Ministry on the horizon

Happy summertime! If only it weren't so hot here in Texas. Right about now (and the entire last month) we are missing the mild summer of Colorado Springs. We had no air conditioning in our townhome there and really didn't miss it except for maybe two weeks out of the summer. Each afternoon the clouds would roll in and we'd get a great thunderstorm to cool everything off. It was great! Here in Texas it's a wee bit warmer and much much much (did I mention much) more humid!

Jon is officially off school for the summer now. Woohooo!!! He turned in the last assignments for his summer school course last week. We got his grades for his spring semester classes and I'm very proud to say that he received all A's and one B+. We are awaiting his final grade for his summer school course. I'm sure he did great in that one too.

We had our interview with the Apartment Life organization and it went very well. We were accepted as a CARES team for them and are awaiting to hear where we'll be living. We went to a training seminar with them this last Saturday and got to meet some great people. We will be known as "retention specialists" for the apartment community. Our role will have different facets including welcoming new residents, planning activities/events, helping the apartment managers, as well as visiting residents when they are up for renewal. Our prayer is that it would be in the Uptown/Downtown area of Dallas; putting us between DTS and church. We are also praying to be placed sometime within the next month.

We also began working with the premarital ministry at church. Last week we got to meet for a leadership training session. And this past Tuesday was the first of eight classes with the couples. We are the table leaders/mentor couple to two couples. Neither of them are engaged yet, just considering it and excited to learn if their relationship is marriage material. Jon and I are super excited to be involved in ministry together again and are looking forward to getting to know our couples better over the next eight weeks.

With school finishing for the summer, Jon is working more hours at Sprouts while continuing the search for a better job. He's applied to five or six great ones over the last few days that would be right up his alley. One is for a construction company here in Dallas doing the exact same job he did with Caffey Inc. in Colorado Springs. The job hunt is very frustrating most of the time with very few employer's responding to the applications/resume's you submit. Please continue to keep this job search in your prayers.

God has continued to provide for us along the way. Graci and Isaiah were finally approved for Medicaid a few weeks ago. Praise God!!! As soon as we got their paperwork in the mail, I turned around and called our insurance company to drop them. It seems that His provision for us since arriving in Texas has been by removing expenses from us through: Medicaid, WIC (women, infant, children...a government funded program that provides healthy, nutritious groceries each month for pregnant and nursing mothers and their children that are 5 years old and younger), Luke's Pantry/Closet (a ministry at DTS providing groceries and clothes/household necessities for full time seminary students), a greater discount on food purchased at the Sprout's where Jon works, Apartment Life, etc. I could actually keep listing more ways that He has continued to show us that He very much here with us and taking care of us.

The kids are all doing great! Ezekiel is growing more and more each day. All three kids have a doctor's appointment next week, so we'll see where they all measure up. Zeko is about to outgrow his newborn size onesies. He continues to sleep like a champ through the night. I can't believe our little man turned 2 months old yesterday. Where has the time gone? By the way, I still hold the "never been squirted" title in the house. Although his diaper did leak on me the other day when I was carrying him in the baby bjorn. Oh well :)

We've had fun going to the pool in our complex with the kids. Isaiah is a bit more timid and unsure of himself in the water, but Graci can't wait to get in each time and swim around with daddy holding her. I love to see the trust in her eyes and she gets up the courage to jump off the edge of the pool or the step into her daddy's arms. As I sat in the lawn chair watching her get more courageous, I thought of how difficult it is to take that first leap into God's arms. I feel like each time we venture out into our "faith adventures," I have to muster up the courage to once again leap into His arms and entrust my life to His leading. I'd like to say that it gets easier with each leap, and maybe in some ways it does. Yet this whole issue of trust is one that I am always challenged with. I look back at my life and am so amazed and encouraged at how He's molded and shaped me through each of those leaps of faith. We knew that Jon going to DTS was a huge leap of faith financially. What an amazing comfort it is to know that when we jump each semester, His arms will be there to catch us.

"Zeko" and the rest of us

Our little man Ezekiel is now 5 weeks old and going strong. At his last weigh in (nearly 3 weeks ago now) he was 7 lbs 3 oz. He smiles more and more (yes, some of it is still gas-but that doesn't make it any less cute!) and is even...dare I say...sleeping through the night! Wooohooo! His last feeding is at 9 pm and he sleeps until at least 5 am, and sometimes as long as 6:30 am. The part we have to work on is getting him to fall asleep faster after his 9 pm feeding. He tends to have gas and poop issues after this feeding, so he doesn't usually get to sleep until about 10:30 or 11:00. For any new parents out there who aren't sure how smart their newborn is...the other night I was putting Ezekiel to bed and as soon as I entered the dark room and turned on his bedtime music, he started crying. He knew full well is was now bedtime and HE DID NOT want to go to bed. It was the funniest thing!

Isaiah gets the credit for Ezekiel's nickname of "Zeko." This is how he pronounces his little brother's name and we thought it was way too cute to pass up. Isaiah and Graci have taken to their new little brother so wonderfully. They are both so tender with him. Today when we left church to come home, Isaiah was informing Zeko that were heading home to have lunch now. It was pretty cute. Graci of course loves to take care of her littlest brother. She is the official "binkie" monitor and goes to get it for him if he's fussing. She loves to hold him and get diapers for me when I'm changing him. Isaiah has become the official monitor of throwing away Zeko's diapers in the trash for us. I love to see them love on him and be so helpful!

I have to add (very humbly of course) that although I change more of Zeko's diapers than Jon does, Jon still holds the record for being the ONLY one that Ezekiel has played "fireman" with and squirted while his diaper was open. I think he's up to about 4 or 5 times now. We'll see how long I can keep my dry streak going.

Jon is reading away in preparation for his summer school class that meets this week. It's a one week course from 8-5, Monday through Friday. I think it's a beginning Theology class. We were both amazed at how much work there still is for such a time condensed class. He received an email from the professor last week saying that although the time is condensed, the work load is the same as it is during the regular semester. This explains the 900 plus pages of reading, 2 exams and 2 papers required. Yikes!!! He's been reading his little eyes out the last week or so and is almost through all the reading assignments through Wednesday.

We are interviewing on June 7 for a position as a "Cares Team" with a ministry called "Apartment Life." As a Cares Team, it will be our responsibility to organize and hold events and activities, welcome new residents, and build relationships with the people in the apartment complex that Apartment Life assigns us to. We work with the apartment managers and minister to the residents through gatherings, organized sports, and helping out in times of need. (organize meals for new babies or deaths in the family, etc.) In exchange for our services, Aparment Life pays our rent for us. What a blessing! We are SUPER excited about this opportunity to minister in a way that we are both gifted at and love. It's also something that we can do together which is what we've been praying for. Please keep our interview in prayer. We are praying to get placed in an apartment complex that is between DTS and our church, and also hoping to be placed sooner than later so that we won't have to keep paying rent where we are now. We're excited to see what God has planned!

I am healing well and am still waiting to wake up one morning and have my body back to it's normal small state. It hasn't happened yet, but I'll keep you posted. Weight Watchers is in motion as well as my post-pardom workout video, so hopefully I'll start feeling the affects soon. I am feeling well and had my last doctor's check up last week. All is well and I got a clean bill of health.

I'm sure there's more to write, but I'm even more sure that you're tired of reading, so I'll end this post. Thank you for your prayers and love!

And then there were five...

On Friday, April 16th at 11:08 am, we welcomed Ezekiel James Bransford into our family. He weighed in at 6 lbs, 10 oz. and was 18.5 inches long. The c-section went well and Ezekiel came out perfectly without complications. He will be the final member of our little clan (unless we adopt one day), as the doctors discovered the lining of my uterus was "practically non-existent." They could see Ezekiel through it! We went ahead and had the doctors tie my tubes because the risk of my uterus bursting (killing the baby and me) with another pregnancy was way too high. Ezekiel is by far the smallest of our babies. Graci was 9 lbs 3 oz and Isaiah was 8 lbs 2 oz. I'm convinced that the Lord made Ezekiel smaller so as to protect he and I from my uterus bursting this time around. Thank you Lord!!!

Graci and Isaiah are adjusting well to their new little brother. Graci is already a natural at being gentle and taking care of him. Isaiah asked to hold him the other day. It was so cute to see him hold him in his arms and kiss him on the head. Precious! Isaiah seems pretty unaware of Ezekiel most of the time, but when he cries he walks over to him and says, "Oh, the baby crying. It's okay baby. It's okay." Again, so cute!

We have been so blessed by my mom who came to visit for a week upon our return home from the hospital. It was so fun to see her with her newest grandson. I'm sure she made many memories during her time here, as did we. She was the cook, cleaner, hair cutter, face wiper, tush cleaner, nurse, doctor, etc. extraordinaire!!! She went back to Ca on Friday afternoon and then we were greeted by the Tom and Kat Davis clan (Jon's twin sister and family). Kat has been here throughout the week helping out with the kids and cooking/cleaning duties around the house. Tom had to return to Kansas on Sunday for the work week. We are so thankful to all who have come to help out!!!

Jon is currently finishing his last week of classes at DTS for the semester. It has gone by really fast! He is doing his best to finish strong despite just having a new baby and coming down with a horrendous cold/cough the week before Ezekiel was born. We are still praying and seeking the Lord as to whether or not He would have Jon go to school full time again in the fall or part time. He was awarded another $1000 scholarship for the fall semester. If he goes part time, he is ineligible for any scholarships. We are praying for God to give us a clear direction. He is currently registered for 14 hours for the fall, but it's not set in stone until we have to pay tuition for it in August. Full time would be great so he could finish the schooling as fast as possible, but it's impossible to work full time and have a family (that's still in tact) at the same time. Please keep this decision of full time vs. part time in prayer.

I think that about sums us up for now. God continues to provide abundantly beyond all we can imagine. Thank you for your prayers and love!

Faith...A Daily Committment

We are a little more than halfway through Jon's first semester at DTS. Whew! We can see the glimmer of a tiny light flickering at the end of the tunnel (for this semester anyways). He has done so well in all his classes and I am so proud of him. The task of balancing school, family and work is overwhelming to say the least, but he has done well. He is in the middle of a break from school with this week being the World Evangelism Conference and next week being spring break. He's doing his best to get ahead on some assignments so as to not be buried by them at the end of the semester when we'll have a newborn on our hands.

Yes, little Ezekiel James will be making his appearance on Friday, April 16, 2010. The c-section is scheduled and I am SOOO ready to have my body back to myself. Not to mention being able to fit in tight places (like my narrow kitchen) again. (Um, that's not to say that I can't fit in my kitchen now, it will just be easier to share the kitchen with other people when I don't have a basketball sticking out from me. No offense, Ezekiel.) Graci and Isaiah are very excited to meet their baby brother. They both talk to him regularly and give him kisses daily. Graci loves to put her hand on my belly and feel Ezekiel squirm around. I love seeing her face light up in amazement at what she's feeling.

We've had a busy last couple of months with Jon beginning work at Sprouts Farmer's Market, me beginning a job from home (in addition to CEO Moms) working for an Allstate Insurance Agency just outside of Dallas. and figuring out how to find time for one another and family time with the kids too. For my job, I call people 4 days or evenings a week (10 hours) to ask if they want a free auto insurance quote. If they say yes, then I get some info for my boss to give them a call the next day. If they're not interested then I just thank them for their time and move on to the next number on my list. It's a super easy job that I get the privilege to do from home! Jon's job is going well. He's enjoying being a cashier and is well liked by his co-workers and superiors. Both of these jobs combined don't cover all our monthly expenses, but they do help stretch the savings account, which is a blessing.

I joined one aspect of the S.W.I.M. (seminary wives in ministry) group at DTS called Triple S (I don't remember what the S stands for at the moment and I'm too lazy to go look it up). I get to read 16 books over the course of Jon's time in the THM program (many of which are books that he is required to read as well). I get matched with a faculty wife as an accountability partner and we talk about each of the books once I've finished them. I get to write a short summary of each book and discuss it with her. I get a special certificate of completion at the end of the 4+ years (or whenever Jon graduates). Pretty cool, huh?! I haven't been matched up with anyone yet, but I've had fun rummaging through the book list and am excited to get started!

The last few months have been full of its ups and downs. It's easy to lose focus on God and all that He has so richly blessed us with. It's easy for me to put my faith in Him and His provision on the back burner and let my anxieties overwhelm me...like finances, jobs, school, new baby.... The list can go on and on. I think God allows me to have those moments of "What were you thinking, God?!" in order to bring me back to Him for a recommitment of trusting that He knows perfectly well what He's doing. He just hasn't let me in on His plan yet. Please keep us in prayer as we do our best to keep Him in the forefront of our minds; trusting that He has a reason for every adventure He takes us on.

"Rarely early...never late...always right on time"

This is one of my favorite quotes from my mom. I don't know where she got it from, but I think it is so very true when considering God's timing in our lives. With each new season He has taken us through, I hold to it's truths more and more...

Jon had an interview yesterday with Sprouts, an organic grocery store across the street from our apartment. We heard back later in the day and they offered him a cashier position. He was told to call the supervisor on Monday to give his answer to the offer. The pay is minimal and will not cover all of our bills each month, but it's something to get started with and will help stretch our savings account. He still has numerous other applications out that we will continue to be praying for as well as pursuing new opportunities as well. Please pray that the Lord will direct us where He would have Jon work.

The Sprouts position comes at just the right time. Coincidence? I think not. Monday marks the first day of February as well as the first day to apply for scholarships for fall semester at DTS. In order to apply for scholarships through the school, the students need to be working at least part time. They would have allowed us to put "seeking employment" on the application, but it's much easier to be able to say that he's already working. Praise the Lord!

God is blessing us financially in other ways besides a job. We received confirmation last week that I am fully covered under Medicaid for the remainder of the pregnancy (and afterwards), making all appointments, delivery, hospital bills and all, free to us. What a blessing!!! We are also getting grocery aid through the government program WIC. This along with the "Luke's Pantry" ministry at DTS where we get one large grocery sack of food/household items once a week, will help tremendously. God never ceases to amaze me with His creative provisions, including special "gifts" that arrived in the mail this week.

We have survived the first 3 weeks of Jon being in seminary and are going strong. He is thoroughly enjoying the program and learning a lot about himself and where he is gifted. He has met some neat people and enjoys the chapel times each week. He even got to have lunch with the chapel speaker and some classmates one day. The work load is a bit overwhelming at times, but Jon's doing a great job staying on top of everything and trying to squeeze time in with the kids and I.

I am looking forward to getting involved in the SWIM (seminary wives in ministry) group at DTS beginning next Saturday. I know how important community and fellowship will be for me while Jon is busy with his studies these next few years. It will be so wonderful to go through this adventure of seminary with other women going through the same thing.

We continue to seek Him and His plan for us. Our prayer is that we are following His desire for our lives and not our own desires. Much easier said than done :)

Bracing for 2010!

Hey ya'll!

Now that we're officially residing in Dallas, Texas, I suppose I better get used to the accents and phrases that come along with it. Who knows, Graci and Isaiah might pick it up faster than Jon and I do.

Well, let me back up a bit. We moved here at the beginning of December '09 so that Jon could start his Master's of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. It is a four year program, but we are thinking realistically it will take him 5 years. His construction job in Colorado Springs finished early which released us at the perfect time for God lead us to Dallas. Amazing how His perfect timing is just that...perfect.

So we've been here for about a month give or take a week or two when we went to Ca to be with my family for Christmas. We are settling in well and finding our niche'. Jon began classes this week and has felt overwhelmed to say the least. He is taking a full load of 13 units. Memories of undergrad came flooding back to both of us when we looked through his syllabi to see what will be required of him this semester. Whew! I'm glad I'm not the one taking the classes! I get to be the devoted, supportive wife to makes sure he gets his sleep, nutrition, down time and especially husband and daddy time in each day. We are still on the hunt for a part time job for him to sustain us. Many applications have been sent out, with little to no response from most. He does have an interview on Friday with Starbucks. Please be praying!!!

Our newest addition to the family (another little boy) will be joining us in April sometime. We are very excited to welcome him into the family! I admit I'm a bit nervous at the thought of juggling three little ones, three years old and under (well, not literally juggling them) while Jon's a full time student. I'm sure it will be an exciting adventure in itself and I look forward to the challenge.

2010 will be a year of many new things for us...new city and state, new life as a student and wife of a student, new baby, new blessings, and mountains and valleys to trudge through. Please be praying for us as we brace ourselves for yet another adventure.