Steve and Jenny Valentine

Been in hiding for a while-or we've just been busy-probably a little of both.  After Steve finished finals, we had the Christmas time upon us with family in town and then I went into a crazy couple weeks of working twice what I normally would in a week's time.  We finally had a time to escape the busyness of life this past weekend and get away for a night in Tampa.  What a blessing and time of refreshement this was for our souls, our marriage and our sanity!  We're preparing for the next semester for Steve, he's been busy buying books and working extra hours as he's been out for his winter break.  In the midst of all of this, we have seen the Lord's faithfulness to us as we wondered several times of how we were going to pay the bills for this month.  The Lord provided.  He continues to provide.  And our hope has been in that He will continue to do so as we are in the journey of seminary life.  Some verses that really encouraged our hearts las...

Steve turned in his final papers and is studying like crazy to take the last of his tests for the semester!  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with dad coming to visit and spend a week here with us.  I traveled to Chicago this week for work and have decided very strongly I hope to never live in a cold climate again...I was cold from the moment I got off the plane Monday morning until I got back to Florida last night!  I will say, though, that it was a great time to get away and spend some me time just reading and relaxing at the days end of work.  I never thought I'd say this, but I was so excited to get back to Florida-to see my husband, friends, co-workers, family and feel the great Florida heat! Here are a few pics of Steve and I recently taken-Thanksgiving day-yes my  hair is shorter :) It seems lately, there has been much endurance, heartache, pain, grief and healing taking place (some in our lives) but also in the ...

I began to iron out some kinks in our budget this evening while Steve is at work. We both have looked over some things lately and acknowledge there is room for improvement and adjustment (especially in this time of waiting until I go full time at work-which will officially happen November 1st)! I slowly got discouraged and clearly saw that our budget seems pretty hopeless. I called Steve while he was at work and he had a chance to talk for just a minute. I started crying because I had a moment of disbelief, discouragement and uncertainty about how things will pan out, knowing it's going to be a few hard months ahead until we start having a full time income from my job. He's such a wonderful husband and reminded me that the Lord has, is and will continue to take care of us. *sigh of relief* Simply put, I know. I just don't always focus on God's promises for that provision when it comes down to crunching the actual numbers together. Shortly after I got off t...

Hanging out with new friends, Joy and Traci :) Lauren & I took Charlotte to the pool for the first time, she had a great time! Reformation Drive is where RTS is located Seal of the seminary Steve during new student orientation Steve & I outside the seminary Steve and Rob took pictures/video of our Friend's Brett & Christine getting engaged! Valentine ladies! Steve & I in Celebration hanging out with our cute niece, Charlotte :) Steve and his many books for the fall semester!

Steve had a wonderful day of class yesterday and I had an interview! We both got home around the same time, talking away about our adventures to school and interviewing. It was so good to see the smile on Steve's face after his first day and know that he is so pumped about the upcoming school year. He has already been studying like crazy...I need to make some friends to find stuff to do while he's studying ;) He also called the company back where he interviewed last week and told them he wants to accept the full time position they offered (that was 25 hours per week). The lady is supposed to call him back tomorrow to confirm what school they can place him at and if the full time schedule will work! My interview was with Converge Worldwide...it was slightly unexpected but exciting too! I had called them a couple weeks ago asking if they had any openings, and at that time, they didn't but asked me to send my resume anyway in case something came up. I did so, not reall...

Steve started Seminary today...he goes to Greek I M-F for the next two weeks! I'm so excited for him and can't wait to hear how his first day went today! Still on the job hunt...being patient in the search :) and trying not to get discouraged. Last week, Steve had a job interview with a company where he would tutor/mentor kids before and after school...the lady offered him 3 different positions there on the spot...he has to let her know by the end of this week whether he wants to accept a position or not. He wanted to meet with his advisor today while he was up at school so that he could see if he could re-arrange his schedule to fit with the work hours and still be a full time student. We'll know more by the end of this week what direction we decide to go! We were definitely grateful for that glimmer of hope with him having an interview and being offered a job...God is displaying Himself to us daily and we try to constantly reflect on how good He has been and conti...

It's interesting to think about how much our lives have changed in just a few days. Although we have been dreaming, thinking, planning and wondering about how life would be for us in the next year, it was in a moment this past Wednesday that solidified those changes. That day couldn't be more incredible and perfectly written...we both didn't have to work due to the ice storm that swept across the DFW area. We enjoyed a slow, relaxing day together and then in the quiet of the afternoon, we found out the news that would change the course of our upcoming months and years. I was diligently working on the Valentine cards we are sending out this year while my husband sat next to me doing various things on the computer, when all of a sudden he yelled! It instantly stopped me and he kept yelling, "I'M IN, I'M IN, I'M IN" as he jumped up from the table! I looked at his computer screen to see what he was yelling about, I just had to see it for myself. Of cou...