Not to be vain, but my parents say she looks just like me when I was her age

Susanna's school picture. Isn't she beautiful?

God is good! All the time!

And all the time...GOD IS GOOD! I just spoke with Harry, my team leader for the Board of Ordained Ministry. He informed me that I have been approved to be commissioned as a probationary elder at Annual Conference in June. I am SO thankful to hear this, because I was really unsure about how my Theology interview went. Obviously, they saw enough growth in my paper and my interview to indicate that I am "ready for ministry." I believe that God's grace had something to do with this happy outcome, too.

So...in June I will begin a three-year period of mentoring, covenant groups, continuing education, etc that will hopefully increase my effectiveness in ministry. At the end of that three year period, I will go before the Board AGAIN, but this time I will be seeking ordination as an elder. If all goes well, I will be ordained in 2010.

For those of you who prayed, thanks! My heart is overflowing with thanksgiving to God!

25 "Accomplishments" in 12 months

I "stole" this from my friend Tamara. Thought I'd give it a shot...

1. Got job a Chick-Fil-A after realizing that no one would hire me for only ten months (and with a liberal arts education to boot!)

2. Served as a foster parent for three months to a very needy purebred Labrador Retriever named Terra.

3. Underwent a "Level 2" psychological evaluation for the UM ordination process.

4. Received approval from my District Committee on Ordained Ministry to proceed as a candidate for probationary elder.

5. Survived a Christmas season at Chick-Fil-A.

6. Submitted all my papers, videos, forms, etc for probationary membership.

7. Won an award for highest sales among full-time employees at Chick-Fil-A.

8. Lost 5 lbs in February (due to the stomach flu, but I still lost the weight...)

9. Traveled to Blackstone, Virginia for probationary interviews. Approved by two committees (Call and Personal Growth/Development) and "continued" by two others (Theology and Practice)

10. Got the flu for the first time since childhood. Spent three days in bed, went back to work, and got bronchitis. Spent month of April feeling like a 90 year-old chainsmoker.

11. Appointed to serve St. John's UMC in Danville, Virginia as a Licensed Local Pastor.

12. Listed first-ever house with realtor; had contract within three weeks.

13. Moved from Lexington, Kentucky to Morrisville, North Carolina with a scared dog and a husband recovering from food poisoning.

14. Successfully completed 10-day Licensing School, passing everything with flying colors.

15. Sold first-ever house and broke even on the sale.

16. Attended Annual Conference for the first time ever. Licensed as a Local Pastor.

17. Moved 90% of stuff from Morrisville, North Carolina to Danville, Virginia.

18. Began first full-time ministry job as the pastor of St. John's UMC.

19. Signed up for exciting benefits like Life Insurance, Retirement, Disability, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment. Our financial future is fairly secure.

20. Discovered that God was right all along; I love being a pastor, and am good at it.

21. Celebrated fifth wedding anniversary

22. Went to Chincoteague on first vacation in four years; Woody went on vacation to Lucky's Pet Resort.

23. Learned to operate a riding lawn mower

24. Made it to the age of 30 without breaking a bone, having surgery, or contracting a major illness (knock on wood)

25. Completed three full months as a pastor (as of September 28) and still love my job and my congregation!

I'm famous!!

On Tuesday, I went to a lunch gathering of area clergywomen. We had lots of fun. There was a report there from the Danville Register Bee, which is the local daily newspaper. Guess who was on the front page today (Sunday)? Yours truly, along with seven other female pastors! Click on the title of this post (it's a link) to see the article.

Third Sunday went very well. Now I just need to spend enough time on sermon prep early in the week so I'm not finishing my sermon on Saturday evening.

We now have the bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen unpacked and looking lovely. Now we can tackle the office and "TV room" (which we hope will become a nursery/kid's bedroom at some point).

Way to go, Nani!!!

The Bradenton Herald just published this great article about my grandmother, Jean Van Delft (aka "Nani"). You can read it for yourself by clicking here. Oh, and after you read the article, tell me your guess as to Nani's true age. Just for fun. :)

Check out the pictures to see a bride you might recognize.