Lord's Day
I know that Sunday mornings are not really ideal times to blog. Instead, I should be in prayer and meditation, preparing for worship. However, as I sit here with my p-nut butter on toast, I just feel like writing.
Yesterday we went to Southeast Christian Church. It's the 10th largest church in the WORLD. It's really overwhelming...so impressive. Everytime we visit, they have something new. Yesterday the new thing was a coffee shop. Imagine, a coffee shop in the church. It's a good idea, but just so not typical of the smaller churches that I'm used to. I did enjoy going...I always do. We're planning to go every Saturday evening that we're in Louisville. We also plan to start attending chapel during the semester. I don't think we went any last semester! The Seminary has chapel on Tues and Thurs mornnings. The problem has been that Frankie just is not a morning person. He usually struggles to get to sleep (often not falling asleep before 4 or 5 am!), so it's very hard for him to then get up at 8 or 9. He has a 7am class on Wednesdays this semester. I don't how he'll manage, especially with having to drive to Munfordville and preach that same evening.
Well, I better get going. Must make husband an egg sandwich.
It's a God thing.
I forgot to mention this in my previous blogs, but while we were in SC our bank account continued to dwindle at an alarming rate! I was working PRN at a nursing home, but they demand 12 hour shifts and the last one I did caused so much back pain and swelling (I guess due to pregnancy). My OBGYN doesn't recommend so many long hours especially since I'm on my feet 95% of that time (not an exaggeration). Anyway, I have slacked off with work and Frankie makes $1138/month. (Last year he cleared $666. Creepy.) Our rent at Seminary is $575/month (which includes water but not electricity). His tuition in the PhD program is $600/month during the semester. Of course, $575 + $600= $1175, which leaves us negative $37. Ok, so we're poor. But we had a little more saved up from me working, so each month we had about $200 left. After traveling to SC, however, with gas so outrageous and having to eat out, our account dropped. To add to the decline, Frankie drove back to KY to preach then returned to get me to allow me a few extra days with my parents.
OK, so to the point... when we got back to KY I checked the account and we had $50. The electric bill and other bills from bloodwork I had down when I found out I was pregnant came in the mail. For a change, however, I felt peaceful about it and didn't really worry a bit (not typical behavior for me!). That very day in the mail we received $100 from a pastor friend in SC and $100 from an old friend of Frankie's! What an amazing God we serve! Neither people knew of our financial struggles. What timing. The pastor's wife had written on the card, "It's a God thing." I just thought to myself, "yea, it is."
It reminded me of a book I read recently about Brother Andrew (
God's Smuggler)...he was such a faithful servant of the Lord and God provided for him in the most amazing ways time and time again. I long for that kind of faith all the time. And to remember that there is a distinct difference between the things I want and the things I need. One fear I have is that if/when we're ever in a position where our financial situation is good, I will become more consumed with material possessions.
I do think that I have done very well, considering. As an only child, I got pretty much everything I wanted. I was used to using a debit card from my parents account at liberty, so marrying a poor preacher was a shock. Sometimes it amazes me that it's been over a year since I just went shopping, buying whatever I want. Actually, it's been a year since I bought anything new for myself. It's been humbling and good, though. I've also realized people can get by on so much less than they think they can. Of course, we all live at income level. But when we know couples that make $50-80,000 and they talk about their bills and talk about how they don't know how they're going to make it, we can't help but shake our heads. We do understand that the more money you have, the more bills you tend to have.
Anyway, enough about money. Just wanted to tell about God's latest provision for us!
Revisiting student life
Before my husband & I married he expressed his desires for me to work toward a Master's degree at some point. I agreed at the time, thinking then that was something I would like to eventually do. Last fall he encouraged me to apply to the Master's program, which I did and was accepted to begin in the spring. Because so much was going on, I requested my beginning semester be postponed until the fall...which is almost upon us. Several times my husband has mentioned me signing up for a class or two this semester, so yesterday I finally did it. I already take a class for women each semester that meets for a couple of hours once a week. In addition to that, I signed up for a class that meets twice a week for just over an hour. Under normal circumstances I would be excited, but I'm worried that being pregnant will interfere with even this one class. My baby is due the first week in November and classes aren't over until the week before Thanksgiving. I'm sure that my professor will be understanding and allow me to do my work in advance or something like that, but I'm still a little worried about it all.
Also, this is vain, I know, but I'm concerned about my appearance. I look like a big cow and most of my clothes don't fit properly. I do have a few (like three) pairs of pants that fit ok, and several shirts. However, most of these are summer clothes. As for fall and winter clothes, I have two shirts that
might
fit. I'm shy enough without feeling drab, fat and unfashionable in class!
Last night one of Frankie's friends from Moldova called and is planning to come visit us tomorrow through Sunday or Monday. I'm glad for the visit and I do think it's important for Christians to show hospitality and have an open home to anyone. The problem with this lately has been that we are so often traveling or visiting in SC and it takes several days for our apartment to get back in order. Monday I began working on laundry from our SC visit. Before I was finished, I read a note on the basement door where the campus washers & dryers are that said to finish laundry by 7am on Monday (it was then noon!). All washers & dryers will be removed and replaced Wednesday. Needless to say, I didn't finish my laundry. Soooo, between now and tomorrow, I have to do some serious cleaning. (And let's not forget that church is tonight...We drive 2.5 hours roundtrip to Munfordville twice a week, which takes a huge hunk of our time).
In Kentucky Again
We arrived at our apartment this morning around 3am. We had to stop in Knoxville for Frankie to deliver a letter of invitation to a man from Moldova. A family he knows from Moldova currently lives in Knoxville and are going back to Moldova for a visit. They're bringing their parents to the US and wanted to bring their brother back for a visit as well. In order to do that, a US citizen has to extend the invitation.
It's interesting to me to see these people. The parents are in their 50's and have 7 children. Four daughters and two sons are here...one daughter is still in Moldova. There are like 6 grandchildren here as well. Yesterday the apartment they live in was bustling with activity and excitement. I was a little envious...large families seem like so much fun. But unless you hear them speak (several speak English very well, but you can detect the foreign accent) you cannot tell they aren't American.
I wish more Europeans would come to America.
Today will likely be a busy, boring day. I have to clean the apartment (after being gone two weeks). We have a stack of laundry to do, and groceries must be bought. Ugh. I want to start working on the nursery either today or tomorrow. We don't have much time! I managed to bring a changing table back to KY. Frankie's sister and brother-in-law and their babies, along with (possibly) his parents are planning to come up here for labor day weekend. On their trip they said they'd bring the crib from his parents. It matches the changing table we bought. Aside from buying a comfortable rocking chair or glider, that will be all the furniture we need (or have room for!).
Preparing to go back to KY
It's Thursday morning and Frankie is still in bed. I just told my mom bye and she left for work...weepy and sad, of course. I hate being 9 hours from my parents, but hopefully it's just temporary. Frankie said a long time ago that it wasn't wise for people to just have one child (if they can help it). I disagreed...not really seeing the big deal. Since marriage, I have come to really agree wholeheartedly. Parents and only children depend so much on each other. It really makes independence difficult. Also there is so much stress and worry because each knows the other is all they have.
It's been a great two weeks at home! I've enjoyed time away from Louisville and Munfordville. There's no place like home, truly. It's funny how much more comfortable people are around 'their people.' Around here I know everyone and can be myself and just relax. At the church, however, I'm always on pins and needles because the people don't really know me and I'm just seen as a small extension of Frankie. I guess when we go to a church together (actually really viewed as a couple) it will be much better. As it is, I really grow weary of the church. I do like so many of the people, it's just that I don't have any friends there. Oh well. What do you do?
Home Sweet Home
Frankie & I came to SC week before last (Thursday, July 6th). He filled in at North Cheraw on Sunday morning and evening. He ended up going back to KY on Friday but I stayed here. He returned to SC on Monday and he wants to head back to KY tomorrow morning. I'd rather stay until Friday, of course, but I guess I've gotten more time at home that I expected, so I won't push my luck.
During our visit, ate with his sister, Amy and Jody and the twins, as well as with his grandmother (twice). We also spent an evening with his mom and dad. We ate dinner with my parents a couple of times and went by Marie's (my aunt) too. I think we visited family fairly equally this time.
Last week I laid out a little and got a little sun. For the last several days, however, it's just been too hot. I'm already feeling white again! I figure the sun isn't too good for the baby anyway.
Speaking of the baby, my mom got to feel her move last week. She was pretty excited about that. Also, I have a doctor's appointment on Monday. I'm 6 months and 1 day. Not too much longer to go! During this trip home, we bought a changing table, too. Frankie's mom is going to give us the crib she bought. I don't think we need any other pieces of furniture, except a chair for the nursery. I guess that will be my big project when we return to Louisville...getting the nursery ready.
One more piece of news to share: I started a new hobby. Scrapbooking. It's so much fun. I've been wanted to begin for several months, but have been unable to purchase supplies or find time to start. I also had not yet printed our pictures from Bulgaria, or even developed several rolls of film I had. This week, however, I got our prints from Bulgaria and bought a beginner's scrapbooking kit.
I've only completed 7 pages, but I think it's going well. And I'm really enjoying it! I love pictures anyway...and family history. What better way to incorporate both.
