A New Adventure

My precious Savior never ceases to amaze me. He continues to guide me along paths and open up doors that I never would have chosen on my own, but always seem to lead right where I need to be. This past year I have been on a journey - discovering where my career would take me and where I could serve Him the best.  As some of you remember, I left my first full time job as a new graduate for a part time job working with children in a small private clinic. God opened the door and I simply walked through - and I haven't looked back since. There have been so many blessings along the way as I continued to walk through more open doors. I never once doubted that God had led me here for a reason, I just had no idea that he was using it as a stepping stone to an even bigger blessing.

Back when I first started college, I met several people who were very influential in my decision to become an Occupational Therapist. One of whom was a family friend who worked with children in our local school system. The very first time I was introduced to Occupational Therapy was in a school setting and I fell in love from the first precious face I saw that day.

As I walked into a classroom that morning a little boy with wide eyes touched my hand.

 "Wif dis wing, I dee wed."

"What did he say?" I asked, carefully.

"With this ring, I thee wed," his teacher said as she laughed. "It's a line from a movie he watched last night and it's stuck in his head today."

He, like many of the children we saw that day, was affected by a condition that created challenges out of simple daily tasks that you and I take for granted. To me, he was a child with a bright smile and wide set eyes who would never know how he had touched my heart with his innocence and carefree laughter.

By the time we left the school that day, my heart was full. It didn't take long for me to decide that I could choose  many different careers, but none could touch my heart the way those children had.

And so it began. I went through Occupational Therapy school and somewhere between the memorization of countless nerves and body parts, I lost sight of the reason I was there and the joy those children had brought me. Graduation came way too quickly and I struggled through my first several months as a therapist until I finally realized the problem. I was trying to do it all on my own. Feeling as though my brand new degree somehow should ensure that I knew what I was doing. Wondering why when I was working as hard as I was, did I not feel the joy I felt that first day that I had discovered that I wanted to be an OT?

And then the Lord gently started prodding.

"This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord....'But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.'" Jeremiah 17:5,7-8

I won't say it was an overnight process. In fact, I still struggle with handing my fears over to God. But what did change immediately was the realization that I was not in it alone. That God created each of my patients with unique personalities and he knew them better than I could ever hope to. He loved each of them with a love that I could not even begin to comprehend.

And now when I look at my patients, I try my best to see them as God sees them. I have the amazing opportunity to work with a lot of children and their families and to show them each a little piece of God's love. Nearly as soon as I began my part-time job at a small clinic, God opened a door for me to fill in for a therapist in a school setting. While I had a fairly large caseload and was super busy managing two jobs, I chose to hear God's voice. I chose to see that my time with so many of those children was a blessing and that I could use that time to show His love.

And when, only three months later, I was offered a full-time position in the same school system, I raised my hands and gave praise only to God because I knew this was from him.

He brought me back, you see. He brought me back to the very place where it all began. He brought me back to that little boy's classroom on that very first day I was introduced to this amazing profession. He has restored my joy.

So on Monday morning I will begin a new adventure. Pretty soon I will walk into a classroom and I can only hope there is a little boy with wide set eyes and an innocent laugh there to greet me.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7

Big News that I Never Got to Tell

"We're moving to Hot Springs, Arkansas!!" was supposed to be the title of the post, followed by many other posts of house hunting stories and exploring our new (temporary) town. I got a little too excited, a little too quickly, daydreaming about spas and weekend hiking excursions. And I know that in the end, this was God's plan for us all along. Because we trust in His plan for our lives and know that He has it all figured out.

 I'll try my best to explain so hang with me.

Andrew works for a family electric contracting company that does projects all around, mostly near, but some far too. And when they get big jobs in towns further than a couple of hours or so away, someone has to go manage them. Currently, Andrew is the best choice, because we aren't "settled down" so to speak with a house payment, kids, etc. Andrew's company made the lowest bid for a big job in Hot Springs and were working out the details to finalize the whatever thing it is that has to be finalized for them to start the process (shows you how much I know about the electrical contracting world). It would be a temporary (8 months - 1 year) move and  I instantly knew that I wanted to go with him. We talked over our options and since I am currently working full time, we decided that I would look for a part time/PRN job here so that I could work maybe two days and then go be with him for the rest of the week. Since my job as an Occupational Therapist (OT) requires a license to practice in each state, and since it was to be a temporary move, I decided this was a better option than applying for state licensure in another state.

And when some of the details of the Hot Springs job fell into place, I put in my month's notice at the company where I currently work. And started looking for a new part-time job.

 One thing about the therapy world that I love is that it is so broad and there are so many areas and places you can work, in tons of different settings. And some therapists are better suited for some settings than others. And I have found that it is okay if you don't excel in every area. In my opinion, it is better to be fabulous is one area than to be average in every area. I say all that to say that I have been working in a clinic where I am the only OT and treating a little bit in every area. And I'll admit, I have been struggling. I have felt average in every way. There have been days and mornings that I have fully and heavily relied on the Lord just to get me out of bed and get ready to walk through those clinic doors. And I sought out help from several sources and I prayed for direction. I knew God was teaching me something through the experience and was prepared to stay should this be the place where God would have me. So when God started opening doors, I simply chose to walk through them.

Soon after I turned in my notice, the job in Hot Springs, Arkansas fell through. And I questioned every decision we had made. And struggled to understand why everything was happening the way it was. But then I remembered that God was still in control (how silly of me to forget), and that His timing is always perfect.

And then I found another job. With a focus in a setting where I feel I can truly excel and grow. And I hear the whispers of a Savior's promises. And I know that he has all the details worked out. And He works in ways that I cannot understand and oh - how wonderful that is! Because what need would I have for a Savior if I could understand everything He does?

So today I am thankful for broken contracts and unfulfilled promises that pave the way to doors of hope.

And I am thankful for a Savior who continually provides me with opportunities to trust in His plan.

So no, I won't be making the big announcement that we are moving. And who knows? God may call us somewhere else for a time. But for now, I am confident that we are just where God wants us to be.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."  Psalm 28:7