One of my recent posts was entitled "Roller Coaster" and I described the many ups and downs related to our going (or not going) to Savoonga. As other opportunities arose, I would sometimes find myself longing to go elsewhere, but deep down, nothing felt right except for Savoonga. Our most frequent prayer was that God would make it completely and totally clear to us as to where Jacob should accept a call. It seemed that we had been waiting forever to hear from anyone and especially to hear from Savoonga...and then one day at my Grandma's, the phone rang. It was regarding the church-plant position in Bellingham. They offered the position to the other guy. Not even 5 minutes later, the phone rang again. It was Savoonga. They voted and everyone wanted Jacob to come and be their next pastor. Finally...clarity! Thank the Lord!
So we are definately Savoonga-bound (God-willing). We will fly out on September 17th, spend a few days in Anchorage where we will meet a church who wants to continue being involved with the church in Savoonga, and then continue on to Nome and finally Savoonga on September 22nd. Until then, we will be packing our remaining belongings to be either mailed or barged and then flown to Savoonga. I've learned that there is nothing easy about moving to an island in the middle of the Bering Sea! Please continue to pray for us as we wrap up final details before moving and as our excitement to begin life in Savoonga increases and please also pray for us and our family as we begin to say some goodbyes in the coming days/weeks.
Friday, August 29, 2008
2 Years Old
I realize this post may be a good 3 weeks late, but it's here!:) Logan and Owen turned 2 on August 8th and the week following the only 3 words they said were "no", "me", and "mine". Wow...it was pretty textbook! We began the birthday celebration at my parent's house in Sequim with Michelle, Todd, Caleb, and Ginny. Then, we finished off the weekend camping near Leavenworth, WA with old friends from Seattle. The first day we all kayaked (floated!) down the river and the second day Logan tried rock climbing. After listening to Logan's screams, Owen opted out of the rock climbing experience:) It was a great weekend, catching up with old friends and meeting new little friends. Since then, Jacob completed a Presbyterian Polity course in Seattle while the boys and I visited with my grandparents and cousins. We are now back in Sequim preparing for a move!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Roller Coaster
As I write this post, I'm feeling a bit guilty. Logan and Owen stayed home tonight with their Grandpa and Dad while their Grandma and I attended a conference at church. We returned home a bit early to find Jacob bathing both boys. The noises behind the door are so joyful that I didn't want to interrupt them to even let them know I'm home! So I'll write and let the "Washy washy wash your face. Washy washy wash your belly...leggy, etc." continue:)
Jacob has returned from a wonderful trek in New Mexico and we are so excited to all be together again. We had a great visit with friends from CA...so good to see them and visit area sites with them. They made me miss our CA friends all the more. Well, it is August 1st and I really thought that I would be able to write with great certainty where we will be moving next. Rather, I am all the more uncertain! Through recent talks with Savoonga, we have learned that the situation is much more complex than we ever dreamed it could be. I think the soonest we will receive a yes/no answer is another month. I will be the first to admit that my emotional stability grows less and less with each passing day! I cling to a recent word written to me by a friend. She knows that within God's timing, He will make it very clear which path we are to take. Tonight, as I sang and listened to the woman speak at church, I meditated on phrases like, "Will I be willing to leave everything I treasure behind" and I thought of Savoonga. That's a bit exaggerative. I wouldn't be leaving everything I treasure behind if we went to Savoonga, but I would be leaving many things, such as, family, friends, the luxury of enjoying much time outdoors, etc. And granted, we would be finding new joys in Savoonga...new community, etc. However, I'd be leaving enough behind that it has been a big step for me to embrace moving to Savoonga...each and every time that I've made the decision to go! I'm someone who needs to fully do something or fully not. I have a very hard time going back and forth and for several months that is exactly what has been happening. I can no longer say that I'm sure that we will be moving to Savoonga. As time has progressed, I saw clearly how things were weaving together, making it seem that we were being led on the path to Savoonga. Now, as I wait and ponder our next calling in life, I see how I could just as easily point out how God has been closing the doors and leading us elsewhere. Ihhh! Why does it have to be so hard?!! So I sit on this roller coaster with my boxes packed and labeled Savoonga and I'm so very excited to get off and know where I'm really going. In the meantime, I'm grateful for family who is gracious enough to let us store our remaining possessions at their homes(mostly my sister's) and let us sort through our life. Lord willing, by September 1st, I'll let you all know our new address!
Jacob has returned from a wonderful trek in New Mexico and we are so excited to all be together again. We had a great visit with friends from CA...so good to see them and visit area sites with them. They made me miss our CA friends all the more. Well, it is August 1st and I really thought that I would be able to write with great certainty where we will be moving next. Rather, I am all the more uncertain! Through recent talks with Savoonga, we have learned that the situation is much more complex than we ever dreamed it could be. I think the soonest we will receive a yes/no answer is another month. I will be the first to admit that my emotional stability grows less and less with each passing day! I cling to a recent word written to me by a friend. She knows that within God's timing, He will make it very clear which path we are to take. Tonight, as I sang and listened to the woman speak at church, I meditated on phrases like, "Will I be willing to leave everything I treasure behind" and I thought of Savoonga. That's a bit exaggerative. I wouldn't be leaving everything I treasure behind if we went to Savoonga, but I would be leaving many things, such as, family, friends, the luxury of enjoying much time outdoors, etc. And granted, we would be finding new joys in Savoonga...new community, etc. However, I'd be leaving enough behind that it has been a big step for me to embrace moving to Savoonga...each and every time that I've made the decision to go! I'm someone who needs to fully do something or fully not. I have a very hard time going back and forth and for several months that is exactly what has been happening. I can no longer say that I'm sure that we will be moving to Savoonga. As time has progressed, I saw clearly how things were weaving together, making it seem that we were being led on the path to Savoonga. Now, as I wait and ponder our next calling in life, I see how I could just as easily point out how God has been closing the doors and leading us elsewhere. Ihhh! Why does it have to be so hard?!! So I sit on this roller coaster with my boxes packed and labeled Savoonga and I'm so very excited to get off and know where I'm really going. In the meantime, I'm grateful for family who is gracious enough to let us store our remaining possessions at their homes(mostly my sister's) and let us sort through our life. Lord willing, by September 1st, I'll let you all know our new address!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)