the hard stuff--already

i never. how many times have i said that?? you would think i would have learned by now that i am so not in control. i had it all figured out--we would arrive in missouri with big ministry dreams and goals and everything would be happy as can be. but i never could have imagined.

i think i shared in a previous blog about our wonderful new neighbors in missouri. they have been like guardian angels. orchestrating our whole move, plans to clean out the house where we are staying, organizing people to help unload the uhaul, giving us a tv-bed-lamps etc... just angels. i spoke with david friday afternoon and just marveled at how much he was caring for us and working to ensure a smooth transition. david died suddenly on saturday. we got a call mid-day that he had gone to the hospital with potentially two heart attacks. we assumed since he made it to the hospital that he would be fine. he died saturday evening. we were so not prepared for this personally as we were looking so forward to hanging out with them and getting to know them better and we are not equipped at this point with our first ministry endeavor being a death.

we have spoked with michelle and her daughter (who is planned to be our sitter for the first couple of weeks until she leaves for college). she is doing as well as can be expected and says she is looking forward to us being right next door. please pray for them-the millers- and for us that we would be able to be still and just be there.

celebrating

the pain and the joy of this time. this transition is difficult yet we have so much to be excited about. i just want to celebrate god's faithfulness throughout this time and rest in that. i am super sad about leaving friends and family here but this time has been a blessing and a necessary step in our journey. what we have learned here both in terms of relationships and just "church" will help us as we move forward. we have had an amazing time with my family and have made life-long friendships. i love that we have experienced the church as a living, moving body not physically tied to any building. it has been something that i hope stays with us as we move to an established ministry with a nice building.

in many ways this crazy moving we have done over the last 4 years has shown me that god doesn't have to replace the things we move on from rather just adds to them. that gives me reason to celebrate as i anxiously await new additions.

staying connected

we will be crazy for a while with moving, traveling for work and getting the kids in school. thanks for the messages several of you have left and i will call you back--i promise!