Have you met my husband, Bryan??

this morning we visited a church full of sweet, sweet people. everyone was so happy to have us there and made sure we knew it. one guy even tapped ryan on the shoulder during the middle of the offering and introduced himself and welcomed us! it wouldn't have been that big of a deal if he hadn't had a bad hearing problem, so ryan (and then i) had to practically shout so he could get our names. i got so tickled because ryan kind of mumbled his name (unbelievable, right?!) and the man said, "Brian Smith? That's a pretty common name. Or at least Smith is, I don't know about the Brian...how do you spell that? With an "a" or a "y"?" To which Ryan said, "It's actually Rya.." "Ohhh..that's a good way to spell Bryan!" LOL Then after the service, people kept greeting Bryan and I (because everyone heard our loud offering conversation). It was a nice morning, brought back a lot of memories for me. The average age of the church seemed to be about 70...and there were maybe 15 people there. The closest person to our age was probably at least 60. I really enjoyed it, though... There's so much for us to learn from the older generations of believers. I love to chat with my grandmother about things of the Lord because she knows so much...she's been around for so many years (she's turning 80 this week!) and has learned so much about the faithfulness of the Lord!

it's been a hard, hard weekend emotionally. it's strange how circumstances can not really be all that bad...but things still be hard. and that's where we are...

until next time...

i've figured out my calling!

i met today with a career assessment counselor to review a recent career assessment that i took (part of my first graduate course at denver seminary). i had a very enlightening time sharing where i've come from and where i feel i'm headed with this person. he asked thought-provoking questions and took notes as i shared my answers.. (side note: doesn't it always make you feel SO great when someone takes notes as you talk, it makes it seem like they are really listening and caring about what you are saying. of course, they could just be doodling or something!) anyway, after chatting a bit, he took time to review my scores with me and helped me to understand the data...then he took a few moments to gather his thoughts from what i had been saying. and, then, with all of the data compiled together, he showed me some good options for career paths that would be good for me based on my specific talents and strengths. and, very high on the list-a pastoral counselor!! which was just kind of funny to me... ryan and i had to call brother scott on our way home because we just knew he'd be SO proud! if that doesn't work out for me, there were other options, as well... some that were a little more helpful and feasible (not that i don't think women should be pastors, but i don't think this one should!!). based on my self-assessment and the counselors assessment, youth/child counseling looks like a really great fit for me...which is neat. i shared with him that sometimes i find myself questioning my own abilities to counsel, and it was helpful for me to see that it actually is a good fit with who i am... and to hear him kind of confirm those things was very helpful and encouraging.

a few other interesting things that ended up fairly high on my list (like somewhere in the top 20):
1. landscaping/gardening duties
2. precision detailing duties(i.e. manuel, handtool or handcraft precision detail work--dad, you should be proud!!)
3. inspecting duties
4. tree and ground cover duties
"man, i've got to get me some new duties!!!"
unfortunately, we had to cross these (and a few others) out because they just don't quite fit with me. it seems the fact that i like to work with my hands kicked back some pretty strange jobs..
overall, though, the assessment was super helpful... more of a confirmation of a direction i'm already heading in-working in a helping profession of some sort. we'll see what that looks like in a few years!!

until next time...

in one month exactly...

my dear little sister ("dls") will be moving into her brand new dorm room in denver, colorado! i can barely wait for her to get out here!! and, on top of that, my dear big brother-in-law ("dbbil") will be moving right around the same time...and he won't just be nearby, he'll be in our very house! all that to say, we look forward with great excitement their moves! =)

well, ryan officially starts his new job tomorrow...AND the money finally came in for him to take the second Hebrew class. it's really quite amazing how it's all worked out. we prayed diligently that the money would come in for us to take the class on time (which, for all we knew, the money was due last thursday at noon and not a moment later). well, thursday came and went and the money was not there. so, we supposed that was God showing us that he wasn't supposed to take the class. well, saturday, our rebate check finally came in, much later than all of our friends...but, it was only half of what we had thought we were getting, and not enough to pay for the class (though, it didn't matter really, because it was too late to pay for the class). ryan emailed back and forth with his professor all weekend, but didn't really get anything figured out. the class started monday, so by noon on that day, we were sure there was no hope for the class any longer. but then...someone from the financial aid office contacted ryan and told him that he could still take the class as long as we paid for it by the end of the term. so...we debated about it most of the day yesterday and prayed even more last night...going back and forth between thinking that certainly God could have provided the money for us before the payment was originally due last week (so maybe we needed to just wait on the class) OR maybe God was opening a door for him to take the class. SO CONFUSING?!?! well, after praying about it and sleeping on it, ryan decided not to take the class. this morning though, at some point, he got a call from a precious, precious person (who knows just who they are!) who offered to pay for the class for him! can you believe that?!? i'm so thankful that God has provided for us and I'm thankful too for the sweet heart that is willing to help us! yay!!! =)

well, tonight holds some great excitement for us-we are about to have pizza and watch "wife swap" because we just so happened to see that someone we know is going to be on it (it's a rerun)!! we've heard about it...but want to see for ourselves!!!! =)

until next time...

an update

so...it's been a few days since i've really written. my stepmom, bette, came in thursday evening and spent the weekend with us. we enjoyed her visit so much and got a chance to do some new things. we even took a few pictures! on friday, we drove into the mountains and saw the ever-so-famous red rock amphitheater, which is a place where lots of famous people perform amazing concerts!

we also got to go bowling, which was a lot of fun. ryan jokes around about minoring in bowling during his freshman year of college... of course, he didn't actually-but he played enough during that year that he might as well have declared it a major!! and you can tell when you bowl with him...he's pretty darn good. bette told me that you are actually supposed to bowl at least your weight in order to count it as a good game... of course, i did every time-95!! *wink wink* ryan, on the other hand, actually did-203!!
my inspirational bowling ball:



the other fun thing we did this weekend was that we went to the cherry creek arts festival! there were all kinds of amazing arts around-from pottery to photography, and everything in between. there was a booth where you could spin to win a prize from the colorado ballet and/or colorado symphony. i was hesitant to try it out, because i figured i would end up winning tickets to the ballet (and the only ballet i would even dare see is one my sister is in)...but, i just couldn't pass up the chance to spin and win! and, as it turns out...i spun and..


...won tickets to the symphony-which is really, really sweet!! =)
dustin and his girlfriend brooke met up with us at the fair and we enjoyed some delicious culinary treats:




and that was that...
i have been milling something over in my head the past few days...actually since our hike this past weekend. i've been thinking about this great song "joy in the journey" that pretty much just talks about the joy that is our's for the taking in this life we live. as we were hiking the other day, i was thinking about how uncommon it is for me to just enjoy walking through the woods. usually, i'm all about where we are going and simply getting there...the walk to and fro isn't the fun part for me. but, it's nice sometimes to just enjoy a slow pace, taking time to see all the beautiful things going on around me. i got some neat pictures of butterflies and flowers, which i probably wouldn't have even noticed had i been set on the journey of making it from one place to the next... i think a lot of times life is like that for me... i'm just trying to get through work, or through my jog with ryan, or through my quite time...through life, instead of enjoying the journey, the process along the way. ryan and i have been quite anxious of late, trying to figure out just what it is that God has for us here. is it exactly what we came here for or is it maybe a little different? has He gotten us here just to change things up a little bit? answers, answers, we want answers! and we are getting them quite slowly... but, i feel like maybe we just need to enjoy the journey right now. and, so we are! but that doesn't mean we aren't still sad and a little homesick. i think it's possible to be both!

in lieu of the fourth

just a quick (though late) thought for you about our freedom: "liberty is not the ability to do as one wants, rather the ability to do as one ought."

this weekend has been pretty busy! my step mom came into town thursday evening and we have been doing this and that all weekend, which was been great fun!! for this reason, i haven't updated my blog lately... but hopefully will tomorrow. we've done some fun things and gotten some good pictures, i think-so look forward to that! :)

until next time..

yay for ryan!

ryan is officially finished with his first semester of hebrew! he worked so so so so soooo hard and i'm so proud of him! we had a nice day of celebration today, since i didn't have to work and he only had to go to the school for a minute to turn in his test. we went to eat at this place called "the spicy pickle" with a gift card my sweet mom gave me for my birthday. right before lunch, though, i went with ryan to get a drug test for his NEW JOB!!! :D (well, he'll have the job if his test comes clean ;)) we had an interesting discussion about urine screenings today. you know, i have a lot of experience with these things now...administering them at my new job, you know. anyway, i'm really surprised that the testing is what it is. it's not really a big deal for guys, but for poor girls...it's terrible. i'm sure a man invented them, and i'm surprised no one has come up with a new idea for them! anyway, that's enough about that! until next time...

today

so, this is our new favorite meal. it's a delicious parmesan chicken that i got from the barefoot contessa. the recipe is on my recipe blog, so give it a try sometime.. you won't be disappointed!! :)

well, work is getting interesting. i'm getting a few extra hours doing some odd jobs around the office, which is GREAT! i'm really enjoying the people i'm working with and all the work i'm doing, which is nice. it's nice to feel like you're job is worth something and not just a waste of time (been there, done that). i got so embarrassed today at work! :\ when i started, i dressed up for work because i just assumed i should. after a few days, i noticed the other girls doing the same thing i do didn't really dress up all that much, so i asked one of them about the dress code and she told me that it's the whole "not too tight, not too short" rule and that wearing jeans and tshirts (like nice ones) is perfectly fine..even with flipflops-which is what she wears everyday. well, today, my boss said "i'm guessing you talked with one of the other girls about what's appropriate dress attire, and i think it would be better for you to dress a little nicer...." :( i was SO embarrassed... it's not like i have been dressing poorly, but i could surely do more. :/

ryan had interviews yesterday and today, so hopefully we will hear something soon. he is the best candidate (okay, i can't figure out how to spell that...) for any and every job out there because he's the beeeeesssttttt! i only hope they can see it! =)

i'm watching this new show called "the secret life of the american teenager"...it's pretty interesting so far...i'm outtie!