Living Large!

We are still here! In Enterprise, I mean.  Which aparently is "the middle of nowhere".  At least that's what that hitchhiker called it the other day.  It was my first hitchhiker, so I didn't care what he said. 

Between Recorder Karate, Easter hams, turkey calls, chopping down trees, and the science fair, life is exciting and busy!  We have an iguana now, who we try to keep far away from our snake. 

Not much else has changed.  We had some tulips, but they froze in the unusually late snowfall.  Like I said, our lives are never dull and full of surprises...we are rich.

miss everyone...

Well...in THAT case,

Thanks for the affirmation, guys.  It made me want to update for ya.  There's a lot to tell...

School.  Everything is going so well.  I really like teaching all of those kids.  It is a lot of work.  Jacob and I generally spend several hours on the weekend planning for the whole week, and we spend our planning time during the week making everything for the first time, like visuals, worksheets, tests, etc.  My kids came back from break and hadn't forgot much of anything.  They are really starting to learn some music.  I am quite proud.  Also, a lot of them received musical instruments for Christmas, which makes me happy.  When I arrived at Hope in the fall, I was shocked at how few students took private music lessons.  (Too busy training to be High School football stars, I suppose.)  So, now, Jacob and I have about 8 students between us from school.  I'm pretty sure I have the funnest job of anyone in my school.  You can check out our website, if you'd like.  www.usd481.org

Marriage.  Jacob and I are celebrating our first year this weekend!  Yahoo!  We went back to the Windmill Inn for dinner and an overnight stay last night (and breakfast this morning).  P.S. for those of you who are ever planning a honeymoon, or even a fun weekend trip, I highly recommend staying at a bed and breakfast.  You can find great ones online.  We also gave away one night at a bed a breakfast for some Christmas gifts this year.  It is such a treat!  Anyway, we love each other a lot, and enjoy doing everything we do together: school, church, all of it.

Church.  Our church has been undergoing some growth and changes.  Jacob and I are excited to be right in the middle of it.  We have been leading worship in the overflow room in the mornings, and Jacob has continued to lead in the evening service.  Jacob is also on the "church health team".  He is going to a conference in San Diego, CA in a few weeks to learn about some options for handling church growth.  It has sparked some good conversation about what makes a church grow, what to do with the growth, what kind of church climate we want to create/maintain, etc.  We really like our church family, and enjoy worshipping there.

Whelp!  It's snowing/sleeting here in Enterprise this weekend.  We're hanging out around home and rejoicing with the MO families who have their boys back.  I just made an awesome pumpkin cake, and we need to get started lesson planning soon.  Thanks for all of your updates.  Stephanie, I appreciate the update on Kyle and Tracy.  Any more news would be appreciated.  I haven't heard back from them, which is totally understandable, but I have been thinking about them a lot and praying daily for Kyle's help and their adjustment to all of the new things.  Ben, I did get all of your emails about Melody and I looked at some pictures.  I was excited for you guys!  I love her little musical name!

God Bless all of you!
~Em

Just checking

atypical

Prayer Required

Hi, everyone.  I miss you guys and I miss reading about your lives on Xanga.  I don't have a lot of time, so here's a quick update:

School is good.  I enjoy my job so much.  But these kids...there is so much that they need, and I don't feel like I'm able to scratch the surface of what I should be doing for them.  They need better food, someone to listen to them, someone to discipline them, a bath, a reason to smile....it's overwhelming.  I can't begin to do the type of ministry I dream of doing for them.  It's too much.  We just do what little we can as we go along.  So, it's a wonderful place to be and a sorrowful place to be all at once.

Please pray for our students, the community we teach in.  Pray for our church that is growing like crazy.  This week we did a mass mailing and outreach.  Pray that people come and hear the gospel and that lives are changed.  Pray that relationships with Christ begin and then continue to grow in the following months.

Pray for Jacob and I as we are still adjusting to real life.  Pray for our decisions with our time, money, and future planning.

What a wonderful tool prayer is.  The Father has given us welcome to come before Him and share our hearts with Him.  He listens and acts.  Praise Jesus!

LIfe is good, just challenging.  We are never bored.  Praise Jesus.