Deepening love

Josh and I had so much fun this Thursday night at our photo shoot. It reminded us of our wedding photography, and I felt like it made up for the fact that we never got professional engagement shots done. We were so stressed out about how to pay for the wedding then, it didn't seem like a good idea.

Thinking about this however, made me wonder, if we had gotten engagement shots done and then compared them to these...how would they compare? I wonder if you could see a different depth in our love in these shots. I wonder if you would see it (if you looked closely) in our eyes....our admiration and respect for one another. It has deepened in the last 2 years. Josh and I have been married two years June 27, it was a beautiful day.....

The picture to the left is one of my favorites. I love the water and the sailboats in the distance, the delight in our eyes....We were at Magnolia Park on the Southern side of Magnolia. It's a gem of a place.

It's been a rough 2 years honestly. Josh's studying, my frustrations with my career. I think it's making our love stronger, God, I hope you don't waste this pain. I know from how you have guided me in the past...you won't and sometimes I just have to wait patiently to see how you will use it. I'm beginning to see glimpses now.

I wonder when the next time will be that we have professional photos done. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that it is when Baby Jones #1 arrives. Nope, I'm not pregnant. But maybe, hopefully, God willing in the next 2 years. Okay, you guessed it, I cannot wait to see what the next 2 years of our marriage bring. I'm sure it will be full of new adventures, and a deepening love.

Honestly I've read stories of others deepening love in their marriage with time, but it's something that is hard to understand until you experience it. Such a beautiful love flourishing.

This post would not be complete without a shout out for our photographer, Charis. She went to Mars Hill Graduate school (as I did) and I know she is a better photographer because of it. Seriously, I think she called forth the best of Josh and I for this short session and did a little rekindling of our romance. Check out her blog in my "Blogs I read"section. Then, find a reason to hire her. It's a photography and therapy session in one. Trust me.

Life goes on....

This is a picture taken from a small graduation party we had for Josh. It's been a long two years! I am so glad he is done with his degree, and I know he is too!

He never ceases to amaze me with stories of what he did at work in any given day....I don't know how he could have learned so much in 2 short years! I think he feels the same way. We are really crossing our fingers that this job continues past the summer, but if not he is having some great experiences there.

I have been feeling a lot of feelings of futility lately in my work. I nanny two days + 1 evening/week and then I work on property management stuff off and on. My private practice is just really on a lull. I get a call from a client...they want to work with me, and then for some reason something doesn't work out, insurance, timing, etc. I am eager to start working with more clients and I wish I had the magic piece of marketing to do which would bring me instant results. I feel like no marketing brings instant results and it is so hard to motivate myself to do it due to this...AND it all costs money, not a whole lot of money but when you aren't bringing in money from your practice it sure seems like a lot of money.

I have been looking for a full time or almost full time job in the mental health field again. My last positions were at Fairfax and then most recently the Center for Counseling in Edmonds. Josh and I are becoming a little more stable now financially and if I had a full time job we could stop managing the building. This would free me up to work full time. This is really what I want to do to get licensed as a mental health counselor. I've sent out quite a few resumes and cover letters but I haven't gotten any interviews yet.

I really am grateful for this period of our lives. Josh and I have had more time together than we had had in a long time (while he was in school). Josh started school right after we got back from our honeymoon.

I think it is wearing on me to see Josh starting to do so well in his career with the reminder that I had to set aside some of my career as a therapist for him. This must be how God intended it, but sometimes I think I know a better way, you know, and I fight with God, frustrated at myself and Josh "Why didn't it just happen the way I wanted it to God?" I try far too often to convince God that my ways are best.

God has been inviting me over and over again lately to sit at His feet and trust in His timing.

Blessings.

Yes, Josh did get a job. It came practically out of no where. Josh hadn't even been looking. He didn't even know he was done with classes yet. It was a huge blessing.

Then about a week later he found out that all the emails and finagling he had been doing was not in vain. All of his classes (not just some, but ALL of the classes) he had needed to transfer from CU in Colorado to finished his Electrical Engineering degree transferred and he was done with his BSEE!!!!

It was a full week. New job. Done with school. We are both still adjusting to it in multiple ways.

I'm done being the sugar mama. Ha! It's been two years!!!

Well we're not set yet. We still are managing a large building, 33 units and we are getting increasingly more tired of it. Josh does not have a solid offer from this company yet (Williamson and Associates--where he is working as an Electrical Engineer). As soon as he gets one from them or from another company we will quit the building. I hope the offer comes soon. Please pray that Josh would have the time and energy to keep looking for another position just in case this company can't hire him after the summer.

In the meantime....I'm working at private practice. I'm going to start marketing a new group I hope to offer in the fall. I am also working on a website, a brochure....plus a curriculum for this group. I'm also keeping my eyes out for a new therapy job, I am even open to taking on a full time or near full time one. I need to acquire hours for licensure (and hope to get licensed before kiddos come!). Private practice is a hard and slow way to acquire hours. I'm slowly trying to keep studying for the NCE too.

God is good. Despite the ups and downs of life, I know he is good.

Starting something

Tonight, the last night of our 2nd year anniversary trip I decided it was high time to start a blog for us (Josh and I) and our (God-willing) growing family. For all those now wondering, it'll be at least a year until you hear about a baby Jones on the way.

Josh and I need a place we can share our thoughts, things going on for us, hopes, dreams, goals. We both are in very exciting times of our lives I would say. Not a whole lot of security and known variables, but quite a bit of passion and energy in knowing that we are both working in careers which we love.

Josh: the Electrical Engineer.

Lynn: the Therapist.

married 2 years ago at Quest Church in Seattle, WA.

I remember when I was younger and I thought that these professions (or any profession) was pretty much black and white. Nope, not at all. I don't see it that way any more. The profession of a therapist can look so many different ways; the profession of an electrical engineer really can too.

I think we're both praying right now that God would lead us down the right path. Me, as I grow my private practice, decide how to market myself, my groups, and possibly some upcoming seminars. Josh, as he finishes up a couple classes this summer and looks for a good job that uses his skills and is in the area that he wants to work in (embedded systems I think). Josh is thinking this job may lead us to Colorado or somewhere in Oregon or California. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can stay here.

God does have a plan and we are both confident of that.