Refreshed

I woke up this morning demanding pancakes. We had everything but the syrup. So, what did we do? Decided to make a trip to the store and make a huge breakfast. I started the coffee pot before we left so that the smell would meet me at the door upon our arrival back home. I thought about this coffee all the way to the store. I was especially excited about it because last night, Connie brought me an early Christmas gift and it was a beautiful, heavy, red coffee mug--my new favorite. We got home and I started the bacon. Let me just say that the smell of bacon takes me back to my childhood. It reminds me of good things in the past like mornings at my dad's house and incredibly amazing breakfasts while overlooking the beauty of Douglas Lake. The pancakes were finished and eggs on the way when we decided to open up the windows. The smell of bacon mingling with the fresh breeze took me back to Saturday mornings at home with my mom. Fresh air and outdoor activities always remind me of her. Andrea came up to have breakfast with us. After all, I got carried away with cooking and cooked enough for 6 or 7 people. We love having Andrea so close to us. She comes up to visit at least once a day. Emily loves her Re-Re. It is so nice to be around family. Last weekend we had a wonderful time at nana and pop's house. Yesterday, we drove to Cosby to visit the apple orchard with grandpa, Uncle Phil, Aunt Ruth Ann, and sweet friend Norma. After that, we paid a visit to mom at work. Emily ran down the halls of her work shouting "nana! nana!" while she was in with a patient. I don't think mom minded the distraction one bit! I was meant to live like this: with family. I wasn't made for isolation, but for close and deep relationships--as were you.
I have adopted a new method of spending time with the Lord. Previously, I was reading a couple of different devotions with corresponding verses. Altogether, it took about 15 minutes. I was finding myself craving more. 15 minutes and a couple random verses didn't seem to be satisfying my need. I resorted to my bookshelf full of inspirational books. I found a "Daily Walk Bible" that I had adopted from Aunt Carolyn's previous collection. I am absolutely loving it. It allows me to read the Word in a continuous manner as well as giving me some insight to what i'm reading and how to apply it to my life. My new best friend is a nice little book called "A Commentary on the Entire Bible" by the wonderful professors from DTS. How did I not discover this sooner? I strongly encourage the study of the Word with a Bible in one hand and a good commentary in the other.
We are still praying and waiting on the Lord to provide employment. It is so exciting to see how he has provided for us so far. My, he is so good. We are settled, moved in, and loving our new environment. Emily is finally adjusted and sleeping through the night. She is also learning her boundaries --she finds a new one every day.
I have a 10-page research paper due by Monday that will finish up my third class. My transfer credits were finally applied and I am scheduled to graduate in early 2012. Until then, I'll keep chipping away at it.
We love you, dear friend.
The Schoaps

My King

I love you, Lord, and I live my voice to worship you. O, my soul, rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what you hear. Let it be a sweet sweet sound in your ear.

A New Lifestyle

Well, we are in Athens and settled--as far as moving goes anyways. We love our new home and our new town. I am especially enjoying having so much family close by. I get to see a sweet cousin of mine every single day and an aunt, uncle, and more cousins almost as much. I have debated on whether or not to make this public knowledge, but I'm going to give in. We are living above a funeral home in Athens. My aunt and uncle own it and have made the 3rd floor their home for 20 something years. It just happened to be that they were building a new house on their farm land and it would be ready for move in three weeks before we would need a place to live after departing from the Army. Coincidence? I think not. Our living situation was worked out solely by the hand of the Lord and to Him we give the glory. The best part about it is that we get to sing along to funeral music a few times a week! I'm always up for a good song. ;) The second best part is the view which is pictured above.

The weather has turned cool. I love the days when my skin feels cool fresh air and the direct light of the sun is all I have to warm me. It increases my appreciation for our heat source which is often taken for granted. We are still unemployed and seriously trusting God for a job opportunity before too long. What other choice do we have? Some applications have been turned in recently, so we are excited to see the outcome of that. Until all of that is made known to us, we are spending our days with each other. We play with Emily toys, cook, and clean...but mostly play. We just returned home from our getaway to the beach. We stayed at a beautiful hotel right on the beach on Amelia Island thanks to the urging of a dear friend. It was truly a wonderful place to stay and a charming little town. A week is a tad too long to leave my baby though. I'm glad to be back. Now, we are just having to re-learn that just because mommy leaves the room doesn't mean she is leaving for a week again. Patience... I would post pictures of the beach trip but silly me forgot the digital camera so what did we do? We bought a disposable one. Yep...have to go get it developed later. How ancient is that?

I have been a bit lazy lately in that J has been getting up early and getting Emily out of bed while I stay asleep. It is very different around here now that we are apart from the Army's schedule. Lately, though, I have found myself craving something....needing something. I've come to realize that I physically and mentally need time alone in the first hours of the day to hear from the Lord. It's not a new revelation to any of you, of course, because it is mentioned in the Bible several times. "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word." Psalm 119:147 It refreshes me. It awakens me. It directs my focus and sets the tone for the day.

You know, I am amazed at how fickle I am. My emotions about the same constant thing can change in an instant. I read in the beloved "Jesus Calling" devotion book:

"The human mind cannot comprehend My constancy. Your emotions flicker and falter in the face of varying circustances, and you tend to project your fickle feelings onto Me. Thus you do not benefit fully from my unfailing love."

Then, the Bible told me that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Might sound a bit cliche and too familiar to strike a new resonance in us but I choose to receive those words with a fresh annointing of God's promise. I don't want to miss out on his love for me for even a second. I feel that it is so easy for us to get caught up in religion, denominations, and doctrines today. Myself included of course. I pray that our focus could be the eternal one. I don't think being "part" of a religion or denomination will get us to the glory seat some day. I know that our victory will be in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that changes us from the inside out. And that victory is not only eternal life, but first of all, an intimate relationship with Him on earth, and eternal life with Him in glory.

Blessings,

Amanda