Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

It's time for another change in the Padgett household. After 3 years of living in Upper East Tennessee, we're moving back to the Bluegrass State :)

Justin has taken a job as Associate Pastor just 30 minutes from home-home! We're excited to be close to family and old friends again, and we can't wait to see how God will use us next.

This means that, once again, I'm searching for a job. I know that God will provide, just like He has every time before. The hardest part is waiting for Him to reveal his plan (and having to leave my first graders)! And I know it will be good, judging by how good His provision has always been. Please join us in praying that our transition is smooth and that God provides a job for me quickly. 

N.Y.See

Yesterday, I returned home from the Big Apple :) I had such a great time with Mom and Steph (and Ashley C.)! I can't wait to go back to the city.... 3 days just isn't enough time to see everything!

My most favorite part of the city by far was the subway! If it was possible, I would bring the subway to Rogersville. Just thinking about that makes me giggle :)

My other favorites include:
*the ballet (beautiful!)
*the ferry (we got to sit down!)
*the Disney store (magical!)
*the Cake Boss Cafe (yum!)















I am so glad I had the opportunity to go to NYC, and I can't wait to go again (and take Justin with me!)


PS--- Happy 5th anniversary to my sweet husband! Love you even more now than I did 5 years ago!

You Gotta See This!

Mercy and Grace in Sorrow

This week, one of my dear friends lost her mother. As heartbreaking as this has been for me, I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it has been for her and her family.

Looking back, God's grace and mercy is clearly evident. In simple things like her passing occurring just after Mother's Day and not at this time last week. And in other things like her being able to witness the baptism of her son-in-law and grandchildren. There are so many other ways that God prepared the way for her.

I have been so blessed to see God's provision (and sovereignty) at work in the past few days. Though my heart aches for this sweet family, I am grateful for the reminder that God is still in complete control and He wasn't taken by surprise at all by the week's events.

Please join me in praying that this family is soon able to see this grace and mercy in the midst of their sorrow.

The hardest part of teaching...

isn't what I thought it would be. I don't mind all the planning. I don't mind all the hours I have spent with scissors, laminate, and paper. I don't even mind all the paperwork that seems to fill up my desk on a daily basis.

What I do mind is having to send my kids home at the end of the day. I love my students like they are my own (or at least how I think I will love my own). And I want the best for them. Which sometimes means I don't want them to go home. Today was one of those days. After hearing about home situations from a few of my students, I was literally nauseated. I gave the best guidance and direction that I knew to give, and then I prayed over and over again that God wouldn't let them grow up to do what they have seen in their short 5-6 years of life.

If I could take each of my kids home with me at the end of each day, I would do it in a heartbeat. But that's not my right or responsibility. My job is to teach them. My job is to show them how to behave. My job is to love them.

And that's what I'm going to do.

What's New

Life has obviously been crazy busy. And I've obviously been crazy lazy. Or just crazy. You decide :)

Sparing all the painfully boring details, here's a basic summary:

Work: School rocks! I have played with 10 sweet kiddos all year, and they have all learned so much! Nothing beats that :)

Church: We have seen definite growth and fruit in the lives of some of our students. One in particular has been such a blessing to us recently. Praise God!

Home: Justin and I will be celebrating 5 years of marriage in June---- where did the time go?! Macie is now a much calmer 3 year old, and Sheldon is a giant, goofy 1 year old. Oh, and I just got a new car a few weeks ago! Hello, cruise control! :)

Family: Mom is back home in KY! Basically, it's a long story that ends with me getting to see Mom more often, which I love! My sister is headed to New York City for the summer to work as a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ. I couldn't be prouder of her! We have been so blessed :)

Friends: So many friends from throughout my life have been going through some life changing times lately. I have been blessed to be a part of birth days, birthdays, supporting missionary friends, and supporting missionary family members. It is such a privilege to see the Lord's hand in the lives of those I love!

That's about as good as the summary gets for today. And here's to hoping I get a little less lazy....

What I've Been Learning

The Lord has been using all kinds of means to teach me about His love and purpose for me:

Dr. Dean Haun's sermon---God loves ME. Not just the world. Not just His Son. ME, too!

Persia Baptist Women's Conference---God has given me the role of wife (and hopefully, one day, mother). This means I have the amazing opportunity to further the gospel through loving my husband (with a phileo=passionate, enjoyment, affectionate kind of love), working in my home to keep it presentable and open to whoever will come, and mentoring/discipling and being mentored/discipled by other women. What a gift! This revelation came through Carolyn Mahaney's book Feminine Appeal, based on Titus 2:3-5. Read it; it's worthwhile! Oh, and the purpose for all of this is "that the Word of God may not be reviled." (Titus 2:5) Pretty weighty.

School---Praising the Lord for my job teaching kindergarten, and realizing that I have a much bigger and more important job than just teaching academic content to these five-year-olds, I must be a teacher with a purpose, God's purpose, of demonstrating His love for them. Even if I can't come right out and tell them, I can show them. Over and over and over again. Every day.

Sidenote: I'm so thankful that the Lord knows and plans for what is best for us! Kindergarten is what I DID NOT want to teach, but God knew what was good! Thank you, God, for having plans other than the ones I had for myself :)

God is so good! I keep learning this is new ways. I am so blessed!

"And you will succeed!"

Dr. Seuss was right!

Workout Progress:

Day 1: walked more than I ran, but completed 1/2 mile
walked 3+ miles with a friend!
Day 2: still more walking than running, but completed 1/2 mile
walked 2 miles with a friend after church
Day 3: ran more than walked (!!!) and completed 1/2 mile


WOOHOO! I can't believe the progress in running just 3 mornings!

DVD Review: Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles

I loved this children's animated DVD! I'm a sucker for cartoons anyway, so this was right up my alley! The animation is okay, but the narration and events included are phenomenal! It's so refreshing to see quality, depth, and Biblical accuracy in programming for children. This DVD has it all.

The 30-minute program included some of the miracles that Jesus performed in his earthly ministry. Some were well-known, like walking on water and feeding 5,000. Others were not as well-known, but still as important as any other. One of the most endearing events was about Jesus calling his plain, ordinary disciples away from their daily lives and into his ministry.

This DVD would be very educational for any child, but children over 8 or 9 may not like the graphics. It seems very plain and video game-ish. However, the content cannot be beat.

I would be glad to recommend this DVD to anyone who has or works with children!



"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Let's Get Physical!

It's no secret that my life has been crazy busy lately. It's also no secret that I have neglected exercising... the (gross) changes in my body definitely give that one away. Instead of continuously complaining about it, I have finally decided to step up and take some action! (And I'm hoping that blogging about it will help keep me accountable. We'll see!)

Here's the plan:
Monday-Friday mornings: walk/run at least 1/2 mile
At least 3 times weekly: walk 2-3 miles
Drink way more water
Eat less junk food

Now, I know this sounds simple and a bit ridiculous, but I have been doing NOTHING since we moved to TN over a year ago! And, I'm definitely not a runner. So far, I have completed two days of this plan, and I am so sore! I feel better and Justin's proud of me, so that's really been helpful. And looking at the number on the scales has been very motivating. And disgusting. But mostly motivating.

So, friends, it's time to get physical!

Book Review: Never Let You Go

As a Christian fiction lover, I was excited to read Never Let You Go by Erin Healy. I thought the plot sounded interesting and I couldn't wait to begin reading.... I was sorely disappointed. At times, I had to make myself turn the page. The plot was unbelievable. Literally. The main character, Lexi, has more hardship in her life than anyone can imagine. Her husband left her years ago and she works two jobs to support herself and her daughter. Despite her efforts, her poverty is all to real. Lexi's sister was murdered just before her husband left her. Her father lost his mind after this incident, and her mother decided to become a world traveler. Just when you think Lexi is all alone, old friends reappear in her life. This, of course, leads to even more trouble.

Although the book is categorized as Christian fiction, the Christian part is hard to pinpoint. Spiritual would be a much better description. Never have I found any Biblical evidence in support of the dramatic, dark events that take place in this story. With such a focus on demonic presence, Healy would have done well to do some research in Scripture to find out what demonic presence really looks like. Her lack of correct doctrine on the issue was a huge turn-off for me. Honestly, the book would have been a much better read if it had not been labeled a Christian book. The inclusion of Scripture here and there felt forced and out of place. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially without first telling them of all the incorrect information about spiritual issues. If Healy attempts another solo book, I hope it presents the Christian life in a true way. This book simply did not.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Up From the Grave He Arose

This is such a special time of year! As you celebrate Easter tomorrow with family and friends, don't forget to take time to be joyful in remembering Jesus' sacrifice in His death and the victory in His resurrection! As I heard last night, "The Easter Bunny didn't rise from the dead."

Without Christ, there is no reason for celebration!

Happy Easter!

Ranting

UGH!

I have heard several times over the past year about young married couples (around our age) who have been married for a short time and have decided to get a divorce. Let it be known that THIS IS RIDICULOUS! So marriage isn't easy. So it's hard to stay on a budget. So you and your spouse have disagreements from time to time. GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MARRIAGE ISN'T TO MAKE US HAPPY, IT'S TO MAKE US HOLY. AND MARRIAGE IS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. Do you think Jesus will ever leave his Bride? I didn't think so. If you aren't going to stay married "til death do you part," then don't get married at all.

Lest the ranting end before I get all my anger out, I have one final thing to say: if you are really a Christian, ACT LIKE IT!!!! I am so sick of all the hypocrisy. And if I'm sick of it, I can't imagine how God must feel, dealing with it since the beginning of time.

Now that my temper tantrum is over, I will go back to praying for these situations. Please join me in doing the same.

It's been a while...

Everything is moving so quickly! I can't believe we've been in TN for 6 months already! I also can't believe that I've not been back to Richmond since July. Even though we love it here, I am looking forward to returning "home" for Thanksgiving next week. Secretly, I think Justin is, too. :)

School/work is going well. I love the students and teachers that I get to work with. Thanks to some pretty awesome teachers, I even get some instructional time in the classroom! Honestly, though, this job is quite challenging. I constantly yearn for my own classroom. I am learning to take a back seat and to allow others to be in control. I'm also learning to let the little things slide. It's tough! I read a prayer for teachers the other day that said, "May I not be so concerned with rules and procedures that I forget to show mercy and love toward the errant student. Amen." I'm making that my daily prayer.

In my down time at school and at home, I have been reading a ton of books. I love having this extra time! I recently read Redeeming Love and And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers... amazing! I can't wait to read more of her stories! I'm currently reading CrazyLove by Francis Chan, and it's awesome as well! God has really been teaching me a lot more about Himself through these books and Scripture as well (especially Hebrews).

I have also been blessed to have made great new friends here. It is amazing to me that God already had a group of friends waiting for me. I had really been missing the fellowship shared between sisters in Christ, and He provided that in a big way.

God has been so good to us!

first. day. of. school. !.

Friday, as everyday, the Lord provided me with a job! Today was my first day as a 504 assistant at a local elementary school. It was fantastic! I can already tell that I'm really going to love this school, the teachers, and the students!

Thanks to everyone who prayed that I would find a job! I am so grateful!

...working...

We have finally wrapped up VBS and M-Fuge: Birmingham! What an amazing and tiring two weeks! Maybe I'll post some pictures or more details later, but for now, my reflections on working for the Lord are short:
1. I taught kindergarten VBS. I need way more patience to teach kindergartners. If it weren't for Katie (a new first grade teacher, yay!), I would have lost my mind.
2. My social track at M-Fuge went door-to-door doing surveys. It was hot.
3. It's amazing to me how God has given me such a love for the people at Persia so quickly. Especially the youth group... this is so much better than I could have ever hoped! I LOVE LOVE LOVE working with them! :)


On to working in the secular world... it won't be happening in my own classroom this year. :(

Because Kentucky's licensing process contains one year of internship, I do not have a full valid license to transfer to another state. Therefore, I must take TWO ADDITIONAL Praxis tests! Hello, money. Of course I found out about this after I can get test results in to be certified for the fall semester. So, I'll be taking the tests in September. Maybe a job will open up in the second semester.

I'm currently looking for a teacher's aide job. If that doesn't work out, I'll be subbing. Either way, I know that God is in control. His will is going to be done. Regardless of whether or not I understand exactly what that looks like or why it has to happen that way.

Pray for me, please!

His blood commands my guilt to leave

"Oh, I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation.... Now I'm working 9 to 5 like I can earn my own salvation.... But there is no condemnation in You..."

Forgiven and Loved

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those that love God, to those that are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

God has once again proven Himself to be faithful to work things together for His purpose! It is hard to believe how easy this transition to Rogersville has been!

Here's a brief rundown of the past two weeks:
**Moving Day**
-14 people from Persia Baptist Church showed up to move us
-All of our items were packed on the trailer in 50 minutes
-As we pulled in to Rogersville, Steph and I stopped at Wal-Mart for no more than 10 minutes. Before we got back to the car, Justin called to say that our boxes were unpacked and our beds were put together!
-Several ladies from the church had prepared food (and *delicious* desserts) for all of us, and we had a great time of fellowship!
-Steph helped me get the kitchen set up in record time!

-Since moving day, we have had so much help from church members in completing tedious things like getting the cable/Internet/phone set up, getting insurance, getting a new license plate/registering my car, finding a groomer for Macie, and finding great places to eat!

I still can't believe how easy everything has been! This has been a great reminder that God wants us here!


Despite all of this, we are missing our friends and family. We're not really homesick (we've been back a couple times already for Steph's Senior Awards Day---3 scholarships!--- and to clean the apartment), and we definitely haven't been lonely, but we still miss everyone... not in a sad way, though. We just want all of you here with us! If you can't be here with us, keep in touch with emails, phone calls, texts, etc. We would love to hear from you!

Finally, thank you to all of you for your love, support, encouragement, and prayers. You may never know how much it means to us. We love you!

T- E- Double N- E- Double S- Double E

We're moving to Tennessee!


Here's why:
Justin is the new Student Pastor at Persia Baptist Church in Rogersville, TN! His primary emphasis will be on youth, grades 7-12. He will oversee the children's and college ministries, too. This is an awesome church, and we are so blessed to be a part of that body of believers.

Here's when:
Our official moving date just got bumped up---we'll be in our new home on May 16! This is a week earlier than we had planned, but God had a different plan. And His is always better! We are finishing out this week at our current jobs, and then we will slowly start moving next week. It's going to be crazy!


Here's where:
The church is providing us with a parsonage! Rogersville is in NE Tennessee, which is a 3 hour drive from Richmond. It's about 45 minutes from Pigeon Forge, and 45 minutes to an hour from Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.


Other stuff:
The youth group averages around 25 students on a weekly basis. The students seem to be very spiritually mature. We will be joining them on their trip to M-Fuge in Birmingham the last week of June... we're pumped! There is also a fantastic group of adults that work with the youth group. The youth team will continue to offer support and assistance as we also step into leadership roles. The church is discipleship-based, which we love! We really couldn't ask for a better situation!

I will hopefully get my foot in the door in the education system in Rogersville, as well. There are a few strong connections that we will have, but nothing is certain. Join with us as we pray about my employment, and remember that the LORD always provides!

Also, Cherokee Lake is about 5 minutes from our house! Justin loves this part! It is absolutely beautiful.

The hard part:
In order to be obedient in this matter, we must leave our family, friends, church, youth group, and home. While we are excited about the new chapter in our lives, we are certainly upset about all that we will leave behind. I am having an especially hard time with this. I have never really lived anywhere other than Richmond, and there are some dear friends and family members that I will really miss seeing on a regular basis. I know that 3 hours isn't so far away, but it just won't be the same. So, the only option is for our family and friends to visit us often! We will have plenty of room, so please stop by!

The next few weeks will be crazy, I'm sure. Hopefully soon I'll have more pictures of our new home, as well as some new contact information. Until then, please keep us in your prayers as we seek to follow God's will for our lives.

P.S.- Last night, Justin got to baptize his brother, Austin! It was such a beautiful blessing. Congratulations, Austin! We're so proud of you!

Yay!

I finally got to sub today!

And, I'm officially available to sub on any Tuesday or Friday anywhere in the county---elementary, middle, or high school.

Tell all your teacher friends to hit me up!