Distraction

So I learned today that Case Maranville of CP is getting married... Soon. In a week to be exact... Oh well; he was a nice distraction for a little while :) Now the youth group kids will have to find someone new to try and "hook me up with." Gotta love relationship help from well meaning teenagers... Course I haven't done so well on my own so maybe I should take the help as it's offered :) I love 'em. (the kids I mean) Anyway, ttfn.

Casting Pearls

Last fall, I was introduced (in a manner of speaking) to a band called Casting Pearls. They performed at the Ionia Free Fair with Newsboys and it was an incredible show. Over the course of the last two weeks, I've seen them twice more with the teens from our youth group. They're currently on tour "The 180 Tour" with Crystal Woodson Miller and Sara Brendall.

For those of you not familiar with this band, check them out. They're old CD has an early PFR feel with a little more electric guitar, and the new CD is a sound all their own. Their lyrics encourage evangelism and being real in your personal walk with Christ. Each of the concerts I've attended have been high energy and very reflective... Not to mention that they have an incredibly hot bass player. (Am I too old to say stuff like that? Maybe I'm spending too much time with teenagers...)

So anyway, that's my plug. Check out Casting Pearls! You won't regret it. Here are a few pics from the concerts I've been to, and of course most of them are of just the bass player :)

Stress

Hello all,

I haven't posted in awhile... Sorry. I've been under an enormous amount of stress. ... For me anyway. It's amazing how so many different areas of my life can become frustrating all at one time. Or is it just that one thing is off so the rest seem worse? Who knows...

The thing that's been the most challenging is work... I spend most of my time there, after all. I used to really enjoy my job and now I'm questioning whether it's time to move on. The work is the same; I'm still balancing dispatch, clerical, and office management responsibilities for Paradigm and Stadium Savers. I've developed great relationships with most of my vendors and have earned the respect of many of our installers. I get a rush figuring out how to get material across the border effectively and giving a late driver what for, and its a great feeling knowing the product so well that I can handle sales calls without disturbing my bosses. Within the front office though, my support system has fallen apart. Rather than having someone communicate with me, back me up, and jump to challenges when needed, I feel like my team is working against me rather than with me. I've tried to step back from the situation in order to find a solution to the problem, and I've come up with a few ideas, but I feel like ultimately I'm hitting a brick wall. Is the Lord trying to tell me to step out of my comfort zone and leave or am I looking for an easy way out of a seemingly endless battle? Am I really to leave a secure job that I love because of an immature woman with an oversized ego? These are the questions I'm trying to answer...

Like I said, this is the biggest of my stresses right now. Some of the others are too close to the heart to comment on here so I'll save those for my offline journal. Your prayers for all of it would be appreciated though. When I read the scripture about perservering through trials, I never imagined it may be a forewarning. Either way, like most, there are trials I am going through. Prayers for strength and wisdom are always appreciated.

Much Love,
Ae