When Love Takes You In

I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart

And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever cause this love to lose its hold

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins

When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in

I'm a HUGE fan of the Chapman family, they are considered heroes in my eyes (even prior to the recent tragedy) because of their heart for adoption and the program that they've started (Shoannah's Hope) for couples like us. When Steven Curtis wrote this song, it touched my heart on so many levels. I've always known that I would adopt at least one child, even prior to knowing about my infertility issues. So when I hear a song like this, it just affirms it in my spirit even more. I'm so excited about the possibilities of sharing my life and love with children around the world that so desperately need to belong. I hope the journey begins soon!

Secrets and Opportunities

Okay, there are two things that I'm going to admit to today that I don't think I've ever told anyone before.

As much as I know I shouldn't, I very much want to get a tattoo of a little butterfly on my hip. I know, it's CRAZY! I've always done the grandmother test on myself and agreed with the outcome (that I cannot see myself as the kind of grandmother with a tattoo). Maybe it's the nearness of summer approaching, or the adrenaline that rushes through me when I listen to Jason Mraz's song called "Butterfly", but it's definitely something that I now find myself desiring. I have some great friends (and family) with tats and I just think that they are SO cool. If I got a butterfly tattoo, what do you think it would say about me? hmm . . .

Secondly, I've always loved the British culture and language. There's something about it that is jut so fascinating to me. I watch all the British sitcoms on PBS and never turn down a British film when in theatres. I've recently discovered, while reading the book "Confessions of a Shopaholic" that I unconsciously read aloud in a British accent :) Sophie Kinsella (author) is British herself, which is why I probably relate the two, but when I open my mouth, I take on the character of Rebecca Bloomwood and am no longer plain, boring, American Melody Harrell (giggle, giggle).

I thought it was time that I shared these two secrets. I think they're kind of funny and maybe it gives you better insight into all my complexities :)

Recently, I was reunited with the public library! How did I ever forget that it existed! I guess it was all too easy to just order a book on Amazon and have it forever (which I probably didn't need for that long to begin with). Wednesday, I took a little drive to our fair library, located in quaint little downtown Concord. I love downtown Concord. It has some of the cutest shops ever! Antiques, bakeries, boutiques, bistro's,, creameries (mmm), art galleries, library, and a tea shop - what more could you ask for? PLUS, it's located in the heart of the historic district, so you're surrounded by gorgeous turn-of-the-century homes and gardens. Did I mention that I LOVE it there?! The weather has been so idyllic this week that it seems as if it was just calling my name, inviting me to take a stroll along its cultured and ancient sidewalks. How could I resist? :)

First stop - Public Library. New library card (check!), new DVD to watch (check!), new CD to listen to in the car (check!), and a new book on order (check!). Mission accomplished! 3 types of entertainment all at my disposal for FREE! Whoohoo!!!

I begin my walk down Union Street. First I pass one of my favorite boutiques that sells all things polka dots, striped, and girly! Then I pass The Bead Lady, a quaint little shop where you can create your own jewelry. One day I'll get to that . . . :) As I cross the street, I am stopped by a sign hanging right in front of my eyes. It says "Audrey's Once Upon A Time Boutique" - Audrey's baby boutique. OMIGOSH! I immediately called Chris and shared what I had found. This was all too exciting to me for 2 reasons: 1. It was named after a woman with the name of Audrey, and 2. it was a baby boutique. Kind of obvious, I realize, but the thing is, when God does decide to bless us with a baby girl, we will name her Audrey (after the classic Ms. Hepburn). This isn't a name you see very often anymore, so it's very sacred to us. Also, as I've shared in the past, I dabble in hand making baby items. So you see, this place was so neat to find b/c of those two parts of my life combined into one. I laughingly told Chris that it was a "sign" - lol, whatever that means! I walked inside the store, had a look around, then I met Audrey. She was super nice, very friendly. We talked for a few minutes. She shared with me that she was named after Audrey Hepburn as well and that she has 2 sons which took her 4 years to conceive. I already feel a connection with this woman, when on my way out I notice some familiar fabric on a shelf. She explained to me that she has hired a woman in the community to hand make baby items for her to sell in her store. So, yesterday I sent Ms. Audrey an email with my "Homemade Baby Items" portfolio (if you will), and asked her to take a look and me know if she would ever be interested in displaying any of my inventory in her store as well. I'm still waiting to hear back, but it was fun just putting my stuff (and myself) out there to see what happens. I'll keep you posted :)

In the meantime, listen to "Butterfly" by Jason Mraz - it'll open the door to you into my secret world :)

Check It Out!

I was divinely inspired today to start a new blog specifically about what the Lord teaches me on a daily basis. This is such a pivotal time in my life where God is revealinng so much of Himself to me that it just made sense to share it with the rest of the world. Not only is this a good means of holding me accountable to meeting one-on-one with God each day, but it's also a great way to share God with others (as my "readers" extend beyond close friends and family). Hopefully you will find a greater depth of insight through this new blog!

http://meditationsoftheheart.wordpress.com/

A Good Ol' Fashioned Butt-Whoopin'!

I'm in the middle of a new Bible Study called "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter. At first, I wasn't too interested. It seemed like surface material and I just kept hoping that it would get deeper. Boy, did it! Last week posed the question "Why Idols?" and addressed our identity, need, pain, silence and fear. Two days that week (need/pain) included the stories of Sarah and Hannah in the Bible. Both ladies wrestled with infertility and waiting on God to deliver them. Whoa! How relevant to my own life right now! The hardest lesson there was acknowledging that God had chosen to close Hannah's womb, on purpose, for a season. Practically speaking, God purposely brings pain and suffering into our lives for a reason. So often we believe that we can handle our life circumstances in our own strength. For me, I believed that if I just went to a doctor who performed certain procedures on me, then I wouldn't have any more trouble getting pregnant. Clearly that was a lie I was telling myself. Kelly writes "I cannot think of anything less satisfying than having myself as the big answer to everything." Thank goodness I do not have to rely on myself to get me through the difficult times in life. Thankfully I worship a God who willingly takes on those burdens for me so I do not have to carry them alone. In addition, He has a perfect plan for every one of those difficult situations that I'm faced with in this life. "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose" (Rom. 8:28). This is a promise directly from God Himself. Psalm 84:11 also promises that "The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." So why do I tempt myself with doubt and disbelief? Clearly, He has my best interests at heart. I need nothing more.

That was just what I learned last week! This week had revelations of its own. This week we discussed the topic of lies. Behind every false god is a lie, deceit, intimidation,, a door we've left open, and a prowling lion (waiting to seek and destroy). There were many things that Kelly said during this week's lesson that really made me think about the lies that I choose to believe everyday. Lies can be three things (as demonstrated by Eve in the Garden): 1. "Good for food" - meeting our physical needs, 2. "Pleasing to the eye" - meeting our emotional needs, and 3. "Desirable for gaining wisdom" - meeting our mental and spiritual needs. In regards to Eve's story and the deceit that she fell under, Kelly writes "Place me right in the middle of the garden where an angelic devil whispers sweetly in my ear while that piece of fruit shimmers in the sunlight, and my choice sadly becomes the same as Eve's." If we're honest, I think that most of us give in to the luring deceitfulness of Satan's lies. He wraps them up in pretty packages making it difficult for us to turn away and easy for us to accept. She goes on to boldly state that "Satan will tell us what's true, but he never tells us the truth." He manipulates the truth, twists it to meet our desires and wants, but doesn't necessarily always lie. The truth can be found in there somewhere. So we need to be ready and prepared, putting on the full armour of God, knowing His truth and standing on the Word. There were two things that stuck with me most this week. The first is a quote she relayed on behalf of a friend who is serving on the mission field in China, upon a recent trip back to America. "If it be any encouragement to you all, this is what I saw, especially in America: pain (deep, private, unanticipated, suffocating) met with stubborn hope (white-knuckled clinging to Him, rock-bottom conviction that His offer of Reconciliation (the cross) is the only viable option, and a willingness to risk believing that Redemption is not only something that means we get to go to heaven, but something that He is passionate to carry out now, in specific life situations, to make things show His brand of beauty - in which a healed relationship or person can reflect more glory than one who never knew brokenness.)" Secondly, she directs our attention to the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib (2 Chron. 32). In short, Hezekiah's faith was put to the test, and Sennacherib and his men taunted him and tried to lead him to doubt in His God. Ultimately, Hezekiah and God both proved faithful in the end. Kelly writes "Regardless of the circumstances, it takes confidence to believe that God is going to protect and take care of us as we wait in difficult situations." Amen!

CLEARLY I needed to be reminded about these things as it has been easy to wallow in my self pity and unfortunate circumstances lately. But God will have none of it. He says to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Guess I just needed to be reminded of that! So, thanks God (and Kelly Minter), for kickin' my butt and helping me remember all this!

Old Skool Music

Today I was adding new music to my playlist (on the right side of the page). The more new music I added, the more old music I remembered and I got SO excited! Now, don't be discouraged by the new "old" music, I realize that it may not necessarily match who I am now, but many of the old skool tunes remind me of my life as a dancer (many years ago). I used to have so much fun choreographing and dancing to this music - it was fun, it was upbeat, it was hoppin'! Even though I'm not dancing anymore, every now and then the mood still strikes, and while Chris is at work and I'm home alone, I often put on an impromptu dance recital in my house (usually while I'm cleaning). It motivates me to keep going, as cleaning itself can get a little boring after a while :) Hope you enjoy the new "old skool" classics!

Interview Wrap Up

At the request of my dear friend, Courtney, here is an update on how the interview went today. I arrived promptly at 9:27 a.m. First thing I had to do was sign in on the computer. I entered in my name and purpose of my visit and the little camera took my picture and printed out a sticker with my picture, name, date and time. I was so impressed - I've never seen anything like that before! I began the interview with Anne, the Director of Counseling (aka - my "boss"). We met briefly for the purpose of reviewing my interview schedule for the morning. From there I was escorted to the Upper School conference room to meet with the Guidance Counselor, Director of Technology, and Dean of Students. I then proceeded back to Anne's office for a more in-depth meeting with her and her Associate Director, Alex. I really enjoyed this meeting in particular b/c I was able to speak more freely and carry on more of a "conversation" vs. simply answering the panel's questions. Both Anne and Alex seem to be such wonderful people and everyone I met today sang their praises repeatedly. Afterwards, I met with the HR Administrator then back to the main office to meet with the Registrar and Dean of Academic Affairs. Finally, I met one last time with Anne to wrap things up and go over any last minute questions. By this point, I was exhausted from trying to sell myself to 10 different people and answering many of the same questions repeatedly, not to mention starving! But the interview itself went very well. I could tell that they were impressed by me and liked my personality. There were comments made that were evident that they thought I'd make a great addition to the team! Before we concluded the interview, Anne asked me if there was anything else that I wanted her to know about me or any final questions that I had - basically this was my last opportunity to sell myself to her. I told her, feeling rather comfortable there and very impressed on many levels with the school and the faculty itself, that I thought I would make a great addition to their staff and I would very much enjoy the position there. In essence, please hire me!!! She was pleased to hear this from me and thanked me for my boldness with her. They have to interview 4 more applicants over the next week and a half and told me they would be in touch with a final answer in 2 weeks. So, if the Lord wills it, this is where I will be every day from 7:30 - 4:00. My prayer this whole time since I've been laid off of work is that the next position I take will be one that I love and thoroughly enjoy being at. One that emphasizes my strengths, yet challenges me and motivates me every day. One that will not overtake my life and will allow me to continue to enjoy other hobbies and activities outside of work. This job at the Cannon School sounds like a perfect fit. And if it's not, then there's something out there even better (which, at this point, after the interview, is hard to imagine). So, as it has been said, "Lord, if this is not your will for me, then let this cup pass me by . . . " After 3 hours and 10 different "interviews", I am comfortable with the opportunities before me and am pleased that the 3-week "interview process" is finally over :)

Okay, business first - the interview went really well! I could tell that she thought I was a good fit for the job. She has asked me to really consider the job responsibilities seriously and let her know in a couple of days whether or not I prefer to move forward in the process. Once I confirm my interest with her, I will then have a second interview with the Dean of the school. Pending that goes well, I could have a job as early as next week.

Last night we decided to put Sadie in her house overnight instead of in the bed with us. Typically, we all sleep together as one big happy family, but for the last week Sadie has wandered during the night and ends up sleeping on top of me! Sadie weighs about 40 pounds, so with all that extra weight on me, I'm practically immobile which makes for very uncomfortable sleeping! So we broke down and decided to put her in her house (crate). It's was a very sad night :( Usually before we even go to bed, Sadie is already snuggling on the floor, wrapped up in a blanket, and most of the time either Chris or I are snuggling with her. So that sweet time before bed last night just made it even more difficult to put her in her cold house all alone on a totally separate floor from the rest of us :( When we got upstairs, we both agreed that it felt like we were those empty-nester parents who's children move away to college and we're left all alone. Now, I know what you are thinking, and yes, we did still have Autumn in the bed with us, but Autumn curls up inside her doughnut and doesn't move all night. While Sadie stretches out beside you and actually spoons with you :) A lot of the time she'll also curl up inside our "nook" and snuggle with us. So without her, it felt like a big empty bed :( I know this all sounds completely ridiculous because they are, after all, just dogs . . . but they are definitely our babies and we just love them SO much!



The weatherman is calling for snow tonight and tomorrow. Omigosh! I really hope so!!! It's been SO long since we've seen snow and I'm dying to see snow!!! PLUS, Sadie has never seen snow, so that will fun to watch her play in it!

On Friday we had the awesome opportunity to babysit our buddy, Cameron, for our friends Pat & Amelia. We just LOVE spending time with Cameron - he's such a blast to hang out with! Here are some pics from our time together.

My Meltdown/New Business Opportunity (sorry to combine the two)

Bear with me here, it's been a rough day and I need to get this out! Most of the time, I feel like I'm a pretty strong person. I fully understand the reality of my struggles with infertility, and most days I can confidently say that while each day provides struggles of its own, I can usually face them head on knowing that I can surrender it to God and not have to endure too many moments of weakness on my own. But lately, it's been harder and harder for me to get through the day without some sort of mental or emotional breakdown. Literally, every single day for the last week I have received news of more people I know finding out that they're pregnant. It's almost laughable now because it's so ridiculous! I am literally unable to feel any sort of joy for these people because it seems that all my joy is robbed by their news. When does it stop? When will it be possible for me to wake up each morning and not have to face this nonsense anymore? And what is even more laughable is that I'm not even in a position to apply for adoption anymore since it is SO expensive and I have no job. Great! I'm just so tired of it all! If God has given me this dream to have children and raise a family, then why is He also making it impossible for me to fulfill it? How do you pick up and move on after what feels like the death of a dream?

On a more positive note (and thank you for letting me vent my frustrations up there!!!), I received an email today from my old boss saying that he has a friend in the education system in Concord who is looking for an Admin, and he thinks I'd be perfect for the job. YAY! Even if it's just an interview, at least it's something! It's also nice to know that my fellow CJS'ers are still thinking about me in my time of need! The work schedule and vacation schedule is wonderful within the education system! I've primarily been looking for a job that is either part-time, or just enough hours to not overwhelm me yet still provide a decent income. Over the last several weeks, since I've had the time off, I've been doing a lot of sewing and designing and finally agreed to build my own small business on the side. Chris has been a huge help in doing this and we are really excited, yet intimidated, by the opportunity. The business is called "Simply Divine" and it's a small boutique of homemade baby items (blankets, burp cloths, bibs, paci clips, onesies, etc.). I've been working on the website and hope to have it completed and published by the end of the week. I have to sew several more items to post on the website before I can release it, hence a full week dedicated to sewing! But I love it, it's fun, it's challenging, and I feel like I'm doing something important and still contributing in a small way to our home.

My New Favorite Website

Recently I've discovered the awesomeness of sugar scrubs! For any woman, this is the ultimate pampering item and can quickly become an essential! I typically purchase them through retailers such as Bath & Body Works (they have GREAT aromatherapy scents), but I decided (in an effort to save a little money) to try making this at home myself. How hard can it be, right? A little sugar, some fragrant oil, etc. Not too many ingredients involved :) So in my research today I stumbled upon this great website that lists the recipes for almost any kind of homemade goodie imagineable! I am convinvced that once I master these recipes, they will make wonderful gifts for my girlfriends (when the need arises). Just another thing to add to my list of items to auction off! Being creative (and thrifty) can be SO much fun! YAY!!!

http://www.mybeautyrecipes.com/Site_Map.html

The interview went well yesterday. It was pretty quick - like 20 minutes! I sort of felt unprepared in that I went into this interview expecting to discuss my professional qualifications and career goals, but most of the time was spent discussing our personal interests. First thing she said to me was "Tell me about yourself." She wanted to know what my hobbies were, what I did for fun, how Chris and I met, our families, etc. She said she was already aware of my qualifications and didn't feel like she needed to interview me on that alone, but she wanted to know who I am as a person. It certainly made me think and I was definately caught off guard. It's not so easy to talk aout yourself for 20 minutes to someone who is, in essence, judging you to see if you're a good fit for their company.

We left it at she'll contact me after the holidays when her current assistant moves to Charleston and will have more information to provide at that time.

In the meantime, I'm certainly enjoying staying at home, resting, and enjoying those hobbies I haven't had much time for these last couple of years. Today I will be making special Chritmas gifts for the women in my family and wrapping gifts to place under the tree . . . what fun!

OH! And we finally put up our Christmas tree last night! Most people decorate their tree to the tune of commercial Christmas music or while watching their favorite Christmas movie, but not the Harrell's . . . we decorate our tree to the tune of NFL football! A little something for us both :)

Interview

I emailed a business contact this morning (completely on a whim) to see if she had any employment opportunities at her firm. To my surprise, she thanked me for contacting her and asked her assistant to arrange a meeting between us on Monday (12/8) at 2:00 pm. This particular lady, Emma Littlejohn, is a good friend of my old boss Brian Jenest, and I had the pleasure of working with her occasionally through Brian over the years. I ask for your prayers as I continue to seek the Lord's direction through this.

Emma's website is www.thelittlejohngroup.com in case you want to check out what I'm interviewing for.

Will keep you posted . . .

Living the Dream . . .

I think it suits me . . . yes? :)

The Time Has Come

The inevitable has finally happened. I think I've been denying the reality of this economic "crisis" and its effects on ColeJenest and Stone for a while now. It can't be ignored anymore. I was laid off yesterday, for the first time in my life. I sat in that awkward conference room with 10 of my fellow co-workers listening to my boss(es) explain that it wasn't a personal decision, in fact it was a very difficult decision, but the power of the dollar was more valuable than our contributions to the firm, and they had no other choice but to let us all go. No matter how hard you try, you can't help but take it personally, even just a little bit. I knew it was coming, but I was shocked to find myself included in this group. They said that in my case in particular, 80%-90% of my time was considered overhead and not billable time, and they couldn't afford to keep a full-time overhead employee on staff any longer. Even though this was understood among us all when I accepted the position of Executive Assistant over a year ago, I was laid off in spite of it anyways.

BUT! The great news is that I now have the time to do so many things that I never had the time for before. There's the obvious hobbies: reading, sewing, crafting, cleaning, etc., but I'm most excited about all the time that I get to dedicate to the Lord and His service. He's been changing my heart for months and I never had the time to dedicate back to Him or to the calling that He's placed on my life. He provided such an awesome way for me to leave my current situation and press on to what He has in store for me by allowing me the monetary comforts that I'm used to (severance/benefits/unemployment) so that it's not a drastic change for us.

I'm not even sure what it is exactly that I am meant to do, but I know that it's in ministry - perhaps even missions - and I'll just continue to pray for direction and guidance during this process and be available for whatever He has in store for me. The great hope I have now is that whatever His plan is for me and whatever "job" is out there waiting for me, it is SO much greater than I had in the past or that I can fathom right now. And I'm so excited to know that in His perfect time I will be living my life according to His perfect plan for me and my family. What an amazing opportunity that has been placed before me!

Stay tuned . . . awesome things are bound to happen . . .

My Paper Heart - Francesca Battistelli

My sister sent me a CD by this artist for my birthday and I find her music to be very honest and inspiring. On the back of her album cover, she wrote the following message:

"I am in awe of what the Lord has done in me. This year has been the hardest, scariest, most rewarding year of my life. I have known sorrow and I have known joy. God has spoken quietly the words of His heart and he has shown me colors in the grayest hues of winter. He has sung songs over me in solitude and He has never let go of my fragile, paper heart. He knows every corner of it – the tattered, torn, untouched places. He knows the songs that move it, the words that pierce it and the people He uses to change it. I am forever safe in His hands. In turn I say o=to you, Beloved, let Him romance you with the things that He alone knows will take your breath away. He is longing for you? Can you hear Him calling?"

It's like she took the words right out of my mouth! I would highly suggest previewing this CD or even buying it - it's excellent!

Me and Nicholas Sparks

I met Nicholas Sparks! It was one of the greatest moments of my life! He was so nice and thoughtful! I had a speech prepared but was only given approximately 15 seconds to talk to him - not nearly enough time! So Chris suggested that I write him a letter . . . I think I will! In the meantime, here are some pictures.

Nicholas Sparks

Not only does my favorite author's new film adaptation of his book "Nights in Rodanthe" open in theatres tomorrow (which Chris has long since vowed to take me to see), but I will actually get to meet him in person next Thursday night (10/2) at a book signing of his latest novel "The Lucky One". I don't think I even need to go into any more detail about how totally elated I am about this! It will probably be the highlight moment of 2008 and for me! I have contemplated purchasing his new book to autograph next week, but I've opted against it for 2 reasons:

1. My birthday is in 2 weeks and the book is on "the list."
2. My favorite novel by NS is "The Notebook" - this novel has inspired me so much that I have vowed to name my first born son after the main character in this book . . . Noah Calhoun. I also plan to read this book to my children as I rock them to sleep at night (excluding certain parts for obvious reasons). Therefore, for sentimental value, it only seems appropriate to have Nicholas Sparks autograph this book for me - as it has and will continue to play a big part in my life.

I can't even believe it - this is such big news!!!

Lost Souls

On Friday I was granted the "privilege" of riding the train in to Raleigh with 15 other co-workers to visit our Raleigh Office/Projects. The day was actually quite lovely - we had a wonderful meal waiting for us when we arrived, we walked down Fayetteville Street Mall and learned all about the history and its future, drove through several of our existing projects, and finished our time in Raleigh office with drinks at a local sidewalk cafe/restaurant (I met my parents for coffee instead). When we got back to the train station, we were informed that our train had been delayed an hour and a 20 minutes. So, since we would now be travelling through the dinner hours, we headed down the street to a nearby restaurant. I enjoyed a filling garden salad while the rest of my peers boozed it up at the bar :) 45 Minutes later, here comes a train . . . it had number 61 on it and we were on number 79, so we were sure that it wasn't our train. Turns out, it was . . . and I had to run to catch the train! We almost didn't make it! It was exciting and terrifying all at the same time! However, just when I thought I was settling in for a nice, quiet trip back to Charlotte, my co-workers pulled out the "Secret" bottles of top shelf liquor and proceeded to get drunk - the whole 3 hours back to Charlotte! I was in misery! I could not believe what I was seeing. They were acting like ridiculous, foolish, loud, obnoxious, arrogant LOST people . . . and it broke my heart. Somehow, I have managed to avoid those types of encounters my whole life, but there was no avoiding this one. Not only was I shocked and furious at their behavior while on a business trip (representing ColeJenest and Stone), but I was so sad for them because I realize that they are just trying to fill an empty void in their lives - a need that only Jesus can meet. I got off the train and immediately began to pray for them all the way home as I knew they would be getting into their cars and drunkenly driving to their next destination (which, from what I could tell, would just be another stop on this party train). I haven't stopped praying for them - or me - ever since. It became very clear to me that night that this place where I work, where I spend 10 hours a day with non-believers, this place is my mission field. I am responsible for being "salt and light" to them as instructed in Matthew 5:13-16. This is a huge responsibility - but I know I have the necessary support to see it through. Please be praying for me as I attempt to set myself apart from my co-workers and live out a pleasing testimony of God's grace, faithfulness, fulfillment, and salvation.

On a lighter note, I think I'm gonna start a book club! Just a little club of girls where we read a different book each month, get together once a month over coffee and tea (and appetizers), and discuss the book. I'm still trying to figure out the logistics . . . but it could be super fun! I think I might start with this book:



Let me know if you're interested . . .

Facebook VIRUS!

As many of you are probably already aware, someone hacked into facebook and began spreading a virus. I received what seemed like a normal email message from a co-worker, but when I tried to open it, the virus took over. Apparently, once you attempt to open the email (through facebook), it automatically sends the virus to each of your friends on facebook. Now, this in iteself is not that big of a deal (well, it's not only if you have a good computer virus program installed on your hard drive); what I'm most concerned about are the messages that went out to my friends. It seems as if the messages varied in content and there were several of a pornagraphic nature. HOPEFULLY, anyone who know's me realizes that's not in my character, but I still feel as if an explanation is required. It's no one's fault, we had no way of knowing. Well, perhaps if I had paid more attention I could have caught it in time (like many of my friends have), but I just don't read those warning pop-up's when they appear on my screen! I guess this has taught me a very big lesson!

Administrative Professionals Day!

So, today went WAY better than anticipated! Obviously, since I'm blogging about this, I have good news to report. Keeping in mind that last year there was almost no recognition of this special day, I had very low expectations. However, it turns out the the employees of ColeJenest and Stone must value me a whole lot more than I give them credit for. As I approached my office this morning, sat down in my chair and logged in to my computer, I received an email informing me that the civic team had provided breakfast for the admin team this morning in recognition of the "holiday." WOW - that was super! Muffins, fruit, danishes, juice - it was so lovely! Especially because I hadn't yet had breakfast and I was starving! Throughout the morning there were several well-wishes, many "thank you's," and "this office could not function without you" (which was my personal favorite). All lovely sentiments to hear. When I got back from lunch, there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers on my desk from the Partners, Brian and Dudley. Now this was truly unexpected. Dudley was spending the day in our Raleigh office (though he did call to wish me a happy admin professionals day) and Brian was wrapped up in meetings all day - so how they snuck this one by me I'll never know. Seeing as I'm their personal assistant and I know I didn't order these flowers for myself, I'm curious as to how they got it done! :) Later in the day, I received a gift card from my direct supervisor, Alison, to a really cool store in Southend called Paper Skyscraper. And then, to top it all off, a co-worker (Marie) honored me with a peanut butter and chocolate brownie from Dean and Deluca. What a wonderful day! 364 days out of the year, administrative professionals are so under-appreciated, but on this one day out of the year, we feel very blessed! I was amazed at the thoughtfulness that came from my co-workers today - it was truly a great day to be an Executive Administrative Assistant!

Biblical Assurance

Each morning I get a new Bible verse/commentary in my email to encourage me throughout the day. Check out what the Lord encouraged me with today . . . He's so amazing!!!


Today's Verse:

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:35-38 (NIV)

Commentary

Elizabeth - A Spiritual Mentor Elizabeth is described by Luke as a woman of integrity and obedience (Luke 1:6). As both the daughter and wife of a priest (v. 5), she lived a righteous life, even though she carried a quiet sorrow because of her childlessness. Then a miracle occurred. Her husband Zacharias, who served in the temple at Jerusalem, was the first person in four hundred years to receive a direct word from God. While he was burning incense, an angel appeared to announce that his wife Elizabeth would have a child who would be named John (v. 13).Elizabeth was the first to recognize Mary of Nazareth as the mother of the Messiah. When Mary came to visit during Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, John leaped inside Elizabeth's womb when Mary spoke (v. 41). Elizabeth understood immediately the imminence of the Messiah's birth. What a joyful time the two expectant mothers must have had as the godly Elizabeth shared hospitality and wise advice with her young cousin. Her interaction with the young Mary clearly distinguishes Elizabeth as an outstanding mentor (see Titus 2:3-5).Mary left after three months, but Elizabeth's joy continued with the birth of her own child (see Luke 1:14, 24, 25). Not only did Elizabeth miraculously conceive a child in her old age, but also God once again came to His people in fulfillment of centuries of eager anticipation. John the Baptist became a powerful preacher of the message of repentance and the forerunner who introduced the Messiah. Jesus said that no one was greater than this son of Elizabeth (Matt. 11:11).Elizabeth could have faced her old age with a sense of failure and waning faith, but her vibrancy of spirit serves as a reminder that God watches over every woman with loving care. Elizabeth trusted and God rewarded her. She shared herself liberally with Mary, and undoubtedly she trained her son in the Lord while she lived out her faith before him. See also Luke 1:5-25, 57-66; notes on Aging (Is. 46); Infertility (Gen. 11); Mentoring (2 Kin. 2)