Mike's Interview Date

Really quick update--please keep Mike in your prayers as he has his interview with Alliance Defense Fund on Monday, August 30th at 10am!!!  This interview will be almost a full day at ADF interviewing with various people within the organization.  We are super excited and truly want God's best for us--if it's at ADF great, if it's elsewhere that is great too, we just have no idea what that other possibility would be right now!  Thank you so much for your prayers--it is truly a blessing to us!!! 

I Love How God Shows Up!

Recently I have been convicted on how I need to spend more time with God--in all aspects.  I pray throughout my day, but too often I don't sit down and really listen to Him or focus on His character and Who He is and what those attributes tell me about the God I love and serve.  Yesterday I had some focused time where I just laid everything at His feet.  One of the biggest events in my life right now is Mike finding a job.  As I mentioned a month ago he had an interview with Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and has been waiting to hear back on if he made it to 2nd round interviews.  I prayed that God would just open and close doors and place us exactly where He wants us, even if that means waiting longer or even moving somewhere for the right job.  Mike and I certainly are not looking to move, but if we were not willing to move, I truly believe we would be wrong.  Something I've seen and noticed is that sometimes all God wants is a willing heart for whatever He asks--at times that means hard circumstances and changes other times it means that God blessings you for your willingness.  I don't know where God will take us--it could be somewhere here in Phoenix, it could be across the country and maybe someday He may take us out of the United States--all I know is that my job is to make sure that I am willing to obey and go wherever that is.  Well, as always God showed up in answer to my prayers; less than 24 hours after fervently praying for Mike, wisdom in his job search and whatever the future job may be, my business--in essence our lives--early this afternoon Mike received a call from ADF saying that he made it to 2nd round interviews!!!!  Praise the Lord!  Obviously there is no guarantee that this will be where God places us, but we are one step closer to seeing if this will be one aspect of our ministry for a time.  Mike is also busy writing resume's and cover letters to all sorts of different job opportunities that he's heard about, so your prayers are very much appreciated!

I don't know about you, but I love a good storm--it reminds me of God's power.  I especially love the sky and how it looks before, during or after a storm.  I have a couple great pictures that I took on my phone over the past month.  For those of you who do not live here in the wonderful Valley of the Sun it is currently our monsoon season--big, fabulous storms.  They sky is amazing if the storm rolls in late afternoon/early evening before it gets dark--at least for those who have no photography knowledge.  I've seen some amazing pictures of  storms at night by googling it!

Driving down the road and I look out my window...

 

These next two I took yesterday leaving my parents house on the way to the gym:

Sunset outside of my apartment back in 2007 just after a monsoon,

yes all the same storm--I have 30 pictures of this sunset--it was amazing!

These next pictures were taken in 2008 by the front office of my old apartment:

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and were awed by God's creation!  Expect God to show up in your life, not just in the big and important things but even in the small and seemingly insignificant things, because everything is significant to God!  

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Updates

What a month!  This past month has been a blur--it's already the last day of July!  So many changes have taken place and it is so exciting to see what God is doing in our lives.  Mike had his last day of his internship on July 15, also my sister's 30th birthday, and had a phone interview on July 16th with Alliance Defense Fund which is a non-profit organization that fights for Christian rights.  He made it to first round interviews and had his interview this past Monday.  Currently we are waiting to hear if he made it to the second round of inteviews--if he does then he will spend the better part of a day at ADF interviewing with different key people.  We should hear back beginning of next week if he will continue interviewing.  The week between Mike's phone interview and first round interview he and his dad drove out to North Carolina to take Matt his car and bring some of his things back home since they were in storage.  That was a grueling six days of driving and he returned last Friday afternoon which worked out well since I left for Dallas early on Saturday morning.  I was certainly glad to see him and spend time with him before being gone myself for 5 days.

I went to Dallas for my annual Mary Kay conference and absolutely loved it--as always!  Our new holiday line will be absolutely fabulous!!!  They have some great rewards for those who choose to step up into a leadership position with the company which include a $1,000 bonus upon qualifying as a Director and if you are in the process of qualifying to be a Director you can go to Houston for our Leadership conference which is specifically for Directors and National Sales Directors!  I am really excited about this opportunity and plan to take advantage of it!  Of course there are some other fabulous benefits and rewards that new Directors will receive as well.  Mary Kay also put out a company wide challenge to have 10 parties in a week--so I'll be working hard to accomplish that challenge this next week!   I'll post some pictures when I get them all on my computer!

Speaking of pictures, here is the link I promised if you would like to see Diane's wedding pictures: http://thevisionyard.zenfolio.com/diane-rodrigo-wedding

All for now!  Please keep us in your prayers as we wait for God's direction in a job for Mike!
  

Patriotic & Summery

With the Fourth of July less than two weeks away I thought I'd prepare my blog to be patriotic--yet at the same time be summery, bright and fun...I am satisfied!

There are much more important things that have been going on in my life than analyzing backgrounds for my blog--for instance my sister got married on Saturday!!!  It was a beautiful wedding and Mike did such an amazing job officiating Diane & Rod's ceremony!  I was a complete mess walking down the aisle but thankfully I recovered after Diane came down.  She was an absolutely radiant bride and I don't think I've ever seen her so happy--not even when Rod proposed!  We had so much family in town on my side coming from Canada, Oregon, Washington, California and I'm sure there is a state or two I missed...and Rod had family that was able to make it from Mexico City.  I would have to say that they are a very loved couple!  Diane has such great in-laws and the family I was able to meet and talk with from Mexico were delightful!  Saturday was truly a day in which we all celebrated with great joy!  I'll have to get some pictures from people that were there since I couldn't snap pics from the stage as Diane's Matron of Honor.  Visionyard, the same company who did photography for Mike's and my wedding, did Diane and Rod's wedding--gorgeous!!!  I'll put a link to their pictures when I see they are up on Visionyard's website. 

A few other event's going on in the Dearborn home is that Mike's internship at Scottsdale Bible Church is coming to a conclusion in about three weeks.  God has graciously provided an extra two weeks for Mike so he can train up the new MIT (Minister in Training), the original conclusion of Mike's internship was June 30th, now his last day will be on July 15th (also Diane's 30th b-day).  We don't know where God will take us next but I know it will be great!  God has given me such a peace--normally I would be freaking out at this point, but I know He is faithful, in control and He's our ultimate provider!  There are a couple opportunities for us--one as a part time young adult pastor.  There is a church not too far from us that is looking to launch a new young adult group--which is what Mike does now with SomaNorth at Scottsdale Bible.  No concrete vision for this group has been set, so this could be a really great and exciting opportunity for us.  The other position is as a full time Children's Director at church north of us.  Mike is great with kids but also knows how to organize volunteers to accomplish the goals of the ministry.  As a Children's Director Mike would work with the kids, but much of the work would be with the parents and volunteers.  Perhaps God even has something different than these two opportunities.  It's exciting, yet scary at the same time!  Please keep us in your prayers, they are much needed and we covet them!   

Backgrounds

I find myself in a dilemma as I am every time that I'm ready to change the background of my blog...25 pages of choices!!!  What am I to do?  Not to mention it doesn't help that I can be very indecisive!  I see beautiful color combinations that I love, but the problem is that summer is coming and those colors shout Fall--I feel the need to have something bright and cheery--which is why the classic black and white just isn't working right now--although those are some of my favorites!  Hmmm, what to do, what to do? 

I hope you've enjoyed the brief ramblings of my mind as well as the product of my procrastination--we are having friends over for dessert tonight which means the condo needs some major work!  But that will have to wait a bit longer--I leave in 10 minutes to go play makeup with my mom and my sister (aka Bride) for her wedding!  You've also witnessed my attempt at writing more than just once in a month's time!  I hope you've been briefly entertained--thanks for indulging me!

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