First day of the new year and focused

I hope everyone has a wonderful first day of the New Year in 2009. I myself look forward to new faces, new places, and hope that many of my goals and dreams come true. I would love to meet new people, travel to see new interesting places, and achieve many of the goals that I have set before me. One of my goals is to loose weight and become healthier overall. Another one of my goals is to make exercise a daily part of my life where I hate the way that I feel without exercise and that pushes me to want to do it more. I also want to pay off some bills and get our finances in order so that we are more ready to move from here sometime after Richie graduates in December of 2009. Last but definitely my most important goal in my life is to make Christ the center of my life and to live fully and completely for Him. I want to focus my eyes on Him in all circumstances and allow Him to be the Lord of my life. I want to rest in His arms and allow Him to work in my life, which means worrying less. This is something that I have a difficult time with. It has always been easy for me to just take things on and worry about it. I don't want to do that anymore as it is not good for my health. I need to let go and surrender completely to Him and I am going to accomplish this in 2009. In Phil 1:20 The apostle Paul wrote, “To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Lord help me to die to my self so that I am may live for you and glorify you. I am available and want to be a vessel that you work through.

With this new year comes new challenges as well. I will begin my graduate studies Monday January 5th. I am looking forward to it but have those little butterflies that are lingering around. I want to do this and I feel that I am very ready but at the same time I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I was an excellent student during my undergraduate studies but I've been told that my graduate studies will be a whole different ballgame. I personally think that I will like my graduate studies much better because they will be in my chosen field of study. We'll see! Please remember me in your prayers as I begin my studies. I will keep you all updated!

God bless you all and may this year be filled with many blessings!!! May you achieve your goals, always reach for your dreams, and live fully for Him!

In His Grip,

~Lori Fender

Reaching For Higher Education In 2009

Several months ago I began looking at many different Universities where I could begin my Graduate studies. After the long in depth search and many hours in prayer I made my decision. I have decided to continue my Graduate studies through Capella University. I have heard about what a wonderful school Capella is and after researching for so long I have been able to see why Capella has 24,000 learners. This school is recognized for excellence and they take online education to a higher level. My biggest fear at first was attending school in a different setting. I just wasn't sure that I was ready to do all of my Graduate education online. But after talking to their enrollment counselors I have realized that online does not mean alone. In fact it's far from it. When you enroll at Capella University, you gain a lifelong community of scholars and professionals who have chosen a path of learning and growth.

Capella University is an accredited, fully online university that has built its reputation providing quality graduate education for working adults. Eighty-three percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's or doctoral degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 111 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. More than 24,000 learners were enrolled as of September 30, 2008, from all 50 states and 45 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, you can visit http://www.capella.edu/ or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552). If you know someone who is looking to continue their education, Capella University is worth looking into for sure.

The mission of Capella University is to extend access to high quality bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs for adults who seek to maximize their personal and professional potential. This mission is fulfilled through innovative programs that are responsive to the needs of adult learners and involve active, engaging, challenging, and relevant learning experiences offered in a variety of delivery modes.

I will begin my Graduate program on Monday January 5th. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life but of course a little nervous as well. Please remember to keep me in your prayers and if you don't hear from me as much after the first of the year, well you'll know that I am busy working my way through my studies. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. There may be times that I need an extra shot of encouragement so let me again thank you ahead of time. May God bless you all and may you enjoy this holiday season!

Blessings,

~Lori Fender

The move to NC...

Why did we move many of you have asked me? We both felt God leading us to move back to NC to the eastern side where his Mother's side of the family lives so that Richie could work for the family business while attending college. Richie always wanted to go back to school but it was impossible in CA because he had to work two jobs to pay the bills because everything was so high there. This would allow us to live in one his Mom's rental houses for next to nothing and he would work for his Mom while she paid for his continuing education. That meant almost no rent, good job, and NO student loans for him! It was a huge sacrifice but well worth it! So when we got to NC our house wasn't ready. Okay I was freaking out and bigtime. We just drove for 3 1/2 days across country with 2 10 month old puppies and were dead tired and our house was not ready, grr! We also had a huge moving truck filled with everything that we owned and nowhere to put it since our house was not done. I mean to tell ya this would put any marriage in a whirlwind. We were both freaking out and wondering if making the move was the right decision or if we just made one huge mistake. It was definitely a nightmare! Through a lot of prayer and having his family here with a lot of resources we figured it out and got through it all.

Richie is plugging away at school and he is getting all A's and has made the President's List every single term and I couldn't be prouder of him. He also just started an internship program at his school with the football organization and so far he truly loves it and I enjoy seeing him act like a little kid every time he gets to help work the games. He is getting his degree in Sports Management & Marketing and prays to get on with a professional team once school is completed. Our prayer is for God to lead us where He wants us. This can be scary at times but I know God will always take care of us like He always has. He is the one who brought us back together after being apart for 7 years.

This past June we had yet another setback when I found out I needed major surgery on my right ankle. This would require a lot of help from my husband around the house, helping getting me in a wheelchair, help showering, and even the basic stuff like getting dressed, this all meant that I would have to become quite dependent on him for months!! It was one of the scariest times in my life and it was not easy leaning on someone as much as I had to the past several months. Thankfully my Mom came out for a week in June and was here for my surgery and helped with many things as well as made sure we had hot meals and she even cooked some things that could be frozen so when she was gone we were able to get by for at least another week. It was really awesome having her here because I had never been through anything major like that before without having my Mom around. Mom saved the day, whew! Through it all I have learned that it is okay to allow someone to help you and it's okay to ask for help. I had never really asked and or needed so much help as I have these past few months but I am so grateful to my husband for always being there and for doing a wonderful job around the house and I am also glad that my Mom was able to get us through some too. God will continue to be our light and guide us along the way. We pray that life settles down a bit and we can just enjoy life's little blessings each and every day. May you all be blessed as well and may God shine the light upon your lives. Till next time, take care...... ~LF

The visit that changed our lives......

That day came and Richie flew out to CA from NC and fell in love with everything about it for the most part, except the traffic, lol! Richie moved to CA and we began dating once again and 5 months later Richie proposed to me and this time I said yes yes yes! He said, "I don't want to let you get away a second time.

We got married in Newport Beach, CA with just our family and a handful of close friends and it was just what we wanted! The day was perfect and the best part about it was we finally got a second chance at love and we realized that we didn't have to ever be alone again because I too am not letting this man get away, not ever! So we got married September 2006 and no more than than 7 months later wound up packing and moving to NC. It was time to begin yet another chapter of our lives and to go where God was leading us. I was now Mrs. Fender and was standing by my man just like God called me to do. Sure we were both scared to death but we knew that as long as we followed God's will for our lives we would be just fine. Are you where God wants you? Are you doing what God wants for your life? Sometimes it is so difficult to be sure and to recognize God's will for your life but if you seek Him He will direct your paths. May God bless you and keep your eyes fixed upon Him always!

~LF