Spring Break and Visitors!

Spring break will be here in less than 13 hours! I'm anxiously anticipating a week where Jonathan and I both do not have school or work. It truly is going to be a blessing to just get to be together. However, in typical "us" style, we aren't going to be doing too much relaxing. Saturday morning, we are going to a marriage enrichment session at Pepperdine, then helping a new friend moving and then picking my Mom up from the airport and having dinner with the future Mr. and Mrs. Fouche! Sunday morning, Jonathan, Mom, and I will be joined by another Pepperdine friend on a trek over the border. We'll be visiting Grace Children's Home and spending a little over three days with a few wonderful families and some incredible kids! To learn more about Grace, click here. We're praying that God will use us there to be a blessing in the kids lives and a help to the families raising them. And, we're so excited that my Mom is joining us - it'll be so good to see her and get to serve others with her :)

On Wednesday we'll be driving back to the states to drop my Mom off at the airport and spend the night home. Thursday morning we'll be getting up early to visit Hearst Castle and stay in a cute little hotel in the area. Friday morning (or afternoon, if we're exhausted by this point), we'll head up to Oakdale for a few days with Jonathan's family. I have mixed feelings about spring break. I am thrilled and excited for all the fun things we'll be doing, BUT as I hear of people staying in the library over the break, I have a nagging feeling that I should do the same. However, I rest assured, knowing God has called us to do the things we are doing and will provide as he always does!

We are also really excited because the week after spring break my Aunt Hope and cousin Madison will be visiting us. Madison said she wants to experience the Malibu lifestyle, so we're planning a fun, but not too hectic time with them!!! Eek! I'm so excited they are finally coming!

Before I sign off, we also had some exciting news today. Nothing is certain yet, but I got a call from Blackstone about my Phase II placement this summer. They think they have a position for me at Focus on the Family and are trying to get Jonathan an internship there, as well. They had asked if I had any requests for where I wanted to work and why, but made it very clear that not all requests would be met. I really did not think they would consider my request, especially since we had no free housing in the area and they tend to place people where there is free housing, but I said I would like to work at Focus or near there so Jonathan could intern at Focus for the summer. Not only did they consider my request, they shocked me even more by trying to help get Jonathan a position for this summer, as well!!! They asked for his resume so they could pass it on to Focus and it sounds like my placement will partially be dependent on if Focus has a spot for him this summer. I have a pretty good feeling about it, though. I should know for sure by April 1, but thought you would all like an update. We have been praying all along that we would be placed where we could best serve God this summer and were also dreaming big by praying that we would be placed somewhere that would give us a glimpse into the future and possibly open doors for the future. Jonathan and I have talked a lot about Focus on the Family for the last year and dreamed about it, but were never sure it was where God was calling us. Though we know where we are called this summer is not 100% indicative of where we are called for the future, we are excited to at least get a glimpse of what God has planned for our lives. Again, it's not positive that we will end up there, so we really appreciate your continued prayers, but we are excited about the option!

God Bless!