Sunday, July 5, 2015

Reading the Past in the Present....and laughing!



I have actually found time in my hectic life to sit down and blog again! As I pulled up my blog, I read over my last post. First of all, let me say that applying to Utah State was extremely difficult, so no lying there. Secondly, let me tell you that life happened again and I'm not going to Utah State anymore! Or, at least not yet. Honestly, my motto just needs to be "Life happened" because plans are changing like crazy in my neck of the woods!

I am, in fact, going to live in France for a year come this August. My prayers were answered and I could not feel better. I am so happy to have listened to the promptings of the Spirit and turned down the American University this year. I was anxious and nervous and it would not have helped me fulfill my potential at all. Instead, I did as I was counseled, and I chose a path. I worked my way down the path, and then I got my answer. I chose Utah State and I was miserable. But I worked at it as my last post clearly explained. I had faith and an open heart and I kept doing what I needed to and eventually, the fog cleared and I could see the Lord's hand in my life. 

In response to that tear-jerking feeling of going to Utah, I kept at the au pair option, constantly logging on to the agency website and responding to families. I had a few Skype interviews and I immediately found the ones I liked and didn't like. With my hopes set on one family, an offer from another, and a constant pleading in my heart, I was denied the job that I really wanted and I was about to settle for the family who offered me the position. Then, once again, the Lord came through as He always does. The family that denied me, (for a girl who could play the piano and guitar, mind you), gave me the contact info of their neighbor who was looking for an au pair because they liked me so much! Hallelujah!! The kids were older, the family was American ex-pats, and when I Skyped with them, they sounded so cool. Their house is amazing, too! So after logging off Skype with them, I interviewed with a cranky man and uninterested woman and immediately emailed back the first family.....YES! was what she put in the subject line. I was thrilled! Everything I was looking for and immediately, things began falling into place. Honestly, the Lord's timing is aggravating at first, then gloriously perfect in the end.

This is certainly a grateful and testimony-bearing Jules who knows that the Lord never leaves His children unhappy or abandoned. It is certainly through the trials that the blessings come, not solely after.
“Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air;
And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;
And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome;
But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.”
Henry van Dyke