This past weekend, Faith Fellowship held our Farewell Party. During both of our morning services, Larry had our entire family come on stage to be prayed for by the Elders and commissioned as church planters.
Our Farewell Party was after 2nd service and was a potluck. It was so much fun! A funny song was written and performed for us. It was called "The Gophers Still Stink". The Gophers are the University of Minnesota football team. And of course, most people here are University of Wisconsin Badger fans. Once I get the lyrics from Paul, I'll post them or the video that our friend took with his phone.
During the party, people were able to share their thoughts and feelings with us. It was a very moving time to hear how God had impacted lives in our time here.
We had small group Sunday night too. Our terrific group, knowing our exhaustion from the day, just planned a low key dinner for all of us. That was very nice.
The church gave each of us a Marshfield Tigers hoody. We love them and wore them to small group on Sunday night.
I've been packing away. As of now the master bedroom and kids' rooms are all packed. I left out a couple of their favorite toys or items so they would have something to do over the next few days.
I think our family is really starting to feel stressed. Paul and I sat down last night to see what his income would be like after we had deducted insurance, housing, and an administrative fee we have to pay to route his check. I left the conversation very discouraged because it looks like we are getting a bit of a paycut. God has been so faithful, and I have doubt that He will continue to be and provide for all of our needs. But I'm just left wondering why following Him has to be so hard at times.
Sometimes, I feel like all I talk about in my blog is money, but honestly, it's one of the biggest hurdles in getting to the church planting world. You have to have income, which is supplied purely from people who share your vision and want to support you. And there is no guarantee that they will send in their monthly commitment. This is truly blind faith and a massive challenge for me each and every day. I had this idea that once our support was raised that having to walk in this blind faith would end. IT DOESN'T! It's going to be like this for the rest of our lives!
Beth is really struggling, evidenced by many, many emotional breakdowns over silly things. Truthfully, we are exhausted with her right now. My prayer each moment is for grace and compassion to deal with her emotions in the midst of my pure exhaustion. And my heart aches to see her hurting and upset and not able to understand her feeling and emotions. At times like these, I'm so thankful for my education that has helped me understand how kids process stress.
Only 8.5 days til MOVE DAY!
Love you all!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
19.25 Days to go
Paul and I decided to make a last minute, whirlwind trip down to Peoria this week because we just weren't having any success trying to find something from a distance. Russ and Tina were being so wonderful by driving by locations for us and even touring some for us. We just weren't seeing anything we really liked. We had leads on two places to see so we set up appointments. Neither of which we were really excited about.
On our way to Peoria, our realtor emailed me to say that she had just seen a new rental that had become available. It was a duplex, with 3 bed/1.5 bath in the area we wanted and BELOW our budget. I called immediately to set up an appointment.
We had appointments for viewing starting at 9 am on Tuesday. The first was doable but on a street that is very busy with 4 lanes of traffic. We then went to view the duplex that had just come available. When we arrived, the leasing agent explained that the old tenant had just moved out and the duplex was trashed. She was very correct about "trashed." There wasn't a place on the carpet that wasn't covered in black stains, walls that weren't filthy in addition to many mirrors on the walls. The agent explained that she would be replacing all the carpet, taking down all the mirrors and painting the whole place. I think she saw that we liked the layout and size but were very hesistant due to the filth. She suggested we travel over to one of their other units to see how they make their places look when they're cleaned and ready to go. BEAUTIFUL is what we saw at the other unit we viewed. Clean as can be! We decided to go ahead and fill out the application for the unit because it met all of our needs. With the decision being made we decided to head over to Moline to see my parents for the night.
Paul's mom had come to Marshfield to stay with our kids which was great and so helpful. We had a great night with my parents, an actual double date to a really nice restaurant. Afterward, we went back to their house, and we all watched the VP debate together. I laid on the floor in front of their gas fireplace and the relaxation was so welcome!
This weekend has been a bit of a whirlwind. The candidate for Paul's position came this weekend for his candidating weekend. We met them Friday night with all the Elders and families. Then Saturday night, we had them over for dinner so they could relax and talk with us about renting our home. AND it's a go. They will be renting our home!!!!! The plan is that they will move in the last week of November. In January, we will place the house back on the market, which they are fine with! They eventually want to buy so we are praying for a sale before they buy and move out. Today, Jon was unaminously voted in by our church body. This was an exhausting weekend but so wonderful.
I have to tell you that often transitions in churches DO NOT happen like this.We are so delighted to be in a place where you can meet and be part of the "hand off". It wasn't awkward for us at all. Truly, it was a beautiful experience.
Next Sunday (10-28) is our farewell party. I will be a blubbering mess that day. November 9th is our move day. The kids and I will leave very early in the morning so that we can get to the school before it closes. We want them to see the school, plus I need to fill out paperwork. Through the weekend we'll unpack and all that comes with moving. The kids start school on Tuesday, November 13th (my birthday)! There is no school on Monday, November 12th. We are glad they will have a few days to just be.
We are still trusting God to bring in the rest of our support as well as some expenses for moving. He has been faithful and will continue to be!
Love you all!!!!
On our way to Peoria, our realtor emailed me to say that she had just seen a new rental that had become available. It was a duplex, with 3 bed/1.5 bath in the area we wanted and BELOW our budget. I called immediately to set up an appointment.
We had appointments for viewing starting at 9 am on Tuesday. The first was doable but on a street that is very busy with 4 lanes of traffic. We then went to view the duplex that had just come available. When we arrived, the leasing agent explained that the old tenant had just moved out and the duplex was trashed. She was very correct about "trashed." There wasn't a place on the carpet that wasn't covered in black stains, walls that weren't filthy in addition to many mirrors on the walls. The agent explained that she would be replacing all the carpet, taking down all the mirrors and painting the whole place. I think she saw that we liked the layout and size but were very hesistant due to the filth. She suggested we travel over to one of their other units to see how they make their places look when they're cleaned and ready to go. BEAUTIFUL is what we saw at the other unit we viewed. Clean as can be! We decided to go ahead and fill out the application for the unit because it met all of our needs. With the decision being made we decided to head over to Moline to see my parents for the night.
Paul's mom had come to Marshfield to stay with our kids which was great and so helpful. We had a great night with my parents, an actual double date to a really nice restaurant. Afterward, we went back to their house, and we all watched the VP debate together. I laid on the floor in front of their gas fireplace and the relaxation was so welcome!
This weekend has been a bit of a whirlwind. The candidate for Paul's position came this weekend for his candidating weekend. We met them Friday night with all the Elders and families. Then Saturday night, we had them over for dinner so they could relax and talk with us about renting our home. AND it's a go. They will be renting our home!!!!! The plan is that they will move in the last week of November. In January, we will place the house back on the market, which they are fine with! They eventually want to buy so we are praying for a sale before they buy and move out. Today, Jon was unaminously voted in by our church body. This was an exhausting weekend but so wonderful.
I have to tell you that often transitions in churches DO NOT happen like this.We are so delighted to be in a place where you can meet and be part of the "hand off". It wasn't awkward for us at all. Truly, it was a beautiful experience.
Next Sunday (10-28) is our farewell party. I will be a blubbering mess that day. November 9th is our move day. The kids and I will leave very early in the morning so that we can get to the school before it closes. We want them to see the school, plus I need to fill out paperwork. Through the weekend we'll unpack and all that comes with moving. The kids start school on Tuesday, November 13th (my birthday)! There is no school on Monday, November 12th. We are glad they will have a few days to just be.
We are still trusting God to bring in the rest of our support as well as some expenses for moving. He has been faithful and will continue to be!
Love you all!!!!
Monday, October 8, 2012
31 Days
I am on my fourth cup of coffee for today. Hold on a moment, please, while I escape to my Keurig. Other than giving birth to me and teaching me about Jesus, my Keurig is one of the best gifts my parents have ever given me. I'm off now, be back....
I'm back. Its now 10:04 am in Marshfield and a total of 32 degrees! This I will not miss!
Thirty one days from today, we move!
Here is the insanity of it:
1) We still need $1,000/month in monthly support
2) We still need a place to live in Peoria
3) We still need a resolution for our home in Marshfield
Here is what we have:
1) The one and only God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Stealing an authors prayer I have started praying "God would you please sell some of those cattle and provide for us!"
2) A 3/4 ton truck to pull the trailer we have been given! And a friend who is taking a day off work to pull that trailer for us!
3) $900 given to us to cover just getting to Peoria
4) A resolution for our insurance. If you are not aware, we have to purchase our health insurance privately. We have researched a company called Medishare, talked with them and opted to go that route. Overall, it will save our family money. It's technically not insurance, but we feel it will meet our needs for the first year in Peoria. http://mychristiancare.org/medi-share/ And I will continually pray for our health and no catastrophic issues.
5) A new manager that is already lining up a work schedule for me
Here is what I am learning:
We will be ok. For many years, worrying about money has been a HUGE issue of sin in my life. I still struggle with materialism. You wouldn't know it by looking at my belongings, but in my heart I struggle deeply. I want a big, beautiful home. I want a nicer van. I want an IPHONE so so bad (that I may get because I get a discount with verizon through Weight Watchers and I can get the phone for free). But God has changed my heart. This process is causing me to let go of everything and accept that what matters is our relationship with Him. He will provide our NEEDS not our wants! But He also desires to bless us. I look at my kids and how much I want to bless them. That shows me His heart toward me. He wants to give good and perfect gifts.
Right now, I am at peace because I know He will bring this together. He is often the God of the last minute. I have been reading a book titled Circle Maker. I do not necessarily agree with all the theology of the book, however this week the author used an acronym that I found so appropriate, JEJIT (just enough, just in time). That is the Lord!
I'm back. Its now 10:04 am in Marshfield and a total of 32 degrees! This I will not miss!
Thirty one days from today, we move!
Here is the insanity of it:
1) We still need $1,000/month in monthly support
2) We still need a place to live in Peoria
3) We still need a resolution for our home in Marshfield
Here is what we have:
1) The one and only God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Stealing an authors prayer I have started praying "God would you please sell some of those cattle and provide for us!"
2) A 3/4 ton truck to pull the trailer we have been given! And a friend who is taking a day off work to pull that trailer for us!
3) $900 given to us to cover just getting to Peoria
4) A resolution for our insurance. If you are not aware, we have to purchase our health insurance privately. We have researched a company called Medishare, talked with them and opted to go that route. Overall, it will save our family money. It's technically not insurance, but we feel it will meet our needs for the first year in Peoria. http://mychristiancare.org/medi-share/ And I will continually pray for our health and no catastrophic issues.
5) A new manager that is already lining up a work schedule for me
Here is what I am learning:
We will be ok. For many years, worrying about money has been a HUGE issue of sin in my life. I still struggle with materialism. You wouldn't know it by looking at my belongings, but in my heart I struggle deeply. I want a big, beautiful home. I want a nicer van. I want an IPHONE so so bad (that I may get because I get a discount with verizon through Weight Watchers and I can get the phone for free). But God has changed my heart. This process is causing me to let go of everything and accept that what matters is our relationship with Him. He will provide our NEEDS not our wants! But He also desires to bless us. I look at my kids and how much I want to bless them. That shows me His heart toward me. He wants to give good and perfect gifts.
Right now, I am at peace because I know He will bring this together. He is often the God of the last minute. I have been reading a book titled Circle Maker. I do not necessarily agree with all the theology of the book, however this week the author used an acronym that I found so appropriate, JEJIT (just enough, just in time). That is the Lord!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Two years and prayerfully a lifetime.
Out of deep conviction to surrender my physical body to the Lord, I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting on November 2, 2009. Micaiah was 10 months old, and I had lost no weight since my 6 week check up. I was nursing this child round the clock so something was wrong. Now, I knew something was wrong most of my life. Weight had always been an issue for me.
That first meeting, I was totally lost. I did not understand their lingo. It just did not make sense. But I decided to give it a try. Eleven months later (October 2, 2010), I hit my goal weight!! I had lost 47.8 pounds. I continued to lose some for a total of 56 pounds.
Obviously, today is my two year anniversary of maintaining my weight loss. Each year is a big deal! I will not say it is easy because it is NOT. I think maintaining is harder than losing. When you are losing there is an end goal, something huge to look forward to. In maintenance, you do not have that anymore so it is hard to just keep at it. I often repeat my starting weight in my head to remind myself that I do not want to go back to that.
What I will tell you is how amazed I have been at God in this process. My life is completely different now. Discipline has become a key word for me. My day now begins with rising at 5:00 am 6 days a week to spend time with the Lord then exercise. This is my time each day, and I delight in it. I miss my time with the Lord and my exercise time if I do not get it for some reason. God speaks powerfully to me in the midst of my workouts. Does not make a ton of sense to me, but He does.
Just this morning, I woke up totally overwhelmed with the fact that we will be leaving Marshfield on Nov 2nd or 9th. We do not have all our support. We do not have a place to live in Peoria. We do not know how to handle our house. I could not even pray due to being so deeply overwhelmed. I sat in the Lord's presence knowing that He could hear my heart even though I had no words to express to Him. When it was time to run, I put on the song "The Stand" by Hillsong. I ran and He spoke to my heart. He hears, and He is concerned for me. He knows my needs. Here is the song for a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZRQ5MKQA8w
I have also been amazed at God's sovereignty in leading me to Weight Watchers. After I had been around awhile, I thought I would really like to work there. When I got close I applied, I was hired as a receptionist with the goal of eventually being a leader. I worked one night a week. Then in June of 2011, God called Paul and I to live more missionally. This call, for us, meant inviting a young woman to live with us, placing the kids in public school and me no longer doing in-home daycare but rather working more hours at Weight Watchers. I took on leading 3 meetings and 2 work at home positions with Weight Watchers.
And now, as we head to Peoria, I already have a transfer lined up. Not only has God transformed my life, He was provided for us in amazing way.
Yet, I have to tell you that all of this pales in comparison to what I will share next. My first years in Marshfield were so very hard and deeply lonely. My leader at Weight Watchers, Pam Rosterman, not only was my leader but became one of my best friends. It has been my privilege and delight to watch her become a follower of Jesus and minister His love to all of those in her life. I have consistently been amazed at her faith and endurance as her family has been deeply, deeply attacked by satan since she made a choice to follow Christ. She has been my confidante and support! For this, I will be FOREVER thankful! But I will be eternally thankful that I get to spend eternity in Heaven with her!
I pray that the one act of obedience in going to Weight Watchers is always a reminder to me and all of us, that God will do things beyond our wildest imagination if we will just OBEY Him!!! One act, that is all it takes!
That first meeting, I was totally lost. I did not understand their lingo. It just did not make sense. But I decided to give it a try. Eleven months later (October 2, 2010), I hit my goal weight!! I had lost 47.8 pounds. I continued to lose some for a total of 56 pounds.
Obviously, today is my two year anniversary of maintaining my weight loss. Each year is a big deal! I will not say it is easy because it is NOT. I think maintaining is harder than losing. When you are losing there is an end goal, something huge to look forward to. In maintenance, you do not have that anymore so it is hard to just keep at it. I often repeat my starting weight in my head to remind myself that I do not want to go back to that.
What I will tell you is how amazed I have been at God in this process. My life is completely different now. Discipline has become a key word for me. My day now begins with rising at 5:00 am 6 days a week to spend time with the Lord then exercise. This is my time each day, and I delight in it. I miss my time with the Lord and my exercise time if I do not get it for some reason. God speaks powerfully to me in the midst of my workouts. Does not make a ton of sense to me, but He does.
Just this morning, I woke up totally overwhelmed with the fact that we will be leaving Marshfield on Nov 2nd or 9th. We do not have all our support. We do not have a place to live in Peoria. We do not know how to handle our house. I could not even pray due to being so deeply overwhelmed. I sat in the Lord's presence knowing that He could hear my heart even though I had no words to express to Him. When it was time to run, I put on the song "The Stand" by Hillsong. I ran and He spoke to my heart. He hears, and He is concerned for me. He knows my needs. Here is the song for a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZRQ5MKQA8w
I have also been amazed at God's sovereignty in leading me to Weight Watchers. After I had been around awhile, I thought I would really like to work there. When I got close I applied, I was hired as a receptionist with the goal of eventually being a leader. I worked one night a week. Then in June of 2011, God called Paul and I to live more missionally. This call, for us, meant inviting a young woman to live with us, placing the kids in public school and me no longer doing in-home daycare but rather working more hours at Weight Watchers. I took on leading 3 meetings and 2 work at home positions with Weight Watchers.
And now, as we head to Peoria, I already have a transfer lined up. Not only has God transformed my life, He was provided for us in amazing way.
 |
| Pam and I on her last day working at Weight Watchers |
I pray that the one act of obedience in going to Weight Watchers is always a reminder to me and all of us, that God will do things beyond our wildest imagination if we will just OBEY Him!!! One act, that is all it takes!
 |
| A recent after |
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| My Before (11-13-09) |
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