I am so happy to announce that we have our miracle! For months we've been praying for God to give Rob a job. Every morning on my walk from the car to my classroom at UNL, I would pray the whole way that God would provide and that I wouldn't worry. The stress has been noticeable in conversations between Rob and I as well as in interactions with our children.
I asked God for a miracle and He gave it. No, Rob does not have a job yet. BUT, I claim my miracle. The stress and worry are gone! We have no fear or worry or stress about it anymore. We are completely at peace knowing God is fully in control and will provide for us.
If you reading this and are confused right now, God promises to give those who ask "peace that goes beyond all understanding." That's what this is. We are at rest, we are at peace. We laugh around our dinner table again. We go buy the groceries that we need knowing that the money for next month's groceries will be provided. Why? Because He has told me He will. I have complete faith in Him.
That crazy Voss family
7/26/11
7/17/11
The summers of our lives
It's summertime so, of course, I would be struggling with the same things I've struggled with for the last four summers in a row. Summers are the bleakest time of the year for us financially. Rob and I teach and so when school is out, we are not getting paid. Rob has taught at four different colleges and been a research assistant or grad assistant for 3 different projects over the last four years. While all those experiences look great on his resume, they don't allow for a stability that I expected at this stage in life. After all, in my plan, by now Rob was going to be done and hold a respectable position so we could be part of the rat race with a mortgage, car payments, braces on the kids, you get the idea.
Instead, once again, we are minus paychecks over the summer and waiting to see what will happen this fall. Not only that, but our 2nd car is requiring monthly mechanical visits. It's old and we just keep it limping along because we are not in a position to be able to replace it. Last week I started back to teaching and right away there were issues. What I thought I was going to be teaching/earning was suddenly jeopardized and I went into an emotional tailspin.
I received the copy of my dad's book recently "Trusting God with the Rest of Your Life" in which he retells the tale of Abraham's journey of faith making applicable the lessons he learned through his failures and mistakes. When God called us to Nebraska, he used Gen. 12:1-3 (God called Abraham) to confirm in my heart that we were supposed to move. Chapter 5 was exactly what I needed to read this past weekend. He talked about how we often don't trust God because of how we will look to other people if He doesn't follow through on His promises. I realized that is exactly what my fear is right now. I am afraid that Rob will have no job and we will not be able to afford the necessities for our family that He gave us. Except that God gave us Zac as a reminder of his promise. In fact, we named him Zacariah because it means "God keeps his promises." It is not my reputation on the line if He doesn't work this out, it's His.
God brought us to Lincoln for Rob to go to school. Rob was denied admission. Rob went to school anyway, non-degree, was accepted and received his Masters. Rob is almost done with his Doctorate. God did not call us here to leave us. His name is on the line here. He said he would take care of us and I believe Him. I can't wait to post next about the miraculous way He provides.
Instead, once again, we are minus paychecks over the summer and waiting to see what will happen this fall. Not only that, but our 2nd car is requiring monthly mechanical visits. It's old and we just keep it limping along because we are not in a position to be able to replace it. Last week I started back to teaching and right away there were issues. What I thought I was going to be teaching/earning was suddenly jeopardized and I went into an emotional tailspin.
I received the copy of my dad's book recently "Trusting God with the Rest of Your Life" in which he retells the tale of Abraham's journey of faith making applicable the lessons he learned through his failures and mistakes. When God called us to Nebraska, he used Gen. 12:1-3 (God called Abraham) to confirm in my heart that we were supposed to move. Chapter 5 was exactly what I needed to read this past weekend. He talked about how we often don't trust God because of how we will look to other people if He doesn't follow through on His promises. I realized that is exactly what my fear is right now. I am afraid that Rob will have no job and we will not be able to afford the necessities for our family that He gave us. Except that God gave us Zac as a reminder of his promise. In fact, we named him Zacariah because it means "God keeps his promises." It is not my reputation on the line if He doesn't work this out, it's His.
God brought us to Lincoln for Rob to go to school. Rob was denied admission. Rob went to school anyway, non-degree, was accepted and received his Masters. Rob is almost done with his Doctorate. God did not call us here to leave us. His name is on the line here. He said he would take care of us and I believe Him. I can't wait to post next about the miraculous way He provides.
7/14/11
Where did June go?
I seriously have to think about this question. I have been in a whirlwind - June came and went as fast as any month ever has in my life. June 4th, 5th and 6th were the final performances of the quarter for my voice students as well as the ensemble I help direct.
June 6th I started my Masters program. I took 3 graduate courses in Music - an afternoon class, one online and one at 7:30am EVERYDAY (for those who know me it would be hard for you to believe, but I NEVER missed a class and I was NEVER late!).
The second week of classes, Rob's parents came for a visit. While I was a horrible hostess, it was so nice to have my boys occupied and the house being upgraded by a few home improvement projects.
The last 2 weeks were the hardest with 5 papers (one a 10-15 pager), 2 presentations and a comprehensive exam. I seriously am so proud of myself for doing it all and doing it all well. I know I have an A and A- so far. I am already back to work, but grateful that it's only part time. It feels like a piece of cake compared to being in school.
The bigger boys have kept busy this summer doing some fun activities in town. They both took a Legorobotics course through Bright Lights a couple of weeks ago. They both want Lego Mindstorms for Christmas and the legos have been spread out in the basement ever since.
Ethan earned a scholarship to band camp at UNL this week. I guess they thought an almost 7th grader who has taken lessons for 4 different instruments plus been involved in choir might be a good investment! His band director from school is in charge of the band as well as his individual instrument group (bassoons). He asked if he could play the sax this year so he could play in jazz band and his director said sure as long as he continued playing bassoon! One more instrument coming home next year, I guess.
Justus has been going to our church's version of VBS in the evenings called "Sports N More." He's in the group learning more about flag football and he was super excited that he caught three passes last night! He also has been taking a Writing Workshop at the library in the mornings. Yesterday he read a poem he had written this week and I was pretty impressed! I had to share it with you:
Noises
I hear things people normally don't.
whispering, droning, creaking
I hear things people normally don't.
tapping, moaning, buzzing
I hear things people normally don't.
scratching, sweeping, tones
It's a blessing...and a curse.
June 6th I started my Masters program. I took 3 graduate courses in Music - an afternoon class, one online and one at 7:30am EVERYDAY (for those who know me it would be hard for you to believe, but I NEVER missed a class and I was NEVER late!).
The second week of classes, Rob's parents came for a visit. While I was a horrible hostess, it was so nice to have my boys occupied and the house being upgraded by a few home improvement projects.
The last 2 weeks were the hardest with 5 papers (one a 10-15 pager), 2 presentations and a comprehensive exam. I seriously am so proud of myself for doing it all and doing it all well. I know I have an A and A- so far. I am already back to work, but grateful that it's only part time. It feels like a piece of cake compared to being in school.
The bigger boys have kept busy this summer doing some fun activities in town. They both took a Legorobotics course through Bright Lights a couple of weeks ago. They both want Lego Mindstorms for Christmas and the legos have been spread out in the basement ever since.
Ethan earned a scholarship to band camp at UNL this week. I guess they thought an almost 7th grader who has taken lessons for 4 different instruments plus been involved in choir might be a good investment! His band director from school is in charge of the band as well as his individual instrument group (bassoons). He asked if he could play the sax this year so he could play in jazz band and his director said sure as long as he continued playing bassoon! One more instrument coming home next year, I guess.
Justus has been going to our church's version of VBS in the evenings called "Sports N More." He's in the group learning more about flag football and he was super excited that he caught three passes last night! He also has been taking a Writing Workshop at the library in the mornings. Yesterday he read a poem he had written this week and I was pretty impressed! I had to share it with you:
Noises
I hear things people normally don't.
whispering, droning, creaking
I hear things people normally don't.
tapping, moaning, buzzing
I hear things people normally don't.
scratching, sweeping, tones
It's a blessing...and a curse.
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