It has been a long time since I've updated everyone on what's happening in the Fiester house. Well, honestly, A LOT! We are adjusting well to life in Rapid City despite many unforeseen changes. Let's see, Jon quit Pella for many reasons, but mostly because their vision as a company was completely different than when he previously worked for them, and absolutely incompatible with Jon's understanding of what a company's purpose should be. So, after trying hard to make things work with them, he decided to return to construction. He is now working as a carpenter for a major commercial construction company. He likes it a lot better, although the work is long and tiring. We are thankful for this opportunity for Jon and excited to see what God leads through it.
In addition to this, I have also begun working full time. I work with a Physician's Assistant and am loving the new position. It is refreshing for me to be back in the swing of nursing and learning the ropes around a new system of health care in South Dakota. The P.A. I work for is awesome and I love working alongside her. We are slowly learning each others ways and getting pretty proficient at our care.
Both of these changes lead us to the third major change we are taking on. We have chosen plans for our dream home and are in the very long process of moving towards building it. Our excitement is hard to contain, but we know it will take a lot of time and energy. Yet, we love having this dream alive in our lives again. We had willingly given it up when we entered the ministry 3 1/2 years ago, and are excited now that God has seen fit for us to start pursuing it again! We pray he will use it to bless many people in our new city and use us for his purpose!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
We enjoyed visiting Storybook Island over the last weekend. The girls have been anxiously awaiting it's opening since we moved here in March. Here are a few photos:
God is so good! I sat yesterday at a park downtown and realized yet again how perfect God's Will is for my life when I stop and just trust Him. As I watched my girls play I looked over at Rapid Creek which runs through the park and realized this place is perfect for me! I love rivers, waterfalls, and bridges. They have always been a joy in my life to see. I honestly thought a year ago I could never love a place as much as I loved Nebraska, but I see now that when I was willing to trust God and not myself, he has brought me just as much love if not a little more for my new home!
It is so exciting for me to feel God moving in my life in dramatic ways. His Word has become more real and understandable to me than it has ever been! I can even understand completely what Paul is saying in his run-ons in Romans. It's amazing to me how God matures us and uses mistakes and problems to challenge us to change our thinking. I'm so incredibly grateful for His patience and love for me. Praise Him for what He has created in me.... a brand new person with a brand new appreciation for who He made me to be!
In other news, I am now the proud parent of a first grader! It's crazy to me that Kaylee has gone through the first of many graduation ceremonies she will have in her beautiful life. I am so proud of her and who she is growing to be. Her love for others is such an amazement to me and when it's combined with her naturally outgoing personality, it makes me so excited to think about how many lives she will touch.
We are looking forward to summer and all the new adventures we'll have with our family, old friends, and new friends. :)
God is so good! I sat yesterday at a park downtown and realized yet again how perfect God's Will is for my life when I stop and just trust Him. As I watched my girls play I looked over at Rapid Creek which runs through the park and realized this place is perfect for me! I love rivers, waterfalls, and bridges. They have always been a joy in my life to see. I honestly thought a year ago I could never love a place as much as I loved Nebraska, but I see now that when I was willing to trust God and not myself, he has brought me just as much love if not a little more for my new home!
It is so exciting for me to feel God moving in my life in dramatic ways. His Word has become more real and understandable to me than it has ever been! I can even understand completely what Paul is saying in his run-ons in Romans. It's amazing to me how God matures us and uses mistakes and problems to challenge us to change our thinking. I'm so incredibly grateful for His patience and love for me. Praise Him for what He has created in me.... a brand new person with a brand new appreciation for who He made me to be!
In other news, I am now the proud parent of a first grader! It's crazy to me that Kaylee has gone through the first of many graduation ceremonies she will have in her beautiful life. I am so proud of her and who she is growing to be. Her love for others is such an amazement to me and when it's combined with her naturally outgoing personality, it makes me so excited to think about how many lives she will touch.
We are looking forward to summer and all the new adventures we'll have with our family, old friends, and new friends. :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
God's Design
As I look back over my 28th year of life, I am so incredibly thankful for the lessons God has lovingly taught me. Today, especially, I've been reminded that God's design for family is his visual example of His loving guidance for us. Jon has been working in Scottsbluff over the past month, so he is only around on weekends. It's definitely taking a toll on all of us and we are grateful that it is nearly done. Today, however, Kaylee gave me a perfect picture of how God has been lovingly guiding me even through my tears and pain.
She was having a hard time today with feeling sad after daddy left for the week. When we went to get ready to leave for school, she started crying a lot. She had a hard time getting some things done and I thought that was the reason for the tears. I reassured her we would fix the stuff after school, yet she continued crying but could only tell me that she was tired. I took her to school and she had a really hard time leaving me. After several attempts to reason with her and reassure her, I finally had to just be straight forward and say, "I am not going to take you back home with me. It is best for you to be here at school. But, I will be waiting for you at the bus stop when you get there. I love you." She accepted this, but continued to appear heartbroken as she walked away.
As I drove away from the school, the thought hit me of how many times God has had to tell me the same types of things. "I'm not giving this back to you. It's for your best." He has my best interest in mind and is seeking for me simply to trust that He is working on me and shaping my thinking and behaviors through everything that has happened over the past year. I just need to accept that my circumstances are how they need to be for God to best work in my life. The best part is that He can go through it all with me and not just meet me at the "bus stop" on the other end.
I praise God for my family and friends that are also helping me along this journey. I am so incredibly thankful for their love and faithfulness to me. It's been a wonderful, yet difficult journey to be where I am, but I know I am surrounded by people who genuinely care about me and God is using each of them in His own unique way.
She was having a hard time today with feeling sad after daddy left for the week. When we went to get ready to leave for school, she started crying a lot. She had a hard time getting some things done and I thought that was the reason for the tears. I reassured her we would fix the stuff after school, yet she continued crying but could only tell me that she was tired. I took her to school and she had a really hard time leaving me. After several attempts to reason with her and reassure her, I finally had to just be straight forward and say, "I am not going to take you back home with me. It is best for you to be here at school. But, I will be waiting for you at the bus stop when you get there. I love you." She accepted this, but continued to appear heartbroken as she walked away.
As I drove away from the school, the thought hit me of how many times God has had to tell me the same types of things. "I'm not giving this back to you. It's for your best." He has my best interest in mind and is seeking for me simply to trust that He is working on me and shaping my thinking and behaviors through everything that has happened over the past year. I just need to accept that my circumstances are how they need to be for God to best work in my life. The best part is that He can go through it all with me and not just meet me at the "bus stop" on the other end.
I praise God for my family and friends that are also helping me along this journey. I am so incredibly thankful for their love and faithfulness to me. It's been a wonderful, yet difficult journey to be where I am, but I know I am surrounded by people who genuinely care about me and God is using each of them in His own unique way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)