All is well

As I look back on the things I have written so far, I realize that maybe I am painting too harsh a picture of our time so far in Kentucky. Yes, things at times are difficult; trying to figure out this whole situation and wait upon the Lord is a little trying on our patience! There is also certainly a cultural difference between Georgia and Kentucky, but there is a cultural difference between Atlanta and Dalton (or for that matter between the west side of Dalton and the east side.) Those differences aren’t bad, they just highlight for us that we are not back home. So in fairness, let me paint a different picture, maybe this time a little clearer than before.

We are on an incredible adventure. Often life gets in routine and we sleepwalk through every aspect of our existence: our spiritual lives, our marriages, our role as parents, and our friendships. This step of faith of coming to Asbury has shaken that routine and absolutely decimated it. We are wide awake right now and completely aware of this new life. And that is an incredible thing! Because we are awake, each turn in this adventure is completely without sedation. Perhaps this is why we seem to be wearing our emotions on our sleeves – we are feeling them deeply, to the fullest, and they natural come out when we are sharing our lives with you.

So, in this adventure there are undoubtedly more hardships to come, just as there are going to be more joyous times as well. I absolutely welcome each, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is in control and that He is good and loves each of us dearly! That love is pouring forth every day. But I don’t want to only share those hard things. Let me share some of the good things with ya’ll:

• Kentucky is a beautiful state! The glory of God’s creation is evident all around us in the rolling hills and horse farms. Who can doubt the Creator when you see a horse galloping over a hillside, with the sunset sending a palette of colors across the sky?
• Wilmore is a protected place! Unless you have been here it is hard to explain. When you enter into the city, there is a Divine protection that can be felt. I am sure that if my eyes were opened to the spiritual world, I would see a host of heavenly warriors guarding this town.
• God is blessing us with new friends. We are finding friendships almost everyday and are being surrounded by others that are sharing in this same adventure.
• Our old friendships aren’t diminishing. I got so many calls and e-mails yesterday wishing me a happy birthday from you all! I don’t think I got that many when I still lived in Dalton…
• We get a first hand look at how God provides. When you can’t do it for yourself, God has got to work. This is a GREAT place to be!
• There is laughter in our house. We laugh. A lot. Sometimes at the absurdity of our situation, sometimes just out of our delight in life. We are having fun and it comes out in our laughs!


Yes, we need prayers. There are hard things. Sam’s elbow is just down right broke. If the doctor doesn’t like what he sees next week when we go back in, then they may have to put pins in. Our money situation is still tight. I have lots of work to do and not enough time. But all of these are really just small problems. The good goes so much deeper. Not for once do we regret this decision! We are awake and off the couch. We are on a great adventure and God has it mapped out!

We miss all of you and I hope that you are experiencing the adventure of the Lord as well!

Peace,

Joey

Unemployment, a broken arm, and other madness

Well, It seems that I am not chaplain material. I finally got a call from the hospital, but it wasn't the one I hoped for. Oh well, I guess God has something else. Please keep praying for the job situation ‘cause the cupboards are getting’ bare!

As you may know, since I don't have a job and Brandie is working at the coffee shop, we are without insurance. Medicaid has been applied for so all we have to do is hang in there and hope that nothing hap…uh oh…

That's right, something happened. Sam was playing lights-out defense at his football game when a helmet hit his elbow and took him down! He has a fracture behind some growth plates. We have to take him to an orthopedic doctor this week and find out what he wants to do. The ER doc put a splint on it that goes from his hand up to his shoulder. Probably they will want to put a cast on it, but we’ll just have to wait to find out. It appears that the league's insurance will cover the bills, but keep that in your prayers. We just don't have the money to cover it otherwise.

Well, other than that I have three papers due this week, I turn 35 on Wednesday, Sam Jack and I shaved our heads, and we all miss home!

I know that I am being pretty transparent here, but you are my brothers and sisters In Christ and we need your prayers. God is good and I am sure that next time I will have a happier post! I hope that the Lord is blessing each of you. You are all missed greatly by the Fitzgerald family.

In Him,

Joey

Football, seminary, and rednecks

Imagine, if you will, going to Wal-Mart at midnight. Take all the parents that are in the process of beating their children as they purchase their third carton of Marlboros in the past two days, and you will have the entire parental make-up of Jack's football team and a good portion of Sam's. I wish that I were exaggerating, but it really does seem like the entire cast of "My Name is Earl" shows up to each game.

Example: The other night we went to Jack's game. A man that resembled Dog the Bounty Hunter, wearing a "wife beater" t-shirt and cut off jeans, was painted up for the game. What part of his face not covered with hair, looked as if it had been painted by a drunk girl practicing for her cosmetology exam. The drunk girl in question may have been his sister. She was shouting obscenities at the referee, whom she obviously disagreed with. I think she said something like “@#*! Can’t you see anything out there! How much did the other team PAY YOU!”

Not to be outdone, the young lady's husband, or quite possibly just her baby’s daddy, began hurling his clever insults at the refs. They entailed questions of the legitimacy of the ref's parentage and the social status of the ref’s mother.

Throw in the grandmother with the oxygen tank and lit cigarette, lots of men with mustaches and poor grooming habits, half of the team playing in the dirt on the sidelines, one mini-sumo wrestler of a six year old sitting on the chest of a member from the opposing team while reigning punches down on his helmet, and you start to get the picture. Loads of fun.

In other news, I still don’t have a job, we are applying for Medicaid for the kids today, Brandie isn’t incredibly happy with her job, and I have been up till midnight every night reading about metaphysics and the Judean society of the New Testament!

You know, in all of this, God is at work and God is GOOD! There is a peace and underlying joy in our lives that in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, we are truly happy. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are where God wants us, for our sake and for the sake of His Kingdom. Even though our heart aches for Georgia and we miss all of you, we are embracing the moment that God has us in now. It’s an adventure and we are stepping out and taking risks. Except for sitting next to the smoking grandmother with the oxygen tank. We sit where we won’t be blown-up.

In Him,

Joey