So The Climb Begins...

Those of you who have climbed a mountain before will understand the analogy that I am about to use to describe our first official day of Seminary life.  I can remember when Matt and I lived back in Anza, there would be many weeks where we would decide that we wanted to climb up Cahuilla Mountain.  Of course we knew we couldn't just head up the mountain unprepared, we had to get ready, pack what we would need, and drive to the foot of Cahuilla Mountain.  Well, the same is true when you are undertaking what God is calling you to do.  First, you look at what He is calling you to do, and like looking at a mountain, you say, "wow, that's beautiful, but it looks big and scary, and I don't know if I can make it to the top."  So too, Matt and I were in awe with the thought that God was calling Matt to Seminary in Kentucky.  It seemed so big, and so far away, and so hard to get there.  But, we remembered that we have a big God, that will accomplish in our lives what He wants us to do in order to further His kingdom.  So, just as we prepared to hike to the top of Cahuilla Mountain, so we prepared to go to Kentucky and Southern Seminary.

 The process of packing and preparing was an exciting one. Just like it is exciting as we pack to hike up Cahuilla Mountain.  Than came the day when we would actually have to get in to our cars and leave everything familiar behind and head off to the base of our "mountain" into the unknown territory of The Southern Seminary in Kentucky.  I hope you're all still following my analogy.  If not, I'll let you know where we're at.  We're at the base of the mountain now.  Those of you who have hiked to the top of a mountain before know the feeling.  As you tilt your head back, sometimes way back, you take in the beauty and height of the mountain you are about to climb.  You're awestruck with the sheer elevation that you will soon be climbing.  Thoughts of "can I make it," run through your mind.  Then, you get ready to take that first step that will eventually lead you to the top of the mountain where you know that you will be rewarded with unparalleled views and the realization that you did it, you climbed the mountain.

One of the views from the top of Cahuilla Mountain.

So, too Matt and I took our first step up our "mountain" today.  But before taking this first step, we had spent quite a bit of time at the base of the mountain still preparing, and sometimes worrying, and sometimes being downright scared at the towering mountain that looms before us.  Yet, God has been with us during this 2 month period of waiting at the bottom of our "mountain" before we took our first step on the trail to the top.  He has been there to calm our fears, provide us with jobs, and lead us to an amazing little rural church to be a part of.  Now, here I am writing to you all about that first step up the "mountain" that we took today.  Matt's first step was that today was his first day of actual classes.  He was up and out the door by 6:35 this morning so that he could be at his Greek class at 7:00, then it was on to Chapel at 10:00 and then to his Personal Spiritual Disciplines Class at 11:30 and finally to work at 2:00 and he'll be back home by 11:30 tonight.  Honestly, I haven't seen Matt since this morning at 6:35 because I have been pretty busy taking my first step up our "mountain" as well.  But, I know that classes went well for Matt today because he left me a note explaining how everything went.  He sounded so excited in his note, just as excited as he sounds when he's climbing a literal mountain.  For me, I attended parent orientation today at Christian Academy of Louisville where I will be working with the 4-year-old preschool class.  It was such an amazing experience.  Lately I have really been feeling God call me to be prepared to start a preschool wherever God calls Matt to be a pastor.  (We're hoping that it's back in California.)  I just feel so blessed to be able to receive such excellent training from the Christian preschool here in Louisville.  Now that I've taken this first step up the "mountain." I feel like I'm chomping at the bit to take the next step.  But, even as I write this, I know that there will be difficult spots along the way as there is with any hike to the top of a mountain.

Matt trying to find his way around the top of Cahuilla Mountain

 When hiking to the top of a mountain it is even easy to lose your way if you don't follow the trial and your guide.  I must remember to always follow my Guide, the Lord Jesus Christ.  I'm so excited to be on this amazing journey, and I can't wait to see the view from the top of this "mountain" when Matt graduates from Seminary in 4 years.  I have a feeling I know what I'll see though, another mountain.  But, God while be there to guide us up that mountain, as I know he will guide us up this mountain in our lives right now.

Matt on the top of Cahuilla Mountain.  In just four years he will be on top of "Seminary" mountain.

Right now I'm just so full of joy and amazement of where God has brought us to this point in our lives.  I can truly say that He has truly blessed us, and I feel so honored that He would allow me to be in the service of His Kingdom.

Okay, no more analogies, now just a few updates on what's been going on in our lives, besides taking our first real step up our mountain that will ultimately lead to Matt's Seminary graduation.  Well, as most of you know, Matt has been working at Chick-fil-A, but he just wasn't making enough money there to completely cover all of the monthly bills, so he has been praying that God will provide him with another job.  Well, last Friday, he had an interview with a temp agency for a job in a manufacturing plant.  The interview went well, and he went on Monday (yesterday) to interview with the plant manager.  This morning he found out that he got the job.  This is a big big big answer to prayer because he will be making $12.00 per hour for the first 3 months, and then he will make $15.00 per hour after that, with the option for overtime, and he can get end of the year bonuses.  He will be operating the computers that make industrial strength wall covering like you might see on the walls of chain stores such as Target, or Starbucks.  Matt also just got a call this last Sunday from a preacher of a rural church just a few miles down from the church where we attend.  The pastor told Matt that he was going out of town, and that he needed someone to preach for him the first Sunday in September.  Matt said that would be fine.  So, Matt will be preaching his first sermon in Kentucky pretty soon.  Pray for him as he prepares for this Sermon, that God will give him just the right words to speak to this small rural congregation of 20 people.  Some good news for me is that I just found out that my preschool position is a year round position, so I don't have to worry about not getting paid during the Summer.  Isn't God amazing. Also, I am going to be helping out with the midweek children's program at our church in Campbellsburg.  I think the program is kind of like AWANAs, but it is called Team Kids, I'm excited to be working with the kids as well as learning a new children's program.   Well, I'm pretty worn out from such an amazing day, I think that I'm going to go and read one of my textbooks for my Seminary Wives' Institute Class which I will start next Thursday at 7:00 p.m.