Lovin' the New Job!

Lovin' the New Job! Well, Friday was my first day at Curves by myself, and it was quite awesome, I must say. I am just trying to get acquainted with all the ladies right now (which is about 300 members...yikes). I am so terrible with names, but I am determined to learn them. The end of my day was the coolest part. I got to talking to this lady, which happened to be a Christian. And we talked for the longest time about the Lord, mostly her sharing some miracles God had performed in her life. One of the first things she told me was that she had been divorced for 18 years and she quoted the scripture about GOD BEING HER HUSBAND.... and she was the BEST husband she'd ever had! Cool huh? Anyway, she really opened to me and shared some very personal burdens she had been carrying and asked me to pray for her. So I felt led to ask if she wanted to pray right there. So we held hands and believed God to answer the needs we had spoken of. The Lord came down in a special way and both of us were weeping and praising God! AND the coolest thing was... she prayed for me and spoke specific things I had been praying about, but hadn't mentioned in our conversation. But the Holy Ghost knows all:) God is so good and I can't thank him enough! So the Lord has given me a prayer partner at the gym that has agreed to help me pray for all the members there. This night was just another confirmation that I am exactly where God wants me to be *BIG SMILE* I am so excited that my pastor's wife, Sister Cathy, joined Curves tonight!! WHOOHOO! We had been walking at the mall for quite a while, but this is so much better! No moving targets to dodge:) My mom is supposed to be joining this week too. For those of you that know my mom and her situation, please remember her in prayer. She is desperately miserable and has fallen into a deep depression, coupled with rapidly failing health. Pray that she will "come to herself" and see that God is the ONLY ONE that can put the broken pieces of her life back together again. Lord's blessings to you all!

Still Workin' on the Purse

Well, I would LOVE to say that I have finished my first sewing project and was sportin' around a new purse, BUT after 3 trips to Sister Melanie's house to work on it, I am still not finished. *FROWN* I had NO IDEA it was going to take this LONG. It may not have taken so long if I didn't have to QUILT the fabric FIRST. Whoowee, what a job (I just couldn't find any already quilted to suit my taste). Sister Melanie would call me a perfectionist, but if I know me (I wonder some days), I will not carry it if looks sloppy. Let's just say...I have broken in the seam-ripper quite well. HA! This would be why I am not done yet. But I will post a picture of the completed project.

Well, I will complete my training tomorrow with Curves and go solo on Friday. YIKES! There is always SO MUCH to learn at first, but soon it will be like second nature. I thinks it's going to be a lot of fun and VERY rewarding. I am SO THANKFUL to God for opening this door to me!

I'm getting ready to send in my deposit for the Couple's Retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN on Feb. 23-25. WHOOHOO! This will be our third year going and I wouldn't miss it for nothin'! It's always nice to get away with your spouse and just focus on building up your marriage. The fellowship is always WONDERFUL and it's so nice to meet couple from all over. However, I declare that our guys wouldn't go if it weren't for the HUGE Bass Pro Shop there and Smokey Mountain Knife Works. Hey, whatever it takes to get 'em there, right? At least at the knife place, the basement is FULL of the neatest kitchen stuff that Sister Melanie and I just LOVE (we always ride down with the Hogan's). There is tons of shopping there and just about anything you want to do, entertainment wise. It always brings back good memories, as Mike and I honey-mooned in Gatlinburg (right outside of Pigeon Forge). Soooo, if you are reading this and you are married, I challenge you to join us this year. You won't regret it! And if you're not married, well, you have a little over a month. HEHE!

God Answers Prayer!

Thanks to all who prayed for me to find a job. I tell you, when God does it, he does it RIGHT. I was a member of the Curves for Women gym for over two years (sadly ending last October, I think?, when we purchased the BowFlex). The owner and I kinda bonded, as we often talked about the goodness of God. So she called me last week in need of a manager for one of the two locations here in Lynchburg. She said she hadn't advertised because she was not willing to settle for anyone less than a good Christian woman that loved the Lord and loved helping people. She expressed that she had been earnestly praying about who GOD would want in the position and I was the only person that He was laying on her heart. Curves is unique from other gyms, in that, not only is it ALL WOMEN (yippee, no men to deal with...how exciting!), but the goal of the employee is to create a bond with the members, thereby greatly increasing the chances that they will continue their membership. Of course, there will be some paperwork involved, but my main job will be talking with the ladies and trying to help and encourage them to reach their weight loss/fitness goals. Of course, as you get to know someone, they will begin to share different personal problems or struggles they are facing. The owner said she wants someone in the position that (when the door opens) can give them true hope in Christ, rather that just a mere pat on the back. So how cool is this? I get paid to talk to people about diet/excercise AND the Lord? Those of you that know me would agree that this is definitely a job that God ordered up JUST FOR ME!! The scripture is so true that says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalms 37:4. I just stand amazed as I sit back and see how beautifully God orchestrates my life. I feel so unworthy sometimes when I dwell on all that he has blessed me with and how little I give Him back in return. I have been saying for so long now, I am so tired of "pushing papers" in the office world, feeling like I am accomplishing so little for God...."Lord, I want to have a job where I can actually HELP people, both physically AND eternally." So he has indeed answered prayer. One of my favorite sayings is "Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last". So my nice, leisurely, unemployed life will be coming to an end in just a couple weeks *SNIFF, SNIFF*. But please keep me in your prayers as I enter into this new mission field that my light will shine brighter than ever before, and that God would use me to have an impact on the kingdom of God and The Church of God. To God be the glory!

Since the Lord has blessed me with a sewing maching for Christmas (it's all your fault Sister Smith *SMILE*), I am planning to go to Sister Melanie's this weekend to tackle my very first sewing project! And there will no distractions from the Hogan men, as they will all be at the VA/WV Men's Retreat:) She made a few of those new style purses with the quilted fabric for her family members for Christmas. You couldn't even tell they were handmaid~~absolutely beautiful! How exciting to carry a purse that "I" made! I know I'll never be a sewing queen like Sister Smith or Melanie, but if I can do the basics - like sanctifying my skirts and hemming Mike's pants, I'll be a happy woman. I'll let you know how the purse turns out and maybe even post a picture if your lucky... (real lucky...oh, whoops - we don't believe in luck, do we?) Anyway, love and hugs to all my blogging buddies.