Joshley

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Road Trips

Hello!!!
Well...we got back from Thanksgiving in Houston/Victoria on Sunday afternoon. It was wonderful! The food was amazing (the scale could tell you that!). I got to spend time with family and I got to see my dad (who's been in the hospital because after he was diagnosed with liver cancer, he got a bad infection in his liver). On Saturday, early morning, he went back to MD Anderson in Houston because his infection wasn't getting better. It was getting worse!
I had to work Monday and Tuesday and Josh had been talking to his dad, who is getting him an old truck with a lift on it for off-roading. He needed to come pick it up in Houston so I decided to tag along and have him drop me off at the hospital while he goes to get the truck.
So, now, I'm sitting in the hospital room with my mom and dad (who is doing fairly well right now!) They're asleep so I thought I'd finally post. I think that sometimes, my dad having cancer doesn't really feel real. It feels like it's just a made-up story I'm hearing. But, when you get to the hospital, it feels incredibly real.
It's been a pleasure to watch my parents lean on Jesus though. People get into ruts. Work, church, chores, etc. Sometimes, it can be easy to get caught up in all of that and not see how constant God is. He is truly working ALL of the time and I'm so happy He's doing a work in my parents. My parents have given God all the glory through this and my prayer is that they would come out of it and use this experience to be able to minister to other families! Our trials and tribulations CERTAINLY give us perseverence and build character!!!!
One interesting side note: A girl that I'm discipling found out a while back that her dad had colon cancer. I knew it was hard for her and I definitely had sympathy for her, but now...I have empathy. It will completely change the way that I minister to her. God works in ways that you absolutely do not expect and we can't always see why these things happen, but I know that it WILL glorify Christ Jesus and that is what matters!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

OK...Forgot some things!

A couple more things...

Josh got baptized! 3rd time's a charm! (1st - he was sprinkled when he was 12. 2nd - He did it to join a church. 3rd - He did it after he finally accepted Christ as his Savior!)

This is Josh with Tom Weaver, our pastor!





This is Josh and I after his baptism!

Also...my new nephew was born! His name is Tanner Clay Huston. He's SO cute!! It's weird that we finally have a boy in the family!


Life Lately :?)

Well...Josh and I have been doing really well. We've been so busy with work and church and fellowship with our church friends. But, we love it! I wouldn't mind less working and more church, but that's probably the case for most people...I guess. We've also been going to a bible study at church called "Experiencing God". It's been around for a long time. I'm sure you've heard of it. Anyway...it's been REALLY great.
A couple of things have happend since that started...
There is a guy in our small group at the study who lost his mom in a car accident this past week. She and her husband are VERY well known in the community. She was a principal of a Christian school in McAllen and her husband is the leader of FCA in the Valley. Apparently, she was an AMAZING woman. I've heard nothing but great things about her. All everyone has talked about when speaking about her was that she LOVED Jesus, had a constant, comforting smile, and how she always put others first...that she genuinely cared about other people. She was obviously a wonderful wife and mother. At her funeral, I was just overwhelmed with legacy that she has left and thought...."I want to leave a legacy like she has!" Everyone has said what an inspiration she was and I was thinking that how...even in death...she has been the same inspiration to me!! I thank Jesus for creating women like her that girls like me can look up to!
Another thing that has happend this past week was that I came to place where I am finally ok with the idea that if I never had a baby, I would still be happy living for Christ. However, I do know that I am called to be a mother. So what I've realized is that it is not going to be in my timing. I believe that if we were trying to have a baby...that God might let us have one, but I know that if we wait until He says...."OK...it's time."...that his blessings will be far greater! My deepest desire is that we would be in His will...and I know that having a baby at this time would not be in His will. For a while, I've wanted a baby, because it seems like the time to have babies, but now I know that when we have one, it will be the perfect time. That day will be a great one! In the meantime, we will keep using our time without children to serve Him in ways that would be more diffucult (timewise) if we did have children. What a pleasure it is to serve Him!
Lastly...I'm going to the Frio River in 2 weeks!! I'm so excited! I'm going with all the girls on my mom's side of the family. We float down the river, lay out in the water, play games, eat, talk, etc. I look so forward to it every year! Can't wait!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Babies!


It's my day off again. Apparently, my days off are when I'm going to write these. Anyway...WOW! Everyone's having babies!!! Bethany, Jennifer, Lacey, my sister (on her 3rd!), my friend Beka. So excited for everyone! All of your babies are adorable! Josh and I are definitely at the point where we are VERY ready to have one, but God has let us clearly know that the time is not right. We know that no one's EVER really ready financially, but we know that we want to wait until I can stay at home so we're making ourselves wait longer. Right now, because I'm working, we're doing fine financially, but if I wasn't...we would have a problem. The plus side is that in this time of waiting and having patience, God is pulling Josh and I so much closer to each other and to Him. We have a couple that we're really good friends with and we're getting to see how they raise their kids to learn about and know who Jesus is. So...it's nice that we're getting to learn beforehand. Also...we get to have time with our neices and their kids and then we get to come home and appreciate our time together. I know that one day we'll be looking back and saying..."remember when we used to get to hang out by ourselves or just pick up and go somewhere without having to worry about the kids". But, we're getting to the point where the joy of having a baby would far outweigh the ease of newlyweddedness. Hmmm...word?...I think not. Anyway...God is perfect and has perfect timing. Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Miracles


This is my husband, Josh. He's so wonderful. We've been through a lot this past year and tomorrow will be his one year anniversary having accepted Christ as his Savior. I've never seen such a transformation in a person. I'd call it a miracle! He loves Jesus...and it's totally evident. He also loves me...which feels completely different as well. Before he began following Jesus, he didn't show it very well. But, because he puts Jesus first in his life and began dying for me everyday like Christ died for the church ( or loving me like Christ loved the church/putting my needs before his own), I definately see the love. God is completely amazing. The way that he can restore something that is basically trash is incredible. He IS restoration.
The other night...this car almost hit us on our way home from a friend's house. This car ran the red light. I swerved and sped up and we were going back and forth and then spun around. It was SO scary! Thank God that no one was coming toward us. We would have hit them. Anyway...we finally stopped, but could have turned around and kept going home, but Josh told me to stop and he hugged me while I cried (I was freaking). Then, he drove us home. I'm so thankful that God protected us. I guess we have more to do for His Kingdom! I hope and pray that I see the oppurtunities when they come.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Days Off



I love my days off. Today is my day off. I sleep late. I go to knit with some ladies at church (also my mom and sister). I go out to lunch with my mom, my sister, and my neices. After lunch, I usually shop a little bit or I'll go home and do whatever I want. I like to clean (love doing laundry...it's so relaxing) or do projects. I NEVER have time to do them, so I LOVE the afternoons. I'm also obsessed with string cheese lately. I don't know quite why I'm enjoying them so much. I guess it's cause they're good and keep you busy! I know that's kinda weird, but it's true!!
I have so many projects to do...I have to clean out 3 rooms! Our office, our craft/storage room, and our 2nd bedroom. When we brought everything home from my old salon, all the stuff kind of took over the rooms. Plus...our Christmas stuff is waiting to go in the attic. Man...so many things.
Work keeps me pretty busy. I love it, but I would love to be home more. I kinda wish it was part-time, except that this way, I make more mula. We definitely need that. But, now that I'm working, things are SO much easier as far as paying bills and getting out of debt goes. One day...it will happen. Can't wait!! Well...God's providing and we're loving it.