Changes

We have a lot of changes coming up here in the Schulte household.  If you've followed my blog at all you know that change is very hard for me.  Its scary, daunting, and just plain not- fun.  Some people love change. They love the exhilaration and newness. Those same people love traveling to distant countries and jumping out of airplanes. But I am not that person. I like to stay in the land of comfortable and familiar with my feet safely planted on the ground.

In one week (hopefully), we are moving. We are moving to a place that makes me a little uncomfortable. Okay, it makes me really uncomfortable. In this town, we will definitely be the minority. The city is made up predominately of refugees--people who have fled their home countries because of war and violence and have found refuge here in the US. When you drive off the freeway into this small suburb, you are instantly met with hundreds of languages, colors, attire, and cultures. It is amazing and sad at the same time. Amazing because of the incredible opportunity this is for the Gospel to go forth to the nations. Essentially, the nations have come to us! Its sad because of the brokenness and separation it represents. These people are ripped away from everything they've ever known and held dear, only to be plopped here in the middle of Georgia and told "Find a job, make money, learn English. Good luck!" (This is a steep exaggeration, but I'm sure it feels similar to them).  My little family has felt God nudging us toward living here for about two years now. The time has finally come for us to step out on faith and obey. We are moving to an apartment complex that is 85% Refugees with no other agenda than to make friends, love our neighbors, and by God's grace make His name great. Seems simple enough, huh? Please pray for us as we embark on this journey.

Sweet friends who will now be neighbors!

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

Psalm 86:9

Our next big endeavor is Michael's new job. We are overjoyed that God has graciously given Michael the desire of his heart to be a sixth grade teacher. Not only that, but he will be teaching at his "dream school" which is a classical charter school in Atlanta. He believes whole-heartedly in the classical education model--of educating the whole person--head, heart, and hands and pruning students to  search for Truth even amidst the confusing and false doctrines of our modern culture. This is a desire we prayed specifically for (this exact school and everything) just last year, so we are beyond humbled to see how the Lord has provided. But with this new job comes many new changes. A new commute, new (very long) hours, lesson plans, learning classroom management, coaching basketball (yeah!), and just the newness of being a teacher for the very first time. I am so proud of my husband and I am confident that God will use him greatly in training up a new generation of warriors.

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 

Psalm 78:4

And finally, we're having a baby in September! This is not new news, of course. But as every week zooms by, I'm feeling the crunch. I am beyond excited and I long to hold our sweet baby boy in my arms, but with all these other changes on the horizon, I'm also feeling afraid. My sweet, adorable one year old is very demanding. The thought of having a new baby that needs to nurse every two hours on top of a demanding toddler, on top of a new apartment where a lot of people don't speak English, on top of a husband who is at work more than I'm used to...well there you have it. I'm afraid. But in these moments of doubt, worry and probably a few hormones thrown in the mix--I have to remember Jesus. I have to remember that when I think about all my future problems and worries, I usually forget to add my precious Jesus to the equation. He will never leave. He will never forsake. He will ask us to do hard things. And He will provide a way. All for His glory. His renown. His namesake. 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. 

Isaiah 40:11

We are grateful for your prayers as we begin a new chapter! May His Name be made great!

July 15, 2012

This is a "throw-back" post to a blog I wrote a few days after Michael and I got engaged. Three years ago today I became the future Mrs. Schulte and I've never regretted saying YES!

An Evening to Remember
This past week has been overwhelmingly beautiful.  If words would suffice, I could surely write an entire novel.  For those of you who have not heard, my sweet Michael traveled 7,000 miles across the world to ask me to be his bride.  He braved 36 hours of travel, delayed flights, and lots of security checkpoints to finally get to me.  A small portrait of the way my Heavenly Prince pursues me.

Our week together was rich to say the very least! I absolutely loved having him here in my China home with my China family.  I have often dreamed of sitting in baby nurseries with him and watching him with the children who have stolen my heart.  I never knew if that dream would come true.  I think I spent the first three days of his trip in a state of constant teary-ness, overwhelmed by the faithfulness of my God.

On Sunday, we went for an afternoon picnic on river paddle boats.  It was a wonderful start to a wonderful evening.  Afterwards, he told me to dress up as much as I'd like because he had something planned for the evening.  He led me up to the rooftop, one of my favorite spots in the entire building.  It is on this rooftop where I have experienced some of my highest of highs and lowest of lows.  It is here that I have wrestled with the Lord morning after morning and found that He often speaks most clearly in painful circumstances. This rooftop is very special to me.  We turned the corner to find a beautiful scene displayed.  White table cloths, a beautiful bouquet of roses, and dozens of candles swaying in the wind.  Instrumental hymns of adoration and worship were playing gently in the background.  Tears spilled down my face as "Great is Thy Faithfulness" created the undertone for the evening. Truly, He is so faithful!

We sat at the table and he filled our glasses with sparkling cider.  Soon, my sweet friends Rebecca and Mariah appeared.  Rebecca was taking photos and Mariah was serving our homemade meal.  I was once again overcome with emotion to see what lengths these precious ones had gone to simply to serve me.  After a delicious meal of lasagna, bread, and salad, Michael asked me if I wanted to dance.  So there, on the rooftop of the Big Blue House, we put our ballroom dancing skills into action...and we danced.

Soon, Michael whispered in my ear that he had something else to show me.  We walked back around the corner to find two chairs with a small table in the middle.  The lighting was soft and a single white rose waited in my chair.  I sat down and Michael pulled a small bag from under the table.  In the bag was a letter that he read out loud.  Oh friends, Jesus Christ truly does write the sweeter song! His way truly is best! He is the author of romance and a love story scripted by Him can be nothing less than breathtaking.  Before I knew it, my Michael was down on one knee holding the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.  And there, on the rooftop of the Big Blue House, he asked me to be his bride.  And I've never been more overjoyed to let out a resounding y-e-s! 

Over the past three years, I have been pursued by a man who loves Jesus more than he will ever love me.  I have watched him give of himself over and over for the sake of those around him.  He has been cautious to guard my heart, prayerfully mulling over each and every word he speaks to me.  He begged Jesus to set the pace of our relationship from day one and has adhered to His gentle voice even when the world said to move faster.  He has treated me as a delicate flower worth protecting.  He has fought for me in prayer more times than I am even aware of.  He has sought counsel from older men in order to gain as much wisdom as possible.  He goal is to bring maximum glory to Jesus Christ, and it has been evident in each step of his pursuit of me.  

I know Jesus better because I have been pursed and loved by Michael.  I have been inspired to chase Jesus with more passion, more abandon, and more faith.  I have seen a small picture of my Heavenly Prince's love for me and how he fights ceaselessly for my heart.

Jesus has been so good to us.  To be here in this Big Blue House that has forever stolen my heart, with my precious kiddos and my sweet China family...I could not imagine a better way to enter into this next season of life.  Jesus Christ is the dream giver and the dream fulfiller.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Psalm 103:1

The Hat

When I say that John Hudson loves his hat, it really is an understatement.  I'm pretty sure he has worn it in some form or fashion every day since mid-May. We wear it in our pajamas, we wear it naked, and we wear it fully clothed.  We wear it in the morning, during meal times, out to play, and until bed time.  We wear it at home, around the neighborhood, in the grocery store, and at church.  We play cooking in it, we watch fireworks in it, we pick Daddy up at the airport in it, and we read the Bible in it. We wear it at the pool, we wear it with our sunglasses, we wear it on long car trips. 

All I can say is its the best $7 I've ever spent.  And I'm so glad he has a hat to love. :)

Cooking

Watching Fireworks

He loves big rocks almost as much as his hat!

Picking up Daddy at the airport

Photo bombing Mommy's weekly pregnancy picture

Reading the Bible

Riding in the car

Cooking again

Showing off his hat to strangers at the pool

Hats are so fun :)