We were blessed to be able to go out to California to visit family and friends for about three weeks, and we just got back last Friday. We had a wonderful time, and it went way too quickly! I will make sure to blog more about it later and include pictures, but for right now I have a more important update to fill you in on.
To some of you this may be completely out of nowhere, to others you may have heard about it a little along the way... it was mostly only family that knew about this transition process. I am excited to announce that I am now the proud wife of a pastor... Ben just accepted the position as the youth and young adult Pastor at City Hill Church in Eden Prairie, MN and he started on December 7th. Yes, we have moved to Minnesota, I know what most of you are thinking, "isn't it FREEZING there??" That's always the typical response we get from people. The answer is, yes... for part of the year, it really is freezing and we just hope that part goes quickly;)
City Hill is actually the church that I was born and raised in. It is a non-denominational church that was searching for a new youth pastor back in the spring/summer and we are excited to be apart of the community again.
I don't really know how to catch you up to speed on how the process began, it is quite a long and crazy story, too confusing and difficult to explain via blog. What I do know is that it was completely the Lord. The process began in July and as of this past Sunday, December 7th, 2014, Ben began his first official day in his new position.
It was not something that was even on our radar, we had our lives planned to travel for Ben's work for the next few years in our new fifth wheel RV. In the beginning when the opportunity presented itself, we were not interested in switching positions at all. Throughout the next few months God changed our hearts and as we continued to give it to Him and trust Him, He orchestrated everything and put things into place.
It was definitely a long and difficult transition to say the least. But we felt very supported and encouraged throughout the whole thing and greatly appreciate those of you who were so kind with your words and support, thank you!
If I were to describe a perfect job for Ben, this would just about be exactly it. For the last few years he has worked very hard in his Insurance Adjusting job, and done very well. The hard thing was watching him do something that brought him no joy or excitement and did not use many of the things that Ben is naturally gifted in. I understand that a job is a JOB... it is not meant to be necessarily fulfilling and FUN, but I always felt like God had blessed Ben with many talents and natural abilities that were not being used. I believed those gifts were given to Ben for a purpose, and that someday the Lord would use them to a greater degree, that day began 2 days ago.
I am excited to watch my husband build the Kingdom of God in a completely new way. I am thrilled that our family will be surrounded by a community of believers all working together for the same purpose... to bring others to know Christ and to give God the glory.
Though I know that life will have much less free time now than before, I will do my best to continue this blog. However, it may look a little different. It will no longer be about our journey across the country and our nomadic adventures... It will now be a bit more of a journal through the eyes of a mother and pastor's wife and the joys and difficulties that go along with it. Of course I will still have MANY (most likely more than you would like) posts of Jedidiah and his development and adventures, as well as just updates on what life looks like, but as life has changed drastically, the feel of this blog will as well.
I appreciate those of you who have continued to read the posts and keep updated on our life! We are so grateful to be blessed with such wonderful family and friends; we are humbled to say the least. Those that have stepped in to help during this time of confusion and transition have displayed an accurate picture of the Body of Christ and have taught us to receive, and that it is OK to lean on others in times of need. So thank you from the bottom of our heart, to all of our friends and family, you mean the world to us!
Even more than that I'm thankful for my Lord and Savior and all that He has done and continues to do in my life. He has blessed me with the most amazing man for my husband. I could not be more proud of Ben than I am right now; I cannot wait to see him continue this journey as a youth pastor and use the gifts God has given. Please pray for us as we make this transition, especially Ben as he has precious and valuable lives to take care of and we do not take that lightly.
Here is a picture of us on his first "official" day at church, where he was introduced to the congregation and then we served donuts afterwards:)
I will put an update of Jedidiah and California as soon as I get the chance, so stay tuned!
It was not something that was even on our radar, we had our lives planned to travel for Ben's work for the next few years in our new fifth wheel RV. In the beginning when the opportunity presented itself, we were not interested in switching positions at all. Throughout the next few months God changed our hearts and as we continued to give it to Him and trust Him, He orchestrated everything and put things into place.
It was definitely a long and difficult transition to say the least. But we felt very supported and encouraged throughout the whole thing and greatly appreciate those of you who were so kind with your words and support, thank you!
If I were to describe a perfect job for Ben, this would just about be exactly it. For the last few years he has worked very hard in his Insurance Adjusting job, and done very well. The hard thing was watching him do something that brought him no joy or excitement and did not use many of the things that Ben is naturally gifted in. I understand that a job is a JOB... it is not meant to be necessarily fulfilling and FUN, but I always felt like God had blessed Ben with many talents and natural abilities that were not being used. I believed those gifts were given to Ben for a purpose, and that someday the Lord would use them to a greater degree, that day began 2 days ago.
I am excited to watch my husband build the Kingdom of God in a completely new way. I am thrilled that our family will be surrounded by a community of believers all working together for the same purpose... to bring others to know Christ and to give God the glory.
Though I know that life will have much less free time now than before, I will do my best to continue this blog. However, it may look a little different. It will no longer be about our journey across the country and our nomadic adventures... It will now be a bit more of a journal through the eyes of a mother and pastor's wife and the joys and difficulties that go along with it. Of course I will still have MANY (most likely more than you would like) posts of Jedidiah and his development and adventures, as well as just updates on what life looks like, but as life has changed drastically, the feel of this blog will as well.
I appreciate those of you who have continued to read the posts and keep updated on our life! We are so grateful to be blessed with such wonderful family and friends; we are humbled to say the least. Those that have stepped in to help during this time of confusion and transition have displayed an accurate picture of the Body of Christ and have taught us to receive, and that it is OK to lean on others in times of need. So thank you from the bottom of our heart, to all of our friends and family, you mean the world to us!
Even more than that I'm thankful for my Lord and Savior and all that He has done and continues to do in my life. He has blessed me with the most amazing man for my husband. I could not be more proud of Ben than I am right now; I cannot wait to see him continue this journey as a youth pastor and use the gifts God has given. Please pray for us as we make this transition, especially Ben as he has precious and valuable lives to take care of and we do not take that lightly.
Here is a picture of us on his first "official" day at church, where he was introduced to the congregation and then we served donuts afterwards:)
I will put an update of Jedidiah and California as soon as I get the chance, so stay tuned!