This week has been crazy! Monday was my first day at my new job (see a previous post to learn more), and I love it. I realize that this week has not been typical of how most weeks will be, but I already love Kernersville's RBC Centura.
On Monday I arrived and found out that one teller was out sick, another was almost brand new, and the poor supervisor was the only fully capable person behind the counter. I spent most of the day observing, amazed at how well everyone adjusted to this stressful situation. She rest of the week has been very similar to Monday. The sick teller came back, but the almost brand new teller caught the flu. Sharon and Susan, the Branch Manager and Teller Supervisor, are so sweet and humble, and they are focused on meeting the needs of their customers and their employees. They handles these busy days with such professionalism and compassion.
I have also been surprised at how great most of the customers have been to me. I have been unable to help them since I have not been fully trained, but they have still introduced themselves to me and have welcomed me to the branch. Many of them are in and out of our branch several days a week, so they have relationships with the branch employees. I love that!
Yesterday I started my computer-based training, and it is very interesting and informative. I cannot wait until I am a proficient teller so I can assist the great team of which I am a part, and so I can give the best service to my customers!
This week I have worked full-time, and next week I will be training full-time in Raleigh.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Another WOW Video
Here is another video for you to watch. Kayla showed me this one too! Watch it through to the end to get the full effect. You will say "wow" at the end.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Charlie bit me.
Here is a funny video for you to watch. I originally saw it on a friend's blog (thanks Nicole!). Yesterday the people for whom I used to nanny came by with little Caden, and we talked about how funny the video is. I thought I would post it here so you can enjoy it too.
The accent is so funny coming from such a little person!
The accent is so funny coming from such a little person!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Jennie Got a Job!!
I am really excited that I will be joining the Kernersville team at:
After I decided against tutoring, I started looking for local banks who may be hiring. I found RBC Centura! They have a Kernersville branch that was looking for a part-time teller. I took my resume over right away, and they scheduled an interview for the following Tuesday.
The interview was WONDERFUL! The whole branch works like a family. I could tell that all of the employees were good friends, and that all of them worked together really well. I am really happy that it is such a small branch. The two women that interviewed me (the branch manager and the teller officer) were so sweet and professional. When they asked me why I was interested in becoming a teller, I told them the truth:
1. I want to have a job that provides flexibility so that I can focus on being a wife. This is my top priority. I was not sure what kind of reaction I would get to that. I kinda expected to get the typical "feminist response" that would question my reason for "lowering my possibilities." I did not get that at all! They told me that they were impressed, and they thought that was wonderful! I was thrilled.
2. I love people. I love getting to know them and remembering things about them. This was something that I really loved about Starbucks. I would remember customers' names and their drink orders, and try to remember things about them so I could start conversations with them. The RBC people loved that.
3. I like meeting people's needs, and making sure they get excellent service. This was one thing that I loved about being a supervisor at Target's Guest Service department. I loved to make sure that people were satisfied, and that their problems were resolved when they left the store. The RBC people also loved that!
They asked me alot of other questions, and God gave me the confidence and the words that I needed. I had one question for them. I needed to know if it would be okay for me to take time off to go on mission trips with my husband. They said that it would not be a problem, and that I should always know that at that branch "family comes first." They said that they are all married with children, and that if I ever had to make a decision regarding work and family, family should come first. I was blown away by their dedication to family! That is not something that most would expect from women who have climbed the corporate ladder. I felt really good about how the interview progressed, and when I left they told me that they would get back to me.
I got a call an hour later, and they wanted me to take the next step and fill out a background check. They said that they would be in touch to make an offer.
Yesterday (Thursday) I got the offer! They even gave me the salary that I requested! I am very excited. I will start on Monday, and I will be observing the branch and doing computer training for a week. The following week I will have to go to Raleigh for teller training. I am excited about staying with my parents for the week, but I will not enjoy being away from Dustin. The great thing is that I will be able to talk to him every day, and we will probably meet somewhere halfway in the middle of the week and have dinner. So this separation will not be nearly as difficult as was the time Dustin was in Ecuador. I only spoke to him once over the course of ten days, and he was halfway across the world!
There are alot of benefits to working at a bank. I will have a steady weekly schedule (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 1 PM), and I will be off on the weekends. I will have excellent insurance, paid holidays off, and paid vacation time. One of the things I am really looking forward to is dressing up for work every day. I love to "dress professionally" and wear high heels. I always thought it would be really neat to dress up and go to work.
So thank you so much to those who prayed that God would provide a perfect job for me. I am really excited!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A Picture of Salvation
Kayla, my sweet sister-in-law, showed me this video on Wednesday night. If you watch it you will see why it blew me away. It shows how Jesus loves us, and how, even when we make wrong choices and betray Him, He still loves us. That is mercy that we do not deserve.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Happy Anniversary!!
Today is my parents' Wedding Anniversary! 
In a world where everything is so self-focused and so temporal, it has become unusual for couples to stay married longer than six or seven years. The divorce rate in America (among Christians and non-Christians) is huge. So I want to take time to thank my parents for the commitment that they have made to God, and to each other.
I decided to post this letter because I want anyone who will read it to know what God has done.
Dear Daddy and Mom,
Thank you. I am already crying as I type this. The gratitude in my heart is overwhelming, and I have no real hope of truly expressing it to you. The two of you have influenced my life more than any other people on the face of this earth. I have thought so many times about the parents to whom I could have been born, and I shudder at the thought of any but you. God blessed me in a way that I do not deserve.
The greatest gift that you ever gave me was the presentation of the Gospel over and over again. I know that I am a Christian today because of your obedience to Christ in teaching your children about Him. God used you as instruments to draw me to Himself, and for that I am ETERNALLY grateful.
The second greatest gift that you ever gave me was the example that you set as husband and wife. Thank you for putting Christ first in your marriage. I entered my marriage with pre-conceived ideas of how things should be, how I should act, and what should be important, and many of those ideas were based on the relationship that I saw my parents portray. I watched you, and I saw things that I will never forget.
Daddy, I will never forget how you loved Mom. I remember how you would look at her from across the table at family dinners and say, "Isn't Mom pretty?" Your three girls would giggle and say "Yes!" I remember how I would come downstairs sometime to find you hugging her in the kitchen. Of course I would yell "family hug!" and all of us would run to join in. I remember how you would tease her and make her laugh harder than anyone else ever could. I remember how you would tell her how good her dinners were, and how she would smile. I remember how you would stand up for her. When we were disrespectful to her you would say, "Hey! Don't talk to Mom that way." We knew that we should never mess with your woman. I remember how you would respect her by never calling her names, making rude comments, or threatening her in any way. You honored her as your wife. Most of all I remember how you would be her spiritual leader by setting the example of having time with God EVERY day, and by leading us in family devotions and prayers. Your example of how a godly husband should act is something I will never forget. 
Mom, I will never forget how you loved Daddy. I remember how you would stare back at him from across the table and say "I love you" with your smile. I remember how you always welcomed him home from work by saying "Hey Honey!" I remember how you would always thank him for how hard he worked so that you could stay home with us. I remember how you would make his favorite meals and desserts, especially on his birthdays or on Father's Day. I remember how you would say to him "You look so handsome." You taught us about respect by always saying "What Daddy says goes," and by always consulting him before you made a big decision. I remember how you would sit back and admire his teachings, both at home and in church. I remember how you showed him your love by bringing dinner and iced tea to his chair when we didn't eat at the table. Most of all, I remember your submissiveness, and how you would say "okay" and quietly yield so that he could lead our family. Your example of how a godly wife should act is also something I will never forget.
I will never forget how the two of you loved all of us. You provided security for us. We knew that our parents loved each other deeply, and that they would never ever ever get divorced. That fear was never present in my thoughts as it was in some of my friends. You taught us the importance of having a relationship with Jesus by daily telling us about Him. You made sure that we always knew how much you loved us. Daddy, you would rub my back at night and say, "Are you still my Sweetie Pie?" Mom, you would hug me and tell me you were proud of me.
Daddy, you worked so hard so that Mom could stay home with us. And Mom, you worked so hard in the home. You made the even bigger sacrifice to homeschool us, which was a decision that greatly shaped my life and determined who I would become. You taught us a great work ethic by letting us save money to buy horses, build a barn, and run businesses. You taught us to work hard, to stay busy, and to always be grateful. You taught us how to be strong by setting Biblical standards for us, and by teaching us to hold to those standards, even if it meant "standing alone." You showed us what it meant to always obey God's calling on your life, even when it meant alot of changes, and even two more children for you! You taught me responsibility by letting me graduate early and go on to college. And you taught me how to choose a good husband, and how to be a good wife, by setting before me an example of a godly and happy marriage.
So thank you. Thank you for trying so hard, and thank you for succeeding. I am so honored to have been a "Dickens Girl." I am still watching you, only now from a distance, and I am still amazed. I love both of you so much.
Happy Anniversary...
Jennie
In a world where everything is so self-focused and so temporal, it has become unusual for couples to stay married longer than six or seven years. The divorce rate in America (among Christians and non-Christians) is huge. So I want to take time to thank my parents for the commitment that they have made to God, and to each other.I decided to post this letter because I want anyone who will read it to know what God has done.
Dear Daddy and Mom,
Thank you. I am already crying as I type this. The gratitude in my heart is overwhelming, and I have no real hope of truly expressing it to you. The two of you have influenced my life more than any other people on the face of this earth. I have thought so many times about the parents to whom I could have been born, and I shudder at the thought of any but you. God blessed me in a way that I do not deserve.
The greatest gift that you ever gave me was the presentation of the Gospel over and over again. I know that I am a Christian today because of your obedience to Christ in teaching your children about Him. God used you as instruments to draw me to Himself, and for that I am ETERNALLY grateful.
The second greatest gift that you ever gave me was the example that you set as husband and wife. Thank you for putting Christ first in your marriage. I entered my marriage with pre-conceived ideas of how things should be, how I should act, and what should be important, and many of those ideas were based on the relationship that I saw my parents portray. I watched you, and I saw things that I will never forget.
Daddy, I will never forget how you loved Mom. I remember how you would look at her from across the table at family dinners and say, "Isn't Mom pretty?" Your three girls would giggle and say "Yes!" I remember how I would come downstairs sometime to find you hugging her in the kitchen. Of course I would yell "family hug!" and all of us would run to join in. I remember how you would tease her and make her laugh harder than anyone else ever could. I remember how you would tell her how good her dinners were, and how she would smile. I remember how you would stand up for her. When we were disrespectful to her you would say, "Hey! Don't talk to Mom that way." We knew that we should never mess with your woman. I remember how you would respect her by never calling her names, making rude comments, or threatening her in any way. You honored her as your wife. Most of all I remember how you would be her spiritual leader by setting the example of having time with God EVERY day, and by leading us in family devotions and prayers. Your example of how a godly husband should act is something I will never forget. Mom, I will never forget how you loved Daddy. I remember how you would stare back at him from across the table and say "I love you" with your smile. I remember how you always welcomed him home from work by saying "Hey Honey!" I remember how you would always thank him for how hard he worked so that you could stay home with us. I remember how you would make his favorite meals and desserts, especially on his birthdays or on Father's Day. I remember how you would say to him "You look so handsome." You taught us about respect by always saying "What Daddy says goes," and by always consulting him before you made a big decision. I remember how you would sit back and admire his teachings, both at home and in church. I remember how you showed him your love by bringing dinner and iced tea to his chair when we didn't eat at the table. Most of all, I remember your submissiveness, and how you would say "okay" and quietly yield so that he could lead our family. Your example of how a godly wife should act is also something I will never forget.I will never forget how the two of you loved all of us. You provided security for us. We knew that our parents loved each other deeply, and that they would never ever ever get divorced. That fear was never present in my thoughts as it was in some of my friends. You taught us the importance of having a relationship with Jesus by daily telling us about Him. You made sure that we always knew how much you loved us. Daddy, you would rub my back at night and say, "Are you still my Sweetie Pie?" Mom, you would hug me and tell me you were proud of me.
Daddy, you worked so hard so that Mom could stay home with us. And Mom, you worked so hard in the home. You made the even bigger sacrifice to homeschool us, which was a decision that greatly shaped my life and determined who I would become. You taught us a great work ethic by letting us save money to buy horses, build a barn, and run businesses. You taught us to work hard, to stay busy, and to always be grateful. You taught us how to be strong by setting Biblical standards for us, and by teaching us to hold to those standards, even if it meant "standing alone." You showed us what it meant to always obey God's calling on your life, even when it meant alot of changes, and even two more children for you! You taught me responsibility by letting me graduate early and go on to college. And you taught me how to choose a good husband, and how to be a good wife, by setting before me an example of a godly and happy marriage.
So thank you. Thank you for trying so hard, and thank you for succeeding. I am so honored to have been a "Dickens Girl." I am still watching you, only now from a distance, and I am still amazed. I love both of you so much.
Happy Anniversary...
Jennie
A Birthday Wish...
Today is Jessica's birthday!
Jessica is Dustin's sister, and my sister-in-law. She is 23 today, so we are the same age now (until June)!
Jessica goes to Liberty University, and she is an incredible Christian woman. She is also hilarious, and I consider her as my sister and one of my closest friends.
Jessica is Dustin's sister, and my sister-in-law. She is 23 today, so we are the same age now (until June)!
Jessica goes to Liberty University, and she is an incredible Christian woman. She is also hilarious, and I consider her as my sister and one of my closest friends.
Happy Birthday Jessica!!
We love you!!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I Love KERNERSVILLE!
One of the things I love about living in our new town is how close everything is to our home! We have a ton of stores, restaurants, and shops that are less than five minutes away!
Here are some of my favorites:
There is no better coffee:
My Favorite "go-to" store:
And a new favorite that I have just discovered. This place has name-brand clothes at dirt-cheap prices!
And here is an example. Most who know me well know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE shoes, especially high heels. I found this pair of GREEN heels for $6.00!! What a steal!
Yay for Kernersville!!Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Good Kind of Busy... An update
It seems like it has been months since my last post. The reason I have not posted as often is certainly not because nothing is going on around here. We have been so busy since we moved! Here is an update for you.
Dustin's Job
Dustin is enjoying his new job, especially since he gets to hang out with his dad alot (they even get to eat lunch together). He likes being around all the bike and fitness stuff, and it has really inspired him to get in even better shape. He works from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays. It has been hard to get used to him being gone on Saturdays, but it is fun for him to have a day off during the week (which he gets every week). I am so grateful to Dustin for working so hard for us.
Jennie's Job
I still do not have a job, but it is not for lack of looking for one! I have given up on the tutoring idea after realizing how unpredictable and time-consuming it could be. I started advertising on websites, in bookstores, and in schools in the area four weeks ago, and I have not gotten any response. It has been a little discouraging, but I know that God has a purpose in not allowing it to happen. You may remember reading in a previous post that my goal in this new phase of our life is to be a better wife. Therefore I want my main "job" to be fulfilling that goal. There are alot of people who would see that as a lowly position, but I do not understand that mindset!
When I was a teenager, I prayed that God would show me His will for my life in terms of a career or purpose. After praying fervently and seeking God about it for months, I remember feeling as though it hit me like an eighteen-wheeler. I always wanted to get married and be a mom, but I had never really seen that as a "calling." But one day I realized that God wanted me to focus on that, and to dedicate my life to serving Him in that way.
Some of you may be asking "well why did you bother getting a four-year college degree?" Well, I did that for many reasons. I chose a wonderful Christian college because I wanted to take time to mature and learn more about Christ. Also, I want to homeschool our children when they come along, and I knew that a college degree would be helpful to me at that time. I also wanted to be equipped just in case it becomes law some day that one has to have a degree to homeschool (this law's arrival may be closer than I thought; see my last post). I was also hoping that God would show me my future husband, and He brought Dustin to me during our first semester at Southeastern. It is also helpful to have a degree when you're applying for jobs, as most of you know.
Over the past few years I have realized how much time it takes to be a good wife. Dustin and I do not want to be so busy that we don't remember where the days have gone. To prevent this common state, we have decided that my main goal should be "wife-ing." I am so thankful that Dustin is "bringing home the bacon" by working full-time, and I do not want him help me cook and clean on his days off. I want him to relax when he gets home from a long day, and I want us to have the freedom to have fun and just be together when he is home (although he does still help me around the house sometimes). Therefore, my job is to make sure that the house stays clean, that a healthy lunch is packed, that a healthy dinner is ready when Dustin gets home, that the groceries purchased, that the errands are done, and that I still have energy at the end of the day (which was almost impossible when I was trying to do all of that AND work full-time). I LOVE this job! I feel fulfilled as a feminine woman, and as a wife. What a great feeling.
Make no mistake, I am still looking for a part-time job, but now I know that tutoring is not it. I would spend so much time looking for students (I already found that out), planning lessons, worrying about what to do during the summer when people take their breaks, etc. Ideally, if I have to work, I would like to go to work and come home, and not have to worry about being on the phone or internet at night when Dustin is home. So since I do have to work, I am going to try and find something a little more simple. We knew when we moved here that we did not want me to just "settle" for a job. We are looking for the right one, and we are confident that God will provide it, and that He will provide for us in the meantime. I'll keep you posted on that!
House Stuff
It has been really nice to have so much time while I have been looking for a job. I have gotten alot done in the house (as you can see from some of the posts below). I have been able to clean everything, unpack, organize, decorate, paint, and much more! Right now I am painting all the doors in our long hallway. The walls are a pretty grayish color with white trim, but the doors were brown. So I am painting them white, and it looks so much better! Here is a picture of our dining room right now. I need to move all of this into our guest room until we get the bed set up, and I plan to do that today.
Paint, Paint, Paint.
Fun Stuff
We have had so much fun since we have moved here! We have had more time to have fun together (just the two of us) because of what I have already written in the post, but we have also had so much fun with family and friends. It is great to move to an area where you know so many people! We are very close to Dustin's family, and they are GREAT! We have had alot of fun eating dinners with them, seeing them at Church, watching American Idol with them once a week, etc. I am so thankful for wonderful in-laws and great sisters-in-law. Some people really struggle with these relationships, and I praise God that Dustin's family is now mine too. His parents are like second parents to me, and Kayla and Jessica are truly sisters to me.
I do have to say that I have missed my family LIKE CRAZY. It is definitely hard to be so far from them. We are excited about being with them for Easter. I am glad that my Mom has been here twice to see me, and I am really glad that we have free long distance and I can talk to them whenever I want!
We have also had so much fun with friends! One of my best friends, Ashleigh, lives about 5 minutes away. We were bridesmaids for each other, and she is one of those friends that you can call after not talking for months, and it feels like you just had a conversation yesterday! That had been the extent of our relationship over the past few years, so we are so excited to be close. Dustin and Jon (Ashleigh's husband) get along famously, and Ashleigh and I are constantly laughing at them. We have had a blast getting together with them every Monday night for dinner and games (and one of these days Ashleigh and I WILL win at Spades). They just had a precious little girl about a month ago. Her name is Carleigh Elizabeth, and I call her my niece. I have loved holding her and smelling her. Babies smell so good.
We have also been able to get together with Dustin's cousin Meredith, and her husband Nathaniel. They have two precious children, Eli and Indy, and one on the way! They are a sweet (and funny!) family, and we love them! We are looking forward to seeing them again on Friday night!
We have also met a number of wonderful people at Church! This place is packed with incredible couples and families, and we cannot wait to get to know all of them more!
Church
We have found a Church. Grace Baptist Temple is on Peter's Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get there from our house, and we LOVE this place! Dustin's parents have been going there for about two years (I think??), so we visited there alot when we would come to see them. Whenever we visited we would say "I wish there was a Grace in Wake Forest." So when we moved here, it was pretty easy to decide where to start visiting. Now we are not interested in visiting anywhere else!
One of the things we love the most is the reverence and honor that this Church gives Jesus Christ. They preach from the Bible (not just on random topics), they are more of a "learning and worshipping center" than a social gathering place, they sing both hymns and praise choruses, they give a large percentage of tithes to missions, they send out missionaries and go on short-term mission trips, and the list goes on. Pastor Ed Sears is sold out to Christ, and you can see it on his face during the worship time. He is full of wisdom, humility, and humor, and we cannot wait to get to know him and Mrs. Sears better. The Minister of Music, Jeff, is also both humble and talented. He has a wonderful way of keeping the congregation focused, and he also does a wonderful job of directing the orchestra and the choir.
We have felt so welcome by the people at this Church. They are all so sweet, and so enthusiastic about Christ. People who have met you one time will come up and hug you, and we love that! The last two Sundays we visited a Sunday School class for couples without children, and we really learned alot and enjoyed the fellowship. Last weekend I went to a women's conference at Grace, and I learned so much and met so many incredible women. I will write more on that later. We cannot wait to see what comes of being a part of Grace Baptist Temple. It has been such a blessing so far.
We'll Keep You Updated!
Like I said, we have been really busy! But it has been the "good kind" of busy. We can actually remember our days, and we have already made so many worthwhile memories since the move. God is so good.
I'm off to put another coat of paint on the doors.
Dustin's Job
Dustin is enjoying his new job, especially since he gets to hang out with his dad alot (they even get to eat lunch together). He likes being around all the bike and fitness stuff, and it has really inspired him to get in even better shape. He works from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays. It has been hard to get used to him being gone on Saturdays, but it is fun for him to have a day off during the week (which he gets every week). I am so grateful to Dustin for working so hard for us.
Jennie's Job
I still do not have a job, but it is not for lack of looking for one! I have given up on the tutoring idea after realizing how unpredictable and time-consuming it could be. I started advertising on websites, in bookstores, and in schools in the area four weeks ago, and I have not gotten any response. It has been a little discouraging, but I know that God has a purpose in not allowing it to happen. You may remember reading in a previous post that my goal in this new phase of our life is to be a better wife. Therefore I want my main "job" to be fulfilling that goal. There are alot of people who would see that as a lowly position, but I do not understand that mindset!
When I was a teenager, I prayed that God would show me His will for my life in terms of a career or purpose. After praying fervently and seeking God about it for months, I remember feeling as though it hit me like an eighteen-wheeler. I always wanted to get married and be a mom, but I had never really seen that as a "calling." But one day I realized that God wanted me to focus on that, and to dedicate my life to serving Him in that way.
Some of you may be asking "well why did you bother getting a four-year college degree?" Well, I did that for many reasons. I chose a wonderful Christian college because I wanted to take time to mature and learn more about Christ. Also, I want to homeschool our children when they come along, and I knew that a college degree would be helpful to me at that time. I also wanted to be equipped just in case it becomes law some day that one has to have a degree to homeschool (this law's arrival may be closer than I thought; see my last post). I was also hoping that God would show me my future husband, and He brought Dustin to me during our first semester at Southeastern. It is also helpful to have a degree when you're applying for jobs, as most of you know.
Over the past few years I have realized how much time it takes to be a good wife. Dustin and I do not want to be so busy that we don't remember where the days have gone. To prevent this common state, we have decided that my main goal should be "wife-ing." I am so thankful that Dustin is "bringing home the bacon" by working full-time, and I do not want him help me cook and clean on his days off. I want him to relax when he gets home from a long day, and I want us to have the freedom to have fun and just be together when he is home (although he does still help me around the house sometimes). Therefore, my job is to make sure that the house stays clean, that a healthy lunch is packed, that a healthy dinner is ready when Dustin gets home, that the groceries purchased, that the errands are done, and that I still have energy at the end of the day (which was almost impossible when I was trying to do all of that AND work full-time). I LOVE this job! I feel fulfilled as a feminine woman, and as a wife. What a great feeling.
Make no mistake, I am still looking for a part-time job, but now I know that tutoring is not it. I would spend so much time looking for students (I already found that out), planning lessons, worrying about what to do during the summer when people take their breaks, etc. Ideally, if I have to work, I would like to go to work and come home, and not have to worry about being on the phone or internet at night when Dustin is home. So since I do have to work, I am going to try and find something a little more simple. We knew when we moved here that we did not want me to just "settle" for a job. We are looking for the right one, and we are confident that God will provide it, and that He will provide for us in the meantime. I'll keep you posted on that!
House Stuff
It has been really nice to have so much time while I have been looking for a job. I have gotten alot done in the house (as you can see from some of the posts below). I have been able to clean everything, unpack, organize, decorate, paint, and much more! Right now I am painting all the doors in our long hallway. The walls are a pretty grayish color with white trim, but the doors were brown. So I am painting them white, and it looks so much better! Here is a picture of our dining room right now. I need to move all of this into our guest room until we get the bed set up, and I plan to do that today.
Paint, Paint, Paint.
Fun StuffWe have had so much fun since we have moved here! We have had more time to have fun together (just the two of us) because of what I have already written in the post, but we have also had so much fun with family and friends. It is great to move to an area where you know so many people! We are very close to Dustin's family, and they are GREAT! We have had alot of fun eating dinners with them, seeing them at Church, watching American Idol with them once a week, etc. I am so thankful for wonderful in-laws and great sisters-in-law. Some people really struggle with these relationships, and I praise God that Dustin's family is now mine too. His parents are like second parents to me, and Kayla and Jessica are truly sisters to me.
I do have to say that I have missed my family LIKE CRAZY. It is definitely hard to be so far from them. We are excited about being with them for Easter. I am glad that my Mom has been here twice to see me, and I am really glad that we have free long distance and I can talk to them whenever I want!
We have also had so much fun with friends! One of my best friends, Ashleigh, lives about 5 minutes away. We were bridesmaids for each other, and she is one of those friends that you can call after not talking for months, and it feels like you just had a conversation yesterday! That had been the extent of our relationship over the past few years, so we are so excited to be close. Dustin and Jon (Ashleigh's husband) get along famously, and Ashleigh and I are constantly laughing at them. We have had a blast getting together with them every Monday night for dinner and games (and one of these days Ashleigh and I WILL win at Spades). They just had a precious little girl about a month ago. Her name is Carleigh Elizabeth, and I call her my niece. I have loved holding her and smelling her. Babies smell so good.
We have also been able to get together with Dustin's cousin Meredith, and her husband Nathaniel. They have two precious children, Eli and Indy, and one on the way! They are a sweet (and funny!) family, and we love them! We are looking forward to seeing them again on Friday night!
We have also met a number of wonderful people at Church! This place is packed with incredible couples and families, and we cannot wait to get to know all of them more!
Church
We have found a Church. Grace Baptist Temple is on Peter's Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get there from our house, and we LOVE this place! Dustin's parents have been going there for about two years (I think??), so we visited there alot when we would come to see them. Whenever we visited we would say "I wish there was a Grace in Wake Forest." So when we moved here, it was pretty easy to decide where to start visiting. Now we are not interested in visiting anywhere else!
One of the things we love the most is the reverence and honor that this Church gives Jesus Christ. They preach from the Bible (not just on random topics), they are more of a "learning and worshipping center" than a social gathering place, they sing both hymns and praise choruses, they give a large percentage of tithes to missions, they send out missionaries and go on short-term mission trips, and the list goes on. Pastor Ed Sears is sold out to Christ, and you can see it on his face during the worship time. He is full of wisdom, humility, and humor, and we cannot wait to get to know him and Mrs. Sears better. The Minister of Music, Jeff, is also both humble and talented. He has a wonderful way of keeping the congregation focused, and he also does a wonderful job of directing the orchestra and the choir.
We have felt so welcome by the people at this Church. They are all so sweet, and so enthusiastic about Christ. People who have met you one time will come up and hug you, and we love that! The last two Sundays we visited a Sunday School class for couples without children, and we really learned alot and enjoyed the fellowship. Last weekend I went to a women's conference at Grace, and I learned so much and met so many incredible women. I will write more on that later. We cannot wait to see what comes of being a part of Grace Baptist Temple. It has been such a blessing so far.
We'll Keep You Updated!
Like I said, we have been really busy! But it has been the "good kind" of busy. We can actually remember our days, and we have already made so many worthwhile memories since the move. God is so good.
I'm off to put another coat of paint on the doors.
Friday, March 7, 2008
A Tragedy in Our Nation- PLEASE READ AND TAKE ACTION!
Most of you know that I was homeschooled, and that I am a huge advocate of homeschooling. Dustin and I plan to homeschool our children some day. Some of you may not know that there is a serious tragedy taking place in California today.
Today it may be illegal for homeschoolers in California to continue their home education. Last week a court ruled that only parents who have state credentials can homeschool their children. Penalties will be enforced that will range from fines to the removal of children from homes. Parents will be charged with "Educational Neglect," which is grounds for the removal of children from their parents. This means that those who continue to homeschool will be guilty of a criminal offense.
The court decision was based on an individual circumstance involving one homeschool family charged with abuse (I do not know the details of that situation). For some reason the courts have decided to apply the penalty for this family to the entire state.
Homeschoolers have tested higher on standardized test scores than have public or private school students across the nation, including in California. Their accomplishments have been completely ignored by this ruling. This decision by the courts is an absolute assault of parental rights, and my fear is that California is only the beginning. Historically, rulings that begin in California often spread across the nation.
Today there are around 200,000 children in California whose parents will have to go against their convictions and place their children in schools. I am utterly outraged by this decision, and I want to do whatever I can to raise awareness about this issue. If this ruling is not overturned, or at least limited to the individual case that started it all, there will be serious repercussions for homeschoolers across California, and potentially across the nation.
The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has organized a petition where we can voice our concerns on this issue. They will be responsible for bringing this petition before the California Supreme Court. WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND SIGN THE PETITION? You do not have to be a member of the Association, or even be a homeschooler, to sign your name.
Please click on this link, and you will very quickly be able to make a difference.
http://hslda.org
You can find more details at this link: http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006717.cfm
And you can listen to Dr. James Dobson speak with a number of relevant individuals concerning this topic by clicking on this link: http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/Default.asp
I believe that this is a scary time for homeschoolers and for Christians. Whether or not you are a supporter of the homeschool movement, I would encourage you to think seriously about what this ruling says about the rights of parents in general.
Please sign the petition, and please e-mail everyone you know with this information. You are welcome to provide the link to this blog, or just to the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Today it may be illegal for homeschoolers in California to continue their home education. Last week a court ruled that only parents who have state credentials can homeschool their children. Penalties will be enforced that will range from fines to the removal of children from homes. Parents will be charged with "Educational Neglect," which is grounds for the removal of children from their parents. This means that those who continue to homeschool will be guilty of a criminal offense.
The court decision was based on an individual circumstance involving one homeschool family charged with abuse (I do not know the details of that situation). For some reason the courts have decided to apply the penalty for this family to the entire state.
Homeschoolers have tested higher on standardized test scores than have public or private school students across the nation, including in California. Their accomplishments have been completely ignored by this ruling. This decision by the courts is an absolute assault of parental rights, and my fear is that California is only the beginning. Historically, rulings that begin in California often spread across the nation.
Today there are around 200,000 children in California whose parents will have to go against their convictions and place their children in schools. I am utterly outraged by this decision, and I want to do whatever I can to raise awareness about this issue. If this ruling is not overturned, or at least limited to the individual case that started it all, there will be serious repercussions for homeschoolers across California, and potentially across the nation.
The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has organized a petition where we can voice our concerns on this issue. They will be responsible for bringing this petition before the California Supreme Court. WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND SIGN THE PETITION? You do not have to be a member of the Association, or even be a homeschooler, to sign your name.
Please click on this link, and you will very quickly be able to make a difference.
http://hslda.org
You can find more details at this link: http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006717.cfm
And you can listen to Dr. James Dobson speak with a number of relevant individuals concerning this topic by clicking on this link: http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/Default.asp
I believe that this is a scary time for homeschoolers and for Christians. Whether or not you are a supporter of the homeschool movement, I would encourage you to think seriously about what this ruling says about the rights of parents in general.
Please sign the petition, and please e-mail everyone you know with this information. You are welcome to provide the link to this blog, or just to the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Many Thanks!!
Dustin has some wonderful family here in the Winston-Salem/Kernersville area. We have really enjoyed being able to spend time with many of them. His Aunt and Uncle, Donna and Wayne, live only about a mile from our house! They know alot about home repairs (everything from weather-stripping to which type of paint roller to buy), and they have been so helpful to us since we moved here! We have bombarded them with questions, borrowed several tools from them, accepted in-home repairs from them, and we even got them to lead us around Lowes one night. We are so grateful for their knowledge and their help!
Donna and Wayne recently got the cutest little puppy! Her name is Sadie, and she is a Chihuahua/Feist mix with a TON of energy. Here are a few pictures of her, courtesy of Dustin's Mom and her camera. 
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