My birthday, and my amazing husband!

So Sunday morning was like any other Sunday for me and my family. Paul woke earlier and got ready and left with a sweet kiss. I soon got up with the girls and got them breakfast while I finished getting myself ready for church. After they were done I began to get the girls ready.

I told Haddie, "Today is my birthday!"

"Oh, it is?" she replied excitedly

"Yup"

"I sing to you! Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday for mommy..."

"oh Haddie that was beautiful, I love it!"

"Can I eat your Cake?"

"Yes, Haddie you can have some of my cake when we get some!" I answered through my laughter

We finished getting all ready and got into the car. Haddie continued to sing me the birthday song all the way to church. Mind you it is not very far.

Church was wonderful and good. After church paul quickly came to get me and brought me to the car. He told me to get in, confused I did. He then whisked me away, that is after I said goodbye to my girls, of whom one was worried she wouldn't get any cake with me going away. After assuring her we would get some when I got back, we left for Kearney, NE. (Kearney is an hour and half way. The closest larger town.)

There we went to the mall and I got to get some clothes, they were having a huge sale at Old Navy, just for me I am sure! Then we went to see a Movie, Money Ball is very good! After that fantastic movie we went to eat at Red Lobster! YUMMY! We then went to stay in a hotel for the night.

Paul had this all planned for me, he had my bags packed (all except for shoes), the girls a place to stay and to be taken care of, plus their bags (all except for shoes). It was a huge surprise and a wonderful treat. Paul is amazing and loves to do things like this for me, and I love it! Him too!

I was very surprised about the weekend. I had no idea. I knew it was going to be a busy weekend and did not know when we would be able to celebrate my birthday. I was not expecting this at all! It was so nice to get away without the girls and spend some good quality time with my hubby! I am truly blessed!

When we got back the girls were happy to see us. They were tired from all the fun they had, plus waking up extra earlier then usual, my apologies to Larry and Kathy. They usually sleep until 8, but being in a new place they awoke at 6:30 to the joy of the ones who were taking care of them.

We got to the house and I noticed that our pumpkins had been stolen!!! Yes, we went to a friends who had a small pumpkin patch and got several pumpkins, but yesterday someone stole all but three! How funny is that. It was wired that someone stole them in the first place, but even more so that they left 3 of them.

After noticing that they were stolen Haddie also noticed.

"Oh, no my pumpkins!' she exclaimed, It is amazing how much she pays attention to what we say and how much she understands! But she was very sad about the pumpkins!

There and Back again, a tale by a youth ministers wife

We have had quite the adventure in moving out to Norton. Let me tell you of the tale; There and Back again.

We were packed and ready to go. One of the few times that our family was prepared to leave at the time we said we wanted to leave by. Paul gives Mazie (our dog) some calming pills to help her on the long journey, while I got a movie ready for the girls to help them. We hoped into our cars and start our engines, except on problem mine wouldn’t start.

Great, well, so we thought we would be leaving on time…

Paul gets out the jumper cables and tries to jump it, but the cables are not making a connection. I say a little prayer, and sure in enough a friend and neighbor across the street comes to say goodbye and ends up helping us. He got the cables to work. The battery got a jump and the van started. Now we were on our way.

After picking up my mom who was going with us to help with the girls and getting some doughnuts we were finally, really, on our way. We went through the toll and found that someone had paid for however many cars to go through. Mom proclaimed, that was God blessing us on the journey.

Mom and I had a jolly good time. We talked and laughed and truly enjoyed each other. When Haddie got restless and began to have a fit. Nothing would consol her. Not Nana, not threats on her life, not even candy. I was being driven crazy by her fit when the van began to shake wildly. I was on the highway and not knowing what to do I slow down and got over to the slow going lane with my hazards on and called Paul over the walki-talkie to let him know I need to stop. We pull over at the next exit to take a look at the tires and under the hood. Everything seemed fine. We decided to go on to Cracker Barrel a few miles a head to stop and eat.

After we get back into the van we start on the highway again and it continued to shake, just not as bad. I slowed back down and got ready to stop, when the shacking just suddenly stopped.

The rest of the trip to Norton was event free, Haddie finally fell asleep and we had a peaceful trip.

Paul asked Larry if someone could take a look at the van because we needed to take it with us the next day to Canon City to pick up the rest of our stuff.

Thankfully someone did look at it, however he couldn’t find anything wrong and said that it could be something else something serious. So in good wisdom Paul decided to leave the van in Norton. Which meant that all five of us with our luggage and two car seats had to fit into the car. That would be fine and dandy, but the car seats take up much more room then just two little girls or even two adults. I was squished between the two car seats, having to sit sideways so I could fit for 6 hours.

At one point when we were all asleep Paul shouts, “Oh my, that guys dead!” This wakes mom and me with curiosity. While we were sleeping Paul was driving along side a man for some time when he passed Paul and was in the fast lane going probably 90. The driver then begins to drift. Hitting the guard in the road the man looked as if he tried to correct and over corrected sending his car into a flipping frenzy. Paul said he flipped several times before landing in the ditch. We of course stop immediately, but so did several others. After praying for the man, Paul decided to go on seeing as several had stopped and he had a car full with two little ones. Passing the wreck we saw how bad it was, it looked scary. I fearful reminder of how fragile life is. I prayed for us to have a safe arrival.

That shook Paul and he was awake as we drove into Denver. But I needed a break so we stopped at the new IKEA. That stores is amazing! It is huge! I love it. But I could not help but to sing the song from Veggie Tales in Madam Blue Berry, “Stuff Mart”. I really enjoyed going through there, it took us two hours and we made a huge wish list. But we made it out with only spending $10. Most of that was on the snack we had. Yes, their Swedish meat balls really are that good!

We got back in the car and began making our way. We only had 2 more hours until we were into Canon City. Oh, how the ride hurt. No, not just because I was squished between two car seats, but because this was a very familiar drive. One I’d take each time coming from the airport or when we were coming back from Denver having some family fun. It also was the very drive I took with the minister’s wife and youth sponsor when we first moved there just 21 months before. It hurt that we were now taking it to go pack and leave Colorado. A place I dreamed I would live in since I was a little girl and we would travel here for Family vacations. I finally got to live here, but now it was time to leave.

We got into Colorado Springs when I received a text from a friend in Canon City; worried because there had been a real bad wreck on HW 115 the HW we have to take from Springs to Canon City. When we passed it we saw how bad it was. Yet another reminder of how fragile life is. The cars had a front on collision; one of the cars had been crushed so bad that the front was in the backseat of the car. It was fatal we later found out. I again prayed for a safety in getting to Canon.

We did make it into Canon City alive.

I am thankful that my Dad and Paul had decided to go up two weeks before and do some packing. They practically packed up the whole house. There would have been no way we could have got it all done in the time we wanted to if it had not been for them. Basically all we had to do was load up the truck and clean up the house.

That whole week was very hard for me. I also had to say goodbye to my first house. I think it hurt even more because of the circumstances in why we had to move. If we were leaving just go to another ministry it would have been one thing, but we were leaving because they asked us to. That feeling of being unwanted swelled in my throat. But God is always so good, he was right there next to me reminding me that he wants me and that he has great plans for us in Norton.

The next day we began loading and only one guy, a very good friend of ours came to help us at first. This hurt because two others told Paul that they would be there, but one ended up having to work and the other just didn’t show. I had a hard time not being bitter because we had a ton of people who came to help us move in, but now we were left to ourselves to get it done. But in my pity there showed up a mother of one of the sons in the youth group. Her husband couldn’t come, but she could. She did it to say thank you for all that Paul had done for her son. Its amazing how God can pull you out of your self pity if you only trust him and see his many blessings.

Also while we were there we did get to see some good friends and enjoy a good-bye party given by some amazing friends of ours. It was nice, because we also got to see some of the kids in the youth again and hang with them. Haddie was able to see some of her friends that she too missed. It was so cute to see her so excited and running around with her little friends.

One little girl we didn’t get to see though. A girl Haddie loved dearly and I watched her every Tuesday for about a year. But the family was too busy and we were there only for a few days so we did not get to see her. I think I was more hurt then Haddie, even though she still talks about her.

During the night of the party, it got really cold and rainy and foggy. I was sort of spooky. We were all having fun enjoying each other when all of a sudden the lights went out. Ironic don’t you think, that on a foggy, cold, and rainy night that the lights go out. It scared my mother, because she was just about to let Haddie go down the stairs when it went out. My mom frantically grabs Eden and yells out for Haddie grabbing her before she fell down the stairs. The rest of the night was spent by candlelight, romantic huh…

The fog hung around all that next day. We left at about 11:00 to head back to Norton and there was still a fog. It got thicker and thicker as we left Canon, it was crazy because we were still driving in a thick fog at 2:00 in the afternoon. I was scared to death trying to follow Paul. The fog was so thick I could not see him 20 feet in front of me. Afraid I would hit him, I refused to go faster then 65mph. This made for a long trip. Even when we got on to I-70 there was still a thick fog for about another 30 miles. While on I-70 I got separated from Paul. Refusing to go faster then 65 I just stayed behind these group of motorist. But while following them this other moving truck with a trailer and truck attached behind it comes beside me trying to pass. It was going too fast to have a hitch. The truck that was on the back was bouncing back and forth on the road freaking me out. I finally slowed down to let it pass and then stayed a very good distance for fear that the hitch was going to come off from the swaying.

Finally the fog lifted and visibility was clear enough for me to speed up and catch back up with Paul. Luckily there were no more exciting events as we drove into Norton.

That is my tale of “There and Back Again”

I laugh now at the remark my mom made at the beginning of the trip. Although I still believe it, God did bless our trip, it just was an exciting one full of adventure! But what is an adventure with out adversity to overcome.

Moving to Norton

Wow, it has been a very long time since I have posted on here. A lot has happened in these few months. As you know from my last post Paul had lost his job in Canon City. We moved in with his parents awaiting our next adventure. We had an understanding that it could be a while before Paul would get a job back in the ministry so we were ready to get any job first available to us. Paul began putting his resume out there, really everywhere, but in Ministry. Paul wanted to take the month of July to pray about the situation and for healing. We were really hurt so we were not sure if we wanted to get right back into ministry. I even think I thought deep down inside, that no one would want us because we had been fired. But God had other planes.

One night Paul was talking to God about the situation. He was talking to God about the hurt and how maybe he doesn’t want to be in the ministry for a while. He asked God to be clear as to what he should do. He decided to put this out there; he wouldn’t look for a job in the ministry for the whole month of July, and if You (GOD) want me to be in ministry You’ll have to put it in my lap.

Paul continued his job search, when he landed on a job with selling insurance through Affleck. Paul was really enjoying the training and was dreaming up how fun it would be to work for them. He told me he thinks that he wants to pursue this for a while and take a rest from ministry. Hesitant, but I agreed knowing his hurt. He was in full fledge mode to learn and do well at this job.

That week he got an e-mail from a mentor and professor from College who knew about the situation. He mentioned this job that was available in a small town in Kansas, they were looking for a youth minister and gave us the contact info. I was not really interested finding out that it was 8 hours from Muskogee, but something within me made me think of it often and I asked Paul what he thought.

That is when he told me his agreement he had made with God. I asked him if he thought this was God putting it in his lap, Paul didn’t think so, just a kind e-mail from someone who cares and is trying to be helpful.

However, the next day he got another e-mail, this from the minister of that church asking for Paul’s resume. After talking it over he decided that he felt like this was God putting it in his lap. So he sent his resume. But still seemed resistant.

In the mean time Paul received yet, another e-mail from his professor of another job. But Paul was unsure of the location and didn’t pursue it.

I began praying for Paul because I could see the resistance he had in his heart towards being in the ministry again. He was very involved and excited about this job with Affleck, and it concerned me.

I want to be clear Paul was Genuinely excited about this job selling insurance. He was studying hard in training and getting ready to take the test that would license him to sell insurance. He was very dedicated and talked about it ALL the time.

I talked with Paul about his resistance toward getting into ministry and that he should pray about it. That he did. That night he talked to God about his excitement and dreams he had in selling insurance. How we would live in Muskogee and he would sell insurance so well that we would get out of debt and also get to live close to family. It could be dream come true. However, if this was not God’s plane for his life that he would have to change his heart and passion with this dream he has.

Low and behold God did just that. While at class Paul was listening and taking notes like a star pupil, when God directed his imagination back to youth ministry and Paul began daydreaming about what he would like to do and how he’d like to try some new things. Before he knew it he was far behind in class. Paul simply said, “Okay, God I get it.” He finished that day well, but was excited to get back to tell me what happened and of his renewed excitement for youth ministry.

The church in Kansas got back with us saying that they talked with all his references and would like for us to Skype with them. Still not really excited about the possibility of going so far, but having a deep feeling that this is the direction we should peruse, we accepted the offer.

During the Skype meeting Paul and I were very honest not wanting them to get any of the wrong impressions. After the meeting we were still confused as to what we should do, but were delighted by the feeling that they let off. We began praying very hard for Gods direction.

Not long after the Skype meeting they asked us to come out to Norton to take a look. Nervous and unsure, we decided to go. We both had a deep feeling that we were to continue to pursue this for whatever reason.

While we were there in for some reason I was the one who was resistant. Paul, one the other hand was excited and encouraged. Which was so good to see after seeing the hurt and pain he had just gone though and knowing the resistance/fear he had with going back into the ministry. However, No matter how much I felt like I didn’t want to be in Norton all those feelings would leave when I would get with the People. Such genuine, loving people, not sure what it was but I loved the people. But then I would get a lone and would get the feeling of dread.

It is a small town, with NO Wal-Mart. The closest Wal-Mart is an hour away in a whole other state! It was also 8 hours from home. I wanted to be closer and in a bigger town then 3,500! Paul suggested I talk to God about it, so I did. I told him how resistant I am to this. I told him how I wanted to be closer to home and how I want the comforts of home and of a bigger town. I told him how I don’t think I could do well, I would be lonely and alone. So if you want us to move, you are going to have to change my heart! That was Saturday.

Sunday came and we were meeting everyone, and in my heart I was thinking what kind, sweet people, but we will not be moving here. Then that night we went to youth Group, I don’t know when and how it happened but after that night I left Telling Paul, “Okay, I am excited. I think we should come here!”

Again, I don’t know how or when in the night it happened, but my heart changed. Although I was still not excited about moving 8 hours away from family and friends, nor was I excited to not have a Wal-Mart with in 60 miles of me. I knew this was where God wanted us to be.

On Monday before we started making our way back to Muskogee, we stopped by the church to see the minister. There he told us what we would expect in the next few weeks. They had been interviewing another person for the job and they would let us know if they still plan on bringing him out too, or if they would just offer us the job. We would know in a few days what they planned to do.

I was not worried, not one bit. I was sort of hopping that they would bring out the other guy, this way we would know without a doubt that if they still chose us. If they went with the other guy, no big deal, Paul still could pursue Affleck.

Two days later we got a call saying that they decided not to bring the other candidate out and that if we would like the job it was ours. We told them that we wanted a week to pray about it and we would get back to them.

Within that week we received yet another e-mail from a minster who had heard of Paul and would like for him to send his resume. Paul and I prayed over it and felt that we shouldn’t. We believe it was God reminding us that as long as we trust and follow him, he will still use us. Also, that He wants us even though Grandview didn’t.

After a week of praying and talking to those we trust, we nervously accepted the position.

Wow, is all I have to say. God is so very amazing and so very good. I am completely humbled by his goodness and provision. We were so hurt and scared by what happened at the end of June. But now we are comforted by the fact that we still matter and that God still has plans for us. That he worked so hard for us to get us a job in ministry. It is so amazing to me that God, the all powerful, creator has a plan and a purpose for me and my family, that he would take the time to move mountains or my and Paul’s heart to get us in a spot where he wants us.

We sent our application in the middle of July accepted the position in the middle of August. We lived with Paul’s parents for only 2 ½ months, when we thought there would be no way we could move out before 6 months at least. God blew me away! I believe through this, it was God saying to us that as long as we trust and follow Him, He will still use us. Also, that He wants us even though Grandview didn’t.