Goodbye CD Player!

So, I went out to my car this morning to go to work, and this is what I saw:



Somebody totally busted out my window last night and stole my CD player! It's OK though, I'm really not too bothered by it. I'm not happy it got stolen, and I'm not happy I had to pay $130 to fix the window, but I'm OK with it. Life is about so much more than things and there are so many other things that matter more than a car stereo.

It was cool because God put the thought in my mind of "Maybe the people that broke into my car really needed the money for a legitimate need, like food?" "Maybe they haven't been blessed with a great job that provides health insurance and a stable pay check like I've been?" Of course, there's always the possibility that they didn't really need the money, but it doesn't really matter to me. I'm grateful for God's blessings and I pray God will bless the people who shattered my window.

On a side note, we have some really great neighbors here! I think my neighbors were more upset than we were that our car was broken into! They have shown so much genuine concern for us. It has been a blessing to have the people around show that they care. I hope to be that kind of neighbor to others around me too.

A Long Time Coming . . .

Well it seems like forever since the last time I posted something, so I will try to catch everyone up on what's going on right now in my life:

1. New Puppy!

If you've read Gilda's blog in the last few weeks, you've probably seen and heard about Shelby, our new puppy. She was found abandoned on a busy street by a coworker of Gilda's and we ended up adopting her.  We think she is a mix between a Pit Bull Terrier and some kind of Lab, but there's no way to know for sure.  She has grown from about 5 1/2 pounds when we first got her at the beginning of March, to almost 20 pounds today!  She is very friendly and a quick learner.  Gilda and I love having her as a part of our family.  I found another reason to like her even more a couple of nights ago - she loves Dr. Pepper!

Don't worry, we don't give it to her anymore.  I just wanted to see how she liked it  :-)

2. Law School

When I wrote my last post, I was unsure about the future, but I felt God leading me to go to law school.  Since then, God has given me some major encouragement and direction.  The Thursday before Easter, I received an email from Baylor Law School telling me that I had been accepted into the Fall 2008 incoming class! On top of that, the email also explained that I was being offered a 50% scholarship!  I couldn't believe what I was reading!  I was unsure about even getting into any school this late in the admissions process and I definitely wasn't expecting any financial aid.  I am so grateful for God's mercy and provision in bringing all of this about.  I know that it is only by His hand that I have been given this opportunity.  

As of right now, we feel that Baylor is where God wants Gilda and I to be this August and we are working toward that goal.  

I love reading friends' blogs and finding out what everyone is going through.  From friends who are searching for direction in jobs and schools, to friends who are about to add a smiling face to their family ;-),  I love hearing about it all.  I hope to keep everyone updated more than once a month in the future about what God is continuing to do in and around me.

Take care!

Josh  

Law School

Last semester, as I was constantly thinking about where God was leading me after graduation, the random thought of going to law school kind of popped into my head.  As I was thinking about what I enjoy to do and what God has given me skills to do, studying the law seemed to be an interesting fit.  I had never really considered it before, but I decided that it wouldn't hurt to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and see how well I could do.  

Well, I took the test in December, and I felt pretty good about it.  I started reading more about what the realities of law school entail and what it really means to practice law - unfortunately we can't all end up on Law & Order :-)   By January I had decided that law school is where God was leading me.

My original plan was to wait and apply to some law schools next year, which would mean I wouldn't begin until the fall of 2009.  Gilda has just begun a wonderful job that she absolutely loves here in Dallas.  She has worked so hard and been so faithful in order to get this job and I sincerely want her to be able to enjoy this blessing she has been given.  That was part of the motivation to wait.  I also wasn't sure where I wanted to go. There are so many things to consider whenever choosing a law school, as with any other educational decision.  I had pretty much settled it in my mind that I would wait. 

That was until this week.  On Monday, I had lunch with my friend Aaron, who is finishing his final year of law school at SMU.  He had some very interesting and thoughtful advice for me.  His encouragement was to go ahead and apply to a few schools that I was interested in that are in the Dallas area.  He had chosen to wait a year before applying for law school and, looking back, he wishes that he would have gone ahead and started whenever he had the chance.  I always appreciate Aaron's straight answers and advice! After discussing everything again with Gilda, I've decided to go ahead and apply at a few schools as soon as possible and see what doors open up.  

I ask that you would pray for Gilda and I.  This is a huge decision in our lives and we want to follow God's direction every step of the way.  I am so glad God has given me a wonderful wife who encourages me as we seek God's will together.  I hope to be able to keep updating everyone on where God is taking us and what great works He will do among us.  I am excited about the future and I want to be a faithful steward of everything I have been given.