The moving cloud

It's been a little over a year since our return, our permanent return, to the US from Slovakia. Much has transpired. It has not been all easy, but it has been the best. That doesn't mean it has always FELT like it's the best, but since I know that God is in control, then I also know that it is the best. God's plans for me are for my good, to give me a future and a hope.
I've been asked many times how we came to return at this time, how we knew that God was, indeed, bringing us back to live full-time in the US, specifically in Phoenix, AZ. I've had many answers, all make sense, but I had a revelation of sorts last week while walking Lani. I had come home from work and since Kelly had a busy few days, asked me to take her for her walk; to be honest, I was a semi-zombie.. the walking dead! I was talking with God and this thought popped into my mind; the Israelites "wandering" in the desert.
Okay, so what has Israel in the desert have to do with the Shattuck's moving from Slovakia? Well, it isn't the desert! Slovakia was anything but a desert. Beautiful, lush countryside. Phoenix, yep, this is a desert. But the desert isn't the key idea. It's the cloud. If you've read the story of the people of Israel in the desert for 40 years with Moses in the lead (and not because they were lost or Moses, as a man, wouldn't stop to ask for directions), then you know that the people would camp in a spot until it was time to leave. God was present with them, leading them, and protecting them; He was like a cloud during the day, a pillar of fire during the night. When the cloud or fire moved, then the people packed up and moved; when the cloud or fire stayed still, then people camped out. With over 2 million people, can you imagine the size of that cloud? How quickly did it move? I'm guessing, GUESSING, that it wasn't really fast, since people had to get ready and move. I bet that some people noticed it moving before some of the others did. In our case, God was like a cloud over us in Slovakia. About 2 years ago, maybe a little longer, I sensed that the cloud was starting to move, I sensed that God was leading us back to the US. Kelly didn't notice it. Why? Because it wasn't time for him to notice maybe. Who knows? But through lots of haggling and praying, Kelly too noticed that the cloud was moving. I jokingly think that he didn't move until the "sand" of the "desert" beneath his feet began to get too hot to stay still. God used many things, such as finances, and also people to convince both of us that we needed to return to the US.
For now, the cloud, well, in Arizona more like the fire, has settled and we are here, settling in, waiting on God. For now, He wants us to stay exactly where we are. A sign?? In this economy, we both have jobs. In our area, there are a lot of RN's who are out of work, but I have a job that I love. Kelly put in an application for only one organization, went through the hoops, and was hired a little more than a month ago. It would have been SO EASY and really make a lot of sense, for Kelly to have pursued some sort of ministry position. After all, he's really, really good at that. But again, the best. God did not want him to minister in that area but in the secular world, to be salt and light in the darkness, so to speak. He's now working for Apple. We've heard that only 1 in over 300 people who apply with Apple are hired. Kelly is one of them. And, he loves his job too!! God is good ; )
What does the future hold? Only God knows and so we are content to wait. Is it easy? Not all the time but He is faithful, He is trust-worthy, He is able. God lead us here. The cloud/fire is still.

On my job

I am an nurse. A registered nurse. I have current licenses for the states of California and Arizona. The great thing about the one from Arizona, is that I can practice in a number of other states with this one; it's a compact-state license. But that's not what I want to say.
I have a job! I am working for a pediatric home health care agency, and I love it! When I first heard about this agency, I was so excited; it was like a dream come true. After a phone interview, filling out an on-line application, taking a number of tests for them, and a second in-person interview, I was hired. Well, I also had to pass a drug screening test and another class, but I was hired. I started working on New Years' Eve.
I work at the home of a medically fragile child. After a week, I'm coming to love not only this child but the family as well. I work from 10 PM until 6 AM, Monday through Friday, which is really through Saturday morning. Last night, when I got to the house, I was talking with the Mom, getting report, when she gave me 3 pictures that the older sister had colored for me. She'd then written, 'The best nurse ever" and "pretty" on each picture. I am honored to be in this home, to see the love that they all have for my little patient, and for this little girl to consider me the best nurse ever. This is why I love home health care, not only do I get to interact and care for the same little person every day, but I get to, hopefully, impact the family as well.
Thank you, Lord, for my job!