Common Sense, why did you leave me?

I just had to take a quick opportunity to share the day that Jon and I have had. Let's just say it started with a trip to Home Depot, some paint/varnish stripper, paint, sand paper, steel wool, and high hopes. It ended with 6 varnish-free/sanded chairs, 3 primed chairs, 574 mosquito bites, and 2 sore backs. Can you guess what we did? 

Are you done guessing? In case you can't figure it out, I'll just tell you. I had the bright idea to paint our kitchen table and 6 chairs. I thought this would be a somewhat easy task, but about 5 minutes in I was wondering what in the world I was thinking and wishing I could turn back time! Good news is, Jon and I spent around 6 hours bonding, scraping, and painting together. And the even better news is that we'll get to do it again. And again. And again...until we're finished. AND, in case you're wondering, YES WE ARE ACCEPTING HELPERS! Apply within.

So right about now, I'm asking my sanity to return and looking forward to an evening laying on the couch...in my pajamas...covered in mosquito bites. This is the life, people! :)

Compassion and Community

These two words have been on our minds and our hearts a lot lately. Jon will quickly tell you that I'm the blog-reader in our marriage. And being the relational person I am, I find myself relating to these people, some of which I've never met, as if they are close friends. Often times, I find myself saying to Jon, "You know that blog I read...." Well, this past week I've been so blessed by the blogs I've been reading and the people who have given me a small glimpse into what God is doing in their lives. Many of you have heard of Compassion International, but you may or may not have heard of their Blogger Trips. To give you the short version, Compassion takes bloggers to the countries they are active in and allow them to see firsthand what Compassion is doing there and how their support really is making a difference. These bloggers write about their trip throughout the duration of their trip. Well, two of the bloggers I read travelled to Calcutta, India this past week and the things they saw and experienced have changed my and Jon's perspectives. I encourage you to read about them for yourself here. It is definitely hard to read about their time in India and NOT be challenged, if not changed. They tell stories about families of five living in a room the size of a bathroom. They tell stories about men who work hard to support their families, bringing in only $17 a month. They tell stories of five and six year old kids already planning their futures, so they can alleviate the pressure they know their parents are feeling. It's just heart-breaking.

Jon and I found ourselves talking about the extreme poverty that is found in so much of the world. It's quite humbling, actually. And, because it's not sitting right outside our door, it's easy to push it out of our minds and forget that poverty that affects people EVERY day of their lives. To see an organization actively and intimately involve themselves in this poverty is amazing. But bring in the love, truth, grace, and truth of Jesus into this poverty and it's astounding. Compassion provides opportunities for hope to be seen in the midst of their situations while meeting their very physical needs AND their very spiritual needs.

Our worship leader, Ross King, wrote a song about community and the body of Christ. In it, he asks God to teach us to be community and to unify our hearts as one. There's a line in it that says, "One part suffers, all parts suffer together. One part honored, all parts rejoice." I definitely find myself rejoicing when part of the body is honored. But until recently, the suffering part was not only something I did not involve myself in, but something I was afraid to involve myself in. That requires true compassion. Here's how compassion is defined:

"A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."

The second part is what strikes me, "a strong desire to alleviate the suffering." I have that desire, but what to do with it? Well, Jon and I are praying about supporting a child in one of the countries that Compassion sponsors. While conditions like these seem far away, we can't turn a blind eye towards it. See, I think that compassion and community go hand-in-hand. We have compassion for those we are in community with. And community challenges us to put action to that compassion. We are realizing more and more that community can definitely be comprised of much more than those within our "borders."

I'll leave you with this short audio clip of children singing one of our favorite worship songs. It brought me to tears and forever changed the way I will think of and sing this song.

What the Lord Has Done for Us

Current Happenings

So I know in my last post I said that the posts would come in threes. I'm sure you've figured out by now that wasn't the case. Sorry to disappoint! I've decided to put it all in one post. Sort of a "highlights reel" if you will :)

• Jon and I made the trip to Boston! We loved it. I am currently not on my computer, which means I don't have my pictures to upload, but that will come! We arrived on Thursday, spent time with new friends, toured the campus, sat in on some classes, rode the subway, walked all over downtown Boston, ate authentic Italian food, had ice cream with an Aggie (WHOOP!), and more. We had an absolute blast! We left feeling very informed on the opportunities Gordon-Conwell offers and had a better idea of what ministry would look like in the northeast.
  
• We made our decision regarding next year...are you ready?! We've decided to stay another year in College Station for Jon to do another year of the internship. After much prayer, talking, and consideration, we felt this was the best decision. Doing the internship for a second year allows Jon to focus his attention on more specific aspects of ministry. He will be shadowing the missions pastor here at Grace, getting a better idea of the administrative/sending side of missions. He will also have several teaching opportunities, which is a definite plus! I will continue singing in the college service and occasionally in the main service. I will also continue meeting with my fellow newly-married wives, which is SO exciting! Jon and I will continue leading a Bible study. Great things are ahead for the Yeagers!
• My sister and I started a blog to post recipes and entertaining ideas. The address is: southernlivingtexasstyle.blogspot.com. We haven't updated it much, but be on the lookout :) And if you have any fun, creative, yummy recipes or entertaining ideas, send 'em our way!
  
• Our good friends, Emily and Jeremiah, had their first baby! They are also newly married (May 12) and have a wonderful outreach with International students. Their sweet baby girl, Hosanna Esther, was born April 17 and is just as cute as can be! We are excited to support them in this new adventure of life. They encourage us daily and continually remind us to trust in the Lord at all times. We have such great friends!

And I'm sure I could go on and on, but I'll spare you! AND, I'll post pictures as soon as I am on my own computer. Hope you are having a wonderful day and rejoice with us that God is good...all the time!

Happy 85th Birthday, Granny!!

Updates are lacking...these will come in threes!

This year marked the 85th year of my sweet Granny's life. She is such a gift to our family and we all gathered for a big, family celebration of this momentous birthday. In honor of my Granny, I want to share with you some of the things I love most about her:

• She has the most tender heart of anyone I know. We joke that if there were still professional mourners, my Granny would have a very successful career! Granny is known to cry during Oprah, commercials, tender moments, birthday celebrations, and many other things. When my grandpa retired from preaching, their church gave her a towel that was monogrammed as her "Crying Towel." I like to think I get my tender heart from her. While mine is not AS tender as hers, I know that years of living life, loving and losing those that are close to her have made my Granny the sensitive woman she is and I LOVE her for that!
  
• My Granny loves to dance! Granny loves her some Michael Buble and tells anyone who will listen that "He is sexy!" She out-danced her first Michael Buble CD and needed a new one to dance to. When Aimee and Luke got married, she informed our friends at a shower that "she would be the one dancing at the reception." Well, she made no exception for our wedding. One of my favorite memories of our wedding day was seeing Granny come out to the dance floor, grab Jon's hands, and jive her way into everyone's heart. In fact, here's a picture that totally captures that moment (taken by Marks Moore):

• I love Granny's sense of humor and zeal for life. Even at 85, she knows how to crack some pretty funny jokes and laughs often. Last spring, she travelled to Hawaii with my grandpa, uncle, and aunt. I mean, really! I hope I'm living my life to the fullest when I'm her age.

We had a wonderful time celebrating her birthday and don't you worry...I took lots of pictures! Here they are!

Granny, Mom, and Claire

Showing off her singing card...to whom, you ask?

Why, to her great grandson, Austin, of course! 

He shares her love for dancing. They danced together.

Here she is with said "Michael Buble CD." Don't be 

fooled by her serious face...she takes him very seriously!

My cousin, Jill, gave Granny 85 one-dollar-bills.

I mean, who doesn't want to fan their face with 

that kind of stack? 

Granny, we love you and are so grateful for your presence, love, and encouragement in our lives. As dad prayed, here's to 85 more years with our sweet Granny!!

You Are For Me

Do you ever find yourself in awe of God's graciousness? Tonight has been one of those nights for me...realizing the abounding grace that God continually pours upon my life. I am so undeserving, yet so grateful because without it I would be a mess!

As many of you know, Jon and I are on the brink of making important decisions. I find that when I think too hard on what might lie ahead, I become overwhelmed and fearful, and don't even know where to begin to prepare myself for said decisions. I have realized that when I become overwhelmed and fearful, I make myself a prime target for Satan. It's in these moments that I forget that God is for me. As Jon said in his blog about the sovereignty of God, He desires my ultimate good. What more could I ask for?

I've found myself clinging to a few verses, using them to remind me of the graciousness, faithfulness, and loyalty of the Lord. 

Isaiah 58:11, "And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Psalm 33:20-22, "Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you."

I am encouraged that wherever I am in life, the Lord is guiding me and will satisfy my desires. As my soul waits for him, my heart will remain glad BECAUSE I trust in his holy name. His steadfast love is what I will learn to put my hope in.

I have been listening to Kari Jobe's new CD and I HAVE to share this song with you. It embodies what I'm feeling and I encourage you to buy it off iTunes and let it minister to your soul. Go. DO IT! :)

You Are for Me

So faithful, so constant

So loving and so true

So powerful in all You do

You fill me. You see me.

You know my every move.

You love for me to sing to You.

I know that You are for me.

I know that You are for me.

I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness.

And I know that you have come now, even if to write upon my heart

To remind me who You are.

So patient, so gracious

So merciful and true

So wonderful in all You do

You fill me. You see me.

You know my every move.

You love for me to sing to You.

A Post From My Hubby!

Jon had the opportunity to write a blog entry for GBC's college blog. It was such a wonderful reminder to me of God's sovereignty and I wanted to share it with you all! Enjoy!

I am God and there is no other…my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Isaiah 46:9-10

“He works all things after the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:11

Have you ever meditated on the sovereignty of God? The sovereignty of God should not be a doctrine that strikes fear (other than a reverent fear) into us, but instead should be a doctrine that calms our fears. Too often this doctrine is simply fiercely debated without practical application. So I want to ask all of us a question to think about: What are the practical implications of God’s sovereignty in our daily lives?

For most of my college years at Texas A&M, I did not know what I wanted to do with my life after college. I feared the future and what it would bring. Once I started thinking about vocational ministry this fear actually increased! I decided to start my journey by becoming a college intern at Grace Bible Church. The thought of raising support, while being newly married and having the new responsibility as “the provider”, drove me to lean on God to be my True Provider. I began to understand that He alone is in control of my life. This was a wonderfully liberating concept for me.

For those of us who love God and are in Christ, nothing can ultimately come in the way of Him doing the deepest and highest good for us. His sovereignty tells us that He will provide for what He has already planned. If His plans are different from our plans, we can trust in His ways, because He is good and is seeking our highest good.

Whether you are thinking about life after college and how you will find a job in this rough economy, or struggling through a rough and dark time in life, or raising support for a summer project mission trip, or even worried about what’s for dinner, you can lean on God’s sovereignty. Why? Because He is good, kind, merciful, and gracious.

Let us “commit our ways to the Lord; trusting in Him, and He will act” (Psalm 37:5).

Updates!

Well, Jon and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary last Monday. It was a WONDERFUL day, complete with flowers, dinner at Square One, dessert, and a movie! For those of you who don't know, Square One is the name of the restaurant that Jon took me on our first date almost 3 years ago...crazy! It holds a special place in our hearts. I am so grateful he asked me on that first date! We thank the Lord for such a fun, wonderful marriage. What a blessing it is to have a clean slate and be given the opportunity to grow and learn with one another. Here is a picture of me with the flowers Jon bought me:

And here we are together!

In other news, Jon received his acceptance from Gordon-Conwell! I am so proud of my man! We'll be journeying up north for a few days come March...I can't wait! And speaking of Boston, Jon met a guy at the men's retreat that was from Boston. When asked, "How'd you like living in Boston?" he replied with, "Boston is such a great, fun city. The only thing I didn't like about it was the winters. They are long and cold and the snow just piles up. There's probably a good month you don't see the sun." My thought when I heard this...."A little sugar-coating would be nice!" I mean, who doesn't dream of winters complete with piled snow and depression-inducing lack of sun? He did say, however, that the winters make you appreciate the beautiful spring they have there. He said the city just comes alive. I'll be holding on to this key observation! With that said, we are still in the middle of our decision process, but have narrowed it down to 2 options. Please be praying for us to listen to the Spirit's leading in this important decision! We greatly appreciate it!

Other than that, things are the same here. I wish I had more to report. Hope you're enjoying this strange weather as much as I am. In the sixties one day and near eighty the next...gotta love Texas!