school

This school year was a little hard on me because all 3 boys would be in school. My baby, Israel, was starting kindergarten and it made me a little sad. But I guess this day was coming and there was nothing I could do. We can't stop time. I really wanted the boys to start school in Tulsa but that didn't happen. So here we are still in Belvidere. At least they start with familiar and we'll cross 'new' when the time comes. The year has started off great. I've very proud of all three of them. 13 days into the school year.....

Austin is a sophomore this year. He got all his 1st choice classes. Chemistry, Geometry, Drivers Ed., Keyboarding, Spanish 1, Study Hall and English of course. Thank goodness for parent access to the grades. I am obsessive with it and constantly checking and keeping up with his homework and tests. Still have not seen him study for a test and he's had a few. He's got A's and B's right now and he actually cares this year. He's always had the attitude that straight A's are for nerds and geeks. He's realizing that is not the case. He had a low grade on a geometry quiz and he got mad! I'm confident he can pull straight A's this year if he gives 100%. As far as liking school...he could take it or leave it. Not into sports or friends or activities or girls (thank goodness). He's just Austin. :)

Elijah is in 6th grade and started middle school. I was a little concerned for him because he had a bully problem last year. Well, as it turns out, this bully moved away and all the kids who mistreated Elijah last year are nice to him this year. Amazing how one kid can influence others to follow them. So no problems there this year. He also struggled last year with his grades. We weren't sure he would make it to 6th grade. But something has changed with him as well and he has straight A's right now. He's doing so well and we are so proud. He really enjoys going to school this year. Loves looking nice. And loves the plaid shirts!!



Israel is in kindergarten. I almost wanted to keep him home with me. He was so ready and very excited about starting. He did go to preK part time last year at the private Christian school. He excelled there and we were told we should find a gifted program where ever he ends up. Well, public school doesn't have that for kindergarten. Our biggest concern is him getting bored and falling behind. He already knows all his letters and sounds, how to write them, how to write his first and last name, counting past 100 and a little reading. He has to start all over :( But he's doing great I guess. And he's loving it so that's what matters for now. I love how he comes home singing all his little songs he is learning. He's making friends and his best friend is Zander. He's such a cutie!

the story...

Hello to all reading. I'm not a great writer and I hope I can keep up with this blog better than I have my previous one. I started a new blog because I want this one to be about my family and the new life we are getting ready to start. In this first post I just want to share our hearts, where we feel God is taking us and about the last 7 months. It's been filled with disappointment...job loss, my mom being diagnosed with breast cancer, my missions trip being canceled, being told 'no'....

Everything changed for us on Jan 4th. Todd came home without a job. We knew for several months that a change was coming. We thought it would be more along the lines of a pay cut. I didn't know what was going to happen and I immediately said "I am not moving again." That's not such a good thing to say when you live for God. I knew in my heart we'd be moving again. Just didn't know where we'd end up.

Todd followed through with the steps and applied for unemployment and started sending resumes and applications everywhere. To this day he has gotten not one reply. Another opportunity came but I'll talk about that later.

About a month into all this Todd and I both felt like God was calling us into full time ministry. For Todd this has been his dream since he was 8 years old. But life choices took him in the wrong direction. For me this was huge! I did not grow up a Christian or in church and did not become a Christian until I met Todd a little over 18 years ago. I always knew about his dream but I think I may have held him back to some degree. I always said he married the wrong person if he wanted to preach because I was far from a preachers wife. So for me to have this change of heart was huge. I am ready to be that preachers wife. To not only support him on the side but to be in ministry with him.

So with part of this calling, we felt like we both needed to attend Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Todd applied, was accepted and has since gotten 3/4 of his first year paid for through scholarships. Todd will study psychology and biblical theology with new testament emphasis. I plan on enrolling next spring and will study organizational/interpersonal communication. This degree is perfect in allowing me to work along side Todd and also open up several doors for me in and out of church.

We were able to take a few days and go out to Tulsa to visit the school and the area. We knew we belonged there. We found the church we will be attending and we watch the live services on the Internet a lot. There was one particular service where God confirmed to us that we were doing what He wanted us to do. There was a lady in the congregation that gave a word...that God was tugging on some people's hearts... to go to a different Nation! That they didn't know how God was going to do it or how God was going to pay for it...but to trust Him. I just cried because I knew God was speaking to our hearts. While I don't think God is calling us to another country, I believe a different nation could be anywhere. That the ministry God is leading us into is our nation. And that is where my blog name comes from....The Garrison's Nation

So we were hoping to be in Tulsa by June. There was really nothing we could do. It needed to be all God. June arrived and we weren't there. That is when this job opportunity came out of nowhere. It was word of mouth and while I hated the idea at first because it would take us to Iowa and not Tulsa...it soon grew on me. It was more money than Todd's ever made in his life. It would answer all of our financial issues. We'd be out of debt quick and life would be good. And after 1-3 years in Iowa we'd be transferred to Columbus, Ohio..just 45 minutes from my family. I quickly started feeling like maybe we were wrong about Tulsa. How quickly my heart changed. I was set and ready to move to Iowa. It was an 8 week interview process. The company paid for our whole family to visit Iowa...and then they paid for us all to go to Minneapolis. That was the final step. We were confident the job was his...even a few within the company was sure the job was his. But about 2 weeks ago...we got word that he wasn't a good fit for that position. I was devastated. I just didn't see an end to anything. I was tired of not knowing sometimes how we would buy food. Being stuck at home because we had no money for gas. Summer being almost over and our kids not being able to have a fun summer. It just wasn't fun anymore. But the hope of Tulsa and following our real dream was alive again. Little doors started opening. One night, during the time we were waiting on an answer about the job, Todd asked Austin and Elijah to listen to their hearts and answer this question.... 'What is in your heart? Tulsa, Iowa or Ohio?' Both of them said Tulsa. Israel of course goes with the flow... but we are all on the same page as a family. It's an awesome thing when your kids have the same heart's desire.

We still need God to move and get us there. The only thing holding us back is lack of funds to get moved, find a rental house and money to hold us over a little. Todd actually has a part time job lined up already. But classes at ORU start in 5 days. At this point, Todd may have to postpone enrollment until January. We would still go ASAP which may be great timing because Todd can get something full time and we can work on getting some savings built up. I will also be working full time until I can enroll next spring but I pretty much have to wait until I'm there to find something since I don't have a lot of work experience to send resumes.

I'm asking everyone to support us in prayer. Pray that God will supply our needs and that we can get to Tulsa soon. Thank you for reading. :)