So many things have changed! I will share some of them!
Torey and I recently (in May) adopted a dog named Della from a local rescue. She was found as a stray in the Ava/Mansfield Area. Soon after being picked up by the rescue she had to have a few emergency surgeries. Whoever had her before had kicked her so much that they had damaged her uterus and spleen. She has made huge progress since being with us, and we can't imagine life without her.
In March I was promoted to a Program Director for the Boys and Girls Club-Reeds Spring. I love it! The paper work side of it is my least favorite, but it is neccesary for their to even be a Boys and Girls Club. We serve a lot of children and families, in a lot of different situations, and that's what makes my job worthwhile. I have a job where I feel that I can make a small difference in people's lives.
Torey quit his job at Best Buy, and is now only working security at the landing, but still applying at different police departments, and similar places.
Well, I know you are thinking, BORING! Sometimes that's how I feel too. Sometimes it's hard to see how you make a difference in your day to day life. I had been struggling with some forgiveness issues, that were especially stumbling blocks in my daily life. I usually do well with forgiving others, but forgiving myself was a whole new experience for myself. For a while it was as if I was trying to hide from God. Silly me thinking I could hide! Ha! I would pray for forgiveness and feel good for a short time, but I just couldn't shake it. Then the other day I heard the Casting Crown song East to West, and as I was singing it, I was reminded of the verses in John 10.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10:27-30 NKJV
If anyone else is out there having trouble forgiving themselves, I hope this encourages you. Satan wants us to sit around feeling guilty or sorry for ourselves, because when we are focusing on ourselves, we can't be there for others. Satan also doesn't want us to ask for help. Pride is another problem I think we all face. I didn't want anyone to know I was struggling, which is what makes me writing this blog post so crazy! I never told anyone, until I finally broke down and told Torey what was going on inside. It felt so good to just express what was going on. Satan will do anything and everything to keep us down! He doesn't want us to share Jesus or help anyone, so I hope you remember we are fighting a real battle!
I hope if you take away anything from this post is that if you are struggling ask someone for help, or talk to someone. Don't let Satan keep you down. There are people out there that you could be helping and reaching for Jesus!