Zoie Blogging

Rosie Blogging L2L

Addie Grace Blogging L2L

L2L Blog post

My parents like to watch a show on HGTV called Hometown. It’s a show about people fixing buildings and sometimes it reminds me about a time I went to New Mexico with my mom, sister, grandparents, and the college group from my grandparents’ church. We went there to help repair the church building. On the long bus ride I was thinking about what the world tears down. The world is destructive as natural forces tear down and degrade buildings and the world tries to tear down Christians as well. The following article will explore four similarities between Christians and buildings. First, like buildings, to stand strong against the destructive forces of the world, Christians also need a strong foundation. Isaiah 28:16 says, “Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am the one who has laid a foundation in Zion.’” God makes it clear that He is to be the foundation of our lives. God speaks to us through His word He has given us in the Bible. God took special care to give us the Bible through the God-breathed words written by inspired men. As Christians we must have a strong foundation in the word of God. A second similarity between buildings and Christians are you need builders. For buildings, construction workers are the builders, but for Christians the builders are the fellow Christians who surround us and influence us for good. These can be your parents, friends, siblings, preacher, or other members of your congregation. Most of these people are part of the family you are born into, but your friends you can choose for yourself. It is important to be careful when selecting your friends. Your friends have a huge impact on your life, so you need to be very careful and select good Christian friends who will help to build you up in your Christian life. If you are not careful your friends can tear you down. In Mark 8:32-38, Jesus rebuked Peter because Peter was “not setting {his} mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” As Christians we must select those who can build us up very carefully. Protection is a third parallel between buildings and Christians. Buildings have walls to keep things safe, dry, and protected from the natural forces. You also need to protect your Christian building. Philippians 4:7 says “…guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As Christians it is necessary for us to protect both our hearts and our minds from the influences of the world. When the Israelites were rebuilding the temple, Nehemiah built a wall to protect the temple. Your wall of protection to guard your heart and mind is you. As Christians we must control of what comes in and out of our life. One final comparison between Christians and building a strong building is teamwork. It is very hard to build a building alone, there is usually a team of workers all striving together to build the structure. As Christians we need our church family, all striving together to get to Heaven. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” This passage serves to remind us that we can accomplish more together than any of us can ever do alone. In I Corinthians 12, Paul is writing to the church about how the different gifts and abilities of members work together. Just as buildings are made of different materials that are all important to work together to create a structure, as Christians we must remember that all the members of the body of Christ have to work together in the church.

New, new, new...

Well this year has already had 2 news... we have both started new jobs! Well actually I started last Wednesday and Tom started today, but I was supposed to start today so I'm counting them both in this year. I really love my job so far and I'm having a great time getting back in the anesthesia game. Tom isn't home yet so report on his day later... we actually went to the Christmas party for his new company and had a great time & met his awesome new coworkers so I'm sure he's had a good day. I think he is really going to enjoy it.
We had a great Christmas skiing in Vermont with my family for "Graduation Palooza 2009 WooHoo!"
Me & Tom at the Summit of Mount Snow

Family Picture

I Passed!!!!!!!!!

I passed boards!!! Now I can start work (as soon as my priviledges and provider billing stuff gets taken care of) and we can have a non-school normal life!!!!!!!

Studying... if you take away the STU it's just DYING!!!

Well, I have officially scheduled my test date, and NO I won't tell you when it is. I will divulge that it is within the next three weeks and I am getting nervous... ok, forget the "getting" part. I am nervous.
There have been several things that have tried to get in the way of studying, but so far Katherine and I have prevailed through the (me) flu, (her) wedding planning, and (me & Tom) bad car wreck. The day after the wreck she & I were studying, despite Tom & my parents running around the house like busy little ants and my very drugged state.

We are doing well, ready to get on with life and to be a two income family again.

Tom is getting a new truck today (Toyota Tacoma). Some day I think he will like it, but right now he is still in mourning for his GMC, which sacrificed it's life to protect us!