I know its been a while since I have blogged but I just wanted to share something that I learned this morning from a trusted co-worker.  If you are using the Hartz Flea collar that you get at Wal-Mart or other discount stores, Stop! The chemicals or medicine go straight to the brain which causes them to die.  She learned this from her Vet after the passing of her dog. Sad, I know!  So, I just wanted everyone to be aware so that they can protect their beloved pet! Here is a picture of Bernard for all to enjoy!

This you don’t know already CSU is going through such a difficult period of testing.  There has been three different occasions where the school has been placed on lock down due to gunmen on the campus. As staff, this multiplies the amount of stress the job contains. It seems like a never ending battle with the evil world outside. I get so frustrated because the administration throws the brunt of the consequences back on the staff giving us more responsibilities.  This morning after the third gun incident on campus, I woke up in tears to the Lord asking why me? Why do I have to go through this trial? One thing that I think he is trying to teach me through all this is Jesus loves us through these impossible times. When there is no hope left, he is hope and gives hope to make the impossible possible to bare for one more day. Thank you Jesus-we must find hope in you! Please pray for CSU – specifically the security, the administration as they go from here making decisions about the future, the students who are scared, frustrated, the students who are acting out in this manner so they will find Christ through these experiences. Finally pray for the staff that they realize that they can go one more day through Christ.

I came across this video today and thought I would share it. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I did!

The other weekend Jonathan and I had our first shower. It was a couples garden and tool shower that Jonathan’s mom’s friends threw for us. It was mainly for him but they were gracious enough to invite me! ha.  It was a great shower with great food and a chance to meet some of Jonathan’s family friends. Here are some pictures from the shower. Hope you enjoy! Thanks Mom and Dad for the Grill!!                        

One of my favorite gifts: This mirror we registered for a target. It has key hooks on it to go by our door. Hopefully, I wont loose my keys as much!

Above: Jonathan’s mom, the pastor and his wife, and my parents.

I read this blog daily and they have really encouraged me to start praying specifically for certain needs. As most of you know, I have been looking for a job for quite some time now. With things at my current job just continuing to get worse and worse, I really felt like I needed to start praying specifically for a new job. Psalm 77 has been an extreme comfort for me over the last couple of days, (Thanks Amanda) please join with me and pray specifically that I will be able to find a new job soon. There is so much power in prayer and I would greatly appreciate all of them. I would be ever grateful.

Psalm 77:1-15

I cried out to God for Help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I though about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Where David is in this passage is exactly where I am. I have often wondered “Will he never show his favor again?” Does He even hear me and my cries? Then, David does something so amazing, He stops and remembers how Great and Faithful the Lord really is in times past.  So, I’ve decided that instead of focusing on how awful things are around here, and believe me I don’t think it could get worse, I must think of all the good things God has done in my life. How faithful he is even when I don’t realize it.  So, please pray with me specifically that I will find a new job soon. The Lord is so good and He deserves all the praise!

For the past week, we have heard nothing from CSU but Hanna was headed directly for Charleston. CSU totally freaked out about the storm all week. I know there is a lot of responsiblity on there hands’ with liability so don’t get me wrong here. I just kept thinking “are they watching the same news that I am ?”  Well all week they have anticipated this storm by having meeting after meeting. All to accomplish not much of anything. Keep in the mind this has only been a tropical storm. If you have ever lived on the coast for any period of time, you understand that during the summer some thunderstorms are worse than a tropical storm.  Well, its 10:30 on Friday evening and Hanna is almost directly East of Charleston and it’s hardly raining and the winds are minimal. I am extremely thankful that it wasn’t anymore damaging than it turned out to be.  I have been praying for the Lord to shift the storm away from our coast. Although we still have plenty of rain, He has been faithful.  I am so excited about my bridal portraits tomorrow afternoon. It is going to make me wish the wedding was closer than it actually is. By the way, only 105 days to go!! YES!!  The invitations are in, but there is so much addressing to do. Hopefully, we will get those out by the beginning of October.  We also have our first shower in a couple of weeks on September 20th.  One last thing I want to mention, Jonathan and I are so excited about Calvary Baptist Church. We are so blessed to have such a caring church family who has extended their hospitality and has given us such a warm welcome. We can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do through our ministry at Calvary.

Well since my last post Hanna has decided to be stubborn and chill out for a while in the Caribbean. Good news is it was downgraded to a tropical storm, but bad news is they expect it to strengthen. The latest updates are that it is to make landfall Saturday at 2am! The problem with that is my pictures were supposed to be that evening. Also, a dear friend of mine told me her cousin’s wedding is on the Isle of Palms on Saturday. So, my hope is that Hanna will hang out a little longer down in the Caribbean so that we can get our stuff done on Saturday. The forecasters are still calling for it to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane we just aren’t exactly sure when or where. So, Let’s all hope for after Saturday or not even hit Charleston at all!!

I will be hopefully taking my bridal portraits this Saturday. I have had the worst time actually getting these accomplished. The appointment has had to be re-scheduled twice already and believe it or not possibly a third time to mother nature. There is a hurricane approaching that could possibly make landfall between Thursday night and Saturday.  So, as silly as this sounds, I’m really praying that Hanna doesn’t bother us here in Charleston. Here is a picture from the NOAA website showing the 5 day track.  Let’s hope it changes.

I was doing my quiet time this morning and the Lord really spoke to me.  It was incredible because I often wonder if He really hears me. It’s crazy because the Lord used Jonathan last night which caused me to start thinking about this. Jonathan said, Don’t ask How, it will get taken care of.  Then this morning after I was praying this is what I wrote in my journal “Stop asking how things will work out. Just trust, seek and do your best to follow the will of God.”  It really encouraged me and I wanted to share it with y’all.