God’s Perfect Plan May 10, 2010

I guess it is fitting that this news is posted right after my ‘surrender’ one.

The past week and a half has been a whirlwind, and providing an update on every detail would turn this post into a mini-novel. But overall, God has revealed His good and perfect plan.

I have recently accepted a position in the Business Development area at Boeing. Even though I have been very happy and blessed in Human Resources and was not looking for a move, I am ecstatic about this new position, its responsibilities, and its role with our proposals and Boeing as a whole. God has literally in the past week worked in incredible ways to reveal how little details of my past two years at Boeing and even my previous work experience and education had intentional purpose as well as shown His powerful hand in it all.

I will be transitioning into this new role towards the end of the month. I’ll be coordinating all the proposals and the schedules and production associated with each, as well as working with all the managers, customers, and employees involved.

On another note, Thursday is Gerardo’s and my four year anniversary!!! This date also signifies the end of Gerardo’s coursework and tests. He’ll take his boards on June 21 and begin rotations in July. I am so proud of his hard work and performance these past two years! Not only is he an incredible man and husband, he is going to be such an amazing doctor!

As we celebrate our anniversary, I am so thankful that God has given me such a loving, inspiring, and Godly mate who is my strength and constant. In the four years of our marriage, not only has Gerardo finished two degrees and excelled in two years of medical school, not only have we moved, added two dogs to the mix, and made some incredible friends, but I have held seven different jobs with three different organizations and have begun, yet not finished, three different graduate programs.

As we enter this new blessed season of marriage, jobs, rotations, and surrender, I probably won’t be posting much on Lovely Pearls. Facebook has turned into a great outlet to share some of my favorite verses and quotes so feel free to check that out.

Thanks for reading! Love you all!

Surrender . . . Ahhhh . . . ;) May 3, 2010

“Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self.” - Mark 8:35 MSG

‘You are set free, liberated from self-preoccupation. “But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in His freedom!” – Romans 6:16-18 MSG’ (Rick Warren)

Nothing is more beautiful or powerful than a surrendered life in the hands of God.

Let Go! April 30, 2010

C. S. Lewis observed, “The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become – because he made us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.”

My Hypothesis April 27, 2010

A reduction in sugar consumption will stabilize one’s blood sugar, cholesterol, and emotional state as well as enhance one’s joyful internal beauty.

Romans 12 April 26, 2010

I just love anything the Apostle Paul has written . . .

Living Sacrifices 
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual  act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love 
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:  ”If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Myrin Misc April 25, 2010

Here is an update on our blessed life!

Gerardo has stepped up his studying, if that’s even possible, and is working hard to finish out his last semester of classes and prepare for his boards later in June.  He’ll begin his rotations in July. I am so proud of his hard work, dedication, commitment, and abilities.  He is excelling as expected in his classes, but is also being given leadership roles on campus.  I’m very thankful that he has developed great friendships with two guys in his class.  They have been studying together for long hours each day, and those two help keep my hubby’s sanity in check.  And with all this going on, Gerardo continues to show me love, support, encouragement, affection, and fun.

Work has been going really well yet really busy lately.  All I can say is my current experience with Boeing is one more example of how God knows more than we do and His plan is perfect! Imagine that!   My current position and responsibilities really seem to be a great fit for me, and I’m enjoying all the projects and people with whom I’m working.  (Ironically, I’m getting to do some employee development stuff, which I love and happens to be the area in which I was going to do research while in the Marketing PhD program.)  Boeing Women in Leadership and the Employee Community Fund Campaign are both pretty active right now so those just adds to my responsibilities and opportunities for growth and influence.

I will be teaching a five-week Personal Finance course at the University of Phoenix in May.  I’m looking forward to be back in the classroom and am glad to be more comfortable with this topic than some of the corporate finance courses I’ve taught previously.  It also helps to earn a little fun money for the summer.

Like last year, Gerardo and I are really enjoying and utilizing our flowerbeds and front landscaping.  Can’t wait for the growth and color to continue!  This has turned into a fun hobby for us as well as a good study break!  (Just don’t look in our backyard – that area remains the domain of our dogs who tend to do some landscaping of their own.)

The wedding season has begun, and it looks like most of our social events in the coming weeks will revolve around celebrating marriages with showers, weddings, and parties!  Looking forward to it all!

Gerardo and I just successfully and proudly completed the Memorial Half-Marathon.  This was my third and his second half-marathon, and it definitely was our best time and most enjoyable experience.  We actually stayed pretty close together throughout.  I’m super proud of him and thankful that he is supportive to participate in this race with me!  Excited to see the pics too!

Hope your week starts off wonderfully!  Enjoy and share this beautiful and blessed life He’s given us!

Captivating! April 16, 2010

Don’t allow yourself to be held captive by worldly things! YOU WERE CREATED TO BE ETERNALLY CAPTIVATING!

Have a blessed and beauty-filled weekend!

II Corinthians 6 April 14, 2010

‘As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. Paul’s Hardships We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.’

Celebrate! April 13, 2010

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Kelly Linn Hefner Shinn!
Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to the #1 most valuable, fundamental, irreplaceable, incredible woman in my life!  I pray you have a wonderful day and year ahead!  BLAH BLAH PP!

In celebration of my mother’s birthday, I pray you all realize the powerful impact you have on the lives of others, including myself!  Love you all!  Enjoy your day!

One Flaw In Women April 8, 2010

(Thanks, Mom, for sharing this . . . )

Women have strengths that amaze men…..
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don’t take “no” for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can  have.
They go to the  doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children  excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a  birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend  dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and  colors.
They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and  everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT’S THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.