory. As a new journey and refining process begins, I can say I am ready for the future because I know who is in control and I know He has called me to GO!
Love from the Forest!
Friday, November 7, 2014
The Windy City
Hi friends! I often apologize for the long time spans between posts on this here blog of mine. But I'm not gonna do it today, because let's face it, we are all busy and sometimes posting to a blog just doesn't make it on the to do list if you know what I mean. So instead I will just say welcome back and thanks for reading!
I recently had a few conversations with some friends who said they don't always mind that my blog posts are few and far between because it means there is probably some important information to be shared if I am taking the time to post :-) Today is one of those days!
Today marks 5 wonderful years that Michael and I have been married. 5 years?!? I often wonder where the time went. We have had our share of ups, downs, joys, hurdles and struggles, but through it all our marriage has been a complete joy and an adventure I have loved every minute of. It seems only fitting to share our next great adventure with you all on the day we celebrate our life together.
As many of you know, Michael will be graduating on December 12 (yay!!!) As we have approached this day over the past several months we have been in prayer over where the Lord is leading us to serve as we end this Seminary chapter. God often answers these prayers in some very unique ways. So, without further adieu...our next great adventure will be leading us to Chicago! Yep, I said Chicago. Trust me, I have done a few double takes myself over the past few weeks.
I am sure there are several questions running through your head about how two people who have lived south of the Mason-Dixon line their entire lives end up in Chicago. Well, the answer is God and God alone! We will be heading to Park Community Church where Michael will be taking on the role of Controller. This ministry position gives him the opportunity to marry both his ministry skills learned at seminary with his many years of business/CPA experience.
Park Community Church is located in the heart of Chicago and they have a huge passion for reaching the city. It was a joy to visit with them several weeks ago to see this passion first hand. We are excited to join the team and partner with them to see the gospel spread.
We will be moving to Chicago the last week of December/first week of January...just in time for the dead of winter :-) We will be living in the city and look forward to transitioning from suburban life to city life. We know this is going to be a big change for us but it is one we are excited about. Not so sure if Lincoln is going to love the cold and snow, but at least he is an inside dog.
Making this decision has been very bittersweet for us. We will be moving farther away from family and leaving our friends and church family from FBC Durham. But we know that God calls us to go wherever He opens the door and we are excited to see what He will do. Our time at Southeastern has taught us so much and we believe has prepared us for this next step in our journey. They don't call it the Great Commission Seminary for nothing!
So friends, please pray for us as we have 2 months before we make this transition. It is not a lot of time to accomplish the many things we need to do with the holidays thrown in there but we are trusting that if God has called us to it he will make a way for us.
We look forward to sharing this new journey with you. And since we will be living in a cool new city with much to do, maybe I will post a little more often on here :-) And of course, visitors will be welcome! Love from the Forest....soon to be the Windy City!
I recently had a few conversations with some friends who said they don't always mind that my blog posts are few and far between because it means there is probably some important information to be shared if I am taking the time to post :-) Today is one of those days!
Today marks 5 wonderful years that Michael and I have been married. 5 years?!? I often wonder where the time went. We have had our share of ups, downs, joys, hurdles and struggles, but through it all our marriage has been a complete joy and an adventure I have loved every minute of. It seems only fitting to share our next great adventure with you all on the day we celebrate our life together.
As many of you know, Michael will be graduating on December 12 (yay!!!) As we have approached this day over the past several months we have been in prayer over where the Lord is leading us to serve as we end this Seminary chapter. God often answers these prayers in some very unique ways. So, without further adieu...our next great adventure will be leading us to Chicago! Yep, I said Chicago. Trust me, I have done a few double takes myself over the past few weeks.
I am sure there are several questions running through your head about how two people who have lived south of the Mason-Dixon line their entire lives end up in Chicago. Well, the answer is God and God alone! We will be heading to Park Community Church where Michael will be taking on the role of Controller. This ministry position gives him the opportunity to marry both his ministry skills learned at seminary with his many years of business/CPA experience.
Park Community Church is located in the heart of Chicago and they have a huge passion for reaching the city. It was a joy to visit with them several weeks ago to see this passion first hand. We are excited to join the team and partner with them to see the gospel spread.
We will be moving to Chicago the last week of December/first week of January...just in time for the dead of winter :-) We will be living in the city and look forward to transitioning from suburban life to city life. We know this is going to be a big change for us but it is one we are excited about. Not so sure if Lincoln is going to love the cold and snow, but at least he is an inside dog.
Making this decision has been very bittersweet for us. We will be moving farther away from family and leaving our friends and church family from FBC Durham. But we know that God calls us to go wherever He opens the door and we are excited to see what He will do. Our time at Southeastern has taught us so much and we believe has prepared us for this next step in our journey. They don't call it the Great Commission Seminary for nothing!
So friends, please pray for us as we have 2 months before we make this transition. It is not a lot of time to accomplish the many things we need to do with the holidays thrown in there but we are trusting that if God has called us to it he will make a way for us.
We look forward to sharing this new journey with you. And since we will be living in a cool new city with much to do, maybe I will post a little more often on here :-) And of course, visitors will be welcome! Love from the Forest....soon to be the Windy City!
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