grasshoppergoo's Xanga

Friday, May 02, 2008

Fri, 02 May 2008 23:24:20 GMT

things i love...
i love my husband. i love my job. i love my jesus. i love how God reveals things when i least expect it. i love the peace that i feel when i know things are 'just right'. i love surprising people i love. my puppy. books from amazon. speed-walking. seeing great friends. the fluttering feeling in my heart right now.

it's great.

Lisa Bills, BSW.... oh-dear! I'm a professional now!

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:54:22 GMT

Well, after 2 1/2 months of waiting to start with Bethany Christian Services, I had my first training yesterday. I thought I was going in to train for my part-time position that they offered me originally, but then I found out that the want me on FULL-TIME!

Not only that, but I'm going to be an actual Caseworker in their Adoptions department.... meaning I have my own laptop, work cell, and MY OWN OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!

I'm feeling so blessed by what God has done in our lives. As much as I continue to hate living in PA, I know that there are great things happening here for us that would have never happened in Michigan. Jim and I have been praying for a job that would offer us more money, better hours and insurance, and this has all of it! I'll be mostly be doing 9-5 work with a couple evenings, but it's so awesome!

I'm scared out of my mind that now I'm an actual professional, doing what I wanted to do all along, and that there's no going back now!

Please pray that this job will go well for me and that our lives here in PA will continue to be blessed so that we can glorify our God and King!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:28:17 GMT

The series that we are going through at our church is all about "Believe". We need to have faith that God will work everything out for the best in his timing. It's so easy in theory, but when it really comes down to it, we are impatient human beings who want things right now.

It took a while, but God is revealing some great things to Jim and I. I got a second part-time job working for Bethany Christian Services, Seneca is back in school again so Jim is driving bus again, and our church is so unbelievably generous that we have been blessed in so many ways!

I'm not sure where all this is going to lead Jim and I in the future, but we're faithful that God will continue to reveal his blessings to us.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:36:00 GMT

Looking for a new job... SO Frustrating!

Seneca Valley is on strike, so Jim's not currently working as a bus driver...

Youth Ministry is awesome!

Jim's mom's bypass surgery went well and she's home and healing!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:38:58 GMT

Wow-I haven't updated in a while!

Just got back from Jesi and George's wedding a couple days ago in Michigan. Jim and I agreed-it was the most beautiful ceremony and reception that we've ever been to. It was gorgeous, but simple and the reception was a TON of fun!

In our personal life, we've been busy with our jobs. I'm already getting frustrated with mine (mostly with my boss changing my caseload at the last minute). We're working hard on the youth ministry stuff and Jim's finally driving the school bus all by himself.
Things are getting better and, although I was an absolute emotional wreck all weekend, I am happy with how things are going now.

thats enough of an update for now. God bless!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:21:03 GMT

Finally Seeing The Light!

There are so many tunnels in life that make you wonder what God is trying to teach you. Well, we're finally seeing the light at the end of one of our many tunnels! We've been asking God for over a month now if this move to PA will be beneficial to us... if we're taking the right steps by applying for the youth ministry position......

And God answered!!!!!

On Tuesday night at around 9:30pm, Pastor Jim from St. Peter's Reformed Church called Jim and let him know that they came to a decision about the Youth Director position.

They picked JIM!!!! So now he's a youth director and I'm SO proud of him! He is absolutely thrilled and it's great how much God can bless you when you feel like you can't take much more. Jim is also hired in at A.J. Meyers and Co. which is the school bus company for the local schools! So he'll also be driving school bus in addition to the youth ministry position!

God is SO good!

I also love my job. I just officially started seeing clients yesterday and, although I'm still unsure about some of the details, I really do like what I'll be doing! I can't wait to see what else God has in store for us!

Thanks for all of your prayers!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:20:40 GMT

One week in...

We've been in PA for a week now--I can't believe how fast time is going. It's such a huge adjustment to be out here. We miss Jim's family terribly and we have to get used to the new schedule of seeing my busy family.

Work is going well. I'm going to be a Therapeutic Staff Support for a program called Wraparound with Glade Run Lutheran Services. Glade Run is three blocks away from our apartment, so it's really convienent. As a Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS), I'm going to be going into kid's homes (or their group home on campus, if that's where they live) and helping the kids and the parents on issues that are in their treatment plans. It's difficult to discribe,so the best way to describe it is by saying that I'm going to be like SuperNanny/ Nanny 911. I'm going to help the kids use coping skills or ways to behave better, and I'm going to be helping the parents on how to deal with their kids, then teaching the parents how to continue the positive behavior after my services have ended. (does that make more sense??- If not, just watch SuperNanny and you'll understand)

Jim's waiting to hear back about some jobs. The church STILL hasn't let us know about the youth director position, but the kids on the search committee were very interested in us today after church. Who knows where that goes. Jim is also looking into a TSS position with me, or working as a Mental Heath Worker at Glade Run (doing what I used to do at Pine Rest). If that doesn't work out, he also has options as a school bus driver or driving a Fed-Ex truck.

We're praying a lot about all these new changes in our lives. It started out tough and is definately trying our marriage, but we feel very close to God now, knowing that we are doing his will and working to advance his kingdom.

We still have the same phone number for now, but it will eventually change.
How is life for everyone else? What is God doing in your life??

Monday, August 20, 2007

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:26:20 GMT

I'm selling at big-screen TV---do you want it?!?!?!

Jim and I are moving in 2 weeks and we desperately need to get rid of our TV!

It's a 54 inch Mitsubishi HD 510 Series and it's pretty new. We've only had it for a year.
We're also selling a DVD player, VCR, Surround Sound system, and a stereo system with a 5 disc change and dual cassette. These could be added into the price of the TV or bought seperately.

PLEASE call me if you're interested and I can get you more information (616-885-7620) or you can just respond through the computer.

Thanks so much!!!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:36:38 GMT

I HAVE A JOB!!! I got the call today from Glade Run Lutheran Services (kinda like Pine Rest) and they offered me two positions! I took the one where I would be working with the kids in their schools and in their homes working with them and their parents. The pay is better and it's definately a move up in my social work career!

We're still waiting to hear about Jim's youth ministry job. Jim called the church today and found out that the pastor is on vacation until Tuesday, so we won't know until then. We're assuming that he didn't get the position because we probably would have heard about it by now, but it sure would have been nice to hear either way... oh well.

Jim has a couple other possible opportunities so hopefully one of those will work out.
Please pray for him right now since his back went out last weekend and he's on quite a few pain killers now. It might make moving a bit more difficult.

Praise God for all that He's doing for us right now!

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:41:03 GMT

Is this a step in the right direction??

I have an interview on Monday morning in PA for a youth residential home (a mix between Pine Rest and Wedgewood's programs). I'm feeling pretty good about it.

Jim also got a call this evening from the pastor at my old church in PA (where his interview was at last weekend) and they want him in this weekend for a second interview! It's down to Jim and one other guy!!!!

I really feel like God is doing some really great stuff in our lives and I'm really excited to see how these things will turn out! Once again, I've been stressing about all the details, when I just need to be looking up and letting God take control of the small things (and the big things too!).

Praise God on all of the developments thus far! If I don't update during the weekend, I will definately let everyone know how things went with our interviews. Please keep us in your prayers!