changes and new beginnings!

So, if you have kept up with my blog for a long time, you will notice that I have made some changes, mainly to the cosmetics of my page. I tried to just ditch this and get on WordPress, but there are blogs I like following on this site and I couldn't really do both- so I'm sticking with this site. So, theres a new name. I still believe that I am giving my all to living for the glory of God, but I think that my new "title" better reflects how I think I am going about that. My hope and prayer is that my life would as closely as possible follow the life that Jesus lived. I'm learning (and will be learning a lot more) about the Trinity; how the Father, Son, and Spirit really and truly relate to one another and how the Trinity relates to us - human kind. One book I'm reading for class- i highly recommend you look it up- The Great Dance. I've only read the intro and first chapter, but it is a short book that searches out how to relate living this life here on earth and finding joy in God- the Trinity. His metaphors sometimes drive me crazy, but his heart and message are amazing. A little bit about where I am now- it has really been a while since a real and true update. Living in McMinnville, OR. it is about 45-60 mins south of Portland, and west of Salem. It is a beautiful small town with character and charm. I was just offered a job (and gladly accepted) at the local Starbucks! I start bright and early tomorrow morning. This has been a long time coming, as I have been looking (like a madwoman) for a job since mid June. As most of you know I recently got married (we celebrated (by saying yay!) our first month together just this past week!) and Josh and I have been praying (as have MANY others) for me to get a job so we can continue paying rent and eating food :) Praise the Lord our prayers have been answered! But, not before God blew us away with the generosity of people around us. I tell you... God has blessed us- with food (among many other things). We were given box after box of bulk foods, everything under the sun it seemed! It was fabulous- honoestly, other than bread, I don't have to shop for the rest of September, and there are particular items we may not ever need to buy again (like rice... seriously, we already had about 10lbs, and we were given like a 15lb bag!). We were even able to share some with our neighbor in the apartment below us (gave her about 8lbs of rice... her eyes were big!) It was wonderful to really be able to share the blessing! Things have still been pretty up and down - those of you who are married I'm sure will understand and remember the beginnings of married life- fun as they may be, there is a lot of adjusting that has to happen. And since no one really likes change (even good change!) things can get sticky when everything is changing at once. Luckily, my husband has many things that are not changing (because between the two of us, I looove change in light of how much he hates it). I really think if he were in my shoes (new hometown, new friends, new job, new weight, new school, and new marriage/home) he'd probably be having a really hard time. I think the only thing that isn't new for me right now is my hair. My brown hair is growing, but that isn't new, and it's pretty and it's been behaving nicely, and it's just very nice to have something that hasn't changed in the past several months. Of course, we're forgetting something. God hasn't changed on me in the past months- but my view certainly has. Going to a fairly liberal school (coming from a fairly conservative background and deciding to sit comfortably in the middle...) I have had to really figure out where I stand on certain things and what I believe is important and foundational. Josh and I had a lot of discussions (and some arguments) of things like this when we were dating, because it was my first year at this seminary and I was really struggling to get my feet grounded. To me, from where I was standing- josh and my schooling were polar opposites. There was no way to reconcile them- and that frightened me. However, I have been able to get a firmer grip on things and see the beauty in the tension held by the differing points of view! That has really helped me gain confidence again in my faith and feel free enough to lead and serve in some capacity! I am really excited about my classes this semester and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a lot more out of them since I only have 2 instead of 5 :) I am also elated to be starting my job as a barista tomorrow, learning and training to do and be my best! Sometimes, change is hard, and it can really paralyze people when they are too afraid to embrace it. I want to try and end each of my blogs with a little nugget of something to think upon and figure out what it means for you. Change is growth. If things in your life aren't changing- you aren't growing. 1 Corinthians 11:1 <3