A Very Merry Christmas Indeed!

Hello Blog-World! I have not graced your presence for sometime, so first off.. Greetings!

I cannot believe that Christmas is over, and what a great Christmas is was! Here is a play-by-play of our Christmas week...

Sunday, December 19th, Josh and I spent time with my family.. which is always a treat for me! I always enjoy spending time with my parents, sister and brother-in-law. We always eat great food and have many laughs while around the table. This year Kelly, Mom and I had some very fun laughs looking at our family tree and all the funny names we could find! Oh, what a trip!

Monday, December 20th, Josh and I celebrated Christmas with his parents. This year was Becky and Ron's year to have Josh and I on Christmas day, but Ron had to work Christmas and Hillary (Seth, my bro-in-law's g/f) was in town.. so, Monday worked out best. We took pictures, ate yummy food, read the Christmas story, worked on a puzzle, watched Charlie Brown Christmas and opened gifts! Wow.. a jam packed evening full of laughter and fun!


Tuesday, December 21st, Josh and I went to Fort Mill, SC to spend the evening with the Smith family. This family has been a part of our lives since Josh and I were engaged. Megan and Truman have been some of our truest friends. They truly are a God-send. They also have two of the cutest boys on the planet.

Wednesday, December 22nd, I was asked to help lead a Candlelight Service in Kannapolis, NC. Josh and I are good friends with the Assoc. Pastor and his wife, so they asked if I'd come sing. And so.. Chris, Cindy, Zack and I lead the service that evening. Carly (Chris' wife), set up gorgeous candles in the church. Chris read scripture and sang with Cindy and I as Zack played guitar. It was such a serene evening, so warm and peaceful.

Thursday, December 23rd, Josh and I spent a quiet evening at home watching the Sound of Music and eating yummy pizza.

Friday, December 24th, Josh and I joined his parents and brother, Matt, in Salisbury, NC for the Christmas Eve Service at First Baptist. The service was slam-packed with people! After the service, we went back to the Hughes' house, friends of the family, for some food and fellowship. I am so blessed to have been warmly welcomed by the friends of my in-laws.. they are a group of couples and their children who have known each other for 20+ years, whose children have grown up together and have continued to be a tight-knot group! I think spending time with them is one of my favorite Clark Christmas traditions! After we returned home, Josh and I opened gifts by the tree. It was such a sweet time, just the town of us under the tree. So, we took pictures!

Saturday, December 25th.. CHRISTMAS DAY!! Josh and I picked up Becky, Seth and Matt and headed to the farm to spend the day with Grand-mommy and Grand-daddy. Becky's sister, Lynn, and her husband, Greg, also joined us. We spent the afternoon chatting with family members as they dropped in to say, "Hello" and "Merry Christmas!" It was such a nice visit.. and I got to know more for the Nunnery side of the family better! Oh.. and it started snowing on our way home! A White Christmas after all!

Sunday, December 26th, Josh and I enjoyed our snow day at home. We ventured out to the store around 10am and then did not leave again until we went to a Christmas Movie Night at our friends' house. The evening was filled with more yummy food, fellowship and a game of "bad Santa." We love any time spent with our friends. Many were missed tonight, but I will be seeing them this week as we continue the Christmas celebrating!


This week has been chalk full of Christmas celebrations and gifts, but the greatest gift of all to be received on Christmas is the gift of Jesus Christ. He was brought into this world to live a perfect life, and then die a shameful death on the cross for the sins of the world. Thank you, Lord, for sending us your Perfect Lamb. Merry CHRISTmas!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6

Glory to God!

Well, August 23rd marked a new year of school, a new job, and an opportunity to make new friends and impact the lives of the students I would be working with.

I am about two months into my job, and thankfully.. I still love it! Each day is a new adventure, full of new surprises! I see about 6 classes a day, one of each grade.. Kindergarten through Fifth. It has been a challenge to switch gears from lower grades to upper grades and vise versa, but each class brings about a new challenge, different personalities and a new something to learn each day! I come home exhausted, but fulfilled.

I am thankful for the opportunity to work with people that I have known for many years, and one that I have known all my life, as well as brand new friends that I am making.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to work with the amazing staff and the fun, enthusiastic students at RCES! I am blessed! I pray that my actions would bring Glory to God day in and day out.

Liberating Labor Day Weekend

Josh and I spent Labor Day weekend at North Myrtle Beach, SC with our friends: Allison and Grant Maginnis, Amy and Cameron Wagner. This was our first getaway as a married couple, together, without parents! We have each spent weekends away with friends, but never together as a married couple. The weekend was sunny and warm, a beach-filled vacation with some lazy river riding on the side...

Wonderful News..

I have a job! Thank you, Lord! I'll be working at Reedy Creek Elementary, running the Science Lab for Kindergarten-5th grades! I am so thankful that the Lord provided!

God is Good!

Still waiting..

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. -Philippians 4:12

The Lord is continually working in Josh and I, and frequently uses Josh to teach me things and vise versa. Lately, the Lord has been reiterating patience and contentment to me. He has been reminding me to be patient with His timing and to be content in what He lays before me.

I am still waiting to hear from job interviews and what I will be doing this school year. This is not something that comes easily for me, especially since teacher workdays begin tomorrow and I am a planner. I like to know what is coming down the pipeline next, but in this case.. I don't know. I am getting a refresher course on trusting the Lord, His plan and timing for my life. I am just breathing and praying... that is about all I can do as I wait.

My heart grows faint..

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:1-3



Lord, lead me to the rock that is higher than I..

Its been a long time..

Well, blog world.. it has been a long time...

I don't have any clever words or good encouragement today.. but I do covet your prayers.

I am, yet again, job searching..... I have received my teacher's certification and would like to begin teaching in a local school. The catch... many job-seekers and few jobs to go around. I am a first year teacher on paper, but have worked with children for a long time in various school settings, afterschools and summer camps. I just long to work with children and make a difference in their lives.. to love the ones that are not loved, to inspire them to love to learn, to seek out the answers they desire, to feel safe, comfortable, heard.

So, today I ask for your prayers, your advice or encouragement....