Life Changes

The theme of recent posts seem to all include life...this one is no exception!  So many changes are already taking place--some already determined others not so much.  May has been a huge month for Mike and I--especially for Mike.  The beginning of May was spent finishing up the last papers and assignments for Seminary and now Mike has graduated!!!  WOW!!!  I must say I am extremely proud of him!  So, change #1 Mike is done with school--no more books, no more classes, no more papers....What a relief!  Graduation day was May 14 which started with a Graduation Breakfast at Phoenix Seminary, followed by meeting up with Diane & Rod, dropping Mike off at church so he could work on the next weekend's retreat while I went to my parent's for a couple hours.  I met Mike at church for the graduation ceremony rehearsal and then people started showing up!  As Mike's wife I was privileged to escort him across stage while he was "hooded" with his Master's hood and our picture was taken with the Seminary's President, who also happens to be our church's pastor emirates, Dr. Darryl DelHousaye.  Saturday was party day!  Mike slept in while I went to a workshop for most of the day before setting up for Mike's graduation party that we had a church.  We had a great turnout and tons of dessert!  It was really fun for me to plan all the details of the party and let them be a surprise to Mike that evening.  I had put together a video montage over the past 5 years of  different friends, service opportunities, and trips that Mike has done and he told me later what a great variety I had chosen!  I also had Joe Gordon & Steve Eriksson (men Mike has interned under) on video since they could not make it to the party to share some thoughts and encouragement.  I also had four men that have influenced Mike over the last 4-5 years speak as well.  Mike then got to share some of his thoughts and have a Q & A.  The evening was perfect and such a celebration of Mike and his graduation!

Along with graduation will come the conclusion of Mike's internship at Scottsdale Bible Church--thankfully we still have a month before that wraps up.  Please be praying for a job for Mike--we have no idea where the Lord will take us!  Lord willing we will be able to stay in Phoenix.  Mike would love to be an Associate Pastor or work with small groups, short term missions, marriage ministry (in the future perhaps), things of that nature, but we will go where the Lord leads!  Along with that prayer request is one for me as one of my nanny jobs has drawn to a conclusion earlier than expected.  Their oldest boy (of two) is needing some prayer--I'll leave it at that for their privacy--and with that they needed someone with much more flexibility that I can offer.  I believe that will be hard to find, but hopefully it will work out for them.  My income has just been cut by a third or so and Mike will be out a job in a month.  I'm hoping this is an opportunity to take my business to the next level--from hobby to business so I've prepared some tools for myself and am ready to work hard!  Pray that I use my time well and that God multiplies my efforts and my business.  I want to build it to a point where when we have a family I can work solely from home and plan my business around our family.

So these are two huge life changes for us and we are certainly excited for the future, but if we dwell on it in our own strength it almost seems impossible for everything to work out.  However, we know that nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26b).  We are blessed by each of you and pray for the Lord's blessings on your lives!!!

Lifesong

	Casting Crowns - Lifesong .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Celebration!!!

What a month and great accomplishments for my hubby!  I must brag on Mike just a bit...he's worked so hard!  The end of the spring semester for Mike is getting close and with that will be the completion of his Master's of Divinity Degree from Phoenix Seminary!!!  (Graduation is May 14th!)  I can't cheer enough...Wahoo!!! 

On Wednesday, April 7th Mike had his Ordination Exam--it's kind of like the Board for becoming a doctor or the Bar exam for a lawyer.  Scottsdale Bible Church has an ordination committee of three SBC pastors that they appoint and then Mike got to choose two other qualified people so he chose two of his professors from the seminary.  His ordination committee was composed of Steve Eriksson, Pat Sullivan & Randy Walters from SBC and then he chose Fred Chay and Paul Wegner.  The ordination commitee was able to ask Mike anything they wanted and all Mike had was his Bible--this was a very grueling 3 hours and I know Mike was so glad when it was done (total understatement)!!!  We got home and he took a nap before we went to Islands to celebrate.

  Dinner at Islands after Mike's Ordination Exam

Yesterday (Thurs, April 22nd) Mike and I went before the Board of Elders at SBC and Steve Eriksson, who was also on the ordination committee, recommended Mike to the Elder board to be a Pastor endorsed by Scottsdale Bible Church.  They then asked Mike where he feels his strengths are and where he would like to minister, so of course Mike shared that we are hoping to stay in the Valley and looking for an Associate Pastor position, but also the areas of small groups, short term missions, marriage ministries and such are also of interest to us.  He also shared that we are really looking forward to having children in the near future, which is another big reason we want to stay in Phoenix.  Lord willing we will be able to stay here, but if He calls us elsewhere we will of course go there.  I was teary through this whole process, no surprises there, and after Mike shared with the Elder Board they then gathered around us, laid hands on us and prayed for us.  The only person I remember praying for us was Tim Kimmel, whom some of you may know or at least be familiar with his name.  He's got a great ministry called Family Matters and has written the book "Grace Based Parenting" among others.  There were also two other elders who prayed for us.  One thing I thought was just really cool is was when Jamie, our Sr. Pastor, came over to me after and told me that they would be praying for us, for God's direction in our lives and for our ministry--and I know that he will be.  Our Executive Pastor Tom Sharda came up to Mike and I as we were getting ready to leave and told us how exciting it was for him to hear how excited we are to have children and how special that will be.  It was truly a sweet time and one I will treasure in my heart for the rest of my life.  

 SBC's Board of Elders praying over & for us.

In the back are words that say "With God All things are Possible"

How fitting are those words for this time in our lives! Love it!

The ordination process is all about a church endorsing our ministry and last night we completed that process and the Elders of Scottsdale Bible Church have said "Yes!" we want to back up Mike and Danielle Dearborn and God's call on their life to ministry!!!  I get teary just writing because God is so good!  We have two huge, and I cannot emphasize the hugeness of these two events, behind us.  Next steps as we continue to look for a church to serve in, are to finish off this last semester, Graduate on May 14th and of course get a job!!!!  So, these are three things that y'all can be praying for for the Dearborns'...especially the last one of getting a job!  But there is one thing that I have been constantly reminded of throughout these past four months, and I know I'll be reminded even more, is that God is our  Provider--Jehovah Jireh!!!  May each of you be blessed and know that He too is your Jehovah Jireh!!!  

Life is Precious

My heart is heavy and I am inspired all at the same time!  There is a couple that I know from church and they are going through so much with their precious baby!  God is strengthening their faith and their marriage as they take one day at a time with their son who is in the NICU.  Their faith and trust in God is encouraging me to have a greater trust and faith as well.  God uses all things for His glory and I can see that already in their desire to serve and trust in Him daily as all things can change in an instant with a baby who is in the NICU.  Just through reading their blog I've seen God's hand at work in baby Gavin's life as well as in the life of Jeramy and Tracee.  I do not know them well, but God has placed them on my heart to pray for them and I know they would covet your prayers as well--it's evident through their blog and they are so encouraged by it.  I just spent the last couple hours reading their blog starting at the beginning of this year with Tracee's textbook pregnancy and how quickly things changed and they were brought to their knees in prayer for the life of Gavin and how God was answering their prayers and continues to.  If you are interested here is their blog www.asformeandmine.blogspot.com  May it encourage you in your faith and deepen your relationship with Him!  To God be the glory!!!

In other news here are the pictures I promised almost a month ago...I ended up going to my mother-in-law's house for the evening, which of course was great!

 Squeezing OJ with my KitchenAid Juicer!

 Coyote's Hockey Game

(First Time)

Fight, fight, fight! (okay, it was a scuffle...)

 Our Friends who took us Tyler & Lisa--so fun!!!

Fun at Jenny & Topher's Wedding Rehearsal.

We're practicing our dance moves!

 Beautiful Bride Jenny
(I'm fluffing her dress for pics!)

Mike & I were both in the Wedding Party

Strike a pose!

 Lovin on the Bride

The girls have the groom!

Jenny and her niece Rachel who was the flower girl.

Special moment for the Bride and Groom

Love this pic of them leaving!

Pictures are coming!

Well, tonight I will be back and posting a lot more pictures to show some of the fun and exciting events that have been going on in the Dearborn household.  I have a goal to post once a week--I'm hoping that's not too ambitious due to my lack of posting...lol.  Now I've got to get back to the sweet 3 year old that I nanny!  He's up from nap and it's time we play some more before I leave in an hour.  Until tonight...

Closing out 2009 and Bringing in 2010

Here we are half way through February and I haven't written since the beginning of November!  I have had so much that I wanted to write about and never got around to it!  One of the families I nanny for is extending my hours which is great, but it also means less time for everything else!  I'll have to post some pictures of the playdough animals that Scott and I made last week for 2 hours before I put him down for nap.  They are pretty cute!

I think the best thing to do is to give an overview of the past several months in pictures so I hope it isn't too overwhelming and I sure do hope you enjoy all the pictures...now to see if I remember how to add pics...lol!

 

Rod proposing to my sister on Thanksgiving Day

 

You know she said YES!

 

The four "kids" with our stockings celebrating Christmas

with my parents.

 

Mike and I got a Wii!!!  Super exciting!!!

 

Visiting my Auntie Catherine in CA the day after Christmas.

 

Jenny's Bridal Shower...with mimosas!!!

 

The beautiful Bride and her ribbon bouquet! 

There are more pictures to come I just need to get them from other cameras onto my computer!  Happy 2010 everyone!!! (I know I'm only a couple months late!)

1st Anniversary, Road Trips and Memorial Services

The month of October is finally over!!!  It was such a busy month for Mike and I and I'm hoping that November will be better balanced.  October was a great month but absolutely nonstop.  We were out of town 3 out of the 5 weekends!  We're never gone that much! 

Our Fall Retreat to Lake Havasu was awesome!  I had a great time getting to know peopel that I usually don't spend a whole lot of time with.  I went with a group of mostly girls, a couple guys were there too, on a "walking tour" to London Bridge.  Our walking tour was more of, "Hey, I'm goin to London Bridge, want to come?"  I got to go waterskiing which I haven't done in a while and that of course was great!  I also had the "privilege" of riding the banana boat and getting the wind partially knocked out of me when I flew off the banana boat and into the water.  I'll post pics later!

The second weekend Mike and I were out of town was for our First Anniverary!!!!  Yes, we made it to the one year mark and have had wedded bliss since day 1....yeah right.  But, honestly our first year of marriage has been such a blessing and absolutely wonderful!  We took a two day trip up north to Sedona and had perfect weather the whole time we were there!  We hiked the West Fork trail of Oak Creek Canyon and we couldn't have planned for a better time of day to go--it was cool and shaded and absolutey beautiful with the leaves changing color.  We had a wonderful dinner at a resturaunt called Savanah's and then went to Safeway to get some wine and watch the stars out on the patio of where we stayed.  God even blessed us with two shooting stars!  Day two involved sleeping in and a delicious breakfast followed by shopping around all the stores.  We had two georgous sunsets while we were there and a wonderfully relaxing weekend. 

Weekend #3 of being out of town was a cross country drive from Glendale, AZ to Charlotte, NC to drive my brother-in-law and his new wife to their new home in Camp Lagune which is in Jacksonville, NC.  We left Friday morning about 10am and drove into the airport on Sunday at 5:45pm (30 minutes before our flight took off).  It was a long, long drive but certainly worth the time with my brother-in-law and his wife.  It was a privilgege to help them move most of the way to their new home.  Did I mention it was a long drive?  :-) 

The day after we got back from North Carolina, Mike's grandmother passed away after battling breast and lung cancer.  Actually, a week ago today.  This past Saturday, on Halloween actually, we had her memorial service.  Grandma Ruth had asked Mike about a month ago if he would speak at her service and it ended up that he did her whole memorial service.  The first funeral he did, was his grandmas!  He did an excellent job and I truly believe that the Lord spoke through him!

It has been an exhauasting month!  I'll post pictures up soon, hopefully tomorrow or some other time this week.  I'm hoping that November will be a bit more on the "normal" side and not quite as busy.  But of course the Holidays are coming so who knows!!!  All in all, even when life seems to be more than I can handle, I am blessed and I have been giving an amazing husband to walk through life's ups and downs with.  Not only that, but we have a firm relationship that is centered on Christ and with Him, we can do all things because of the strength that He pours out into our lives!  Be blessed my friends!!!