Third Time Around.

For the third time, I have pulled out the book, The Land Between by Jeff Manion.  For years, this book sat around our house after Paul attended a conference and heard the author speak about the topic.

Reading this book has been a life changing experience every time I have read it.  The first time I devoured it was over a year ago when I was still deeply struggling with being in Marshfield.  The result was God lead me to a place of trusting Him and learning to be content with where He had placed us.  I actually began to enjoy living here.  I felt free.

The second time I read this book was right after we decided that God was calling us to go to Peoria.  I felt that my world was turning upside down, and I was terrified of the changes. Terrified of fundraising, terrified of what it would require of me.

The third time I'm reading it is now.  I actually had been thinking for the last couple of weeks that I wanted to re-read it yet again.  However, I had loaned the book out.  Thankfully, this past Sunday it was returned to me.  I have decided to read it again because this time of waiting is so difficult. I find it very easy to get upset with God for not moving in my time frame.  Or to be upset with Him for not giving me the answers that I want to know.  Reading this books reminds me that this time is intended to teach me to trust Him with everything I have.  And during this season, I am formed by walking through it.  I can choose my response of bitterness or trust.  I need this constant reminder. 


Click on the picture so see a bigger view and read the synopsis
 

If you have not read this book. I highly recommend it!

QUICK LIFE UPDATE

This past Sunday, our pastor Larry, took a few minutes to talk with the body about us. It was a sweet moment to hear about his love for Paul and passion for church planting.  He also talked about the need for financial support and prayer.  He listed prayer points for us. It was so kind and cool! 

After service, Paul met with people in the Fireside room to share our vision.  In that day our support jumped from 48% to 55.5%.  As of today, I believe we are sitting at 56% of our funds being raised. To put that into perspective that is a tad over $100,000!!!!  Isn't that amazing! 

Last Friday night, we had a family come for a 2nd viewing on our home. On Wednesday, we found out that they had offered on a different house.  Our house was their second pick.  If the offer on their first pick was not accepted they would have offered on ours.  We were so so so disappointed. Yet there was a peace in the midst of the disappointment.  We continue to wait on God. 

PRAYER POINTS

 

1.  We really want to move mid-October, but the one thing we have to have to move is 100% of our support raised.  We need God to provide a miracle financially!



2.  We need God to sell this house or give us wisdom on what to do with it.
3.  That God would prepare the hearts of those that we will meet in Peoria. 

Blessings to all of you!!!!!

Back to Life

Summer will shortly come to a close for us as the kids head back to school on Tuesday, September 4th.  It was not our desire that they start school in Marshfield, although we love their school here. We had wanted them to start in Peoria, but God had other things in mind.

On Sunday, August 12th, the day after my sweet sister's wedding, Paul and I both had a moment where we each realized that "OH CRAP, now we have to move!!!" Our traveling for the summer was over and it was time to get going.  However, coming home was another story.

The first week home from the wedding was spent preparing for the new Faith Fellowship building to be opened on Sunday, August 19th.  The kids and I barely saw Paul last week as he was preparing a myriad of things with the building.  It was a HUGE endeavor.  The first Sunday was smooth and great! Lots of hiccups with sounds that were ironed out at the last minute during practice. I felt honored to get to sing on worship team that first Sunday!  It was so so so cool! 

Shot of the building taken from an airplane before it was finished.
 

When Paul and I had time to actually talk we both realized that God had shown us each that moving in August truly would have been impossible. We had Ali's wedding, the building opening, and then a couple from our small group is having their wedding this Saturday the 25th of August.  No possible way!  God knew that so He engineered for us to not move yet.

The other families, Shearers and Ziesels, moved to Peoria last week.  We are very glad they are there and getting settled but so desire to be there with them as they adjust to life and settle in.  All the kids started school this Monday the 20th.  We have prayed for their transitions and adjustments.

Now that the craziness of August is almost past, we turn our focus to really raising the rest of our support, and seeking God to take care of our house situation. We have been very active with both of these things already as well.  We are currently sitting at 48% of our support being raised. We need God to do BIG stuff in the next 8 weeks.  We've had showings on the house and another tomorrow. We have had many offers to rent our house, however that just isn't want we want at this time. Renting the house would feel like a noose around our necks.  However, we KNOW that God is always sovereign.  He will do what He wills. 

I am very much looking forward to the kids returning to school.  I adore them, yet three solids months together for the 4 of us has gotten to be overwhelming. They are getting very bored and ready for routine. Joshua needs his brain to be challenged.  I can not tell you how many crazy questions he asks me each day.  Deeply intelligent questions that I have to answer "go google it". 

Please keep praying!  All 3 of our families desperately need and desire it!

House Hunting in Peoria

Well, we had a fabulous day in Peoria today. All the kids went with us, and we were delighted with the realtor that we had chosen.  She actually said that if our house doesn't sell, she will work with us to find a rental home.  She said there are rental homes in Peoria, but they do not stay open for long.  She also mentioned a duplex, which I would LOVE over an apartment!

We looked at 8 houses today. I can't believe how well the kids did. Holly, our realtor, even commented on how well behaved they were!!!! That blesses a mama's heart!  After hours of looking at houses we took them to ride go-karts and bumper boats.  Now you can't do that in Marshfield so that was a big treat for them!

So here are the homes that we liked. The first we just fell in love with.  It has all newly refinished hardwood floors through the entire house. The bedrooms are great sizes, and the yard was incredible.  In addition, the HUGE basement has a 4th bedroom that Paul could use for an office. 

House Choice #1

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2225-W-Winnebago-Dr-Peoria-IL-61614/5121813_zpid/

House Choice #2

This second house, we liked as well,  although the bedrooms are very small.  The bathroom needs some work but is totally fine for awhile.  It doesn't have a basement but rather a crawl space.  But it had an addition off the back with a family room.  We like it as well, but not as much as the first choice.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5610-N-Fountaindale-Dr-Peoria-IL-61614/5121740_zpid/

Points of prayer:  we need our house to sell before we can do another mortgage.  We also need a 3-5% down payment, which at this point, we do not have.  We also need inspection and earnest money.  So God needs to do a miracle here.

Another point of prayer:  The Shearers and Ziesels are moving to Peoria next week.  School starts on 8/20 so please pray for the adjustments of all the kids.  Also prayer for the sales of their homes as well. 

Love to you all!
Stephanie

Some Direction...

Today I feel like God gave me some direction, just one small thing that I have been desiring. 

I have been praying that I would be able to have a job transfer with Weight Watchers.  Tonight, I was able to connect with the Territory Manager for the Peoria area.  In addition, she just so happens to live in Moline, where my parents live, and we will be staying for the next 9 days during my sister's wedding.  I will be meeting up with the Territory Manager to meet and just talk about the area. Also, so cool, she is able to meet very early in the week so that I do not have to take away from the wedding festivities. He cares even about the little details!

Via email she informed me that she has many open meetings and will "keep me as busy as I want to be"  I cried when I read that email because to me it was God giving me something really small but something VERY LARGE!!!!

We leave this Sunday (8/5) to head to my parent's house. On Monday, we will leave very early to drive to Peoria to look at houses and rentals.  Please pray for us.  We need direction, and we need HUGE miracles. 

Tonight we worked on sending out our 2nd round of support letters. We're still hovering at 44%. 
Pray that God would get Russ and Tina as well as us all to 100% of our need.  I'm learning that He will provide, but it will most likely NOT look like what I think it will.  But He will come through!

Just wanted to share with you all. Rejoice with me!!!