It’s been a while…

If you can’t tell, big changes are coming for the Hunt household. The past 6 months have been full of surprises and growth. High heels and business suits have been traded in for flats and maternity jeans, the craft room traded in for a nursery and late nights for 9 o’clock bedtimes. All of this is in preparation for our sweet Jaxson.

I haven’t blogged in a while, not because of the pregnancy, but rather because I just haven’t been inspired to do so. I won’t say I am especially inspired today, but I just felt the sudden urge to write.

Perhaps it is the hint of Christmas in the air or maybe the new life growing inside of me, but I am feeling especially thankful today. This past year has been full of broken bones, failed attempts at finding employment and family illness. Through all of this God continues to show Himself and continues to provide in ways we never could have imagined. So far we have a healthy baby boy, a nursery overflowing with blessings from our friends and family and the list goes on and on. I can see the Lord using each and every situation we have faced this year to bring us closer to Him, and so for each situation I am learning to be grateful. I am learning each and every day that God’s plans are much greater than ours could ever hope to be. I don’t know what’s in store for us, but I have confidence that God will work it out for the good, so I don’t need to worry.

Adventures of a Statehouse Intern

So I realize it has been a while since my last post, but life has been both wonderful and crazy these past few months. For those of you who don’t know I have been interning with the Alabama House of Representatives since February. Thus far this has been one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I have always been interested in state government and this experience has affirmed to me that this is where I belong. It has yet to be determined what capacity I will be serving in, but I have found where I want to be.

I have met more people than I will ever remember, and I have been a part of some pretty interesting legislation thus far. I have been working with three committees: Ways and Means Education, Education Policy and also the Military and Veterans Affairs committee. I feel very blessed to have been given these committees, as I feel very passionate about both issues and the people associated with these committees have become some of my favorite people. Ways and Means Education deals with the money related to education and is Chaired by Representative Jay Love. His committee clerk Peggy has become a constant source of help and encouragement for me. I feel immensely blessed to have her in my life. Education Policy is chaired by Representative Mary Sue McClurkin. I think I have pretty much decided I want to be Mrs. McClurkin when I grow up. Haha! She is an amazing woman and I hold her in the highest regard possible. Military and Veterans Affairs is chaired by Representative DuWayne Bridges. Mr. Bridges is an extremely godly man and I truly respect him and everything he stands for. There are countless other representatives and people that I have grown to know and love as well.

I finish the internship in May, but I am trying not to focus on that. I am going to be heartbroken when I have to leave this job as it has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Meanwhile I am on the job hunt, so if any of you hear of something political or communications related, please let me know. Ideally I would love to work in the statehouse, but with the state of our economy that probably won’t happen. I am however hoping to get some contacts for future campaign work, that might just make my life!

He listens when we pray…

There are moments in our lives that we can look back on and see that they changed our lives forever and taught us just a little bit more about our Lord. This day 18 years ago is one of those days for me.

Eighteen years ago today, God not only blessed me with a baby sister, but He also taught me that He listens when we pray. When I found out I was going to be a big sister, I immediately started praying for a baby sister. My mom kept telling me that Jesus might send me a brother instead, but I was confident that if I prayed for a baby sister that is what I would get. Let’s just say that God delivered in a big way.

I remember my Aunt Dianne driving me to the hospital after school and I remember looking thru the window at a little bald baby, not fully realizing that my world was forever changed. At first I thought she was so cute, then that changed to why is this thing getting all the attention? Being five and a half years apart meant that we never really met in the middle as far as childhood interests, but as long as she did what I said we were ok. We had a few rough years, but now I count her as one of my very best friends and I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

 

She has changed from a nerdy, annoying little thing, into a beautiful, tenderhearted Christian young lady. I honestly can’t believe she is 18 years old. I am so proud of her strength, her courage and her willingness to help others. I am so thankful on this day especially that God listens when we pray.

It’s good to feel safe

I want to start by saying that I have been absent because for some reason the computer decided to get a virus. Thanks to my sweet brother in law Randall it is now good as new.

Today Drew and I had an alarm system installed. For those of you who don’t know about our break-in about a year in a half ago, it was horrible and traumatizing. Having always been a little paranoid, this experience took my fear to a whole new level. We considered getting the system right after the break-in, but it just didn’t seem practical for financial reasons. Living right on the road, we see lots of people walking, riding their bikes or broken down and some of them make me a little nervous. This week we decided to throw aside practicality and got the system installed. It has only been a few hours and I already feel better. I have come a long way since that fateful October day, but this little piece of security technology and several more intense prayer sessions might just be my ticket to a full recovery.

Recent Readings

 

So I told you last week I was reading a book called Rena's Promise. I am incredibly intrigued by World War II. I think it is the idea of our country working together for the cause, the clothes and maybe the fact that my Pappa was a veteran of this particular war. At any rate, I find myself constantly reading books from this time period.

Rena’s Promise is the story of a Holocaust survivor and her sister. The two spent almost the entirety of the war in Auschwitz. This type of WWII book tends to be depressing, but this one was more of hope and the endurance of the human spirit. While there were definitely devastating portions of the book, it was nice to read about not one but two survivors. If you are going to read a book about the Holocaust, I would definitely recommend this one.

After finishing a book like that, I felt like I needed something a little more upbeat. So last night I started reading It's All About Him by Denise Jackson wife of country music superstar Alan Jackson. So far it is refreshing to read that one of my favorite men in country music is a believer. Not only does this book cover the ups and downs of the couple’s marriage, but so far it has had quite a bit of emphasis on the relationship with the Holy Spirit. I am excited to read it and will definitely share my thoughts on it once I am done.

I am so excited to be able to share with you all what I am reading. It has been so long since I have been able to read for fun that I feel like a drug addict, I just can’t get enough. HAHA!

Time for something new

I have always been enamored by the world of politics and government. It could just be an innate predisposition, but it is probably from my Pappa who introduced me to this world at a very young age. When I was in first or second grade, I remember him picking me up from school and taking me to see Bob Dole in Montgomery. All the pageantry and excitement just drew me in. Whenever I went over to my grandparents’ house I could always be sure that Fox News or CSPAN would be on. There were times when I was confused, and each time I asked a question, Pappa would take the time to explain whatever it was I had a question about.

This past and final semester of college I took a class on speechwriting. This class was by far one of my favorite classes, and also made me realize that becoming a political speechwriter is a feasible goal for me. Now the problem is getting my foot in the door and setting the stage for this as my future.

I am pleased to announce that thanks to my good friend Clay, I am putting my foot in the door starting February 1. I am officially an intern for the Alabama House of Representatives. I am super excited about this new adventure and can’t wait to see what the future has in store. Things are looking up folks!

Monday Musings

Since I graduated, people keep asking me what I feel like or what I am going to do now. The answer is I feel about the same, but different and I want to do everything. I feel the same in that I am still me, but I feel different in that much of my identity has been about me being a student. I am the girl who finds small victories in giving the right answer. While I can still be right, it’s not the same outside of the classroom. I know that there are lots of new and exciting things just waiting for me, and I am ready to get started. When I say I want to do everything, I mean there are so many things I haven’t been able to do because it interfered with school. Here’s just a few things on my list:

1. Read more

2. Work out

3. Eat better/Try cooking new things

4. Learn to ride my dirt bike

5. Travel more

I realize these things aren’t spectacular, but I find joy in the little things.

Today AUM started classes, and I thought I would be sad, but I’m not. In fact I feel relieved that for once, I can read at my own pace, when I want and what I want. There isn’t the rush to get to Montgomery followed by the endless drive home. Today has been pretty relaxed, as I was off work. I slept in, worked out, went to the grocery store and started dinner in the crockpot. While these are seemingly uninteresting things, I enjoyed every minute of it, because I wasn’t rushed. I think with school, that is always how I felt. I never really had time to slow down and for once I am enjoying that luxury.

I feel like graduating has opened up a door of all new possibilities for me, I just have to be willing to take that next step.