What is Kourtney doing now?

That's a question I've been getting a lot lately since he's officially graduated from Shepherd's School. Well, he resigned from the Skate Park, but is still working 30 hours a week for Calvary's Mid-high youth group, Velocity. He's taken a little break since the end of August, but he'll start working the first week of October for Fed-Ex. A guy that graduated from School of Ministry here at Calvary owns two Fed-Ex routes and needs a driver. Kourtney takes driving school in a couple of weeks and will then start driving part to full time for him. We are hoping that this job proves to be good for him and that he will be able to do the same thing when we move back to Indy. There is even the opportunity to buy your own routes and then hire someone else to drive for you. You know Kourtney and I, and that our minds never stop thinking about the possibilities with new businesses. During his "down" time he's been picking up a few yard work jobs here and there and teaching a School of Ministry class at Calvary. He's teaching Personal Discipline. This class teaches on more of the basics to your relationship with the Lord. Such as: Prayer, Fasting, etc. He's using the book, "Celebration of Discipline." He's learning so much by just teaching and has gotten lots of positive feedback from his students. This time has been so good for him to do a lot of praying and working on the upcoming church plant. He's been contacting many pastors from all types of churches and backgrounds and asking their advice from when the first started out in the ministry. It's been neat to see how the Lord is fashioning His church by using many different people to speak into Kourtney's life. Kourtney is not so convinced that he wants to just follow the norm so-to-speak, but wants to really evaluate things and allow the Lord to be the real pastor of this church. He's stepping back and trying to clear the agenda and let God pave the way. I'm so excited to see the Lord shaping him into an amazing man of God who has such a passion for Him and His people. We'll try to keep you all updated with the process.

Getting Up Early

I've been asking the Lord for a long time to help me get up early and spend time with Him before my day starts. It's been such a struggle for me for a long time. It's just been in the last few weeks that I've been getting up between 5 and 5:30 and with hardly any problems! I'm so grateful that the Lord is faithful to answer prayers and help me to conquer hurdles in my life. I feel so refreshed and good when I seek Him early in the morning. Kourtney and I have been spending a lot of time in prayer together seeking the Lord about our church plant and praying specifically for people who are interested in joining us. It's so amazing to see how He's working so many things out and preparing us for this next step in our lives. Sometimes you wonder why things don't happen spontaneously when you ask for them, but God has a reason and it's always for the best.

Fall Part 2

Fall is also the time of year when you get sick. My mom stayed with us for a week and she was sick, Kourtney was sick this weekend and now my throat hurts like crazy! I still like fall.

Speaking of You've Got Mail...

I have to share this wonderful story.

I think it was my Senior year in high school that You've Got Mail came out. I never saw it in the theater, I think I rented it from the Waveland Public Library. I had always been a Meg Ryan fan, but this movie was magical. If you know me at all, I am not a fan of movies. I generally think they are a complete waste of time. In fact, I rarely stay awake during the entire show. Anyway, I fell in love with it. I've watched it so many times, I know it by heart. I think it's one of the two movies I own. (Clifford is the other one and I'll have to do a separate blog on that hysterical film another day)

Kourtney and I were dating. I was still in school finishing up and he had just graduated the year before. I'm embarrassed to say, I don't remember if this most amazing moment happened on my birthday or Valentine's Day. That really doesn't matter. I got a note that said to come to the school office and that I had a delivery. A million things ran through my head, but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to receive. As I walked in the office, the secretary was giving me a strange look. She said, "Are you Faith Storer?" I said yes and handed her my slip. She then proceeded to hand me a bouquet. This was no ordinary bouquet. It was nothing ordinary like roses or daisies. This was a bouquet of "freshly sharpened pencils." I was in heaven! I walked out of that office so proud and amazed that my boyfriend had thought of such a thing! People stared at me and were bewildered at my gift. I knew as soon as I told them the story behind it their hearts would melt.

When Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelley are chatting online in You've Got Mail, they are talking about fall and how they love that time of year. Joe tells Kathleen that he'd send her a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if he knew her name and address. It's one of the many wonderfully, quotable lines in the movie that makes any girl's heart sink. Kourtney knew how much I loved that movie, that he went out and bought 50 unsharpened pencils. He and his best friend Steven sharpened each one with little pencil sharpeners. Kourtney found a glass jar and put some of that green foam down in it. He stuck all of the pencils, sharpened end down into that foam. Then he wrapped the outside of the jar with green wrapping paper. It was incredible. I think that's when I really knew this was the guy I wanted to marry!

It just goes to show that it's not about how much someone spends on you that matters, it's how much thought they put into it. I still find it hard to believe that my husband thought of such a thing!

Fall, I miss you.

Living in New Mexico has it's perks, believe me, but there's nothing like a good Indiana fall. I've been craving it lately because I know what's taking place about 1200 miles away from me. Here is my top ten (well, i might expand into twenty) list of the reasons I love fall in Indiana.

10. The humidity is gone.
9. The bugs are gone.
8. The leaves are spectacular colors of red, orange and yellow. And there are lots of them!
7. There is nothing like a good fall campfire with good friends.
6. A Chai Tea or Pumpkin Spice Latte hits the spot.
5. The nights are cool and the days are warm.
4. There is freshness in the air.
3. It's a perfect time to wear a cute little scarf and a long sleeve T, but not a parka!
2. You can sense others appreciation for the season.
1. It's the perfect time to watch my favorite move: You've Got Mail.

Ahhhh.....I can just feel it.

Carlsbad

My mom came out to visit a week ago and we took a little trip down to Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico. Here are some shots, but these don't do it an ounce of justice. If you ever get the chance to go, you should take it. Our God is amazing!

A Stud next to a Stalagtite.

Amazing!

The Fam

Uh.....yeah

None but Jesus

This is one of my favorite songs right now. I love Hillsong and this song ministers to me every time I listen to it. I hope we all realize that there is nothing we need more in life than Jesus and we always need more of Him in our lives. This song just really puts things in perspective for me.
Check out the live performance on this website. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axqXMuW8x1U

Gas

Just had to share it....I just bought gas for 3.32! That was awesome.

Graduation

Kourtney's finally done with Shepherd's School. It was an amazing year of learning and seeing the Lord's blessings. Now, we are excited for the next chapter: putting the knowledge to use and starting a church! Please pray for us as we seek the Lord's will and the directions He wants us to take.