Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Starting Fresh...

In so many ways, that's what it feels like our little family has been doing.. It seems as though sometimes life keeps throwing us unexpected things. Not to say that they're all bad, it's just impossible to keep up.

Last December, we started packing up our fist home, getting ready to go on a huge adventure, only at the time, we had no idea how big it would really be. We felt the Lord was leading us to move to British Columbia, so that's exactly what we set out to do. After a stressful month (with very little time to think of planning Christmas parties) we said good-bye, and locked the door to our little house for the very last time..Christmas Eve. There was sadness, yet excitement as we started out on this new voyage.

 That night we headed to Oregon to spend Christmas with my family. After being there for 10 days, we were on to the next place, for a short time. Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute. The beginning of December, my husband got a phone call from the administrator there, wondering if he would be interested in leading the choir for 3rd term.  Yes, yes of course he would..we were excited, and only a little nervous, not knowing what to expect, after being there as students and singles, only 3 short years before.  It was a stretching time, but we both enjoyed the time of refreshment. Graham did an amazing job with the choir, and enjoyed the 1 week choir tour that followed term, immensely.

We were excited and scared for it to end...because when we said goodbyes there...it felt as though we were stepping off a cliff. What reassurance to know that Jesus was right there with us, holding on to us the entire way. After spending several days in Ontario loading the trailer, wrapping things up, and saying good-bye, we were headed out. The trip West was long, tiring, and beautiful. :) It feels like a difficult task to try and describe what the past months have been like. We've been on a roller-coaster.. lots of excitement, hope and anticipation, and then times that felt frustrating and oh-so-low, when the hopes that we had were dashed over and over.  We definitely received a warm (or rather chilly, but friendly) welcome here in the North West..my Uncle & Aunt graciously allowing us to stay with them while we were house hunting, and the Bay Tree church family giving us a hospitable, caring welcome to their little flock. It felt like things would work out, and we were content, knowing we were where God wanted us, yet still just a bit frightened by all of the unknowns. House hunting proved to be much harder than we thought..the month of March went by with nothing working out..and we were well into April, still with nothing. Except, maybe we were slowly grasping what it was to really trust, and hang onto Jesus, when there was literally nothing we could do. We were stretched, and tried in ways that we wouldn't have chosen to be, but we are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for His promises to never leave or forsake us. We have plans to move into a small mobile home, just minutes out of the little town of Fort St John, the end of THIS month. We are so excited to unload, and unpack the boxes that are still all tucked away in the trailer that brought them here! :)

This year, the coming of Spring has brought so much more hope than other times. The signs of life..green grass, tulips poking up through the brown soil, and warm sunny days, that promise to be good for planting the garden in the next few days... It brings joy and peace to my soul..knowing that His timing is perfect, and that we can always rest in Him to lead and guide us through whatever comes our way. Even though we may not have chosen it to be this way-this long of a wait for our own little place again-we are calmed by His spirit and love, living in us.

May you find rest and joy in your journey..no matter where He may take you, cling to the fact that when He brings you to it, He will also bring you through it.