As many of you here know, there have been big changes in our family within the past year. It started with the death of a close cousin and an uncle in March of 2005. Then, my mother passed away on the 26th of June. Right after that the babies started coming...a cousin's baby on July 2nd, a granddaughter was born to us on the 5th of July, another granddaughter came on the 9th of July, and, yet another granddaughter, was born to us on August 17th. During the months of September, December, and January three of my husband's closest aunts died, and somewhere in there, one of his cousin's had a baby, and the baby died shortly thereafter. Needless to say, it's been a bitter-sweet year all the way around. And the changes keep coming!
On the 30th of January we made a trip to northern Missouri to visit a state park and historic site. Our youngest daughter, Amanda, who has worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for the past 5 years, was finally put on the register and, was immediately, called for an interview. This in itself was a big deal. When she first started working, at the age of 15, she was told that she could never go anywhere with DNR because she had been homeschooled and didn't have a college education. She stuck to her guns, worked hard, and has been faithful to them despite the fact that she could "never" get in more than a thousand hours a year. For the past year and a half she has worked another part-time job in addition to the job with DNR in order to make ends meet and keep her car on the road. This past Friday she got a call. If she wanted the job at the state park and historic site, it was hers. She has accepted the position.
This job comes with a lot of responsibility and a nice paycheck. Not only is Amanda (as far as we know) the only full-time, homeschooled person in the Department of Natural Resources to land this sort of position, but she is, also, the youngest (Amanda just turned 20 last month). Her first day on the new job will be Thursday, March 16, 2006.
For my husband, John, and I this news comes with mixed emotions. On one hand we are very proud of Amanda, but this means that she will now be moving about 4 hours north of us. THAT will take some time to adjust to! BUT...the LORD's grace is sufficient. We know that His hand is in this, and that we're only seeing a small part of a much larger picture right now.
On Monday we're headed north to look for an apartment. On the 4th of March our oldest daughter, Amber, and her husband, Patrick, are giving little sister a combination going away/housewarming party. We're all going to miss Amanda terribly!
Another change that's taking place in our family is, that our next-to-the-youngest son, Buddy, and his wife, Christy, just announced that they're going to have another baby! John and I are going to be grandparents AGAIN!!! It's not official yet, but we're guessing that this baby will be born in late October/early November.
I just wanted to share! Please be praying for our family as we look to the future with great anticipation! God bless all here!
~Rebecca |
