I have started this post so many times and ended up deleting before I even made it through a complete sentence. I struggle knowing how I want to utilize this blog, especially now that we're in Colorado. I must say, it's really hard to balance my social media usage! Why would I want to use Blogger, Facebook and Twitter all at the same time? How can I make the blog portion different from what I post on Facebook? And, Twitter. Let's not go there.
These are all questions that I've been thinking about since we moved here. I want a way to share my heart and connect with our friends and family all across the states. Something that is more than just a Facebook post. Facebook is fun, don't get me wrong. However, I run into a few problems there... (1) often times it feels so surfacey, (2) we have chosen to share a Facebook account and I want to try and respect that (by not oversharing), (3) everyone that we are friends with (all 301 of you) has to read through our posts as they're scrolling through their newsfeed (assuming that one hasn't already chosen to "hide" us because they already think I overshare). <sigh> Social media woes.
I wonder what life would be like being a parent before internet. Easier or more difficult? I kind of remember what it was like to be a kid without internet, considering my earliest memories of email/internet/AOL were during my early high school years. Being a kid without internet/social media was easy! In fact, I would even dare to say that I am glad that I was in college before social media became the giant that it is today! Galatians 1:10 says, For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. This is a daily struggle. My life is full of moments of self-comparison, self-doubt, and questioning every decision I (and we) make, especially as a parent. I question whether the Internet has any truly enriched my own life, as a blessing, or if it has been somewhat of a hindrance in my own personal walk. If I was truly seeking God in my day to day, would it really matter to me if I read one of those "super mom" posts on Facebook? If I truly saw my self worth the way Christ sees me, I would know that He is all I need, regardless of how awful my day has gone.... i.e., the kids watched too much TV, the kitchen's a mess, I spent too much time on Facebook, I reacted to Brennan rather than lovingly addressing the problem at hand, and so on. By the way, I am guilty of those "super mom" posts myself. When things are going well, I want to share with others! I pray that in the future I could also remember to share when things aren't going so well... its all about balance and through that balance we are able to truly share our lives with others. Especially within the mom community. I want to be more authentic. More transparent.
Well, anyway, here's to a renewed blog. A fresh start in a new home. A new state. The starts of a new routine.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Home Sweet Home!
We have a place to live. We will not be leaving Johnson, homeless. I think we both knew that it would work out somehow, obviously. Just wasn't sure what the details would be. After a few disappointments with possible properties, we were about ready to throw in the towel. Some great Fort Collins friends (I haven't even got to meet them yet!) have been so incredible about helping us look for places long distance. They checked in with the landlord they used to rent from and discovered a rental opening up around the same time we would be wanting to get out there. We contacted the guy and he sent us his rental application. I filled it out at 6am this morning and sent it back to him. Just praying that this would be the one! Got a call this afternoon from the landlord's wife letting us know that they were giving us the rental! Praise Jesus! Wes wasn't home at the time to celebrate so Brennan and I took several minutes for a little celebratory dance!
It was so exciting to call Wes and let him know. We are absolutely thrilled to stop the "house hunting!" We haven't seen the inside of the place yet, but our friends that helped us find it actually lived there when they first moved to the area and loved it. (Apparently, it is about 1 mile from Chick-Fil-A and right across the street from the dollar theater! Bonus!) At this point, we really could care less about the details of the inside! It's 2 story, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome with a 2 car garage attached! It comes with all the usual appliances that we need, plus a W/D and microwave! I mean, maybe these are just minor details, but I am so excited! We've never had a garage before! Woohoo!
So thankful for a place to call home and we can't wait to see it!
It was so exciting to call Wes and let him know. We are absolutely thrilled to stop the "house hunting!" We haven't seen the inside of the place yet, but our friends that helped us find it actually lived there when they first moved to the area and loved it. (Apparently, it is about 1 mile from Chick-Fil-A and right across the street from the dollar theater! Bonus!) At this point, we really could care less about the details of the inside! It's 2 story, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome with a 2 car garage attached! It comes with all the usual appliances that we need, plus a W/D and microwave! I mean, maybe these are just minor details, but I am so excited! We've never had a garage before! Woohoo!
So thankful for a place to call home and we can't wait to see it!
Friday, June 21, 2013
Exhausted
This move is exhausting! Emotionally. Physically (Well, it will be eventually.) Mentally. It is all-consuming. Wes and I are quickly discovering that while we are very grateful for the time-frame we have been given before our move, it is very easy to devote too much time/attention to the future. We want to be wise and plan ahead for things that need to be taken care of, however, it's not a good idea for our family to spend every waking moment looking for places to rent, price checking moving trucks, trying to figure out our new budget, and then re-running the numbers over, researching the new area, checking out family friendly things in town, and looking for places to rent AGAIN! So much to consume our time and energy.
There HAS to be balance. We're not to the point where I need to be freaking out. I want our family to enjoy our last weeks in Tennessee with those we love, I want to be visiting our favorite places in Knoxville, I want our boys to be loved on by those who are closest to them! There are so many things that don't involve the logistics of moving that we could be doing! I am challenging my family to think relational this last month - month and a half. To spend more time thinking about how we can be a blessing to others, rather than all the details we have to try and figure out. We want to allow God to work out those details, especially the ones that we don't really have any control over.
In the meantime, we have some of Wes's coworkers in Fort Collins, checking on a few apartments for us this weekend. Financially, we are looking for smaller places to live to allow us to build up some savings and get adjusted to a 33% increase in cost of living. Yikes! A high priority for a future place of residence is always location, location, location! Here at Johnson, we have become very used to getting to see Wes throughout the work days and while I know it has been a huge blessing for our family, it would certainly be great to continue someone with that. Wes's work schedule will be slightly different at his new job, as they work 4 days (10 hours/day) and are closed on Fridays. So, we will get to enjoy 3 day weekends as a family. I am looking forward to having longer family weekends and exploring the new city and region that we will be living in!
There HAS to be balance. We're not to the point where I need to be freaking out. I want our family to enjoy our last weeks in Tennessee with those we love, I want to be visiting our favorite places in Knoxville, I want our boys to be loved on by those who are closest to them! There are so many things that don't involve the logistics of moving that we could be doing! I am challenging my family to think relational this last month - month and a half. To spend more time thinking about how we can be a blessing to others, rather than all the details we have to try and figure out. We want to allow God to work out those details, especially the ones that we don't really have any control over.
In the meantime, we have some of Wes's coworkers in Fort Collins, checking on a few apartments for us this weekend. Financially, we are looking for smaller places to live to allow us to build up some savings and get adjusted to a 33% increase in cost of living. Yikes! A high priority for a future place of residence is always location, location, location! Here at Johnson, we have become very used to getting to see Wes throughout the work days and while I know it has been a huge blessing for our family, it would certainly be great to continue someone with that. Wes's work schedule will be slightly different at his new job, as they work 4 days (10 hours/day) and are closed on Fridays. So, we will get to enjoy 3 day weekends as a family. I am looking forward to having longer family weekends and exploring the new city and region that we will be living in!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Prayer Request - Housing Needed
One of the ways we hope to use this blog is to allow us to share prayer requests that we may have throughout the next weeks, months, and even years!
Right now, we are trusting that God will provide us a place to live in Colorado before we move. We're not seeing it just yet. It's hard to have faith, but I know he has brought us this far and will not let us be homeless. However, I still think it's a perfect opportunity to ask others to cover us in prayer!
By the way, Craigslist sucks. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We have already received multiple responses from inquiries of great properties to rent that have turned out to be scams. It's so hard to know what is real when we're not there to just schedule a time to go check it out!
We are so grateful for all the folks at ELIC that have offered to do what they can to help us out. One of Wes's co-workers has offered to go check out any places we may need her too. We have also reached out to several churches in the area to see if anyone has any rentals that may be available or even basements that we could stay in until we find a more permanent location.
Now, we are contacting several realtors to see if anyone has any experience dealing with rentals. There has to be something out there!
I absolutely cannot wait to write a post letting you know that we have found a place to live!
Right now, we are trusting that God will provide us a place to live in Colorado before we move. We're not seeing it just yet. It's hard to have faith, but I know he has brought us this far and will not let us be homeless. However, I still think it's a perfect opportunity to ask others to cover us in prayer!
By the way, Craigslist sucks. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We have already received multiple responses from inquiries of great properties to rent that have turned out to be scams. It's so hard to know what is real when we're not there to just schedule a time to go check it out!
We are so grateful for all the folks at ELIC that have offered to do what they can to help us out. One of Wes's co-workers has offered to go check out any places we may need her too. We have also reached out to several churches in the area to see if anyone has any rentals that may be available or even basements that we could stay in until we find a more permanent location.
Now, we are contacting several realtors to see if anyone has any experience dealing with rentals. There has to be something out there!
I absolutely cannot wait to write a post letting you know that we have found a place to live!
Our Timeline
When you take a moment and truly look back at our lives as a timeline, you can see how God has been preparing our family for this move. It has really been a neat experience for us to really allow God to work through so many details, and to recognize how many times we have had to completely rely on His work in our lives.
1999... Wes begins at Johnson
2001... in China with ELIC and Camp China for 6 weeks
2002... in Mongolia teaching English for 6 months
2006... in China teaching English for 1 year
2008... back at Johnson
2010... graduates with Bachelor's degree
2011... starts working in Admissions Office as Recruiter
March 2013... ran into ELIC representative at JU, learned of opportunity and sent inquiry
April 2013... requested to complete actual application, then a Skype interview
May 2013... invited to come visit ELIC office in Fort Collins, and a week later job was offered
August 2013... starts new job at ELIC as Candidate Counselor for the University Teaching Program
So many little tiny details in between have been such a testimony to God's faithfulness. If you know Wes at all, you know that he has this passion for China and all things Chinese culture. He has had such a hard time finding ways to live out this passion for so many years and has been blessed through the relationships he has made through Chinese ministries around Knoxville. Being at Johnson has been such a great opportunity to even study the language for graduate level credit and get to know several others who share this passion.
In March and April, Wes had the opportunity to possibly go on an evangelistic trip to China this summer. So many weeks were spent in prayer regarding this decision. After much thought and consideration he decided that it was not good timing. At this point, he didn't even know if ELIC would contact him about a possible job. For Wes to turn down an opportunity to visit China, let alone a trip more focused on evangelism in the smaller villages, this HAD to be God moving in his life. A moment like this will have a deep impact on both of our lives.
Wes mentioned to me the other day, "You know, I know that we're not called to China right now. So, I can't think of anything better for me to be doing than sharing my story and experiences in China with others and help them prepare to GO!"
1999... Wes begins at Johnson
2001... in China with ELIC and Camp China for 6 weeks
2002... in Mongolia teaching English for 6 months
2006... in China teaching English for 1 year
2008... back at Johnson
2010... graduates with Bachelor's degree
2011... starts working in Admissions Office as Recruiter
March 2013... ran into ELIC representative at JU, learned of opportunity and sent inquiry
April 2013... requested to complete actual application, then a Skype interview
May 2013... invited to come visit ELIC office in Fort Collins, and a week later job was offered
August 2013... starts new job at ELIC as Candidate Counselor for the University Teaching Program
So many little tiny details in between have been such a testimony to God's faithfulness. If you know Wes at all, you know that he has this passion for China and all things Chinese culture. He has had such a hard time finding ways to live out this passion for so many years and has been blessed through the relationships he has made through Chinese ministries around Knoxville. Being at Johnson has been such a great opportunity to even study the language for graduate level credit and get to know several others who share this passion.
In March and April, Wes had the opportunity to possibly go on an evangelistic trip to China this summer. So many weeks were spent in prayer regarding this decision. After much thought and consideration he decided that it was not good timing. At this point, he didn't even know if ELIC would contact him about a possible job. For Wes to turn down an opportunity to visit China, let alone a trip more focused on evangelism in the smaller villages, this HAD to be God moving in his life. A moment like this will have a deep impact on both of our lives.
Wes mentioned to me the other day, "You know, I know that we're not called to China right now. So, I can't think of anything better for me to be doing than sharing my story and experiences in China with others and help them prepare to GO!"
A New Adventure
In July, we will have been in TN for 5 years. Wow. It's hard to believe that the majority of married life has been at Johnson and in East Tennessee. We were still newlyweds when we packed up everything we could fit into the back of our car and also a rented SUV. We sold or gave away so many of our Indiana belongings because we couldn't afford a moving truck. (Which, looking back, it really was no big deal to have less stuff!) We lived much simpler lives as a newly married couple with no kids!
We have always loved TN. I was born and raised in East Tennessee. I know Wes has always considered Knoxville a second home. So why, you may ask, would you want to leave if you love it so much? Well, this is our opportunity to share how God has brought us to this point...to leave a place we love and move several states away to unfamiliar lands, i.e. Colorado. When we left Indiana, we had no idea what God had in store for us except that this was our chance for Wes to complete his Bachelor's degree. Beyond that, no clue! After Wes finished his degree, he had thoughts of all the many different places he might get a job, all the while, Johnson was the place for him! He was able to stay home with Brennan for the first 9 months of his life, which we both consider a HUGE thing. Wes gained such great understanding and compassion for stay-at-home parents through this experience.
Being at Johnson has brought such joy to our lives. Our prayer as a family has always been to be content where God had planted us. Let me just say that this was not always easy. Contentment is certainly something that we struggle with and there have been many lessons learned along the way. And, still many yet to learn! We will always look back at this time in our lives with smiles on our faces. Even the things that brought us the most frustration, will be thought of with fond memories. Our apartment, though small and not always family friendly, will forever bring back memories of early labor pains with both my kiddos. This community that we have been a part of has touched our hearts in ways that I never knew was possible. But, now, we know that God has called us to move on. To leave Johnson and start a new adventure.
We have always loved TN. I was born and raised in East Tennessee. I know Wes has always considered Knoxville a second home. So why, you may ask, would you want to leave if you love it so much? Well, this is our opportunity to share how God has brought us to this point...to leave a place we love and move several states away to unfamiliar lands, i.e. Colorado. When we left Indiana, we had no idea what God had in store for us except that this was our chance for Wes to complete his Bachelor's degree. Beyond that, no clue! After Wes finished his degree, he had thoughts of all the many different places he might get a job, all the while, Johnson was the place for him! He was able to stay home with Brennan for the first 9 months of his life, which we both consider a HUGE thing. Wes gained such great understanding and compassion for stay-at-home parents through this experience.
Being at Johnson has brought such joy to our lives. Our prayer as a family has always been to be content where God had planted us. Let me just say that this was not always easy. Contentment is certainly something that we struggle with and there have been many lessons learned along the way. And, still many yet to learn! We will always look back at this time in our lives with smiles on our faces. Even the things that brought us the most frustration, will be thought of with fond memories. Our apartment, though small and not always family friendly, will forever bring back memories of early labor pains with both my kiddos. This community that we have been a part of has touched our hearts in ways that I never knew was possible. But, now, we know that God has called us to move on. To leave Johnson and start a new adventure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)