We have had some time to think and are not any closer to knowing.
As of now Brandon is considering going back to school for a masters or PhD, getting an engineering job in Melbourne, or getting anything in Geelong. Not really zeroing in on anything are we? :-)
Yesterday I was having a hard time dealing with disappointment. We realized yesterday that most likely we will not be able to come home next year due to what has happened.
Even if Brandon were to find a job next week (keeping our savings intact) he would not have the holiday time to go. Really the only way he would have the free time were if he were to go back to school. In that situation though, we probably wouldn't be able to afford it. So that is the disappointment I have had to work on.
Another thing we have had to contemplate is the possibility of moving to Melbourne. Most of the engineering jobs B has found are in the city. There is an RP church in McKinnon that we would try to locate close to if a job in the city was the way we decide to go. The hard thing with this is the leaving again. We have grown close to the people in Geelong, some even as close as family. To leave would be like leaving family for the second time.
I had playgroup over today and told them about Brandon being out of a job. They asked me what we were going to do. I told them we didn't know yet but that God would provide just like he did after the fire. I am thankful that I could share that, although I feel as if more could have been said. I just pray that our attitude towards this and the fire will stick out in their minds as a contrast to how the rest or the world might respond. I pray that I continue to be like salt and light to them. I know there have been times when I wasn't faithful, so I pray that God will continue to use me in that group even due to my times of unfaithfulness in witnessing.
In all of this I realize we have not been promised easy lives as Christians. A reason why we should look forward to Heaven. I am reading in Mark for my personal devotions and I read Mark 8 last night. Towards the end in verses 34 it says "..."If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..."
We have a cross to bare here but I am thankful that we are not carrying it alone, in our own strength, because I know we would fail.
2 Cor 12: 9&10
..."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."I hope that all made sense. I always know what I want to say in my head. It can have a hard time coming from my mouth in a coherent fashion though.
To close a picture that I can't help but post. Gideon found his fingers and it is all too cute!
