Well it's been a few months since I wrote to you all! I trust everyone has enjoyed their summer! I sure have. It's seems more and more I just want to be home more than anything else. Hanging with friends and family. Enjoying the blessings God has graced us with. We did manage to get in a couple of trips this summer though.
Joe had a lengthy interview process he went through over a couple of days in Santa Rosa, CA. We traveled there together, stopping in the Sacramento area to visit Joe's brother and sister-in-law and mother. We had a great time with them and spent a day together looking at houses before Joe had his interviews. While Joe interviewed, I continued to look at houses and narrow down our choices. While moving away was not our first choice, we were willing to do so should the Lord direct us that way and we went with open minds and hearts. Well, long story short, Joe did get offered the position and a generous salary and moving expenses, but in the end we declined the offer. It's scary turning down work in these economic times, but we did not have a peace about it and felt the Lord was not directing us that way. So here we sit! Joe is busy working on various opportunities and working on projects that have been long overdue. God has continued to provide and we are so thankful and grateful to Him for loving us so much! As for me, I'm still working at the hospital with all the babies and mamas, etc. What a great job! My manager nominated me for a Vision Achievement award for my community service. The ceremony is August 26th. I'll keep you posted.
I have started doing ultrasounds on my own at Birth Choice of Temecula. It's been a challenging and rewarding time. My first ultrasound resulted in a turnaround! Praise God. Since then, I have had a series of difficult scans which has been very discouraging. Please pray for God to give me wisdom when doing the ultrasounds and to increase my skills to be able to have confidence when things don't look exactly text book! Pray for the center. The economy is taking it's toll all around. Birth Choice has an awesome opportunity to open a Thrift Store right next door, but the board wants them to have $16,000 on standby first (the amount of the rent for the year). The first month's rent has already been donated. If only 11 more people could donate one month's rent, a new revenue stream for the center could be born. Pray for donations and pray for the board meeting Monday night.
I have been speaking a couple times per month at various Stonecroft Ministries luncheons. It has gone very well. I have been blessed by the positive response to my message and music. Pray for the women attending to have hearts open to receive the gospel and for the regulars to bring unsaved friends. It is my prayer that through my testimony, marriages will be restored and singles will be called to purity. Upcoming dates:
8/19/09 11:30-1 Pat & Oscars on the Pond, Temecula Women's Connection. $15 buys you lunch, a fall fashion show by Kohl's, and me!
8/26/09 11:30-1 Redlands Country Club, Redlands Christian Women's Club, $17 (reservation), $19 (walk-in), I will do a mini concert, my testimony, and music
9/8/09 11:00-2 Covina Bowl, Covina Women's Connection, $16 buys you lunch, a fall fashion show by Walmart, and me!
9/9/09 12:00-2 Canyon Lake Lodge, Canyon Lake Women's Connection, testimony and music
If you want more information on any of these, please e-mail me and I'd be happy to provide it to you. I hope to see you there! Remember, to bring unsaved friends so they will have an opportunity to receive Jesus!
T-shirts and hymns project. T-shirt artwork is at the printers and we are discussing details. I hope to have them very soon!!! Hymns project, still awaiting feedback so changes can be made. I hope to have this project out soon as well. Everything always takes longer than I want. Do you think the Lord is trying to teach me patience? LOL!!
Our dear next door neighbor, Lili, 45 years old, passed away on 8/4. We attended her funeral that weekend. Lili had tongue cancer. She was saved at the beginning of the year because loving saints at CrossRoads Church of Temecula visited her, prayed over her, and shared the gospel. While we mourn her passing and will miss her beautiful smile, laugh, and heart, we rejoice she is healed and in heaven!! Please pray for her sister and mother--they were saved the same day, but I fear, have gone back to old traditions. Pray for believers to surround them and love them. Pray for her husband, Sid. He is an interpreter in Iraq for the U.S. government. He said his life left with her and he is returning to Iraq. Please pray for his salvation and for peace in his time of sorrow.
I'm encouraged by each one of you. Please let me hear from you! How can I pray for you?
