Being without a car in America is like being unable to walk.

These were the words of my neighbor and new friend, Ban. Ban is precious woman from the country of Jordan in the Middle East. She and her two young daughters (Miriam, 5 and Rima, 3) moved to American 9 months ago with high hopes for a better life. For reasons that I can't completely understand, Ban has not seen her husband face-to-face in 4 years. He had to work far away from the family (when they lived in the Middle East) and was unable to come to America with them. He is working with the Embassy now in an effort to join his family in America, but the process is slow and frustrating. So, Ban is here alone with two little girls. She is unable to get a job. She has no car. She goes to a center in town where she learns English and receives some financial support. However, it takes her 2 to 3 hours to get to this center by bus, even though it is only a few miles away. Ban's situation is difficult and she is facing so many trials in her life right now, but she has hope! Ban is a follower of Jesus Christ. I befriended Ban with hopes that I could be an encouragement and help to her, but she has ended up being an encouragement and help to me. I am so blessed by the strength of her faith. She is often tearful as she expresses her loneliness and weariness to me, but her final words are always the same: "I trust God. I trust the time of the God." She rests on the truth that God is sovereign over every aspect of her life. He is sovereign in providing her daily bread. He is sovereign over the timing for her being re-united with her husband (partner and provider). He is in control and He will provide for the needs of His children. I try to encourage Ban by reminding her that faith is strengthened through trials, all the while wondering if I could ever endure the hardships that she faces. Ban is a God-send. When I think that I am suffering, I need only to look around in order to realize how comfortable I truly am. When I think I am in want, I look at Ban and remember that people all around me have no transportation, while our 2 person family has 2 cars! Oh, how blessed we are! But, oh how ungrateful we are! May we, as the Church of Christ, be continually reminded of God's faithfulness and His many, many good gifts to His children!

Lately

Well, lately I have not been blogging, and I have the same ole' laundry list of excuses. Namely, the busyness of spring. We've had a lot going on (as always). So, let me catch you up on what's been happening lately, as well as what's coming up (since there's a good chance I won't post again until the end of the semester).

About two weeks ago, Adam and I got to go to Destin, Florida for a work trip for Adam. He is now working part-time for the seminary in the office of Institutional Advancement. Each year, this office puts on a retreat in Destin for the Foundation Board members, and we got to go help out. It was great to get away from the "grind" of work and school for a few days. We met so many nice people on the Foundation Board (truly awesome people), and I really enjoyed getting to know some of the people that Adam now works with. Of course the warm weather, beautiful scenery, and nice hotels of Sandestin were a perk. I was bad about taking pictures, but here are a few that I snapped before....

Bay
Our hotel
we swiftly returned to real life. We returned from Destin on Sunday to immediately begin churning out a 10-15 page Hermeneutics paper due on Thursday (which neither Adam or I had started) JOY! Needless to say, it was a week of lots of caffeine and little sleep. I was up until 5 a.m. Thursday morning finishing up. But, we survived, turned in our papers, and slid head-first into SPRING BREAK (well, the school calls it "spring reading days," but, you know). The first weekend of SB was especially great, as we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus! Words can't express my thankfulness for Christ's sacrifice and my joy because HE LIVES! We didn't get to go home, but we celebrated with our "family" of sweet friends here. PF Changs for Easter lunch isn't exactly traditional, but it was pretty darn good. Again, no Easter pictures. I really should get better at that. And to top it all off...THE WEATHER HAS BEEN WARM...almost hot, to be honest. It has truly been glorious. So, Adam and I decided to fire up the grill and sit around outside for a little while tonight. We tried a new recipe...Greek Chicken (below). It was just ok. Not a favorite for either of us.

The grill master!


So, SB2010 has started off great. After I finish typing, though, I will begin doing research for BIG paper numero dos of the semester, which is due shortly after SB. Should be a fun rest of the week! :) We have several things coming up to look forward to, though. Mom, Dad, and Jenny are coming up for a visit next weekend (we will miss Will). Then, the next weekend, Adam and I run the Kentucky Derby 1/2 marathon! WOOHOO! I'll try to document some of these events in picture.