Here are thirteen random updates from the Brock household. Hold on, this might be information overload because there has been a lot going on!
1: For some odd reason, I cannot figure out how to insert a slide show of pictures into a post. I consider myself pretty computer savvy, but this is blowing my mind. I have worked for countless hours loading the pictures onto my computer, and then onto Photobucket, and then organized the pictures, and I put the little descriptions above the pictures, and that is about as far as I get. When I go to insert the code into wherever I am supposed to insert it, it comes up blank. I normally give up after trying about the twelfth try. So...I am telling you this for a few reasons. There has been a lot going on that I want to show you (weddings, family get-togethers, an so forth) and I can't. Also, if you just so happen to see a slide show on my blog, I hope you can fully appreciate it now. And I tell you this because I need your advice, suggestions, or help if you happen to know any 3 simple-step solutions to making a slide show.
2: I have resigned from my job. Next Friday will be my last day. This was a really tough decision but I have decided that it is what is best for us right now. There are several reasons that why I have chosen to find another job. One major reason is that I was putting almost $600 of gas in my car a month. Yes, you read that correctly...$600!! I drive around all of Wake, Durham, and parts of Franklin counties visiting my clients. I have to fill up my car three times a week. It was really putting a strain on our finances. Also, I have started to feel like this job was taking the focus off of why Brad and I moved to NC. Brad is here obviously to take classes, but I know my job is to support him in every way possible, and that we are both supposed to be preparing ourselves mentally, spiritually, and physically for when we are going overseas. With my current job, that focus was being taken away. Please be praying for us in the next couple of weeks as we continue our journey here and figure out what God's plan is for us while we are here.
3. I have a new hobby. A better way to describe it would be to call it my new obsession. A few weeks ago, I bought fabulous necklace at the downtown festival in Wake Forest. It was a little too long, so I took a few of the beads off and decided to make earrings to match my necklace. Since I made those earrings, it has snowballed into a new hobby of making jewelry that I love! In my mother's amazing scrap booking room, she had a few boxes of beads that she so kindly donated to me. I think she has been praying for years that I would find some kind of crafty hobby, and all these years I have tried to convince her that Jaime got all of the crafty genes. Between Jaime and Mama they can make magic out of a rubber band, a toothpick, and some glue. They are both amazing. Believe it or not though, I have found my niche. I really enjoy it. My sweet husband says that I can't buy anymore beads until I actually sell some. I am thinking about starting an Etsy shop or something. What do you think? I will try to post some pics of some of the things I have made, but we all know now how wonderful I am with that.
4: Our best friends here in NC, Mandy and Jason, are going to have a baby at the beginning of October. I am so excited, I am beside myself. They found out that it is going to be a little boy, and they are going to name him Wesley. I have already decided he is going to call me Auntie Lib too! They have been such a blessing to us, and we often joke that God brought us together. We feel like we have known each other for years, and we hang out all the time.
5: Brad and I are the official rednecks of the village. I wish you could see our back porch (I like to call it the back stoop). We are the proud owners of a 14ft. canoe that looks like a small boat. My husband's goal in life is to master every sport known to mankind. His current "sport" that he is working on is fishing. Mandy and Jason are from Charleston, so Jason is a big fisher. I think I can kindly blame him for Brad's new interest in it. I don't have a problem with it though, it is a lot cheaper than golf. But back to the canoe on my stoop. The seminary has rules and doesn't want anything on the grass, so the canoe has to be propped up against the house. I can look out my kitchen window, and outside my bedroom window upstairs and see it too. Along with the boat, there is other miscellaneous fishing gear out there too. My sister would be so proud. She is probably secretly glad she moved away before all of this happened so she wouldn't be associated with us.
6: Speaking of the Browns moving away....it stinks. I must admit that I am doing better that I expected with this. The first week that they were gone was my toughest. But I am so happy for them, and I know that they are really happy too. I think I miss them most when I am getting off work and I am pulling into the village and I see the other children playing. I see red heads running around, and little blonde headed girls with rosy cheeks and I get a little sad. I usually would try to ride by their house after I got off work because Brad usually isn't home yet. Or when I go get the mail, I can see their house from my mailbox. Their sweet voices on the phone are not near as sweet as their little hugs or the sounds of their footsteps on my front stoop.
7: Brad just got a new job yesterday. He applied for an youth intern position at a church. It was an answer to prayer that he got the job! He will be working part-time helping out the youth minister. He will gain a lot of experience through this, and we couldn't be more excited. Please remember to keep him in your prayers as he starts next Sunday!
8: This happened a few weeks ago, so some of you probably already know this by now, but Jordan had to have surgery to remove a hernia. Jaime had to rush down to Charleston to be with him when he got out of surgery, and Mama and Time went down the next day to be with him. He is healing ok, I think he has been pretty sore, and has had to adjust to some different things. I will let Jaime tell you more about that since she was actually there. I am sure she has some good stories of the girls nursing him back to health.
9: Because of my job and traveling so much, my car just hit 21000 miles. We haven't even had the car a full 9 months yet. It kind of makes me sick to think about it.
10: I have an interview tomorrow at a place called Panopolie. It is the coolest bead/scrapbook store. It will only be a part time position starting out, but could maybe move to a full-time position. It will be a fun relaxed environment where I can go to work, and come home and not worry about typing notes, or making phone calls. And maybe I can learn a few cool tricks for my new obsession, I mean hobby. I will definitely let you know how it goes.
11: I am getting a little homesick. Since we have had our mini family reunion a few weeks ago, I have literally been craving time with my family. I miss them, but I know we are here for a reason--and I do love it here too! Maybe since I came home last time, it is their turn to come up here next?
12: I know that I have been asking you to pray for a lot of things in this post, but I have another request of you. It is an unspoken prayer request, that I don't wish to share all of the details with you. It is very personal, but if you could just keep Brad and I in your prayers, we would really appreciate it.
13: I can only think of twelve updates. I should make a list before I do this, so I can make sure that I have enough to make a full Thursday Thirteen. Oh well, this was a long post, if anyone made it to the end...thanks. I'm not making promises, but hopefully I can post pictures soon...even if I have to post 900 individually.
