Job Hunt:
The unit Joel was supposed to go to Iraq with, left without him in January. He has no military orders past April 20th. That means going back to Springfield… to a job that no longer pays the bills. We have to pay off all this restaurant debt as quickly as possible. So Joel’s applying for jobs all over the country.

Remember the Microsoft slogan, “Where do you want to go today?” I think Joel has changed it to:

“Where do you want to live today?”
As he continues to search for government jobs online, my husband keeps turning to me and asking, “Do you want to live in Florida?” “How about New Jersey?” “Virginia?”

So far these locations are in the running:
The Pentagon Washington, DC.
Fort Lewis, Washington
Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey
[New York City! - Think of Pace Picante Sauce.]
Afghanistan
[No we won't move there with him...sheesh.]

I’ve pointed out multiple times that I’d really like to live somewhere in the middle of the country…

Hey I know, how about Springfield, Mo? Wouldn’t that be nice? It would definitely make going to school there in the fall a lot less complicated.

We’ve lived in Springfield almost eleven years. I’ve called it home longer than any other place.

I Do Not Want To Leave Yet.

Just give me four more years. Please? Just let me get my M.Div. Let me drink a little more coffee with my amazing friends.

We’re not seeing any good Springfield options.

It’s getting down to the last minute. Will a great job become available in Springfield just in time? Will we live in Springfield with a job that doesn’t pay nearly enough? Will we move thousands of miles away? Will Joel have to volunteer for deployment? Will the Reserves call him to Iraq?

Last Minute:
Fellow Christians like to encourage me by saying that God will do something at the last minute. That he likes to do that so we know it’s really him working in our life.

See, I don’t know about that. This is why:

My definition of the last minute must be entirely different than God’s.

The last minute was January 10th. That was the day the bank auctioned off all of our restaurant equipment for a ridiculously low amount of money. That was the last minute. Until the auction started, we could have sold the restaurant. We could have been saved from years of suffocating debt.

Everyone said God would take care of us at the last minute. Tick… Tick… Tick… the minute passed.

Here we are again… Another “Last Minute” ticks ever closer. Will God reach down moments before the second hand passes the Twelve? Or will I once again be singing the words of Casting Crown’s I’ll Praise You In This Storm?

“I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”
and it’s still raining”

And after singing that first line… I’ll get over myself and sing the chorus:

“I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am“

[Note: Don't worry. I'm not freaking out or hiding under the desk. I'm just documenting my thoughts and the circumstances we're in. I know that God will work this for our good... I'm also completely aware of the fact that I don't always immediately like what he thinks is good for me.]