Table for Two, Separate Checks

The ultimate define the relationship (dtr for short) comes the moment the server delivers the check...together, separate, he pays, she pays? So many options. While Josef and I haven't been at this particular crossroads for quite some time - it is the best way I can think of to describe our current place in life. We are blessed to have entered into a commitment with God that will keep us at this table together forever. Lately, however, I've been wondering if God remembers that. I don't mean to imply he's pulling us apart. Rather, Josef and I seem to be getting different "bills" from the Lord, or callings on our hearts that are different from each other. I often have to reassure myself,"God knows we're married,He told us to get married, He surely has a perfect plan for us together." Yet, I'm still waiting...

God doesn't completely separate everything. Just like the bowl of queso or the brownie sundae, he gives us equal responsibility and direction in some areas. The most common thought we share is that God is definitely preparing us for something and more specifically preparing us to choose His way or the world's way. Sounds like an easy answer, after all, this is what brought us together in the first place. But as many who have been in this position can atest, it is often the hardest. Inevitably it never comes in the way we think it will and because the question is different, we suddenly second-guess our previously prepared answer. Double sided coins and forks in the road seem to sit between us and the perfect plan we trust is there. "What if's" have become our new introduction to almost any conversation in our home and our chosen path for the future seems to be all we think about. The positive side: all these different ideas floating around has made us more open than we've ever been to what He has for us - because goodness knows we're not attached to any one thing for more than 5 minutes. With open hands, we continue to ask what He has for us and trust He will ignite our hearts for what burns in His. This isn't the first time we've felt this way and it surely won't be the last, but we keep faithfully asking: "Check please."

Where has the time gone??

I blinked and it's suddenly December! Semesters always go by fast, but everyone I talk to seems to agree that this has definitely been the fastest. At times like these, it's easy to look back at the last few months and feel like we didn't really do anything. School and work easily blend together and it's difficult to pick out any moments of productivity or excitement. So I (Sarah) have decided to make a list as 1st: a form of personal reflection and 2nd: a summary updating the world on our lives...as promised in the previous entry, some of these might be small things, but significant none the less :) So, in no particular order:

1. Josef successfully began a masters program he loves
2. I've advanced in a job I am blessed to have
3. Joined a church family that has been an incredible blessing & encouragement to us
4. Trained for and ran a 1/2 Marathon
5. Ventured out on our first official Varga camping trip
6. Created the first of many Varga original works of art to hang on our walls
7. Attended A&M's fall show as Alumni
8. Frequently get to hang out with our niece, Joy and have had the opportunity to watch her grow
9. Designed 2 winter display windows putting my scenic design skills to good use
And last, but certainly not least:
10.Have been blessed to get to know studio artists, ambassadors, writers, professors, pastors, accountants, business owners, managers, hair stylists, make-up artists, college students, young professionals, and sweet families that call Austin home :)

Time has definitely gone by fast but it has been full of many new experiences, with people we are happy to call friends. 6 months and we can definitely say, much to the shock of our Aggie family, "We love you Austin!"

Facelift

Now I know what you're thinking: A) That Varga couple just gets crazier and crazier...now they've resorted to plastic surgery?! and/or B) Wow, FINALLY a new blog post, didn't Sarah promise to update it more?? First of all, not to worry, it is only our little blog that will be undergoing any adjustments :) However, it is the second that I (Sarah) hope to address...

Certain family and friends occasionally bring it to my attention that we STILL have not updated our blog. Likely, I hear from the same people only because they are the faithful followers that still bother to check in from time to time "just in case" we've added something :) My response is always the same - "I feel like we haven't really done anything exciting enough to blog about." God has been really speaking to both Josef and I a lot lately through his word and conversations with other believers, and this morning it suddenly hit me (and I know Josef would agree if he were not already on campus learning how to change the world ;) what the real purpose of this blog should be. Instead of an online scrapbook highlighting only the fun, large-scale events that are few and far between, we should share the ordinary as well. It is often in the "little things" that God speaks the loudest.

I am excited about the possibilities and while I can only guess what this might mean for the reality of this page, I/we approach it with open hands ready for whatever God has in store. I already have so many ideas, so many things that now seem "worth" sharing, the prayer now is that God would provide both the time and the courage to share his constant work in and through our lives, no matter how small it may seem or vulnerable it makes us feel. So, here we go! Let's take this leap of faith together...