1 Month Down

I just realized  that today officially marks my first month of being in Indiana.    Crazy how fast time flies.    

As I'm easing in to week 3 of the job, I'm still in somewhat of a 'training phase'.    I'm getting to know my staff and guys in my home.     The highlight thus far has been 'winning over' some of the guys who have hard personalities to crack.    Also another highlight was getting one of the men to smile and start laughing while playing catch (he doesn't normally do this).... to top it off I accidently nailed him in the face with the ball and he found this hilarious.   Now every time he sees me he has a big smile on his face.     I have 8 men's care I oversee - aging from 55-78 yrs of age.    They are all so unique and have such fun and different personalities.  

I'm starting to get plugged into a life group through a local church, this past week they started 'organizing us' into groups and it seems I've been placed with 3 other 'new' Fort Wayne residents within the last year.    One woman seems to be a widowed single mom, another single mom, and then another young lady who seems to have lived everywhere.     Seems to be some interesting dynamics, but I look forward to getting connected here.     I've been attending a 'Emmanual Community Church'...... definiately a large congregation.    The next 9 months the pastor is doing a sermon series on Exodus, and thus far I've really enjoyed his engaging messages based off the scripture passages.

Thursday is a big day for Greg and I as we hope to find out an 'outcome' for him at court.   We've been praying through it and just trusting God with whatever awaits him and us.    I believe God knows whats best, but I'm still making sure God knows my desires.     If only my Desires would be inline with his will.     Appreciate your prayers for thursday.    Specifically that Greg can get out of jail, and be able to move forward with treatment / help that he needs.     Court is at 1:30 (12:30 central time).

Photo blog



Alicia tonight - we we're celebrating her 35th Birthday.    These are the kids I hang out with all the time - Mia, Maggie, Morgan, and Mason



This is Terri & Marty's Home - I'm blessed to be living here for the time being.   

This is my room here.    Big transition from having a house to being back in



Maggie & Morgan's Bedroom Project I helped with painting.



Mia's repainted and decorated room, had fun with this one too!

This is Terri - she's an awesome Godly woman - blessed to be able to get to know her and live in her presence.     She's also an amazing cook and grandma!   This is on Christmas day - we are having a Birthday cake for Jesus.

God's bigger.

Just had a great visit with Gregory.    Only getting to see him 20 minutes every two weeks is not enough, but it is better than nothing.

On Sunday Greg was put on a 'suicide watch' when a fellow inmate reported him for fasting to the nurse.    Greg had in fact been fasting & praying for three days, he was on day three and had planned to have a big meal on Sunday evening.     During that time he was really in prayer over several things and reading the word.      When the nurse asked him while taking his blood pressure that evening if this was in fact what he was doing, he shared how he was and how much God has been moving in his life, drawing him even closer,  and blessing him.     He returned to his cell, and within twenty minutes officers were coming to transport him down to the 'suicide watch' cell area.     Trust me when I say Greg was in NO WAY suicidal.     He was then put into a green 'dress' and put into a rubber room for the next 48hrs.    Just him and God.    It was a challenging time, but as he said 'God is bigger than any of this'.      He shared how 1 Peter 3 really came to light through this experience for him in regards to suffering for the glory of the Lord.

To say this was frustrating and difficult for Greg is only cutting the surface.     As he said.... how is ripping everything away from someone going to help if they are in fact suicidal??    Once again - another reason the jail system sucks.    This county jail is paticularly over the top now because they had someone kill themselves on their watch a few weeks back.

Thankfully this situation is only temporary.   God's got bigger plans for Gregory and they  go beyond the walls of the county jail.    He has court next week on the 19th, we are praying that God can move big time through the attorney and the courtroom that day so that Greg can be removed from the current situation and back into a positive treatment environment or come home.     But, no matter what happens next Thursday, we will rejoice.   So we ask you to pray with us!

MARVELOUS JOY

‎'I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you, I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.' -Psalm 9:1-2

ReJO(Y)ice

Phillipians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always.   I will say it again.   Rejoice!"

Hello everyone!  

Just a quick update from Indiana:

This past week I started my job which basically thus far has consisted of training and classes that I've already had in Missouri or know about with being in the field for the last 10 plus years.    So, to sum it up, thus far it has been a LONG and BORING week!    I also found it extremely difficult to sit in one room for 8hrs a day.     Part of that was my need to keep busy and partly missing my 'outdoors' job.    This next week will allow me to get into the home I will be supervising and meet my residents and staff.   Starting Tuesday (Monday I have my last class of training) I will be working in the home along side my staff as I get to know the routines, patterns, etc... of the house.    So I'll have a crazy schedule this week working one overnight shift, one morning shift, a weekend shift, and a couple evenings.   

The home I'll be responsible for consists of 8 older male gentleman who are fairly low key and mellow.   I have learned this week that my 'partner' - the Residential Manager - is also new to her position and just started two weeks ago.     She is fresh out of college and has little to no experience, but together we will be a 'married' team, essentially knowing one anothers jobs and being each others counterpart.   The girl who is my partner is actually a girl I went and toured the agency with during my interview, so I have met her before.    I think we should be able to connect and work well together, and I look forward to building up a good team and system in the home we are responsible for.

I've been really excited about the professionals and peers that I have met within the company thus far, I think I am going to connect really well with my coworkers and supervisor.    I'm already worried that I'm gonna like it too much that I won't want to leave it.    You see.... all along the move to Indiana has been planned to be a short term experience - 1 year.. maybe two, but we'll see what God has in store with that.

Greg is doing great, we've had some ups and downs these past few weeks.    One of the biggest battles for us is communication, not because we want it to be but because of the circumstances we are in.     Those circumstances being limited time windows for him to call, loudness on the cell block, and static on the phones as at this time Greg remains in jail.   Despite the circumstances, we believe God's in control of the situation, Greg continues to see God use him with men he encounters within his cell block.   We are specifically praying for a guy named John and his wife Amanda and their kids Zach and Obadiah as this man wants to see restoration of his marriage and his family.   

I get to visit Greg every other Tuesday evening, so this week I will get to go see him for the second time since moving here.    It's like you would imagine, straight out of a movie scene talking to him through a plate glass window and a telephone receiver.    Definiately not one of those life experiences I ever that I would be having, but I'm confident that this is a temporary challenge for us that we will be able to look back on and see God's mighty hand at work.

You may be wondering why Greg is in jail ~ to make a long story short he was put back in jail over a comment he made to a peer at the Kelley House.    The comment was about a security guy that he feels has had beef with him ever since he first escaped out of the house last spring.    When Greg returned to the house in August with a heart change and a desire to be in the program for the right reasons he sat this guy down and apologized for his actions.    That being said, things continued to happen and Greg still has felt that this guy has wanted him to fail within the program and twisted his reports around to make Greg look worse off than what actually has occurred.     The weekend I moved to Fort Wayne he said something in venting to his peer that 'kharma is a bitch' about this paticualr guy and that was reported to the staff.    The staff then took Greg and discussed situation, and they talked about how he should have handled his feelings towards this gentleman.     Greg knew right away he messed up, he shared how he should have handled his frustrations more appropriately by approaching this guy personally and discussed his feelings, however they still saw Greg's comment as a personal threat to this staff.    So when this staff came in on Monday morning he said he felt uncomfortable and to send him to jail.    Greg did not directly threaten the guy or have any intentions of this nature, however because of the stingent rules in the jail operated rehab program he went back into jail, so has been sitting in jail for the past 3 plus weeks.     In court Greg chose NOT to return to the Kelley because he feels that no matter what that this paticular staff member will continue to do what it takes to keep trying to see Greg fail and the bottom line is Greg just wants to move forward and move on with his life.    As everytime Greg returns to the program their is the possiblity they can restart him back to the beginning, and they continue restarting him in the program for the next three years.   Greg is very fond of his therapists, doctors, and staff within the program and will tell you that the program has changed his life for the positive.    Despite that fact, he and I both agree that we don't want to live in constant limbo for the next 3 years and allow them to dictate his future.    We confidently believe God's in control and he's got a better plan.   

So NOW we wait until Greg returns to court on the 19th, we ask for your prayers for God's hand in the courtroom and working through the attorney - Adam.    Our desire is for Greg to be able to go into a house arrest program through the Veterans Affairs Administration.     A year ago when Greg was originally sentenced for his DUI he was sentenced to 3 months house arrest, at the time he was homeless and because he didn't have a place to go they assigned him to 3yrs with the Kelley House.    We are praying that he will be able to finish out his remaining sentence via house arrest or work release or be cleared of everything completely!   Worse case scenario he will have to finish out his time in a jail cell.

I know this sounds like a complicated mess, but I want you all to know that I'm so proud of the man Gregory has become as by the grace of God he has become a spiritual leader, an excellent communicator, and has developed a heart for people.    His broken road / or rather our broken road has been such a blessing!  We are both confident that no matter what God has got this in His faithful and caring hands and all we can do is walk forward in faith and confidence.   

So - I say it again - REJOICE!   God's got everything under control.    I'm so blessed here in Fort Wayne as I've got Greg's loving and busy family to keep me fulfilled and needed.    I am loving my living situation with Terri and Marty - it's nice and peaceful.      I guess as my friend Courtney said in my response to how much I was loving living within a retirement community  'you always were an old soul' .... yes.... I am an old soul and like my time to read and reflect.    I have been missing Missouri, but have also been enjoying to exciting new experiences and life here in Fort Wayne.    Exciting to walk in faith and see where he is taking me in 2012!

Have a blessed week!

Radiating

I firmly believe God puts us in specific places at specific times to be used to RADIATE His glory.    This week has been harder as I start to miss my 'family' & 'friends' in Missouri and wonder HOW LONG I'll have to wait for things to be resolved here so that Greg and I can move forward with our future.     I sometimes tend to get caught up in the tomorrow instead of living in the here and now, the following excerpt from Elisabeth Elliot's book 'Let Me Be A Woman' on pg 31 sums up perfectly of where my heart needs to be:

"The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived -- not always looking forward to as though the 'real' living were around the next corner.   It is today for which we are responsible.   God still owns tomorrow'

This week as Greg and I were having our ups and downs in regards to the current situation of our lives we were reminded of God's purposes being carried out.     Greg is sitting in the B block of the county jail which if anything allows Greg to have plenty of time to be in prayer, reading the Word, and reading various books.

This afternoon a man on his block - John - came up to Greg and asked him if he would pray for him.    He told Greg I see you praying, reading your bible, and sharing scripture on the phone and that's why I want to ask you something... 'Will you pray for my wife and I to have restoration in our marriage and for our two sons.'     A perfect example of Christ radiating through Gregory.    He was humbled today as he called me this afternoon to ask that I pray for them as well:  John, Amanda, Zach, and Obadiah.    A similar situation happened a few days ago with another man on his block who is also a christian.    Greg and him were able to connect in their common Christian brotherhood and encourage one another.

These things are great reminders that even though I hate that he's stuck in there, God's bigger and he's moving through this situation.   

Psalm 34:5 "Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy!"

I'm BLESSED here today as I reflect back on 2011, blessed to be able to be where I'm at and be able to sit back and reflect on all the answered prayers.    I have no doubt that 2012 will come with even greater Glory and Radiance as I seek to take responsibility for each day I'm given.

Happy New Year!



Patient Endurance

Well... I'm here in Fort Wayne!  Hard to believe that this is really HOME for me now, still pinching myself over that one.   This picture portrays my thoughts / feelings very accurately:  

'Seriously?"  

'I moved across the country because that's where I think God is leading me?   

'Am I crazy????'   

Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do your will, for you are my god.   may your gracious spirit lead me forward on firm footing."

I pray that I am indeed following God's directions as I live my life because I want Him to be my GPS as I move about this Earth.

So - the nuts and bolts of what's been going on....   I officially arrived in Fort Wayne on December 17th, so i've been here approximately 7 days (minus a mini trip home for Christmas in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska).   I am living with Terri and Marty - 2 wonderful people who have graciously offered to allow me to live in their home with them for a few months.     I'm getting the royal treatment here ~ I'm still not sure how to react or respond to coming home to a home cooked meal and little to no responsibilities.    I've been so independent and self sufficient for so long, its hard to allow other people to do little things for me.     Needless to say, I'm being blessed by their warm hearts and generous spirits.     Their home sits in a retirement community, its a very nice home and I have my own fully furnished bedroom here.     It was an adjustment to go from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom with limited closet space, but less is more!    So far I've just been resting, relaxing, and hanging out with the family here.     Yesterday and today I worked on painting the girls bedrooms' at Greg's brothers house - you know me and my love for painting - so that has been fun.

Tonight has been my first opportunity to see Greg and it was a blessing.    Two minor incidents have arose in the past couple weeks that have Greg currently sitting in jail, so that was a huge blow to our original plans of being in support counseling sessions by now and having weekly visits together.   I do believe these minor setbacks are leading to something far greater, as we both feel like God is in control of this situation.   As long as Greg's heart is sold out for God and he is living his life with integrity, we both believe that good is going to come out of this situation.     I don't want to dive into details but just want to say that the judicial system is ridiculous.    The program Greg was in had some over the top rules, and because Greg stepped forward and accepted responsibility he was punished with time in jail.

One of my bestest friends made a comment too me a few weeks before I left Missouri about putting things in perspective between her current relationship struggles and my situation.   She said 'I didn't realize it, but I take for granted that I can see and spend everyday with my husband, and here I am complaining about not getting enough attention or time with him'.     The thought hadn't even crossed my mind of her situation compared to mine because for me this is reality, my face time with Greg is very limited.    I look forward to the day when Greg and I can have conversations longer than our restricted 15 min. phone calls, or scheduled visit times, but for now we endure this season patiently as we look forward to the future God has in store for us.

Revelation 14: 12 "Let this encourage God's holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus."

Revelations 12:10 "The people who are destined for prison will be arrested and taken away......But do not be dismayed, for here is your opportunity to have endurance and faith."

So I challenge you with this - What is God calling you to patiently endure?    How can He use you where you are at?   Look around you, someone needs you to shine the light of Jesus to them so go and RADIATE!