Happy New Year!

Wow...I cannot believe it is 2009 already! Jared and I had a truly blessed 2008. We saw God work in ways that were far better than what we could have ever planned out on our own. Yesterday we were discussing how very different we brought in the new year last year verses this year. Last year, Jared was working on the copy desk in Roanoke and I was sitting in a hotel room waiting for him to get finished...this year, we got to ring in the year at our amazing church in Charlotte! :)

We are excited to see what God has in store for us in 2009. This year, more than ever, we desire to be used by God in any capacity He so chooses. Our prayer is that in everything we say and do, people will see Christ in us. I found this quote by Beth Moore today that I thought was quite inspiring: "If we are to have any level of authenticity in our world, we must be filled with God-given character. Often the reason others aren't buying what we have to say is that they are unconvinced, based on our huge inconsistencies, that we have bought it ourselves." Everything that is happening in our world shows how desperate people are for fulfillment. Now is the time for all Christians to proclaim with boldness (and yet in a friendly, non-pushy way) that the only fulfillment to be found is in Christ. This is our prayer for 2009.

God bless all of you and we pray that 2009 be the best year you've had yet. :)

A Short Story (or Pity Party)

I love Charlotte. I love the Christmas-y feeling that I have here. I love the lights in Christmas Town USA (which we've already been to see twice). I love the ice skating rink downtown. I love the decorations on the outsides of all of the shopping stores. I am looking forward to going to the Billy Graham Library for a horse-drawn carriage ride and a live nativity scene. I am excited about everything else we have planned here for the season. However, I miss the snow. I want snow. Blacksburg, Roanoke and Lynchburg are getting snow now. We don't have any forecasted for at least the next ten days. I haven't even seen a flurry. :(

The End

By the way, today we met Mike Huckabee (Jared's all-time favorite candidate), took a brief tour of the decorations in the city, watched Tech win the ACC Championship (Yay Hokies!), and have big plans of snuggling on the couch with hot chocolate to watch a Christmas movie tonight. So, yes, it's been a good day. Guess I can't complain about the lack of snow too much. :)

Grandma Lois

Today is a special day. My wonderful Grandma Lois was born on this day...several years ago. This time of year is always bitter sweet. I love the joy that comes with getting together with family and friends, the happiness of the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of Jesus, shopping, decorating, etc. There is also a certain sadness that comes with the season and I guess forever will. This is the exact day three years ago that I saw my Grandma for the last time. I miss her so much!!!

Yet, with the sadness comes hope. I remember the fears I had when my Grandma died: my family would never be the same, my mom would crumble from losing her stepmom, dad & mom in a time frame of four months, and the holiday season that we always loved would be a time of great sorrow forever. The truth is, we're not the same family - I believe we're stronger. My mom did not crumble - she persevered with grace. The holiday season has its times of sadness, but also its times of great joy. We've learned to cherish time spent with loved ones more, to never take for granted that we'll see someone again, to laugh more, cry more, be "real" more. We rejoice in knowing that Grandma lives on in our family through our crazy antics, Mom's cooking, our laughter, and our cherished memories. And if God allows Grandma Lois to look down on her family from time to time, I know she's proud. Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Ego Maniac

I live with a man who has a slightly large ego at the moment. :)  When you google his name, a link to his blog on his company website comes up first.  Yes, he thinks he's the most popular Jared Turner in the world.  What can I say, I live with the greatest! :)

My Awesome Husband

This weekend, Jared worked very long hours because the races were in Charlotte.  In fact, his day yesterday was so long that he started working around 11:00 am and didn't finish until around 6:00 am this morning.  When he got home and came to bed, we laid there talking about his day and reminiscing about how there were so many times those last couple of months we lived in Blacksburg where we would we talk about our days at odd hours of the night because we rarely saw each other (it still makes me shudder).  Anyway, before we knew it, it was almost 6:45, which is typically the time we get up to go to church.  Instead of choosing to skip church and sleep, he got ready for church and went to service with me.  He had been awake for well over 24 hours before he finally got to sleep.  I am so thankful he loves the Lord and loves our church.  He totally lives up to his name...Mr. Wonderful!!! :)

Kept

Last Sunday our pastor spoke about being "kept" by the Power of God.  It was an amazing, in-depth sermon about God's love and awesome willingness to keep us from the worst of the forces of evil in this world.  Jared and I walked out of the service in complete amazement of God.  Little did we know that the sermon would play over and over again in our minds this week. 

It's been a tough week - the state of the economy is scary and it seems like we've had to deal with it in a weird way...Charlotte and the surrounding areas literally ran out of gas.  I can't begin to explain the unnerving feeling that I experienced this week as I witnessed lines that literally were 60 + cars long waiting to get gas at the only gas station in that area of the city that had any gas and the frustration of dealing with two cars that are on empty and knowing we can't get gas because none of the eight or nine gas stations in the area have any.  I know that people all over the nation are dealing with far worse.  In the grand scheme of things, this really isn't a huge deal. However, this week, it feels like a big deal.  The wonderful news is that in the midst of it all, God cares.  I've never been one to forget God when things are going well.  I recognize all good things come from God and that I am incredibly blessed.  To be honest, (and more open than I am usually willing to be on a blog), I struggle more with knowing God has a great plan for our lives when times are tough.  Wednesday night the pressure became too much for me to handle and I got upset...very upset.  I felt more scared at that moment than I have in a long time.  I tossed and turned a large portion of the night, but somewhere during that time, God spoke to me...or perhaps I finally listened.  Scriptures, last Sunday's sermon and the following song came to my mind:

I have a Maker,

He formed my heart

And before even time began

My life was in His hands

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls 

And hears me when I call

I have a Father

He calls me His own

And He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And hears me when I call

That's such an incredible reminder of God's grace.  We have an assurance that God will not forsake us...times may get tougher and the economy may crumble before our eyes, but Psalm 139:17 & 18 says, "How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand!"  God thinks wonderful thoughts about us and thinks about us ALL the time!   Think about it, His thoughts about each of us are more in number than every single grain of sand on the earth...can you even imagine how many grains of sand there are?  Never feel like you've been forgotten for even a moment...He loves us too much! :)

And, yes, regardless of the gas shortage...we do still love Charlotte and our lives! :)

We hope all is well with everyone and that you are enjoying the beginning of the fall season! Be sure to watch a Hokie football game sometime this season! :)

Fall is almost here!

When I was growing up, my Mom always made a big deal about it being the start of another month.  It's sort-of carried over and I find myself saying, "Happy (name of the month)" every first.  So, "Happy September!" and "Happy Labor Day!" :)

We had a great weekend, even though the Hokies lost.  They deserved to lose because they played terribly...hopefully they'll get better this season or I'm not sure my wonderful husband will survive.  He actually handled this loss with grace...thankfully he's not the type to get depressed for the rest of the day when his team loses! 

I have lots of pictures that I need to post...hopefully I will do that soon.  Until that time, I will leave you with a cool quote I saw in a store in Lynchburg a few weeks ago that I absolutely love and can't stop thinking about...

"True love is when you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams." - Dr. Seuss

I hope all of you are well!  Have a great week! :)