Hello friends! It has definitely been quite some time since I have posted anything on here! My, how the times have changed, and things have just gotten even crazier! So let’s start with a little life update!

What has been Happening in our Lives Lately:

When I first began this blog, we were living in a small upstate New York town. My husband was pastoring a small church there, and we had lived in this town for close to 7 years. We loved the town, and all the people that we grew very close to. However, the Lord slowly showed us that it wasn’t where we were meant to be anymore. My husband then put his resume into different churches that were looking for a new pastor. I had known that things at our current church were no longer good, but had turned more toxic. My husband was coming home from meetings so discouraged and upset. He no longer felt he could minister there anymore, as he was being fought at every turn. I was hesitant to move because I had some really amazing friends there, and are our kids grew up there! I had known we were meant to close the chapter with the church, but why couldn’t we just stay in our town? Couldn’t my husband find somewhere else to do the Lord’s work while remaining living there? Can you believe that? Could I BE anymore selfish?? (Now say that with Chandler Bing style. If you know, you know.) I knew I needed to let go of my desire and trust that the Lord knew what He was doing and knew where He was leading us. So my husband then went through the interview processes with a couple of churches, and there was one church that we really connected to. So, on February 12th, 2022, we moved to an even smaller farm town in Pennsylvania where my husband is now pastoring! And guess what, we couldn’t be happier!

Yes, it was hard for quite a bit of time. The kids, especially our oldest who is 11, struggled the most with this change. But now if you ask her if she would want to move back to where we were, she would say no. She would say she would want to go visit more, because there are people she misses, but she loves her school, and the church, and is happy where we are. Dealing with this change had come in so many different emotions, and learning to handle them has been difficult. I wanted my kids, and myself, to feel the loss of the friends that we had because I felt it was important. But I also wanted them to understand that when we follow the plan that the Lord has for us, there are blessings in that! I wanted them to understand that they still had to be respectful to my husband and I, and even to the new church members that they would meet. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the area and church. For that, I am so thankful that the Lord allowed it to be a bit easier than we expected!

Change is Inevitable:

Change is inevitable, and also never easy! I don’t claim to be an expert in dealing with change, because I am not perfect at that, believe me! I still fight change when I can, but there is one verse I had clung to during this whole transition. In fact, I cling to it every day, because it is my life verse.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

As much as I struggled with many emotions about moving, I knew that none of them would compare to the plans that the Lord had for us! I knew He wasn’t doing this to us to hurt us, or to make our children want nothing to do with Him, but He did this because He was giving us hope and a future! He was giving us a future that I never saw for our family, and it’s so much better than the plan I would’ve had!

Since we’ve moved, there have been many blessings that I never really knew our family needed. Would we have gotten these blessings if we stayed where I wanted? I’m not sure, because thankfully we didn’t stick with my selfish desires. I do know that I don’t have the desire to find out what could’ve been. Did I struggle with the change? Yes. Do I still sometimes struggle with the change? Yes, but only when it comes to missing certain people. Am I going to not live a life pleasing to the Lord because we aren’t where I thought we should be? Absolutely not! If anything, moving here has ignited a bigger desire to know, love, learn, and live for the Lord!

My friends, the Lord has that perfect plan for you! I’m not saying that everything will always be good, because we all know it won’t be! Even when we follow the Lord’s plans for our lives, we are still going to experience trials!

Count it all joy, my brothers^, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 NIV

Trials are going to happen, whether or not we follow the plans that the Lord has for us. However, these trials are going to produce steadfastness in us, and a hope that we can only have in the Lord! Friends, I encourage you to continue trusting in the Lord, and surrendering your life to the plans that He has in place for you! The joy you will receive will be overwhelming!

Until next time!!