November

Since I have been so good a keeping up with this lately, I decided that I may as well title this entry for the month. Chances are it will be the only one. Lately things have been great! We, of course, are busy as usual, but all is well in the Haney/Jewett/Bair household. Yes...that is as ridiculous as it sounds. Life is always an adventure in our house.
This week was incredible for all of us. We attended a church planter's seminar, and we all got so much out of it. I now find myself encouraged, motivated, and completely overwhelmed. There is so much to do! I know that it is going to take nothing short of 1000 miracles for God to make this happen. All of us are beyond thrilled and excited to be a part of what God is doing and what He will continue to do in the Pacific Northwest. Lately it seems like at any given moment God will throw us something new. A couple weeks ago a guy from Portland literally just showed up on our doorstep! He just happened to knock on our door as part of a community outreach project, and he just happened to be working with a church plant here in Dallas. We have since visited with him twice about what we are going to be doing in Portland, and he is helping us establish connections and learn the city. Unbelievable!
Then this week a pastor at the seminar asked if we would be willing to be his missionaries for his summer week of camp. He wants us to come and share and teach and lead as the camp financially supports ThePortlandProject. Again...unbelievable!
I am sure these seem like small simple things, but we are learning the importance and the significance of every victory and affirmation that God gives us. When we stop celebrating these moments, we will begin to forget who is behind it all. God is so good, and we are so incredibly blessed to be called to this ministry. Please continue to pray! We need prayer more than anything!

Settled...sort of...

Well, there is really no excuse. It's been two days short of a month since I last posted. I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up. We have moved into our new house. Everything is slowly but surely finding its place. It has been a much easier adjustment than I had expected. Everyone is getting along great, and we are all adapting to living with each other very well. Everyone has been so considerate of giving each other space, and we actually are already seeing areas where we are saving money! So that is great!
The dogs are loving the house! There is a really big yard...okay for Dallas it's a really big yard...for Indy, it's a pretty much normal. Anyway they are loving the freedom. Owen, however has the ability to spring, in a single bound, right over the fence. We knew he could do this before we moved in. We had seen him jump twice that high before, but HE didn't know he could do it until yesterday. Of course, now that he has figured it out he keeps doing it. So we really have to figure out something to keep Owen in the yard. That is another project for this week.
As usual we are insanely busy. Chris and I realized a few weeks ago, that we are not going to have a free weekend until sometime in December. It is incredibly draining not to have a day off. It is definitely taking a toll on our bodies and our minds. It has been amazing to see how that Lord has sustained us through it. It always seems like we won't have enough time, and God always end up pulling everything together.
Church is going fabulously. We LOVE it there. The people are just unbelievable! They are so supportive of us, and they are such a wonderful picture of the body of Christ. Of course, though, it keeps us busy. We are loving all the opportunities the Lord is giving us to connect with students and their families. We have small groups on Wednesdays, and this week the high school girls are making Mexican food and carving pumpkins. It should be a ton of fun!

News on Portland:
Things are coming together! We had a weekend retreat a couple of weeks ago, and it was awesome. We were far more productive than I imagined we would be. We worked on doctrinal statements and core values. It is so awesome to see what is essentially the DNA of our church, come together on paper. God is doing incredible things, and this is only the beginning. We have been working on building community with our team, and thought we have hit some bumps and snags along the way, God is refining us into what He wants us to be.
Justin, another one of our team members is moving to Dallas, to live with us, this Sunday. We are so excited that he will be here with the rest of the team. We will finally have all of the committed team members in the same place. I can't wait to see how things begin to progress once we are all able to meet together on regular basis.
This Saturday will be the 1 year mark for when we will be embarking on our adventure to Portland. Chris and I were just talking this morning about how strange it will be to pack up everything we own and move to a completely foreign city. I never quite imagined this would be where, or how the Lord would lead us, but now that it's happening, I can't imagine a better way.
We have been updating our website, and you can keep track of all of the new progress there. This week we should be updating the prayer list, but for now I will let you know so things that you could be praying for.

Please Pray For:

• Justin- that he would adjust well to Dallas, and to living with us. Please pray that he would be able to quickly find a job.
• The entire team- that we would be united, and that we would continue to grow in accountability and as a body of believers.
• Alison and Caleb- that the Lord would bless them as they get closer and closer to their wedding, and that they would be strengthened in their relationship with the Lord through their relationship with each other.
• Finances- that we would all be able to save money, and be good stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with. Pray that God would provide everything that we need as we adjust to the economy of the Pacific northwest. Pray for God to raise up people who would be able to support us.
• Portland- that God would be moving and preparing the hearts of people there. Pray that seeds are being planted even now, and that God is raising up people who will be leaders in the church and who will run along side us as we bring the message of the Gospel to the city.
• New Team Members- We still need more people to come with us. Pray that God would begin to call people and prepare their hearts for this ministry. Pray that we would be wise and discerning in choosing the leaders of this church.

That is good for now. Please check out the website!

I will try to be better at posting!

Moving...again

Well, we're moving again. Actually, its going to be quite an adventure. We are moving into a three bedroom house, but we're not going to be alone. It's kind of a long story, but through much confirmation from the Lord, we are going to have roommates for the next year. It seems so strange to have roommates again!
Moving to the West Coast is going to be quite a financial leap. So this year we are saving, saving, saving! We have school loans to pay off and money that needs to be saved. God has been faithful in providing for us, and after much prayer and fasting, He has presented us with this option. We continued to pray and seek confirmation and we have concluded that if we are seeking the Lord in prayer for a solution and He has provided us with one, unconventional though it may be, we will accept it. Sometimes the Lord will ask you to do strange or crazy things, but we know that He is faithful and that He knows exactly what He is doing. So, we are trusting Him in this.
In the mean time we have lots and lots of packing and consolidating to do! Chris and my closet space is going to be about 1/5 of what it is now! We are getting creative and frequenting the Container Store! It should be interesting.
I'll keep you posted.

In other news... ThePortlandProject.org is officially up and running! You can visit the website to get information about our progress and the members of our team. Individual bios should be up within the next day or so. We are so excited about what the Lord is doing. Please visit our prayer support tab. We believe in the power of prayer and can use all the prayer support we can get!

Better

Lately I have been missing Indy. I mean, I always miss home and my family. For example, I missed two very special weddings this summer, not the first of the very special weddings I’ve missed either. Last year I missed Caleb and Beth Bollman’s wedding. I hated that. Caleb has been one of my very dearest and best friends since I was 13 years old, and I missed the most important event in his life. It isn’t supposed to work that way. I was always a part of every big thing in his life, and he in mine, but I missed it. I missed it just like I missed Donnie and Caryn Fisburn’s, and Zach and Katie Myers’ weddings this summer. I hate missing things like this. I hate missing milestones. Donnie who is another great friend, and Zach who is like a little brother were ushers in my wedding, but I missed theirs.
Last week my baby brother went off to college! Thomas, in college! I can hardly believe it. I wish that I could have been around to help him get all settled in or at least to see him off, but 900 miles is a bit of a haul for something like that. My best friend is going to graduate from Purdue this year. I probably won’t see that. I am certain that more people will get engaged and married, and chances are I will only hear about it through the grapevine and get to look at the pictures on Facebook. (I hate that I get caught up on things through Facebook). So yeah, missing my friends and family never really stops, but lately, I’ve been missing Indy… just the place itself.
I can’t remember the last time I went to Sky Concert over Labor Day, or walked the canal. I haven’t been to the Zoo in forever. I miss Monument Circle, and the Border’s, and the brick sidewalks, and the weather (oh how I miss the weather!). I miss the old buildings, and driving down Meridian Street just to look at the houses. I miss the Spaghetti Factory, and I never thought I would miss The Spaghetti Factory. I miss being in Indy for Colts season. I can be a Colts fan anywhere, but it’s just not the same here. I am especially jealous that I am missing the transition to the Lucas Oil Stadium!

BUT…

Let me tell you why Dallas is better. (I never thought I would say or type those words.) Dallas, itself, is not better. If you ask me, I would never say that Dallas is better. Aside from the fantastic places to eat and the malls, Indy is certainly more my kind of city, but Living in Dallas is better.
Being married is better.
Learning how to take what I have been taught at home, and live it out as an adult is better.
I always took advantage of the fantastic community that I grew up in, but learning its importance and how to create it is better.
Learning selflessness is better.
Learning sacrificial love is better.
Learning discipline is better.
Learning to be content and whole with Jesus as my everything, is better.
Learning to take responsibility for my actions, and perhaps more importantly, for my inactions, is better.
Learning what it truly means to serve is better.
Learning that I am not as great as I thought I was is better.
Learning that I sometimes the Lord doesn’t do things my way is better.
Learning to trust that God knows what He is doing even when I don’t, is better.
Learning to be patient is better.
Learning to humbly receive God’s blessings is better.
Learning the power of prayer and how to pray is better.
Learning what it means to be the body of Christ is better.
Learning how to press in to a relationship with Jesus is better.
Learning that I have a lot to learn is better.
Learning to live solely for the purpose of Christ is simply better!

So I’ve been missing Indy lately, but I have also been reminded that if Dallas is the place where I am to learn what it means to be a disciple of Christ, then Dallas is far better, and I am a grateful that the Lord has brought me to Dallas.
With Indianapolis in the past, Dallas in the present, and Portland in the future, I am finding myself indescribably thankful for the solid foundation and the seeds that took root in Indy, and for the sometimes painful growth and pruning I am experiencing in Dallas, and for the fruit that I am certain will be produced in Portland.

Yes, I am sure that this is better.

New Job, New Roommate, New Dog, New Job...

Oh yes.  Lots of new things. And no, that wasn't a mistake, I did say "new job" twice.  I just started my new job at DCC, which I am loving.  Its a little crazy, and very busy, but I am LOVING being busy.  Of course, I hardly feel like its new.  Its so wonderful to walk into work and know that you are actually going to have a good day.  So, all is well there!

Vicki moved back to Dallas yesterday, and as Caleb moved out, she moved in.  We've gotten accustomed to housing someone else, and we figured what's the difference?  She had a roommate back out on her and so we figured, we have an extra room and we love Vicki, so she's here! 

Of course, with Vicki... comes Gertrude Penelope Cleopatra Harvell... her dog.  Owen gets a little crazy when Gertie is around, and she has already peed in the house three times.  Owen, who is house broken, seems to think that if Gertie pees... he should pee.  Sound logic if you ask me.  So, I'm thinking there will be a little bit of an adjustment period, but we'll get through it!

Even more great news... Chris was officially offered the Associate Minister position at Cornerstone Christian Church.  We are so excited and we love the church so much!  God has blessed us with such a giving family there, and we are so blessed that they have asked us to stay for the next year.  The counsel voted on the issue last week, so he is "officially" in his new position this week.  

Always interesting around here.  I'm sure there will be more to come soon.

Goodbye Performisys

Well, at least sort of goodbye. Today is my last day at Performisys. This is where I have worked since last May, which means, this is was my first job as a college graduate, and the job I have had for my entire first year of marriage. Its not exactly what I had expected I would do, but it is what God gave me, and for that I am grateful. It put a helped to put a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs, and then some. Though it wasn't my ideal job, and I certainly will not miss the "job" part of it, I will miss the people. I can't imagine working for nicer people. God really blessed me, and I forgot that all too often. Thank goodness He loves me and forgives me for my often ungrateful heart.
I am however very excited to start my new job at DCC! In spite of all of the things about DCC I could do without, it holds a special place in my heart, and I am really looking forward to being there again.
I am still going to be doing some extra work for Performisys on the side, every now and then, but for now, Goodbye Performisys!

Last week should have been really bad...

but somehow, it wasn't. I can't explain it. As Chris and I were pulling back into our place, from a quick trip to Oklahoma for a funeral, Chris said "you know, this week should have been really terrible." I said, "yeah, it wasn't though, was it? I feel like I should be completely overwhelmed and exhausted, but I'm not."

As always, so much has been going on. Last week Chris was alone in the church office. Ron, our senior pastor, was out of town, so everything was left to Chris. He was preparing to preach on Sunday, and of course preparing for his regular youth activities. We got a call on Tuesday that his great grandmother had passed away, and the funeral was Friday. So we were going to have to head to Oklahoma on top of an already busy week. On Wednesday, I got laid off from my job. Fantastic timing! Oh, and by the way... Texas is ridiculous, so our electric bill for the last month was $350!!! For our apartment! Bad news. Not to mention that gas is so expensive and we had to drive to Oklahoma.

Yet somehow with financial stress, job stress, and family stress, we weren't stressed! God is awesome!

So, first thing Monday morning I had an interview with Dallas Christian College, and before I left the offered me the job! And they offered me more money than I thought they would! I start Monday. Praise God! I didn't even have time to stress about a job! I love how God provides.

Then Tuesday came with enough struggles of its own. I don't know if any of you know this, but sugar free gum is toxic for dogs, which is fantastic because my dog ate a whole pack! Wonderful. So we really needed to take the dog to the vet yesterday, but we did not have the money. We weren't even sure how we were going to be able to afford our rent check because of our electric bill and gas to Oklahoma. We have money coming in at the end of the week, but we needed our rent paid before that, and our dog was apparently going to die! So, we figured that just to afford rent we would need to come up with $75. We frantically scrounged around the house, and with the $50 check I had in my purse, the $5 bill Christ had in his wallet, and all of the random loose change coming to $26, we had $76! God is awesome again! (Go figure) We still weren't going to be able to take the dog to the vet, but low and behold, we got a check for $500 before the hour was over. God gave us what we needed and then some! We got to take our dog to the vet and he didn't die (though he did poop 5 times in the house!).

Then...

Later that day we found 20 bucks and someone gave us gift cards to The Cheesecake Factory! Haha! The Lord is crazy good to us!