We have quite a bit of news since we last updated.
Unfortunately, Jon was not offered the job at Duncan. He was also not offered the job at Penn Yan. At this point, we are staying in Longview at least through the end of 2012.
Jon was told that he didn't have the technical/mechanical experience that the companies were looking for. With that in mind, he is searching for a local job that will allow him to either work part-time or volunteer at an airport, aviation shop, or something to that effect to build his experience. He is also continuing to apply for aviation mechanic work around the country, including South Carolina, Alaska, and West Virginia. In the meantime, he continues to work for LeTourneau.
Summer is looking for a full-time position at various places in Longview. She applied to Chik-Fil-A, but was told that she was not what they were looking for. She has also applied to Hobby Lobby, but hasn't heard back. In the meantime, she continues to substitute teach, study Greek, and work her Premier Designs business.
Through uncertainty and disappointment, God is still King. He also continues to provide for us. We have been able to work for a local catering company, and while we aren't sure week to week whether or not we'll have work in that regard, we somehow still have enough.
We're not entirely sure what's next, but we have faith and confidence that the Lord of the Universe keeps His promises...and He has promised us that His plan for us is good, and that He will never leave us or forsake us. We take comfort in that, and look forward with excitement (and, to be honest, a little fear) at what the future holds. Whatever is there, though, we know who holds the future, and that He also holds us.
Please pray with us as we make decisions on this adventure.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Please Pray!
Please pray with us as Jon interviews at Duncan this morning. Pray that God's Will will be done, and that He will provide for us regardless of how well the interview goes.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Great Job Hunt
Jon has now returned from his interview in Penn Yan, NY, and do we have some news!
Before he left for Penn Yan, Jon sent his resume to a friend of a friend, who just happened to be one of the higher-ups in a company he had applied to. This gentleman talked to Jon the day before Jon flew north, and said that he would send Jon's resume to the hiring managers at the companies two locations: one in Battle Creek, MI and the other in Lincoln, NE.
While Jon was running from one plane to another at his layover up to NY, he received a call from the NE location. On September 26, they will be flying him up to Lincoln, renting him a car, putting him up in a hotel room, and interviewing him for a position at that location.
If there's a job that we have been hoping for and praying for, this is it! Please pray with us as Jon prepares for this interview. Pray for grace and peace as things unfold, and for the provision to follow through with things. We're excited with the opportunities that have opened up, and we hope that they lead somewhere :)
Before he left for Penn Yan, Jon sent his resume to a friend of a friend, who just happened to be one of the higher-ups in a company he had applied to. This gentleman talked to Jon the day before Jon flew north, and said that he would send Jon's resume to the hiring managers at the companies two locations: one in Battle Creek, MI and the other in Lincoln, NE.
While Jon was running from one plane to another at his layover up to NY, he received a call from the NE location. On September 26, they will be flying him up to Lincoln, renting him a car, putting him up in a hotel room, and interviewing him for a position at that location.
If there's a job that we have been hoping for and praying for, this is it! Please pray with us as Jon prepares for this interview. Pray for grace and peace as things unfold, and for the provision to follow through with things. We're excited with the opportunities that have opened up, and we hope that they lead somewhere :)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Penn Yan, NY
Well, Jon has now safely arrived in New York. He has an interview tomorrow with Penn Yan Aero, a company located in the Five Finger Lakes region of New York. Please pray with us as he interviews. Pray that God will give us wisdom to make decisions that are upcoming, and that He will provide for us as we make those decisions. Thank you!
Monday, August 27, 2012
New News...
We had a BLAST in Chicago, hanging out with Jon's parents and youngest brother after his other brother's wedding. We've been back for a little over a week now, and what a crazy week it's been!
Summer hadn't been feeling well all summer (go ahead and laugh :) ), and we finally figured out what it was - she had a sick and twisted gallbladder! This past Wednesday, she had a laparoscopic surgery and had it removed. "In sickness and in health" became real to us as Jon took care of things around the apartment while she recovered. 5 days later, and she's back in the swing of things! (It's so amazing how far technology has come - this same surgery used to put someone in the hospital for at least a full week afterwards, and 6 weeks to recovery!)
It's been difficult for Summer especially the past week and a half or so - seeing friends returning to school, but knowing she wouldn't be returning herself. She's thought about a Master's in Developmental Psychology, and maybe someday (after loans are a bit more behind us) she'll pursue that. In the meantime, she's aimed to teach herself Koine Greek (that is, the Greek that the New Testament was written in)!
Unfortunately, the job with the 5 1/2 month old twins fell through, so she is currently unemployed in the traditional sense...BUT she's going to have her hands full with stepping her jewelry business up to the next level, in addition to studying Greek, taking care of chores around the apartment, and hopefully starting to pack soon. She's also going to be pursuing a volunteer position at the local Child Advocacy Center, and is still on the substitute teaching list for Pine Tree ISD.
Jon is quietly chugging along, still working for LeTourneau University in the capacity of custodian while consistently and constantly updating his resume. He has an interview in Penn Yan, NY on September 13, so we ask that you join us in prayer that it goes well. We are hoping to be moving to a new abode (wherever that will be) by mid-October. Whether or not that will happen is in God's hands, but that's one of our goals.
So there's what's been going on recently. We ask that you continue to pray for God's provision with more gainful employment for Jon, as well as with the new medical bills incurred by the surgery (and, as always, student loans). In the 8-and-some-change months that we've been married, we have seen God provide time and time again for our needs, and He never fails! We look forward to seeing Him work in us and through us this time as well! We also thank you for your prayers for Summer's continued recovery from her surgery, and for patience as she follows the doctor's orders about things like lifting (you all know how energetic and independent she is!).
Summer hadn't been feeling well all summer (go ahead and laugh :) ), and we finally figured out what it was - she had a sick and twisted gallbladder! This past Wednesday, she had a laparoscopic surgery and had it removed. "In sickness and in health" became real to us as Jon took care of things around the apartment while she recovered. 5 days later, and she's back in the swing of things! (It's so amazing how far technology has come - this same surgery used to put someone in the hospital for at least a full week afterwards, and 6 weeks to recovery!)
It's been difficult for Summer especially the past week and a half or so - seeing friends returning to school, but knowing she wouldn't be returning herself. She's thought about a Master's in Developmental Psychology, and maybe someday (after loans are a bit more behind us) she'll pursue that. In the meantime, she's aimed to teach herself Koine Greek (that is, the Greek that the New Testament was written in)!
Unfortunately, the job with the 5 1/2 month old twins fell through, so she is currently unemployed in the traditional sense...BUT she's going to have her hands full with stepping her jewelry business up to the next level, in addition to studying Greek, taking care of chores around the apartment, and hopefully starting to pack soon. She's also going to be pursuing a volunteer position at the local Child Advocacy Center, and is still on the substitute teaching list for Pine Tree ISD.
Jon is quietly chugging along, still working for LeTourneau University in the capacity of custodian while consistently and constantly updating his resume. He has an interview in Penn Yan, NY on September 13, so we ask that you join us in prayer that it goes well. We are hoping to be moving to a new abode (wherever that will be) by mid-October. Whether or not that will happen is in God's hands, but that's one of our goals.
So there's what's been going on recently. We ask that you continue to pray for God's provision with more gainful employment for Jon, as well as with the new medical bills incurred by the surgery (and, as always, student loans). In the 8-and-some-change months that we've been married, we have seen God provide time and time again for our needs, and He never fails! We look forward to seeing Him work in us and through us this time as well! We also thank you for your prayers for Summer's continued recovery from her surgery, and for patience as she follows the doctor's orders about things like lifting (you all know how energetic and independent she is!).
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The End of the Summer...and the Beginning of the Rest of our Lives
Well, it's that time of year - summer (the season, that is!) draws to a close, and neither of us is preparing for another semester! It's going to be REALLY weird when our friends start posting semester preparation updates on Facebook and we're not doing the same!
So what ARE we doing, you ask? Well...
Summer:
Summer camps are drawing to a close. One more Monday morning (and maybe into the afternoon), and Summer will be done with summer camps (cute, isn't it? Summer worked at summer camps...). She'll have about three weeks without work, during which we will travel to Illinois for Jon's brother's wedding (and spending time with Jon's family in the subsequent week). When we return, Summer will begin her full-time nanny position (5 1/2 month old twins!), which she will supplement with substitute teaching as needed until we move. In addition, she will continue her jewelry business.
Jon:
Jon is still working custodial; they are now in mandatory overtime (and have been for a week) - that means working 11 hour days Monday through Friday, and then 8 1/2 hour days on Saturdays. Did we mention it's mandatory? In his limited free time, Jon is ferociously applying for jobs. So far, he has applied to positions in Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska, and New York, while also pursuing volunteer work at a local airport.
We appreciate your prayers for something to come to fruition in these endeavors. We also have a couple of unspoken prayer requests, and we would appreciate you joining us in prayer for those things.
We'll update next when we have some answers! :)
So what ARE we doing, you ask? Well...
Summer:
Summer camps are drawing to a close. One more Monday morning (and maybe into the afternoon), and Summer will be done with summer camps (cute, isn't it? Summer worked at summer camps...). She'll have about three weeks without work, during which we will travel to Illinois for Jon's brother's wedding (and spending time with Jon's family in the subsequent week). When we return, Summer will begin her full-time nanny position (5 1/2 month old twins!), which she will supplement with substitute teaching as needed until we move. In addition, she will continue her jewelry business.
Jon:
Jon is still working custodial; they are now in mandatory overtime (and have been for a week) - that means working 11 hour days Monday through Friday, and then 8 1/2 hour days on Saturdays. Did we mention it's mandatory? In his limited free time, Jon is ferociously applying for jobs. So far, he has applied to positions in Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska, and New York, while also pursuing volunteer work at a local airport.
We appreciate your prayers for something to come to fruition in these endeavors. We also have a couple of unspoken prayer requests, and we would appreciate you joining us in prayer for those things.
We'll update next when we have some answers! :)
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The beginning of the summer...
Well, subbing is done! All of the local school districts are out for the summer, so Summer (haha) doesn't get anymore subbing, at least until August (if we're still here). After her experiences with it (which were mostly positive!), Summer has decided that, while she enjoys the classroom, there's an itch for something more. So, while she is ok with subbing at this point, the question has been answered - she won't be pursuing a teaching certification!
Well goodness, what now? She's really been thinking about child advocacy, which she can do in any state where Jon ends up with a job. We'll see where this goes...
Speaking of Jon, we now have a few leads all over the States - one in either Nebraska or Michigan, one in Oklahoma, one in his home state of New York, and one in West Virginia. No telling yet which way we'll go - but those are a few places that we're looking at right now!
Other than that, nothing much is happening here. Jon continues his job with LeTourneau custodial, and Summer has begun working full-time at LeTourneau Summer Camps (haha - come on, you know you were thinkin' it!). One more week before camps begin, so we're in the craziness of getting ready, while Jon and the custodial crew have begun what is affectionately (or maybe not so much) called "projects" - as in, deep cleaning every residential building on campus.
Please pray for us as we consider our next moves in this great journey towards Home - pray for wisdom, open doors, and (more) wisdom as we make decisions. Also, praise God with us for financial provision (we've been able to pay off several student loans in just a few months!) and pray for His continued provision (cattle on a thousand hills, anyone?).
As always, thank you for your prayers and encouragement :)
Well goodness, what now? She's really been thinking about child advocacy, which she can do in any state where Jon ends up with a job. We'll see where this goes...
Speaking of Jon, we now have a few leads all over the States - one in either Nebraska or Michigan, one in Oklahoma, one in his home state of New York, and one in West Virginia. No telling yet which way we'll go - but those are a few places that we're looking at right now!
Other than that, nothing much is happening here. Jon continues his job with LeTourneau custodial, and Summer has begun working full-time at LeTourneau Summer Camps (haha - come on, you know you were thinkin' it!). One more week before camps begin, so we're in the craziness of getting ready, while Jon and the custodial crew have begun what is affectionately (or maybe not so much) called "projects" - as in, deep cleaning every residential building on campus.
Please pray for us as we consider our next moves in this great journey towards Home - pray for wisdom, open doors, and (more) wisdom as we make decisions. Also, praise God with us for financial provision (we've been able to pay off several student loans in just a few months!) and pray for His continued provision (cattle on a thousand hills, anyone?).
As always, thank you for your prayers and encouragement :)
Friday, May 11, 2012
Graduation and Life After...
Wow, we haven't updated in a while!
We both officially GRADUATED this past Saturday! A HUGE STEP!!! We were excited to spend time with Summer's family who came to Longview for graduation - we love you all!
We both have our diplomas now, and are ready to jump headfirst into "the real world" - which means that Jon is looking for work out of state (while still working full-time for LeTourneau custodial), and Summer is now working full-time (as in, 5 jobs, 40ish hours a week).
Summer has been substitute teaching for Pine Tree ISD. So far, she's subbed for 2 3rd grade classes and a 4th grade class. Part of the reason behind subbing is to discover whether or not she should pursue a teaching certification in whatever state we end up. At this point, still not sure...
Jon is seeking to apply for an aviation mechanic position. If you happen to know of any positions out of state, feel free to let us know - we're searching!
In the meantime, we will continue to chug along here in Longview - Summer has started working for LETU Summer Camps while finishing her work for chapel (a job she's had for 3 1/2 years - so sad to be leaving soon!); she's finished working for First Presbyterian Church's nursery, has started subbing (as mentioned above) and is still selling jewelry with Premier Designs (if you're interested in getting FREE jewelry, let us know - she's willing to travel, and would love to see family and friends!).
Since school let out, Summer has been fighting exhaustion and illness - it looks like the semester is finally catching up! Please pray that recovery will be swift and thorough, and that we will continue to be well in the Richards home!
Well that's all for now, folks! As always, we covet your prayers - and thank you for praying!
We both officially GRADUATED this past Saturday! A HUGE STEP!!! We were excited to spend time with Summer's family who came to Longview for graduation - we love you all!
We both have our diplomas now, and are ready to jump headfirst into "the real world" - which means that Jon is looking for work out of state (while still working full-time for LeTourneau custodial), and Summer is now working full-time (as in, 5 jobs, 40ish hours a week).
Summer has been substitute teaching for Pine Tree ISD. So far, she's subbed for 2 3rd grade classes and a 4th grade class. Part of the reason behind subbing is to discover whether or not she should pursue a teaching certification in whatever state we end up. At this point, still not sure...
Jon is seeking to apply for an aviation mechanic position. If you happen to know of any positions out of state, feel free to let us know - we're searching!
In the meantime, we will continue to chug along here in Longview - Summer has started working for LETU Summer Camps while finishing her work for chapel (a job she's had for 3 1/2 years - so sad to be leaving soon!); she's finished working for First Presbyterian Church's nursery, has started subbing (as mentioned above) and is still selling jewelry with Premier Designs (if you're interested in getting FREE jewelry, let us know - she's willing to travel, and would love to see family and friends!).
Since school let out, Summer has been fighting exhaustion and illness - it looks like the semester is finally catching up! Please pray that recovery will be swift and thorough, and that we will continue to be well in the Richards home!
Well that's all for now, folks! As always, we covet your prayers - and thank you for praying!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Easter Weekend & Other Things
So Easter weekend was a blast!
We are a part of an organization on campus called Mu Kappa - it is a part of Barnabas International, a ministry that focuses on missionary kids (MK's) and third-culture kids (TCK's). Since Jon is an MK and Summer has strong interest in missions, we are both involved.
Every Easter weekend, Mu Kappa hosts a retreat called "Goat Roast". Think of the Passover - the Israelites were commanded to take a lamb (from the sheep or the goats) and roast it every year (among other things) to commemorate the Exodus. Christ then gave the Passover a new meaning in the Lord's Supper.
All that to say, that's where we get the idea of a "Goat Roast" - we go camping for 2-3 days, roast a goat, eat it, and focus on the resurrection of Christ. This year, Summer had a heavy hand in planning it, so it's been pretty busy around here! The weekend was a great time of rest, relaxation, and refocus, and we're coming back strong to finish the 2 1/2 weeks left of the rest of our undergraduate lives!
Oh yeah...that means graduation is coming up! We can't believe it's almost the end of the road - the road we've been on for 18+ years (that is, the road of formal education). Life is definitely going to be different, but we look forward to the challenges and we rest in the knowledge that God's got it :)
We are a part of an organization on campus called Mu Kappa - it is a part of Barnabas International, a ministry that focuses on missionary kids (MK's) and third-culture kids (TCK's). Since Jon is an MK and Summer has strong interest in missions, we are both involved.
Every Easter weekend, Mu Kappa hosts a retreat called "Goat Roast". Think of the Passover - the Israelites were commanded to take a lamb (from the sheep or the goats) and roast it every year (among other things) to commemorate the Exodus. Christ then gave the Passover a new meaning in the Lord's Supper.
All that to say, that's where we get the idea of a "Goat Roast" - we go camping for 2-3 days, roast a goat, eat it, and focus on the resurrection of Christ. This year, Summer had a heavy hand in planning it, so it's been pretty busy around here! The weekend was a great time of rest, relaxation, and refocus, and we're coming back strong to finish the 2 1/2 weeks left of the rest of our undergraduate lives!
Oh yeah...that means graduation is coming up! We can't believe it's almost the end of the road - the road we've been on for 18+ years (that is, the road of formal education). Life is definitely going to be different, but we look forward to the challenges and we rest in the knowledge that God's got it :)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Long time!
Wow, sorry it's been so long since we've posted anything!
Tiffany and Christopher were able to join us for a time over Spring Break - we enjoyed spending time with them! On Tuesday, Summer and Mops (her grandma, in case you didn't know already) drove to Dallas, picked them up, and brought them back to Longview. Summer, Jon, Mops, Tiffany, and Christopher all had dinner at the Richards residence, and Tiffany and Christopher stayed the night with us. On Wednesday we hung out around the apartment while Jon went to work - we baked cookies (which we took to Jon and his co-workers), hung out around the house, and spent some time with Summer's 7-year-old nephew, Chance. Then Tiffany and Christopher joined Mops and Elice (Summer, Tiffany, and Christopher's aunt) and spent the night with Mops the next few nights.
On Thursday of Spring Break, Summer, Mops, Tiffany, and Christopher went to the Tyler Zoo, cracking jokes at each other the whole time (of course!). That evening, Summer had a jewelry show, and she took Tiffany with her - she seemed to really enjoy it! On Friday, both Summer and Jon had to work all day, so the kiddos hung out with Mops while we were busy, and then we drove to Kilgore after work, where we had dinner, frozen yogurt, watched a couple of movies, and spent the night. Saturday, Summer and Mops drove the kids back to Dallas (ish - they met Summer's parents about halfway).
The Saturday at the end of Spring Break was our 3 month-iversary! When Summer got back from dropping the kids off, she met Jon at the local gun show, where we drooled over knives, guns, and the fixin's. An awesome date! Then it was back to the grinder, as school picked up again on Monday.
Since school has started, we've been staying fairly busy, though Summer was able to work ahead a bit on homework during Spring Break and is only taking 12 hours (so it's not like there's a ton of homework). Jon is still chugging along with his online class and work, while looking for more gainful employment - he has applied to Longview Radiator and is awaiting a phone call (so please be in prayer for that). Summer has officially accepted a position with LeTourneau University for the summer (being the office assistant for summer camps - the same thing she did last summer), and is also pursuing a substitute teaching position in a local ISD for the month of May. With that said, we will be here in Longview until at least late August, if not longer - after that, we're not sure where the Lord will lead, but whatever :)
Two birthdays coming up! Jon turns a quarter of a century old (haha that makes him sound ancient!) on Wednesday, and less than a month after that Summer turns 22 - a week and a day before she graduates!
Yeah, graduation is coming up, too - 6 weeks to go! After that...not sure yet! We'll see what happens with the subbing job (if it comes through).
Please pray with us for this job for Jon at Longview Radiator. It's not working on aircraft as he'd hoped, but it's closer to working on aircraft than where he currently is. Please also pray for Summer as she figures out the next step in her career - whether to go on and apply to a teacher's certification program, or simply go into the workforce as a day care center worker or administrator, or something entirely different. We aren't quite sure what's next, but we know that God is awesome, and He has great plans for us. It'll be an adventure, but we have each other and a Rock to stand on, so it'll be worth the ride :)
Tiffany and Christopher were able to join us for a time over Spring Break - we enjoyed spending time with them! On Tuesday, Summer and Mops (her grandma, in case you didn't know already) drove to Dallas, picked them up, and brought them back to Longview. Summer, Jon, Mops, Tiffany, and Christopher all had dinner at the Richards residence, and Tiffany and Christopher stayed the night with us. On Wednesday we hung out around the apartment while Jon went to work - we baked cookies (which we took to Jon and his co-workers), hung out around the house, and spent some time with Summer's 7-year-old nephew, Chance. Then Tiffany and Christopher joined Mops and Elice (Summer, Tiffany, and Christopher's aunt) and spent the night with Mops the next few nights.
On Thursday of Spring Break, Summer, Mops, Tiffany, and Christopher went to the Tyler Zoo, cracking jokes at each other the whole time (of course!). That evening, Summer had a jewelry show, and she took Tiffany with her - she seemed to really enjoy it! On Friday, both Summer and Jon had to work all day, so the kiddos hung out with Mops while we were busy, and then we drove to Kilgore after work, where we had dinner, frozen yogurt, watched a couple of movies, and spent the night. Saturday, Summer and Mops drove the kids back to Dallas (ish - they met Summer's parents about halfway).
The Saturday at the end of Spring Break was our 3 month-iversary! When Summer got back from dropping the kids off, she met Jon at the local gun show, where we drooled over knives, guns, and the fixin's. An awesome date! Then it was back to the grinder, as school picked up again on Monday.
Since school has started, we've been staying fairly busy, though Summer was able to work ahead a bit on homework during Spring Break and is only taking 12 hours (so it's not like there's a ton of homework). Jon is still chugging along with his online class and work, while looking for more gainful employment - he has applied to Longview Radiator and is awaiting a phone call (so please be in prayer for that). Summer has officially accepted a position with LeTourneau University for the summer (being the office assistant for summer camps - the same thing she did last summer), and is also pursuing a substitute teaching position in a local ISD for the month of May. With that said, we will be here in Longview until at least late August, if not longer - after that, we're not sure where the Lord will lead, but whatever :)
Two birthdays coming up! Jon turns a quarter of a century old (haha that makes him sound ancient!) on Wednesday, and less than a month after that Summer turns 22 - a week and a day before she graduates!
Yeah, graduation is coming up, too - 6 weeks to go! After that...not sure yet! We'll see what happens with the subbing job (if it comes through).
Please pray with us for this job for Jon at Longview Radiator. It's not working on aircraft as he'd hoped, but it's closer to working on aircraft than where he currently is. Please also pray for Summer as she figures out the next step in her career - whether to go on and apply to a teacher's certification program, or simply go into the workforce as a day care center worker or administrator, or something entirely different. We aren't quite sure what's next, but we know that God is awesome, and He has great plans for us. It'll be an adventure, but we have each other and a Rock to stand on, so it'll be worth the ride :)
Friday, March 9, 2012
TX Residency, Job Stuff, and Spring Break
Yep, it's official! Jon is now a Texas resident! He got his license this week, and there's no denying his conversion! ;)
Jon heard back from the local aviation company - unfortunately, they don't need any help, so they put his resume on file and said they'd call if something happened. Now Jon is pursuing another lead (not in aviation, but something with promise) - we'll keep you updated!
Spring Break is upon us! We'll be staying in Longview for the break - Jon will be working almost full-time (still), and Summer will be avoiding school (*ahem* mostly), working a little, and running around like a chicken with her head cut off (as Jon likes to say) - in English, Summer will be taking care of little errands that usually get overlooked or put on the back burner due to school. Two of Summer's younger siblings, Tiffany and Christopher, will also be coming for a little while this week - we look forward to spending time with them!!!
Jon heard back from the local aviation company - unfortunately, they don't need any help, so they put his resume on file and said they'd call if something happened. Now Jon is pursuing another lead (not in aviation, but something with promise) - we'll keep you updated!
Spring Break is upon us! We'll be staying in Longview for the break - Jon will be working almost full-time (still), and Summer will be avoiding school (*ahem* mostly), working a little, and running around like a chicken with her head cut off (as Jon likes to say) - in English, Summer will be taking care of little errands that usually get overlooked or put on the back burner due to school. Two of Summer's younger siblings, Tiffany and Christopher, will also be coming for a little while this week - we look forward to spending time with them!!!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Marriage Conference, Premier Designs and job stuff...
This weekend sure was a big weekend! We attended a marriage conference that focused on healthy conflict resolution. It was a great refresher (this is our third such seminar since we've been dating, and reviewed the material from our first conference 2 years ago, but since our relationship has certainly changed since then, the context of the material has changed as well). We're excited to see our relationship grow stronger!
Unfortunately, last Tuesday evening Summer said goodbye to the twins for the last time. The family had hired her for supplemental help when they were pregnant (they didn't know how much help they'd need with twins!), and found that they didn't need as much help as they thought they would. It was a bittersweet good-bye, but understandable.
With that said, Summer has been trying to figure out what in the world to do with all of her free time! (Barely being a full-time student means lots of free time!) The answer to that question is...(drum roll, please!)...Premier Designs!
Premier Designs in a jewelry company that is based on Christian principles and run from the home. Ask Summer if you want more information - she would LOVE to tell you more about it! (We're not just saying that to get people to buy the stuff - this was a decision based in part on the fact that we're sold on this product - it's something that we have been considering for over a year, and the time and resources became available to do this. So, we went with it!)
Jon also now has a lead for an aviation job here in Longview. He'll be pursuing that over the next few days, and we'll see what happens from there. Your prayers are appreciated!
Unfortunately, last Tuesday evening Summer said goodbye to the twins for the last time. The family had hired her for supplemental help when they were pregnant (they didn't know how much help they'd need with twins!), and found that they didn't need as much help as they thought they would. It was a bittersweet good-bye, but understandable.
With that said, Summer has been trying to figure out what in the world to do with all of her free time! (Barely being a full-time student means lots of free time!) The answer to that question is...(drum roll, please!)...Premier Designs!
Premier Designs in a jewelry company that is based on Christian principles and run from the home. Ask Summer if you want more information - she would LOVE to tell you more about it! (We're not just saying that to get people to buy the stuff - this was a decision based in part on the fact that we're sold on this product - it's something that we have been considering for over a year, and the time and resources became available to do this. So, we went with it!)
Jon also now has a lead for an aviation job here in Longview. He'll be pursuing that over the next few days, and we'll see what happens from there. Your prayers are appreciated!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Dave Ramsey, Duncan Aviation, and Graduation (among other things)
So it's official! We have signed up for a Financial Peace University Dave Ramsey seminar at a local church here in Longview, and our first evening of classes is TONIGHT! Going to be learning about saving, ditching the debt (yay school loans!), and living graciously!
Duncan Aviation let Jon know recently that they had hired someone else for the job he applied for, but they encouraged him to apply for other jobs. Please pray with us that Jon will find an aviation-related job soon - if he doesn't use his A&P license by a certain time, he will have to have a refresher before he would be hired by an aviation company.
Summer is graduating in 74 days!!! Wow, where does the time go?! May 5, 2012 at 9 AM at LeTourneau University - good times, good times :)
Lots of big changes coming up - graduation, finding a full time job (for Summer), Jon finding a better-paying job, student loans needing to be paid off, the possibility of moving out of state...there's a lot to be done, but a lot to be thankful for as well. We have good food, good friends, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and a God who graciously provides for us when we need it (and even when we don't). In the ups and downs of financial strain, frustrations, and fears, it's easy to forget Who is in control - and when we look up and see the Most High, the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50), the Giver and Sustainer of life, the One who's got it all - well, we're reminded that everything's going to be all right. Such comfort! Please pray with us as we seek God's peace and wisdom in the big decisions that are coming.
Duncan Aviation let Jon know recently that they had hired someone else for the job he applied for, but they encouraged him to apply for other jobs. Please pray with us that Jon will find an aviation-related job soon - if he doesn't use his A&P license by a certain time, he will have to have a refresher before he would be hired by an aviation company.
Summer is graduating in 74 days!!! Wow, where does the time go?! May 5, 2012 at 9 AM at LeTourneau University - good times, good times :)
Lots of big changes coming up - graduation, finding a full time job (for Summer), Jon finding a better-paying job, student loans needing to be paid off, the possibility of moving out of state...there's a lot to be done, but a lot to be thankful for as well. We have good food, good friends, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and a God who graciously provides for us when we need it (and even when we don't). In the ups and downs of financial strain, frustrations, and fears, it's easy to forget Who is in control - and when we look up and see the Most High, the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50), the Giver and Sustainer of life, the One who's got it all - well, we're reminded that everything's going to be all right. Such comfort! Please pray with us as we seek God's peace and wisdom in the big decisions that are coming.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
More Sickness...
And now Jon has been sick since Wednesday evening. Apparently we don't yet know how to be sick together!
Lord willing, Jon will be well enough to return to work tomorrow. Tonight, Summer at least will be attending the Mu Kappa dinner - it's Madagascarean food tonight! If Jon is feeling better, he will also be attending.
Besides that, we're staying busy - dealing with illness, running the household, attending school, and continuing to build relationships with friends. :)
Lord willing, Jon will be well enough to return to work tomorrow. Tonight, Summer at least will be attending the Mu Kappa dinner - it's Madagascarean food tonight! If Jon is feeling better, he will also be attending.
Besides that, we're staying busy - dealing with illness, running the household, attending school, and continuing to build relationships with friends. :)
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sickness and other news
What a week it's been in the Richards home! (I feel like we say that every week...)
Summer was sick Tuesday-Thursday. Stupid sinus infection. She's better now, though, after several nights of 10+ hours of sleep, a steam shower, and several doses of cold medicine.
Today was very productive - taxes were filed (hooray!), the apartment was cleaned, and took care of random paperwork. Tonight, we had several friends over. One of them was awesome and made an EPIC pizza! Seriously, this thing was 14' in diameter and weighed a good 12 pounds. Homemade dough, homemade sauce, green bell peppers, onions, bacon, sausage, salami, pepperoni, pepper jack cheese, and mozzarella cheese...AMAZING!
Jon found a new game. It's called League of Legends - he's exploring it and enjoying spending time online with a couple of co-workers and friends of ours (well, co-workers of his, and friends of both of us).
This next week is looking pretty calm, which will give us a chance to rest and get things done. Summer has 2 tests and a presentation this week, so that'll be fun for sure, but other than that, not much going on...thanks for reading, by the way ;)
Summer was sick Tuesday-Thursday. Stupid sinus infection. She's better now, though, after several nights of 10+ hours of sleep, a steam shower, and several doses of cold medicine.
Today was very productive - taxes were filed (hooray!), the apartment was cleaned, and took care of random paperwork. Tonight, we had several friends over. One of them was awesome and made an EPIC pizza! Seriously, this thing was 14' in diameter and weighed a good 12 pounds. Homemade dough, homemade sauce, green bell peppers, onions, bacon, sausage, salami, pepperoni, pepper jack cheese, and mozzarella cheese...AMAZING!
Jon found a new game. It's called League of Legends - he's exploring it and enjoying spending time online with a couple of co-workers and friends of ours (well, co-workers of his, and friends of both of us).
This next week is looking pretty calm, which will give us a chance to rest and get things done. Summer has 2 tests and a presentation this week, so that'll be fun for sure, but other than that, not much going on...thanks for reading, by the way ;)
Friday, January 27, 2012
MEW is done!
What a week!
We're finally done with Missions Emphasis Week - it's a bittersweet ending, for sure! Summer has been involved with MEW her entire time at LeTourneau - it will be an event very much missed after graduation, but it's so nice to finally be able to rest! It's been a long week, with long days and a lot of work. We enjoyed the time spent reconnecting with missionaries we know: Mark Foshager from International Teams, Judy Keith from Barnabas International, the Thompson's from Tri-Grace Ministries, and the Larsen's from The Master's Mission.
Jon has been steadily working - between his 8-5 job and his online class and Summer's 2 1/2 jobs and full-time student-hood, we're staying pretty busy! While this week has been great, we look forward to having more time at home, and are excited to be able to open our home to friends some evenings (now that we'll actually be home!).
Now that this week is over, it's time to "bunker down" and push on with the semester. Summer has officially registered for graduation, so now it's time to finish this leg of the race. :)
We're finally done with Missions Emphasis Week - it's a bittersweet ending, for sure! Summer has been involved with MEW her entire time at LeTourneau - it will be an event very much missed after graduation, but it's so nice to finally be able to rest! It's been a long week, with long days and a lot of work. We enjoyed the time spent reconnecting with missionaries we know: Mark Foshager from International Teams, Judy Keith from Barnabas International, the Thompson's from Tri-Grace Ministries, and the Larsen's from The Master's Mission.
Jon has been steadily working - between his 8-5 job and his online class and Summer's 2 1/2 jobs and full-time student-hood, we're staying pretty busy! While this week has been great, we look forward to having more time at home, and are excited to be able to open our home to friends some evenings (now that we'll actually be home!).
Now that this week is over, it's time to "bunker down" and push on with the semester. Summer has officially registered for graduation, so now it's time to finish this leg of the race. :)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Busy-ness!
WOW!
This next week is going to be insane for us!
Missions Emphasis Week (MEW) is upon us! Summer is super excited for the opportunity to serve for the fourth (and last) time with the Missions Emphasis Week Committee to make this missions week "da bomb". We look forward to reconnecting with good friends (such as Mark Foshager from International Teams), hearing great stories (from Dwayne King, Jon's favorite story-teller!), and seeing where God may lead us in missions.
With all that said, dinners next week are going to be interesting, with Summer sometimes going straight from nannying the twins to campus for MEW events. She's been cooking up a storm so that we can have easy, quick meals on-the-go next week (and not have to wait until 9 PM or later for dinner!), and she is quite enjoying it! (She jokes that she's making up for the first month of our marriage, when she didn't cook much because of our honeymoon and adjusting to school life + marriage + life in general.) If you want any delicious recipes, let us know! We're more than happy to share! (And that goes the other way, too - if you know any good recipes, let us know!)
This next week is going to be insane for us!
Missions Emphasis Week (MEW) is upon us! Summer is super excited for the opportunity to serve for the fourth (and last) time with the Missions Emphasis Week Committee to make this missions week "da bomb". We look forward to reconnecting with good friends (such as Mark Foshager from International Teams), hearing great stories (from Dwayne King, Jon's favorite story-teller!), and seeing where God may lead us in missions.
With all that said, dinners next week are going to be interesting, with Summer sometimes going straight from nannying the twins to campus for MEW events. She's been cooking up a storm so that we can have easy, quick meals on-the-go next week (and not have to wait until 9 PM or later for dinner!), and she is quite enjoying it! (She jokes that she's making up for the first month of our marriage, when she didn't cook much because of our honeymoon and adjusting to school life + marriage + life in general.) If you want any delicious recipes, let us know! We're more than happy to share! (And that goes the other way, too - if you know any good recipes, let us know!)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Where will the road lead next?
A question we've heard pretty consistently since we've tied the knot has been, "So, where to from here?" Summer graduates in May, so for now, we're sitting tight - Jon has a full-time job with LeTourneau University custodial, and Summer is walking several part-time (or quarter-time) jobs (she works with LeTourneau University's Spiritual Life Department - taking attendance for chapel, among other things - , First Presbyterian Church nursery twice a month, and she just started a nanny position - helping with twin boys born on 1/8). God provides graciously, as He always has!
We're not sure where we're going next, though. If we stay in Longview through the summer, Summer (no pun intended ;) ) has been offered a full-time summer position with LeTourneau University Summer Camps, doing the same thing she did last year - summer camps office assistant (as in, running the summer camp office). Jon can stay on with the custodial department for as long as he needs to. We're looking at a few different options for after graduation, though. Jon recently began the application process with Duncan Aviation. They are located in Battle Creek, Michigan and Lincoln, Nebraska. So, if we end up with them, those will be our options (if they're options - we may be assigned - not sure yet how that works). We're also looking into Covington Aircraft, located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and Penn Yan Aero in Penn Yan, New York. Those are the big ones that we've been exploring. Of all of them, Duncan seems to be our favorite - they are family-oriented, seem very friendly, and offer great benefits and perks.
We hope at some time to possibly go to Alaska and work with Kingdom Air Corps, a flight school in Chicaloon. Jon would possibly work as a mechanic, and Summer would be able to help with a summer camp that ministers to Inuit children in the area. Again, this is a possibility, and we wouldn't be able to do it until we were married for a bit longer and on our feet a little more firmly, but it is something that we both hope to do.
So, that's what's up with us. We're not sure where the road will lead (or even when), but we look forward to the adventure and are content knowing that God has us in His hands.
We're not sure where we're going next, though. If we stay in Longview through the summer, Summer (no pun intended ;) ) has been offered a full-time summer position with LeTourneau University Summer Camps, doing the same thing she did last year - summer camps office assistant (as in, running the summer camp office). Jon can stay on with the custodial department for as long as he needs to. We're looking at a few different options for after graduation, though. Jon recently began the application process with Duncan Aviation. They are located in Battle Creek, Michigan and Lincoln, Nebraska. So, if we end up with them, those will be our options (if they're options - we may be assigned - not sure yet how that works). We're also looking into Covington Aircraft, located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and Penn Yan Aero in Penn Yan, New York. Those are the big ones that we've been exploring. Of all of them, Duncan seems to be our favorite - they are family-oriented, seem very friendly, and offer great benefits and perks.
We hope at some time to possibly go to Alaska and work with Kingdom Air Corps, a flight school in Chicaloon. Jon would possibly work as a mechanic, and Summer would be able to help with a summer camp that ministers to Inuit children in the area. Again, this is a possibility, and we wouldn't be able to do it until we were married for a bit longer and on our feet a little more firmly, but it is something that we both hope to do.
So, that's what's up with us. We're not sure where the road will lead (or even when), but we look forward to the adventure and are content knowing that God has us in His hands.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Name Change Stuff
I have officially changed my name!
Going to the Social Security Administration was easy - I was even helped by a LeTourneau alumnus!
After going to the SSA, I went to the Department of Public Transportation (the DMV of Texas) and was very excited to see no line. When I walked in, there were a bunch of people sitting in a side room (they looked young, mostly - I was thinking, "Driver's ed class?") and a few people standing on the wall, but there was NO LINE. I went to the people standing and asked if they were in line. I heard, "no" several times, and finally asked someone, "Where's the line?" They pointed to the empty space.
Now, if anyone knows anything about me, you know that I have no qualms about standing up in front of a group and speaking, and this case was no different. I jumped in the line and addressed everyone in the room, "THERE'S NO LINE! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! THIS IS AWESOME! I'VE COME HERE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LINE, BUT THERE'S NO LINE!" Some people, I saw, were snickering behind their hands, and others were smiling. Another lady got in line behind me, and we started chatting about weddings (she was recently married as well) and name-change stuff. While we were chatting, another lady, smiling, came up to me and said, "You stand in line and get a number. Then you go sit down." She was still smiling. I looked at the room that had standing room only, and I said, "You're joking, right?" She shook her head, still smiling. "You're serious?" She nodded, still smiling.
It was 1:30. I had less than an hour before my chiropractor's appointment. I asked her, "How long have you been here?" Her response:
"11:30."
I said, "Oooh no! I can't wait here that long! I have a doctor's appointment in less than an hour! I can't do this today! I've gotta go!" People were openly laughing by the time I left.
Yeah, I went back the next day and the line was shorter - I only spent an hour and a half in line, instead of 2+ hours. But it was done, and the change is official :)
-S
Going to the Social Security Administration was easy - I was even helped by a LeTourneau alumnus!
After going to the SSA, I went to the Department of Public Transportation (the DMV of Texas) and was very excited to see no line. When I walked in, there were a bunch of people sitting in a side room (they looked young, mostly - I was thinking, "Driver's ed class?") and a few people standing on the wall, but there was NO LINE. I went to the people standing and asked if they were in line. I heard, "no" several times, and finally asked someone, "Where's the line?" They pointed to the empty space.
Now, if anyone knows anything about me, you know that I have no qualms about standing up in front of a group and speaking, and this case was no different. I jumped in the line and addressed everyone in the room, "THERE'S NO LINE! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! THIS IS AWESOME! I'VE COME HERE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LINE, BUT THERE'S NO LINE!" Some people, I saw, were snickering behind their hands, and others were smiling. Another lady got in line behind me, and we started chatting about weddings (she was recently married as well) and name-change stuff. While we were chatting, another lady, smiling, came up to me and said, "You stand in line and get a number. Then you go sit down." She was still smiling. I looked at the room that had standing room only, and I said, "You're joking, right?" She shook her head, still smiling. "You're serious?" She nodded, still smiling.
It was 1:30. I had less than an hour before my chiropractor's appointment. I asked her, "How long have you been here?" Her response:
"11:30."
I said, "Oooh no! I can't wait here that long! I have a doctor's appointment in less than an hour! I can't do this today! I've gotta go!" People were openly laughing by the time I left.
Yeah, I went back the next day and the line was shorter - I only spent an hour and a half in line, instead of 2+ hours. But it was done, and the change is official :)
-S
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Newest Fun!
Well, Summer was finally sucked into Pinterest. She's enjoying building her recipe and home organization ideas - it's so great to have a home!!!
Tonight, Jon brought home a new...*ahem*...family game? Lego has released an RPG game (Role-Playing Game) that is for 2-3 players. You build the game board out of Legos (and there are several different boards you can build) and then you play with them...it's pretty fun, and doesn't take too much time to play (and building is half the fun!). If you're interested, the name of the set is Heroica. We look forward to building our collection!
We are getting better at finding our balance. We are figuring out our work/school/homework schedules, and enjoying time with friends (going to visit, having people over, hanging out on campus, etc.), and a rhythm seems to be emerging. :)
P.S. Jon brought me flowers today!!! - S
Tonight, Jon brought home a new...*ahem*...family game? Lego has released an RPG game (Role-Playing Game) that is for 2-3 players. You build the game board out of Legos (and there are several different boards you can build) and then you play with them...it's pretty fun, and doesn't take too much time to play (and building is half the fun!). If you're interested, the name of the set is Heroica. We look forward to building our collection!
We are getting better at finding our balance. We are figuring out our work/school/homework schedules, and enjoying time with friends (going to visit, having people over, hanging out on campus, etc.), and a rhythm seems to be emerging. :)
P.S. Jon brought me flowers today!!! - S
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Getting into the swing of things
So school has started for both of us (Jon is taking an online class, Summer has 12 hours on-campus) and work is on a roll. Jon is working at LeTourneau University (as a full-time student custodian) and is figuring out her schedule for several jobs (student chapel worker at LeTourneau, nanny for two newborn twins boys, and nursery worker for a local church).
We're starting to figure out married life (we think).
Funny story:
We arrived home from our honeymoon/travels last Friday. On Saturday, we slept in and then both got up at the same time. Summer went into the kitchen, and Jon went into the living room. Now, if you've seen our apartment, you know that the kitchen has two doors, and so you can either go to the living room/dining room area into the kitchen, or from the hall into the kitchen. Summer was getting breakfast ready, and Jon came into the kitchen to get something out of the fridge. He looked at Summer, stunned, and said, "You're supposed to be in Gilbert. What are you doing here?" (Gilbert is the dorm Summer lived in on campus.) A second later, he said, "Oh, yeah, we're married," and carried on.
All that to say, adjustment is quite the adventure! Name change paperwork for Summer has been taken care of, so that's one less thing on our plate. In all, we're excited for 2012 and all that God has in store for us, and (although this semester looks like it will be fairly busy) we look forward to these next few months and what it will bring!
We're starting to figure out married life (we think).
Funny story:
We arrived home from our honeymoon/travels last Friday. On Saturday, we slept in and then both got up at the same time. Summer went into the kitchen, and Jon went into the living room. Now, if you've seen our apartment, you know that the kitchen has two doors, and so you can either go to the living room/dining room area into the kitchen, or from the hall into the kitchen. Summer was getting breakfast ready, and Jon came into the kitchen to get something out of the fridge. He looked at Summer, stunned, and said, "You're supposed to be in Gilbert. What are you doing here?" (Gilbert is the dorm Summer lived in on campus.) A second later, he said, "Oh, yeah, we're married," and carried on.
All that to say, adjustment is quite the adventure! Name change paperwork for Summer has been taken care of, so that's one less thing on our plate. In all, we're excited for 2012 and all that God has in store for us, and (although this semester looks like it will be fairly busy) we look forward to these next few months and what it will bring!
Friday, January 6, 2012
And Real Life Begins...
Well, here we are, on the other side of our honeymoon. SO glad to be home, and trying not to feel overwhelmed by the amount of things to do. We returned home to a rather messy apartment (and we even put away a lot of things before we left!); cleaning, unpacking, grocery shopping, and finding everything for classes, while finding a place for Christmas stuff (we were able to get a 4 foot Christmas tree before we left - now we get to put it away...).
Jon goes back to work on Monday; Summer has the option to either run errands all day or go to work. Classes start on Tuesday - so much to do, so little time!
All that to say, it's good to be home :)
Jon goes back to work on Monday; Summer has the option to either run errands all day or go to work. Classes start on Tuesday - so much to do, so little time!
All that to say, it's good to be home :)
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