Highs & Lows...but mostly Highs!

This post is probably going to be all over the place with my thoughts! I have so much on my mind and sometimes it's hard to organize it all into specific categories. I want to start blogging more, my goal was once a week, but I think I'm going to up that to twice a week and see how it goes.

This past week was a wonderful week. There were challenges and obstacles that needed to be addressed and overcome at work and I rose to the occasion and by the end of the week the after school program was running pretty smoothly (as smoothly as an after school program can). We had over 60 kids last week which is the most that have participated yet, so all in all it was a great week. Plus, I'm falling in love with my school. The staff at my school is awesome, they have been so encouraging, so willing to help, and so welcoming! I know that God planned for me to be here at RNJH and I feel so blessed. I keep praying that I'll do my best in my position and that he will use me to love on the students. Which my job is set up so perfectly to make solid relationships with the students, because I do not teach during the day, I simply get

to hang out with the kids at lunch, say hello to them in the hallways, and then plan fun activities for them after school. I hardly ever have to put on the 'serious/harsh' teacher face because my students have a choice. They don't have to stay after school, they want to stay after school. This makes a huge difference in the formation of my relationships at school, both the students and I are invested in the classes after school, which makes everything so much more fun! This has been such a unique experience for me and I love it! So glad God had this in His plan for me.

My weekend was fun. Not too much to do, so it was nice to relax and get things done around the apartment. We finally hung up our pictures around the apartment, and we also did a deep clean of the whole place, which felt good to get done because it needed it. So not the most exciting agenda for a Saturday but still good. Bruce and I had a bit more fu

n Saturday night. First, we went to the Cottenwood Art Festival. I LOVE festivals, craft shows, flee markets, etc. so I was really looking forward to going and catching a glimpse of the art but also taking part in the fun pastime of people watching. Most of the art was beautiful, and pricey! Some of the art was unique, and let's just say I didn't get it. Sometimes I think I could be an artist with some of the things these people are selling! One of my favorite parts of the art festival were the cinnamon roasted almonds...so good!

After the art festival Bruce and I headed towards SMU. We had tickets to a debate entitled, "Can we Trust the Text of the New Testament?" The debate was between Bart Ehrman and Daniel Wallace, both professors and experts of text criticism and of the New Testament. The debate was SO interesting, and very heated. It was only supposed to be from 7-9 but lasted until after 10 p.m. Although Dan Wallace is the side that I am in support of (yes, we can trust the text of the New Testament), I would have loved to get Bart Ehrman in a room and ask him all of my questions. Ehrman's the one I find so interesting, because he used to be a Believer. He did research for years as a Christian, but eventually turned his back on his beliefs because of the evidence, or should I say lack of evidence we have for the authenticity of the New Testament. From what I learned at the debate it seems that we have over 20,000 copies of the New Testament, which is more than any other comparable work of it's time. But the earliest copies we have are from the late 2nd Century and on. Ehrman is not satisfied with the 20,000 copies from the late 2nd Century and on, his argument is that what if scribes from the 1st and early 2nd Centuries changed the text of the New Testament? How can we be sure ,or in other words, trust that we are reading the actual accounts of Mark, Luke, or John? Because we cannot know 100% what happened to the text in the 1st Century Ehrman says we cannot trust the text of the New Testament. So interesting. I disagree with him, but the debate made me think about how much I do not know. The debate inspired me to continue learning and to continue to seek out Truth at all costs. Seeking Truth is hard because it requires hard work and discipline. It would be so much easier to turn my head and say I don't care about the earliest manuscripts of the New Testament, or about learning more, or about seeking Truth. But as a Christian I need to be informed of what is going on in the world and be prepared to answer questions about my faith and why I believe what I believe. If I am in continual pursuit of the Truth, then I will be more bold about my faith and have my answers ready for when the questions come. It was a great debate. I suggest going to a debate if you have never been to one. Seriously more entertaining than a movie!

My post keeps getting longer and longer, congratulations if you are still reading!

The last thing I want to write about, which I probably will continue to write about, is that I miss home. I miss Kokomo, West Lafayette, Purdue, COG church, being familiar with an area, friends, fall weather, mom & dad, twins, my grandparents, and Brooke being a drive away in Lexington. I keep reminding myself that I am here as a part of God's plan, and I am exactly where I am supposed to be. But being a flight away from home is much harder than I thought it would be. God is using this time to stretch me, but is also using this time to strengthen Bruce and I's marriage. We are so blessed. I am so thankful for my job, for the wonderful church we've found in Dallas (4 people were baptized last night, that's only 1 of the 4 services), and for the friendly people in Dallas. So, even though my heart aches with homesickness I will continue to praise God for bringing Bruce and I to Dallas and for this wonderful adventure!

This last photo is from Cattlemen's last weekend! Notice the big steak! It was awesome!