I’m sitting here thinking about how the last six months have played out and I can honestly say that I miss traveling. I miss the adventure, the excitement, the unknown of what’s to come–and yet, there’s a settledness in where we’re headed that brings peace to my soul. I’m excited about the new chapter we’re embarking on. This has been a real bitter-sweet time, it’s kind of like the end of an incredible book that I just couldn’t put down and then I find out there’s a sequel, but I have to wait until it comes out. The waiting has been so hard, and now, here we are.
Today we start our new adventure, where some would call it a new chapter, but I think I want to call it a sequel. I have been accepted into seminary, so we are moving our family down to the LA area, where I can attend classes, my husband can continue traveling for work, and our kids can get back into the kid rhythm of sports, friends, and play.
You see, seminary is not something that was ever on my radar until last November when I began an 18-month cohort program called the Apprentice Institute based out of Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. I was sitting in a room with a bunch of people from all backgrounds, lives, and stories and I realized that I was one of them. I remember looking around the room and it dawned on me that it didn’t matter to anyone what title I had or didn’t have, what schooling I did or did not accomplish, who I knew or didn’t know, but what did matter was that we all loved Jesus. We were all individual human beings, created by a loving God, knit together with a unique purpose, carrying around an individual God-made thumbprint, to bring the peace and love of Jesus Christ to this world. It was in that room that I knew that I wanted to go to seminary someday–but I didn’t expect to be able to go so soon.
So, here we are, walking through doors that have been graciously opened, and I am in awe at the unexpected twists and turns life has brought us. I am excited, expectant, hopeful, and if I’m honest, a little nervous. Tuesday we will begin our house hunting–this will be our first permanent home in over two years, so it is a big change for us! If you think about us this week, my prayers have been that we would find a home that fits our family, where there are lots of friends in the neighborhood for our whole family, for a new church home close to where we find our home, and that we would all be able to balance my schooling with my children’s schooling, sports, and activities, and my husband’s travel well.
Thank you all for your prayer’s and support these last couple of years!
Valencia, Spain