REJECTED TWICE and I am doing GREAT!!!

Yeah yeah we got our paperwork back once again and it is REJECTED. We didn't sign our names in the right spot this time. Goodness. But you know what I noticed is that I am learning patience because it didn't even affect me. It actually made me happier. Happier to know that GOd is teaching me some patience. Last time the paperwork came back rejected I was so upset. I went to my knees and went off about how unhappy I was. Man this time I actually thanked God.

SO yeah please pray we will get it right this time. But if it doesn't that is cool. God is good and has it in the palm of His hand. Just never ask me or Joel to do paperwork for your corporation. We have not a clue as to what we are doing!!!

Love you guys,
The Butlers

I see you
(One of the deers at my parents house. Sniffing the camera)

Hey How are you doing sweet thang?

ONE OF THESE DAYS!!!

One of these days I am going to write a blog that says . . . . OUR PAPERWORK CAME BACK APPROVED. But until then we are still waiting. While we wait we are keeping busy. Joel is almost done with the remodeling of the house/appartment. Today should be the day that he is done (I say this as I cross my fingers) He has done an excellent job and now has a few offers for other jobs but we both just want to work on our corporation!!!

I have been faxing donation request letters for our church. 11 no's and 2 yes's. Thank you Jesus.

Tomorrow I help teach a class to the leadership at the church called Outreach 101 or best said One on One. Our church has shifted from a purpose driven church outline to an equiping culture. Where the goal is to get 80% of the church outreaching in some way shape or form. Doesn't have to be big but the focus needs to be outside the church and not in. I like it. So tomorrow I am talking for about 1 hour with questions about what I observed on the mission field and what groups had a high percent rate of reaching people and what groups didn't and what the common denominator was for the groups with a high percent rate of reaching people for Christ. The three things I have noticed over the years are Consistency in peoples lives, Caring for people, and being apart of their everyday lives.

So while we all wait for our paperwork here are some more of the cruise pics. From our Cruise two months ago. Enjoy!!!

JOEL LOVES LOVES LOVES ICE CREAM!!!

There were 4 guys on the ship and all they did was ice carving or food carving!!!

Street performers in Mexico!!!

Still Waiting on God,
The Butlers!!!

Caught in the Middle of Fantasy and Reality

So I am here at the library wasting the day away. I have things I COULD be doing but I am just not motivated. I am looking at websites of people from the past who are around my age and seeing their lives as they know it. A home, family, stability, what not and thinking HOW ON EARTH DID I GET HERE!!! It is really a crazy life I live and I am looking forward to having things come together.

UPDATE UPDATE!!! We got our paperwork back . . .. . . . .. . REJECTED. Yeah that is right the secretary of state rejected us because JOel and I didn't sign our name twice on our articles of incorporation. Don't ask me, we just redid it and sent it back in. It has been almost two weeks since sending it back in.

For weeks and weeks I was waiting on everything but God. The Mail man to give us our corporations paperwork, the secretary of state, the man to send the title for the mini-bus. THen one day someone gave me the scripture "THose that wait on the Lord will renew their strength." SO I looked it up Isaiah 40:31: Those that wait (or hope) in/on the Lord will renew or find new strength, They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." It kind of woke me up and I realized I was waiting on everything BUT God and freaking out. So now I am waiting on the Lord and have peace. To be honest I freak out every once in a while but those times are lesser and passing faster.

SO As we WAIT on the Lord Joel is helping a man remodel their soon to be new apartment. Joel is just grateful to be working with his hands. He is there every day at 8am and gets done any where form 4 to 7. He is not getting paid but that is fine. Joel just loves to help out.

I myself have gotten my hands into too many projects for the church but I am trying to do them as they come.

1. I am helping with getting donations for the church (since I did that at Friend SHips for a few years) 2. Joel and I are over S.O.S Save our Stockton for our Church. It is a day where churches or christians come together and serve Stockton in some way shape or form. The city hopes to get 1000 volunteers doing some sort of community service on August 1. JOel and I are in charge of what we are doing and organizing it. 3. My friend and I came up with an idea that the church needed to have a class or lesson on Outreach. Yeah me and my big mouth. So I am helping with that and some how maybe got put in charge of it. 4. I am involved in two other departments or ministries at the church.

So that is our life in a nut shell as we WAIT on God. It is crazy all in one breath and as I said at the beginning I will say now "HOW ON EARTH DID I GET HERE" How did my life turn out like this. I know it won't always be like this but just like you can't tell when a storm will pass except if you are looking from a satilite down I wonder when this phase of our lives will end and then next part will begin. Only God can tell.

Please continue to pray for us.

Love all ya'll,
The Butlers

PS. THe Subway diet really works. That is pretty much what Joel and I eat and we have both loss about 10 pounds. WHo knew that there are things on TV that are true!!! :) So next time some one comments about the SUBWAY diet really being true?: it totally is!!!