It's About Time

Well after several months of procrastination I am re-entering the blog world. Part of my delay is that I don't have reliable access to the internet because we dont' have internet at our house and the computers at school are IBM's if that is any hint to the age and speed of them. Needless to say blogging on them would be a two hour process.

Bryan and I have settled into our home here in GA(somewhat) and have gotten into a routine with our jobs/commute. We both are enjoying our jobs and exploring our new home. We have joined a great church and are getting plugged in there in several areas. We have joined a growth group of other young married couples and love it! We meet weekly with them and are really enjoying building those relationships. So thats really it for now...life is good and we really love being on the same schedule, having our own home and being settled at least for a year or so =).

I will have to back-post what all the Lord has been teaching me since we moved here. One of the really neat things has been with our students at school. I am working with 6 autistic students(all boys) in Kindergarten and 1st grade in a self-contained classroom with a teacher and another aid. In only 6 weeks I have fallen in love with these boys and have such a desire to see them improve in all areas. It has been such a humbling experience to work with these boys and better understand what its like for families with children who have special needs but also just how to love on these boys. I am excited about all that the Lord wants to teach me through them.

Right now our church has begun a new series called "Awakening". I will have to post more later since this one has gotten so long, but I am very excited about what the Lord is stirring in my heart and the body here in Cumming, GA.

www.mountainlakechurch.org - Check it out!

Details

This last week has been one of the craziest weeks of my life; however, the Lord also pulled all the details together a midst the craziness.

My nephew Tyler James Brewer entered 7 weeks early on Tuesday, July 11 at 1:02 pm. He and Jennifer are both doing great. To see pictures of him you can go to www.lorimercer.com/tylerbrewer

Bryan is going to be teaching Health and coaching PE at Snellville Middle School and I am going to be a teacher's aid at Hopkins Elementary School. We are both excited about these jobs. I am going back to school to work on my Master's degree and we are going to be attending an amazing church with many growth and service opportunities for both of us.

We are still working on the housing situation but will hopefully have that nailed down by the end of next week. As soon as we have a place to live we will pack up and head over, right now though we are still enjoying our time with friends and family in Montgomery. I am hoping that the change in pace of our lives will allow me more time to blog, but I won't make promises I can't keep...so hopefully more blogs will come but don't hold me to it.

Oh Yeah...

We're moving...mid-July...metro-Atlanta area...details will come as we know them

Miss Oklahoma

I know its been way too long since I last blogged, but life has been crazy!

Currently, I am in Tulsa, OK watching my best friend Julia McNeese compete for Miss Oklahoma. Its been a great time of relaxing during the day and then competition at night. Tulsa is a very interesting city with a lot of historical places. I tried to post some pictures but my computer is weird and I couldn't. I promise to post more often

For Meagan Maki

This post is for Megan Maki the faithful blogger who still checks my blog despite my not blogging for so many months now. Bryan and I have settled into life here in Montgomery(sort of). The "slower" pace of life we had anticipated has yet to be found. I am still working at Curves and reaching women which I love, however we are seeking the Lord on the next step for us. This time in Montgomery is much needed as far as investing in our families and a time of spiritual renewal. We are, however, ready to move on to the things the Lord has put in our hearts. I apologize for my not blogging recently I just have not made the time to process and share what the Lord has been teaching me. However, I will post a little more later on what the book of Daniel has been revealing.

No I didn't disappear

1. WAR EAGLE- Auburn beat LSU
2. I get to wear workout clothes everyday to work!
3. I get to share the love of Jesus with almost 200 women on a weekly basis
4. I get to spend 3 hours with my sister and nephew everyday
5. I get a three day weekend
6. I have an amazing husband who wants to see me set free from the lies that I believe
7. I have amazing friends who are always there for me
8. My nieces and nephews are the coolest kids around
9. I love living next door to David and Farah
10. I love our dog Bailey

Job 4

So...since graduating last December my job situation has varied. I am currently at my third job since April. Job 1. Daycare 2. Dr. Office 3. Real Estate Co. receptionist Probably not good to put on resume that my typical length of employment is about two months. Thankfully I can say this change in jobs is not due to being fired, but to better jobs coming along. I have gained experience at each job and narrowed down which positions do not fit into my "dream" job.

So on to job 4- I will soon become the manager of a Curves Fitness for Women club that my friend owns in Montgomery. I am really excited about this opportunity. I will get to interact with and minister to women-which I love to do. I will get to encourage them and pray with them, because Curves is a christian company. My schedule will be amazing with 3 days off each week. I am so excited that the Lord has blessed me with this opportunity. I have wanted to work with Curves for awhile and the positions were not available. It will give me great experience and training to further the ultimate goals I have for my life and feel called to accomplish for the Lord. The schedule will allow me to have more free time to work on other things that I have been trying to finish for several years, as well as be more workable with going back to school online.

I am excited about the things the Lord has for us in the this next year. The Lord's quiet voice continues to speak whispers of what is to come and to be patient in this time of preperation.

Our House

we live in 24 and they live in 20.

This is our new home. We live next door to David and Farah(Bryan's brother and sister-in-law).
Its a lot of fun to live next door to family...its still weird b/c they lived in WA for the last 5 years...so its odd to just walk next door and there they are. However, we love hanging out with them and playing with the boys and Faith(their dog) and Bailey are great playmates. The upstairs is not yet picture ready...so look forward to more pics once we get settled upstairs. Our life as usual has been a little crazy...but we don't mind all the madness.

Meet Bailey

Bailey is the newest member to the Isbell clan.
He is a lab mix(what he's mixed with we don't know) But as you can see he's adorable.

Catching up

Baby Cole is always smiling or laughing.












This is me driving the JEEP! Its great having a brother in law with a Jeep Wrangler!













I'm holding my adorable nephew Davis while
we watched the 4th of July Fireworks!













We took family pictures for my moms birthday!

Look at the Nations

“Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you." Habakkuk 1:4-6

Everything going on the last few months has really stirred me to be more prayerful of the nations. Today I was reading the news at work and there are 4 million in India who have been left homeless after flooding(this is on top of the millions there already homeless). There are several other countries experiencing flooding with death and disease a companion. My heart is just hurting for the world and all that is going on. Let's not forget to pray for the nations and our fellow brothers who are ministering the gospel there.

Be Still

Still is not a word that has crossed my mind nor an action that my body has engaged in over the last several months. Tonight I finally crashed, I am still. My mind is slowly quieting down and my body has no choice but to be still, as I am exhausted. Over the year my life has changed dramatically, and I have had little time to process it all, beginning with getting engaged last September, graduating, beginning post-graduate life, planning a wedding, getting married, making major life decisions 3 weeks after being married, finding jobs, starting jobs, moving to a "new" town, starting another new job, moving into another new house. I'm exhausted. I don't care that my house is packed in boxes and my car, I don't care that my closet isn't organized neatly, I just want to rest and savor the fact that my house is quiet, and I have nothing to do tonight that can't wait until tomorrow.

The last year seems like a blur, and here I sit, married, in a new house, living next door to my relatives who lived in Seattle for the past 5 years, graduated from college, my best friends gone all over the US, and it seems so surreal. But tonight I am enjoying being still and soaking in all the changes that have taken place in the past year of my life. Its hard to believe things I dreamed of for so many years have finally taken place, and yet I know there are more to come.

Freedom

I'm sure that this is going to be a common blog theme for today, seeing as how it is July 4, Independence Day. However, I don't think that our freedom in Christ can ever be overstated. Today I have been in awe of the fact that all the freedoms I enjoy are ones that I have not fought for or done anything to recieve. My freedom in Christ was paid for by the blood of Jesus, and my American freedoms were fought for by brave men. So often I fail to remember the price that has been paid for the daily freedoms that I enjoy, so here's my remembering the blood that has been shed for us to enjoy freedom on so many levels. Thank you sweet Jesus.

"What are you doing in the world?"-Dax Isbell

My two and half year old nephew, Dax Isbell, who is learning how to talk got his words mixed up one day and instead of saying, "What in the world are you doing?", he said "What are you doing in the world?". Well when my sister-in-law told me this story immediately the phrase went straight to my heart and I have pondered it since she told me.

Bryan and I are in a place of waiting. We don't know what the futureholds, we only have glimpses and the next immediate step. However, the question resonates in my heart because as I go through out my day it keeps my focus on glorifying the Lord. I know that He has a plan and a purpose in this time of preperation for the things to come, but I don't want to be so caught up in the things to come that I miss those divine appointments to minister His love and grace to those around me. We are looking forward to our move "home" in August to be closer to family and to begin this season of preperation as the Lord continues to mold in us the plans He has for us.

I thought I would share the profound thought of my nephew with you because its a good question to ask ourselves..."what are we doing in the world?" to minister grace and love to the lost? Are we spending our days glorifying our creator or magnifying ourselves?

Blessed

The last few weeks have been full and not without there moments, however, through every day I have seen how tremendously blessed I am. There is no way the negative can out weigh the blessings in my life!

TOP 12
1. David and Farah, Dax and Cole are home
2. I got to spend the weekend in NC in the beautiful Blueridge Mountains
3. I made a new friend who lives in CA
4. I got to worship with 200 amazing godly women, be encouraged, inspired, humbled
5. I got some rest and rich fellowship with Jesus
6. I got to see my newest nephew several times in one week
7. I got to drive 10 hours with my mom and have good conversation
8. I have an amazing husband
9. I got to drive a Jeep Wrangler
10. My mom and I made it home from NC safely, and on Sunday
11. The Lord provided faithfully everything we needed this week
12. Mine and Bryan's car repairs were cheaper than we thought

Bottom 4
1. My car died on the way home from NC Sunday afternoon
2. The mechanics at Sears and Firestone argued for 2 hours about the problem
3. I cried while standing in the rain because they wouldn't listen to me about the problem
4. Bryan's car had to go to the shop the day after mine had to have a new battery and alternator

war eagle
These are a little late, but we can't upload pictures off our computer at home. But this is my handsome nephew who grows cuter everyday!

Life!

Wow! I can't believe its been over a month since I posted. Life is full and wonderful right! Bryan and I are growing a lot spiritually, personally, and together. We are excited about whats to come. This weekend has been a full one, refreshing and encouraging.

Thursday I left for the drive to Birmingham to see my best friend Julia compete for the title of Miss Alabama. The drive was a nice break to think and pray. The evening was great, minus some sour talent, Julia was incredible in her evening wear dress! Friday I got to spend the day with my second mom and my surrogate grandmother. We shoe shopped and had lunch! It was a great day, relaxing, and refreshing. A true blessing from the Lord. Friday night I got to catch up with Mer and Jared over dinner, it was great fellowship. Julia stole the show with her amazing piano performance. Saturday was a great day hanging out with my family and playing with my adorable nephew and the back to Birmingham for Miss Alabama finals. Julia did amazing and placed 2nd runner up for the second year in a row. She was so excited!

We are now looking forward with much anticipation to the arrival of David and Farah, Dax and Cole and the rest of the fam that is traveling across the country and will arrive on Sunday! It will be exciting and wonderful to have the entire Isbell clan in the same state and within 45 minutes of each other

ITS A BOY!!

Well the suspense is over...my sister and her husband had a boy! Early monday morning at 1:22 am, Davis Andrew Brewer was welcomed into this world. It was such an amazing experience to be a part of! The Lord blessed my sister with a fairly mild labor and with a beautiful and healthy baby! I became an aunt of 4 nephews and 1 niece, when Bryan and I got married, but I am so excited to be an "official" aunt of my own sisters little boy!!

you can view pictures at:
www.lorimercer.com/brewer

I love my job

Don't ask me why because most people would hate it, but I love it! Today I spent my entire 5 hours at work typing data into a computer. I spent the last week hauling 1400 patient files up and down a ladder from the attic, putting the numbers into a database. I know the reason I love this job and not because of the actual work...although I don't mind it and it doesn't bore me. I love that I get to spend a lot of time in prayer, I love that I get to pray over each patient by name...even though I don't know who they are or anything about them except they have arthritis. But how cool is it that I prayed for 1400 people that I don't know by name. I love that I get to be a light in a dark place! Today it was very clear to me why I love working in this type of environment. This is the second doctors office job I have had and in every case it was the same....the staff gripes and complains about the doctor and each other. My first day at work I overheard one of the head nurses saying she wished we were more like a family...the Lord pricked my heart and I have since been praying certain things over the office. The ladies I work with all come from difficult situations and don't appear to be walking with the Lord, however, they are hurting and just want someone to genuinely care about them.

I told Bryan that the reason I think I have wanted/like to work in this type of environment is because I have the ability to make the place one of encouragement rather than discouragement and negativity. The doctor needs a supportive staff not one that gripes behind her back....and they all need one another to help them not only through the day but through life. I realize as a believer the power I posses through prayer to change the atmosphere of the office. I look forward to seeing what the Lord does in my time there as He continues to show me how to pray for them and how to be an encouragement to them!

Oh and by the way...I am no longer just a full-time file-clerk I am the medical records person...I like that it sounds more professional than file-clerk!!

Scrubs

So you go into a doctor's office and think to yourself "Man I would love to wear scrubs everyday".
Well, having had this thought many times before...I was excited when I got a job at a daycare and the "uniform" was scrubs. After having worked there for 3 weeks, I hate wearing scrubs everyday. So just in case you thought it would be great to wear scrubs everyday, let me set the record straight...its not as glorious as it looks. I got a new job at a doctor's office and they give me the option of wearing them if I want too since I own 3 sets now. It will be nice on those lazy days when I don't want to spend time picking something out...but for the most part I'm enjoying getting to look "cute" everyday! So just in case you were wondering...scrubs aren't what they appear to be!