The next step

Jeffrey and Emily have been blessed with many opportunities to develop the skills and abilities God has given them.  Looking back, we see the great educational experiences they had in the advanced Denver elementary school they attended while Jim was in seminary, with the dedicated itinerant teachers that helped homeschool while in the Solomons, the self discipline and organization they gained with NorthStar Academy internet High School, and the friends and sense of community they enjoyed at Taylor University.

The next step in academics for Jeffrey came last year when he began the dual Master degree program at Indiana University for Library Science and Information Services. With one semester done and 2 years more to go, he is feeling confirmed in God's direction into this career path.  God provided not just one but 2 part time jobs this school year that are helping financially but also fueling his love of sharing information with others.   He is attending a very good church and a small group that just "happened" to be meeting on his only free evening of the week where he enjoys fellowship and friendships.

For Emily, graduation from Taylor with degrees in English Literature and Philosophy left her uncertain about what her next step would be other than taking a year to volunteer with the AmeriCorp Vista program at the Red Cross in Bloomington, Indiana.  Having a heart to use her skills to bless the world around her, Emily did not see graduate studies in these areas doing more than satisfying her own love of learning. 

As God promises Proverbs 3:5&6, He did direct her steps and seemingly out of the blue, Emily decided to persue a law degree in International law.  Although she did very well on the GRE, law schools require their own graduate exam. So after working at the Red Cross office she spent time studying for the LSAT and researching the hundreds of schools for the ones she thought best fit her desires.  As anyone who knows Emily can guess, she did very well on the exam and has been accepted at 3 law schools so far.  The next step is the decision at which one she will attend in September. 

It has not been all easy for Emily though, with stretching experiences at work, with minor health issues, and several car breakdowns. We are thankful for the church plant congregation she attends and the small group friends she has made.  Living with a good friend and your brother in a God-provided housing situation also has been a blessing. 

As with all of us, each day brings steps of faith and obedience.  We are thankful that God knows our steps and will lead in His plan!  Jer. 29:11

New birth

The new year started right for one of the families in our small church in Mattawa, WA.  On January 1st Aaron Cruz accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord.  He had watched his wife, Inez, be baptized a few months ago and shortly afterwards started attending services with her.  Now they are a couple united in Christ. 

Immediately Aaron wanted to be baptized in the nearby Columbia River.  Most of us "older" Christians thought waiting 'til spring or even summer would be a good idea but no,  he wanted it right away and was disappointed to have to wait a whole week.  On January 9th the church family gathered together at the river as the two elders of our church, Mark and Rod baptized Aaron.  There were snow flurries but the Body was warm with the joy of having a new brother. 

Aaron being baptized with the bundled-up congregation watching and then sharing his joy with wife Inez.

New Year - New Technology

Blessings to you all in the new year of 2011!  Many thanks to all who sent us emails, e-cards, newsletters, and Christmas cards during the holidays.

The Mudge family (Jim and Carolyn especially!)  is catching up with improved communications.  We all now have a real cell phone plan and we are starting  this blog.  We hope both will help keep everyone more up-to-date with our lives. 

We enjoyed a great Christmas holiday with Jeffrey and Emily home from Indiana for a few days.  It was their first time in the Pasco house we are sharing with Carolyn's parents, Russ and Dody Barton. Food and talk, puzzles and games, shopping and sharing gifts were all elements of the time we had as three generations.

Along with many others in the USA this Christmas, Jeffrey made travel memories by taking 3 days, stopping in 6 airports, and sleeping overnight in 2 cities while waiting for various flights and a closed airport on his trip from Indianapolis to Washington State.  The Pasco airport, which is only 10 minutes from our house, closed due to freezing fog and stranded a whole day's worth of flights in Salt Lake.  He leaves early tomorrow morning and travels back via Salt Lake, Phoenix, and Memphis hoping to arrive in Indianapolis in time to catch the last shuttle bus of the day back to Indiana University.  We were so thankful that Emily's flights all went smoothly and she is safely back at work at the Red Cross Center in Bloomington.