Yes- It has been a long time since I posted last; and for all 10 of my viewers... I have missed you!
My husband and I have been doing a LOT of re-evaluating recently for several reasons. And I sit here listening to one of my favorite artist, Marc Broussard (you should check him out), I feel the need to explain where all of our decisions have led us...
My commitment to the Commonwealth of Ky will be up this Friday....YAY, YAY, YAY...It has been 2 LONG years. I have put in applications for other jobs here and there- ya know positions that I am mostly under-qualified for and that are based in Haiti or South Africa (don't tell Jonathan). But nothing that I was seriously considering. Jonathan is currently working on his undergrad (he wants to pursue architecture) and he is only working part part-time drumming. Yes I meant to add the 2nd 'part.' Therefore, I don't really have another option other than continuing to work in Child Protection Services until either he graduates and gets a job OR I find another social work job with good pay/benefits... Haha...like that'll happen :)
In the meantime...
Our apartment's lease just ran out. That's right, 1 year of marriage down, hopefully 80 more to come (well, maybe like 65). We were looking at other apartments or houses for rent in Lexington...somewhere in between my work in Jessamine County and downtown (where school and our church are located). Nothing we saw really competed with the $400 per month townhouse we were offered in downtown Nicholasville...Unfortunately. Now I grew up in Nich-Vegas (West-Side Colt Pride, baby) and I'm used to all the jokes of rednecks and hillbillies in the sticks of Jess. County (I mean we are like 2 seconds from Lexington, but whatever). But for some reason I HATED the thought of moving back to my hometown, especially in the heart (and kinda the ghetto) of the city. It's true we will be moving to a nice townhouse but it's kinda...well...uh....near my clients.
So- Here's my Revelation and the point of this post:
I realized that Jonathan and I have been given such an incredible opportunity to love and minister (spiritually and physically) to a group of people that have become near and dear to my heart. Sure sometimes I get frustrated with the people who get high everyday and raise their kids on food stamps, K-TAP, Section 8, and Medicaid...but I also have gained an appreciation for those hard-working moms and dads who work daily to break cycles of abuse, addiction, poverty and laziness. Here's my opportunity to not live "above" the people I try to help everyday, but to become a neighbor- to be a part of the community I want so desperately to impact.
As my brother helped me understand- instead of complaining because of the ugliness I see when I look out of my new bedroom window; I now want to create beauty. I want to plant a garden or clean our park, or play with the single mom's kid who lives next door to us.
Some of the world's most brilliant leaders and humanitarians believe that in order to change or eradicate a global crisis such as AIDS, Human Trafficking, Poverty, Lack of Clean Water, etc...The change must come from within the population most affected. I'm working towards those big issues, but for now- I will do what I can with what I have until God leads us somewhere else!
