Change: Brad's Two Cents

Libby has so kindly asked me to "guest" post, I could not turn her down.  If you know the Brocks, you know that there is always something new going on or something outrageous happening.  If you simply look back through all of Libby's post, I think this truth is very evident.  Acknowledging this, I decided that with this "guest" post, I would keep the ball rolling.

Those who have been following for a while or know us closely know that our plan and calling is to serve Christ overseas as missionaries.  This has NOT changed! To serve this purpose and to better equip myself is the whole reason I enrolled at Southeastern Seminary back in January of 2008.  What a tremendous blessing this road has been.  I have been enrolled in the M.Div. program, expecting to graduate sometime around 2012.  Well, this is where all kind of change has taken place.

We prayed, and prayed, and prayed some more.  What I felt the Lord calling me to was completely a shock to me, and totally opposite of anything I expected.  I knew there was financial business that needed to be taken care of before serving overseas.  I knew that in order for me to take care of this I needed to find a full time job.  God heard that prayer, and surprisingly, opened up a door in management of the company I left to move to Wake Forest (Sherwin Williams).  Crazy, right?!  It was/is a great blessing though.  I have been with the company since March.

Also, since making the decision to go back to work full time, we thought it best for me to change degree programs.  Long story short, I changed from an M.Div. to an M.A.  in order to graduate earlier, pay down some debt, and get over seas in a more reasonable amount of time.  I will graduate in December!

Libby and I feel completely at peace about all of this.  We have learned from very recent experiences that praying to God and listening to what He has to say is enough!  Libby's favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  This has been one of the great truths of Scripture that we have clung to in recent days.  Who knows where we will be in the next months or years. But, there is one thing for sure, wherever we land it will not be out of a desire for comfort or convenience; we want to be right where the Lord wants us!

Now that you have read all of this, please lift us up in prayer.  We covet your generosity in this.  Pray that we would be able to discern God's leading. Pray that we would feel at peace wherever that leading may take us. Pray for the future of our family, specifically that God would multiply (many times over!)  Pray, above all else, that we would never regard ourselves or our comforts above the majesty of our Holy King!  He must increase, we must decrease!

Blogging in Boston

This is my view right now.  Mr. Hottie McHotterson.  He is supposed to be reading a book for one of his classes, but please notice that he is still on the first page, even 10 minutes after I've taken the picture.  Instead he is people-watching.  Oh, his priorities...

So, we're at the Boston airport right now.  It's amazing how far we must travel to make me sit down and blog, and to make Mr. Hotterson pull out a book and pretend to read.  

Why are we in Boston, you ask?  We are waiting on our plane for New York, where we will catch a plane to Italy!  Heavens, I wish you could see my excited face right now!  My twin brother is getting married, and they are having a private ceremony in Manarola, Italy.  Oh. My. Mercy.  Have I mentioned that I am giddy?  I'm sure this isn't news to many of you, but there still might be someone out there that hasn't heard of our world travels yet.

I have a few hours to kill, and since our internet at home hasn't been working let me update you on some not-as-interesting-as-Italy-things.  I'm in a bulleted-list kinda mood, so here goes:

• I got my hair cut again.  I'm averaging about one hair cut per year now.  You would think that by now I would have learned my lesson, but I somehow forget the agony that I put myself through.  I am not a short hair kind of girl.  I thought I could embrace the bigness and be bold, but I just look about 15 years older the shorter my hair gets.  Let me give you a visual, because I don't have a picture of myself right now.  I was going for the Halley Berry Look when she was pregnant,

and instead, mine looks more like Betty White during the peak of the Golden girls, except not so grey.

I think that's all I'm going to say about that.  My emotions are still very raw on the subject.

• I had a wonderful beach trip with the girls.  There was only three of us that went, and it rained the ENTIRE time we were there, but it was so nice to catch up with some sweet friends.  We did some serious clearance shopping at the outlets, so we didn't mind the rain too much.

• Benedetto, my jewelry business, is doing very well despite the fact that I never can update my site.  I've been busy making some mommy necklaces. 

Email me or send me a message on Etsy if you are interested!

I also just finished a new batch of Mustard Seed necklaces and rings!  

Here is a little sneak peak:

    And I've been busy doing some custom orders.  I had a mother of a bride ask for a special brooch for her daughter's wedding.  She needed "something blue."  It turned out pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself.  I've even had a few word-of-mouth customers that needed something special made.  I've been busy, and I love it.  I am doing a craft show at Open Door Baptist Church in Raleigh on September 25th, so come visit me! 

• Ok, Brad has yet to finish reading the first page of his book, and I have yet to update you on our upcoming changes that I promised over two weeks ago.  But, I'm going to need to take a break and find some more comfortable seating. Maybe I can try to convince McHotterson to do a little guest blogging.  But first, if you have time, can you take a minute to say a prayer for our safety today?  There are a lot of people that I love that will by flying today and tomorrow!  Thanks!