2009....

We entered the new year with so many new aspects of life that we just weren't sure what the next few months would be like. Not only was I about to start my first Middle School position, but we were in a whole new world as far as ministry was concerned and were experiencing the strains of not knowing if we could handle the pressure of 2 mortgages.

For weeks we went through people looking at the house, making low offers that we just couldn't afford to accept. We would just look at each other and not know how the end was going to turn out, but had faith enough to know God would provide. God had a plan and before we ever had to make 2 payments He amazingly provided a woman and 2 kids who needed a place to stay desperately. We actually knew her and trusted the idea of the set up! What a relief!

Early into getting my feet wet with Middle School, I realized how difficult it was going to be. A group of 99 kids that had no idea who I was, why their other teacher left and they had expectations for me to keep everything just as she had it! It was hard. I was dealing with inner city "street" kids for the first time in my life. It was heart breaking to hear some of the stories that they tell about not knowing their parents, of parents in prison for drugs, and on and on. But I have grown to love them. There is never a dull day! I don't have pictures of every class, but here's a couple of my classes. Some days 45 minutes just isn't enough and some days one more minute and I might strangle half of them! In my 2 short months there I've had kids arrested for marijuana and tazed for beating kids up! It's just a different world than Boone or Wilkesboro!

Shortly into January we were blessed to see snow again! It even got us out of school for 2 days. I never imagined I would have a snow day here! It was so cool to hear some of my students talk about how they had never played in snow like that before! I couldn't believe it. We stayed in for a few days, because we learned quickly that people here have no idea how to drive with white stuff on the roads.

John has stayed very busy with both worship and youth ministries to be responsible for. I have been the proudest wife watching him grow and really love serving with a group of people who have a passion for God! It has been so cool to see how God is using him to lead worship. He's really loving it and he's doing such an awesome job! We have missed the close relationships we had with our students in Boone. It's so hard to leave kids that you've invested in for so many years. But God is beginning to allow us to develope relationships with the students here. I'm excited about a few trips that we have coming up that will allow us time with them one on one without so many "church" responsibilites.

In February we got away for just John and Pepper time! It was so awesome to set aside that time for us. John surprised me with a night at the Westin Poinsett, the place we stayed on our wedding night and we went to hear Apostle Ron and Hope Carpenter from Redemption for their marriage conference. It was also a fun time with B & Coley! We haven't had time with just them since the summer. We were able to see how much Ella has grown and Allie too! She's about to come into this world in April and we are so excited to get to see her.

Here's some cute Berry Family pics: