Processing...

In a mere three weeks from now, we will drive away from this place that we love...this place where we have lived for the past 7 years. People keep asking how I feel about things and honestly, everything feels so surreal. I know that we are moving, I know that I will say goodbye to my friends and my house, I know that we will actually live for the first time since we were married in close proximity to family...I know these things are happening soon, but my heart is just not quite catching up to all my mind has to process. Maybe writing these thoughts out will help with this... We drove up here to Appleton, Wisconsin the day after we got married. This place is all we know as a married couple, as a family. I do believe that throughout our lifetimes we go through a couple different "coming of age" places, and I really feel like Phil and I became adults here. I think back to that newly married couple, at the ripe ages of 22 and 23, driving that Budget truck packed full of wedding gifts, and I realize that although we were legally adults, and by all means thought we were, we were on the very cusp of this thing we call adulthood. We have experienced so very many things here together. To name just a few... -First real "grown up" jobs -"Parenting" a dog named Traveler -Buying cars -Buying a house -Renovating said house -Comitting to a church -Making all new friends -International travel -having 2 beautiful girls -buying and running businesses -selling a business -selling a house And these are just a few of the big things. Part of the beauty of it was that we were so far away from family...because of that we really had to figure out this grown up thing together. We really experienced the "leave and cleave" in a tangible way. So, how do I feel? I feel so very thankful. Thankful for this wonderful place, and these wonderful experiences we've had here. Thankful for faithful friends, and a strong community. Thankful that God has given us a desire and ability to move and be closer to family. I imagine I will be feeling a myriad of emotions over the next few months regarding this move, but my prayer is that I will be thankful. Thankful most of all for a God who knows better than I, whose timeline has purpose and whose purpose is worth it.

Recent Blessings

I've lived here in Wisconsin for six and a half years now. Six and a half cold, cold years. Winters here are not my favorite. Summers are typically lovely, but winters are long, snowy and crazy cold. I tend to get a little down during wintertime, especially come March when this Kansas girl is used to Spring starting to appear. This winter however, has been different so far. Up until a couple weeks ago, we were still able to get out for a walk here and there with the girls. I went on a run on Christmas day, what?! I think this milder winter (so far) is one of the little ways God has been demonstrating His love for me in this season of life. I sense that He has been giving me just enough fun surprises to keep me out of my typical winter doldrums. A trip "up north"* with some dear friends, a surprise visit from one of my favorite people in the world, a pending women's retreat and a new "job" opportunity for me (post coming soon). Many things about life for my family right now are uncertain, but I am so thankful for the love from an unchanging God who cares enough to give me these blessings. *For you non Wisconsin folks, "up north" is the term people here use for anywhere North of Green Bay, we think it's hilarious. Many around here have accents, so when they say it, it sounds like "up nort."

Amen Sister...

I stumbled across Heather's family blog several months ago and have been following their experience in Haiti.  They are now home in Texas and figuring out what comes next.  Bless this woman for articulating some of the things I feel on a daily basis.