A Modge Podge of Thoughts

Sorry for the absence of blogging...  After I finished grad school, I spent a month traveling (most of which was spent in SE Asia! - more to come about this later), and then came back to a brand new job.  Well, things are under way and I'm adjusting to a non-student life again.  I'm loving all of this new free time! It's fantastic! I'm looking at an exciting move around the corner (which means many chances to decorate!), free time, no school, new volunteer opportunities, and just generally catching up on all of the things I have neglected this past year while I was slaving away (maybe not slaving away) in grad school.  It's crazy because yet again things in my life have fallen perfectly into place. There are still some decisions I need to make, but the great thing is that I have the time and peace in my life to think through them. I love the possibilities that accompany free time.  I'm excited for what God is going to do in my life this year.  I'm always amazed at his perfect timing and the way his blessings provide more than enough.

Today at work I learned about a community partnership Duke has with the city of Durham... needless to say I am quite excited about new opportunities to volunteer! Anyone else out there work for Duke and want to be a part of this with me??? https://community.duke.edu/ddnp/volunteer/index.php Let me know!

Also, I'm looking for a book of the Bible to take my ninth grade girls through this fall. Think New Testament.... they're still at the age where the OT puts them to sleep. I'd love feedback and opinions! I have a few ideas, but there is so much good stuff in each book that it is hard for me to choose.  Last year we focused a lot on foundational elements, things that would help them really begin to put down deep roots in the gospel.  This year, we are going to focus on learning to really dig into the Word: how to understand scripture, pray through a passage, draw out the meaning, place the events within Biblical history, and so forth. Basically, it is my hope to help my girls learn how to abide with Christ, and reading his living, breathing Word is one way to do that!