With so much going on how do we keep our faith?

Taxes go up.  Job growth goes down.  The need for health care goes up.  How do we focus on the positive and be faithful in these times while still learning to navigate these scary waters?

I am humbled by one line of scripture.  It is in a constant loop in my head all day long, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" Psalm 46:10.

It's not necessarily about making oneself feel better, it's about truly embracing that God is bigger than everything we see and touch on a daily basis.  Be faithful in your work and with your loved ones and friends.  Lean not on your own understanding, but on God.  He will ultimately guide your path if you let Him.  I find that sometime just giving over that control (that mental worry that we often confuse as control) is what God needs from us.  Let Him speak to you without questioning it and you will see that path laid out before you.  It may not be the path that is neat and clean.  It may be the path less traveled, but it is where He needs you to be.  Know also that your friends and family are praying for you and lifting you up everyday.  Be still and listen this day.

God Bless,
HB

To steal is to break more than the law...

Last week Josh went to a conference in the D.C. area.  He stayed at the same hotel he always stays and attended the daily events.  He was invited to perform this year and the piece he chose to do was one that required him to bring out laptop computer.  He performed on Wed. and brought the computer back to the room at the end of the day.  He left on Thursday to attend another day of events and this time he could relax and just enjoy the exhibits.  He left the laptop in its bag in the hotel room (a locked hotel room.)

He was gone all day and when he returned late that night he discovered the laptop was gone.  He did what any one of us would do and he immediately went down to the front desk to report this.  He was not offered much help by any of the hotel staff or the police.  We realize that it is just a material item and I am certainly glad that nothing happened to him.  The room was not broken into...the computer was taken by someone who had access to that room. 

These kinds of events that happen to us remind us of what is most important.  Obviously if we travel again with any type of equipment, musical instrument, jewelry, what have you, we will take precautions.  But sometimes you can't prevent everything.  The person or persons responsible have no doubt done this before.  It is really a testament to the fact that basic trust is gone in most cases.  Not only that, but even basic human courtesy of helping the guests of your hotel have gone by the wayside.

We are over the shock of this now and have moved on to praying for those responsible.  Although we are still angered when we think about it.  Needless to say, Josh will never stay at this particular hotel ever again and he has warned all of his friends and colleagues about this as well.

Whenever your privacy is invaded and something of value is taken you have to shake yourself free of the "why" and think more about the "ok, what do I need to do to take care of this".  It becomes more about recovery and moving forward and trying to let go of the bitterness.

God Bless,

HB

All moved in

Well... Josh and I are all moved in at our new place.  At first I wasn't a fan of how small the apartment felt, but now that everything is put away and the boxes are gone, it is beginning to feel like home.

I am still looking for a job, but I do have a few leads on some possible private lesson teaching.
Josh keeps telling me that God just wants me to be patient.  I have never not worked and it feels very strange, almost like I'm in middle school and on summer vacation, but with more responsibility.

I don't like not working and I remember when I was younger how my mom would say that she couldn't stand not working either.  After my sister and I were old enough to be in school she went right back to work and I really respect her for that.  It's not easy to be a mom and work, but somehow she did it.

We are keeping everyone in our prayers, as it seems that lots of people are in tough financial or career changing spots.  This economy has affected everyone I know and it has not been in a good way.  I know that when we are faithful and rely on God for His provisions that all will be ok.  I have never asked to be rich.  I have only wanted to be able to pay back my debt and be able to pay the bills and have food and clothing.  God has always provided and I know that He will provide for our loved ones also.

Keep living, keep praying and take stock in the small things in your daily life.

God Bless,

HB

Closing this chapter and beginning new one

In a few days Josh and I will be leaving the beautiful state of Arkansas for Georgia.  It has been a wonderful journey here filled with meeting new people and teaching some great students.  We have really enjoyed our time here and the last four years have flown by.  I hope that our move to GA will be blessed with new opportunities in music and that we will make some fast friends. 

It is also a blessing that we will be closer to family.  I can't wait to be able to see them more often than once or twice a year.  I think that family and friends are the most important people in our lives and the farther you live from them sometimes the harder it is to keep up.  It's been hard watching our niece and nephews grow up from this distance.  Every time we see them it seems they have learned a thousand new things and we've missed about 900 of them. 

My prayer is that from us being in GA our families will be able to see us and stay with us more often and that Josh and I can begin to plan the rest of our lives together.  Hopefully a house and maybe a baby or two will be in our future, but first I have to find a job. :)

Thanks for you prayers and I will post some pics of the new place once we are moved in!

God Bless,

HB

All you have to decide

It's been said that in life one should have no regrets.  Life is a journey of triumphs, and failures, and somewher in between.  One thing life has taught me, or should I say, God has taught me in this life - is that it doesn't matter what mistakes we made in the past and it doesn't matter what mistakes we may make in the future, all that we have to decide is what to do with the time we are given.

There is no greater purpose than what we are doing now - as spouses, parents, men and women, sister or brother, son or daughter.  We must continue to live our lives choosing the path that, in most cases, can be the most trying and difficult.  The lessons we are taught along the way help shape the decisions we make in our future. 

When we do look back it shouldn't be to punish ourselves or feel that regret, but to see the all that we have accomplished and how far we've come in this journey.  Don't allow yourself to sit and stew over things you can no longer control because you probably never had control in the first place.

Lay it down and move on!

God Bless,

HB

Make it throught the day.....

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is as strong as death...Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it...

Things I've observed

First of all we had a great weekend with Michael and Vicki during their visit. We can't wait until we will be just a 3 hour ride away instead of 8. I wish I had pictures but we didn't take any. Not that we didn't to, we just didn't think about it.

The year is winding down and I begun to notice some things from the different places I go day to day. First of all I have noticed that when I'm driving on a three-lane interstate or highway people would rather pass me in the left lane than get over in the right lane. What's that about?

I think people are just too lazy to move over to the other side. I make a bet with myself every time someone is going to pass as to whether it will be on the left or right and 90% of the time it is on the left side. I don't think this is indigenous to Arkansas.

Is it too much to ask to make a camera that will automatically edit and slim you down when you take a photo. I hate that the way I look in the mirror and the way I look in photos is so different. I look like a small whale in a photo whereas if I look in the mirror I may not be a thin as I once was, but I don't look like I just ate Bambi either.

Today Josh and I started our morning workout routine. We have made a decision to do it together and make exercise a regular part of our life. This is always the hardest step for both of us, because it's too easy to hit the snooze button. :)

My hope and prayer is that God continues to give us the strength to push through our temptations and get healthy!

Thank you for all the prayers and good wishes. We are excited to be moving to Georgia. Please continue to pray about a job for me. Also, please keep my family in your prayers!

God Bless,

HB