The Art of Living

Life has been kind of strange.

Wondering when I'll get a job. Getting more involved with my church that meets in a comedy club haha. Missing New Zealand and wondering if I will ever get to go back. I mean, I want to go back next year, but I don't know what God's plans are for me regarding that...

I feel kinda stuck in life. But I know this past year hasn't been a waste. It was hard, but I see God's hand in it. It took my Growth Group yesterday to get me thinking about all the ways God is using me for his purpose and currently making me available to serve in many areas. And of course, the whole trust and dependence thing. A lesson that I will always have to re learn over and over.

I have been doing some art, but I'm trying to break out of this fog of discouragement. Here's some of what I've been working on this past year...

And this is a picture that I'm still working on, of the trinity. Not sure what direction the painting will be...horizontal, vertical, or whatever.

-Cara

Tiny Toes!

At left, if you can make it out, is an ultrasound image of a foot and 5 tiny toes...belonging to baby Steiner who will have been growing inside me for 19 weeks tomorrow! I was waiting and waiting for when Tiff found to set up a date when people could get together that worked with my youth schedule so that I could tell whomever it worked for in person before it had to come out via less personal online channels. So that event has finally happened, and I had a wonderful evening with Tiff, Cara, Sara B-B :), and Laura Keller, eating good soup and frolicking in the park and old college stomping grounds (TAGGARTS ice cream!!!). But now it's time for the rest of you to just have to make the discovery electronically wherever the news reaches you first, whether this blog or facebook or whatever! So now along with ongoing youth ministry planning and events, and keeping up with our little Amish mini farm produce and canning, I'm also trying to fit in self-taught curriculum on natural childbirth and prenatal yoga exercises to make sure my mind and body are both all ready for that big event! :o) Love to you all! ~Tara and Baby Steiner :o)

Home sweet house!

"Home sweet house," to quote Yul Brenner as the King of Siam! Greg and I are now in possession of keys to the house we own, and its quite exciting and a bit overwhelming. As much as we know this is the house God led us to, and as amazing as it is to realize we are homeowners, we made sure to listen to "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" beforehand. Y'know... longing for a heavenly country and all that! Its weird to be a grown-up with a husband, a house, and a baby on the way... but its so much better than I ever thought possible! The Lord is amazingly good, and He sure keeps life interesting with all the twists and turns of existence, in His infinite wisdom :)

Hopefully it won't be too long before I can find a date for the house blessing, and anyone able to come is welcome! We want to combine a day to pray through the house and bless the property with a day to pray over and bless the baby. Kind of like a house-warming, but more. And the plan is to celebrate the day we bless the baby annually from here on out, as a milestone to celebrate how the Lord has worked in and through our child. Kind of like a birthday, but not.

I am doing well, but trying not to drown in deadlines! Please pray that I have wisdom in how to accomplish (and prioritize!) everything in a balanced way (and on time!). Everything is going great with the pregnancy, but of course I need to pay attention to when my body has to rest. We are blessed to have all of September to finish our move, however the publisher deadline for book content is Oct 1st - this means translating it all this month! I'm not sure how classes are going to be arranged this fall. Looks like I'm tutoring English Lit & Composition, and possibly teaching two different times of youth beginning Spanish. The premier for the Reelate Film project has been pushed back, but I've still got a lot to put together (slow going as a rookie filmmaker!).

Its so good to hear what everyone's up to! The blog sure seems like a good way to keep eachother updated! Much love! ~Alex~