Steve and Jenny Valentine

These are just a couple of the many ways we've really seen God providing for us and encouraging us as we prepare to leave for Oranldo next week: *We were at our local health food store purchasing some groceries and we began talking with the cashiers-it's a small store, so it's the type of place where they recognize you when you come in and you can talk to them because they're not rushing you through the line. We mentioned that we were moving soon and she started asking all the details and then she asked the question I've become so accustomed to in the past few months, "Where will you work when you get there?" I told her I wasn't sure yet and that we knew God would open a door. Her response really surprised me, she said, "you know, you will find something!" That may seem like a pretty simple response, But I have become so used to hearing people say something like, "what a horrible time to move", "this economy is horrible...

God has been softening my heart to start teaching me some things about myself two weeks ago...He has been showing me that I am all to often reliant on my own efforts, my own abilities and my own decisions. That I don't rely on Christ for His Strength , understand that He gives me the ability to work through things and His Ways are better than my ways. I think a lot of this may stem from the way I grew up, being thrown into a world of independence and self-reliance. Although it's good to be a healthy, well rounded individual, as a Christian, I'm not supposed to be autonomous in the way the world would define it (Dictionary.com would define this as: self-governing; independent; subject to it's own laws only). As a believer in Christ I am to rely and depend on Him and His provision and direction of my life. However, the influence of the world can fog my mind sometimes. I especially realize that I'm falling prey to the way of the world when I keep trying at something...

I just got a phone call from my daddy informing me that our long time dog, Ceasar, past away last night from old age (he's guessing). Ceasar was 12 years old (so I guess 84 in dog years!) This is one of the first time's my dad has called me bummed out about something. My dad has always been a man who takes things in stride and knows and expects things like this to happen in life. I already miss my dad terribly right now and to hear him bummed out about this makes me all the more sad to not be around him right now. So to reminisce, instead of cry (since I'm at work), these are the things I remember and loved the most about Ceasar: *I remember the day we got Ceasar (we got him from my favorite teacher in junior high who was getting rid of his daughter's 1 year old dog since she was moving). I told him I would talk to my dad and see if we could have a dog! I came home and begged and pleaded to convince both my dad and step-mom that we needed to have a dog! They a...

Just a few thoughts: We were hanging out with Bob and Jeannine the other day when Steve got a call. Normally I can tell just about who he's talking to by the tone, words and conversation, but not this particular time. When he got off the phone, he had a humbly sweet smile on his face and I said, "who was that babe?" Turns out it was an elder from the church in Florida that we hope to attend and serve in, just calling to ask us how we were doing in the packing and preparation of things and wanted to know if there was anything they could be praying for us about. In that moment I was so blessed by the Caring Community (of whom we've really only met a few individuals)...But here was a man who didn't know us, but took time to call us and encourage and pray for us. What a blessing the body of Christ is, we were greatly encouraged by this! Other notes: We paid for Steve's first class (the Greek class he's taking in August)...whoa...that hit us in the gu...

So I've been reflecting a lot in the past few days about how soon we leave Texas! One month from today we will be leaving and driving across several states to start our lives in the Sunshine state. Seems kind of crazy to think about this. One day I seem so joyful and full of excitement and the next day I cry over a Bethany Dillan song I play as I get ready for work! We are so thankful to see how the Lord has been working in our lives in the past week and will continue to do in the upcoming weeks, months and years. Things I'm currently thankful for at the moment... God teaching me new things each day. Being able to speak truth to those I'm around daily. Pepa who listens to me talk and buys me ice cream when I have a long day! My small group girls and sushi. My wonderful husband. Jenny

So a month from today, we will be going to the Penske place and picking up our moving truck! WOW! July 2nd is coming so fast! I'm getting excited about all the changes that are about to occur in our lives and excited to see how the Lord will do things in the upcoming months. On another note, I put my notice in at work yesterday (giving them a month's notice). So my last day will be July 1st. Steve's kid's last day is this Thursday and he has a teacher work day on Friday, and then he's done with his job! We're planning a weekend getaway to the cabin, leaving Friday and returning Monday. Good trip for some R&R before we start packing up all our stuff. God's been teaching me a lot lately about trusting Him and relying on Him...more thoughts on that later... Jenny