News Update

- our cute new house -

It's hard to believe -but so exciting- that Michael is finishing up the very last exams and papers for the completion of seminary! Life this semester has been the busiest for us since "we" began seminary: Michael sold his business and began working full time at Antioch Church in Windsor, I finish teaching piano here in VA Beach next week, Michael graduates next week, we have to move out of our townhouse by June 1st and baby Elliot is due to arrive June 16th (btw, I've "measured ahead" at all my appointments, so we may possibly have an early arrival- not getting my hopes up though!). I think we have every major life change going on at the same time- what great planning!
So many friends & family have asked what our plans are post-graduation. That is a good question and we finally have secure answers- one week before the big day! When we moved to VA Beach and began seminary at Central, we were convinced that the Lord wanted us to pursue the chaplaincy program in the US Air Force. So we did for several years. About 2 years after being here and learning more about the chaplaincy program and also discovering Michael has Crohn's Disease, the Lord clearly shut that door. That same year Michael started talking about church planting. We didn't know where, or if that is the direction the Lord specifically wanted for us, so we began praying...Last year after meeting with Pastor Daniel several times, Michael and I began to seriously consider planting a church in Moyock, North Carolina. As we were counseled and prayed through this matter, it seemed as if settling down in Moyock would be what we were doing. As time passed- and a lot of unexpected events took place in the middle of an already busy semester- we continued to pursue Moyock- got approved for buying a house, met with our realtor, looked at houses tirelessly and informed our church family of our plans to be leaving in May(unhappy news for our church family).
But, for reasons we can't explain except for knowing that the Lord always does what is best for His children, that door shut as well- or, I should say, it is clear that the timing of planting a church in Moyock is not right. We are still praying about Moyock as we are burdened for the area and see a need for a solid church to be there.
A few weeks ago, when we realized that we wouldn't be moving to Moyock, we had to do a lot of "BE STILL and know that I am GOD". It wasn't easy being still- knowing that we would both be unemployed in May, homeless by June 1st and expecting a baby a couple weeks after that.
The Lord is gracious. and we are thankful for his patience in our lives!
Last week our church in Windsor, VA voted to keep Michael on as a full time assistant pastor. We are planning to be there for atleast a year, and don't know what the plans will be following that. We've been a part of Antioch Church for a little over a year and have been blessed by our "family" there. Through all of these changes, everyone has been very kind, encouraging, so willing to help in any and every way...we can't think of a place we'd rather be adn are so excited to continue our ministry there.
We are moving to Windsor- we've been commuting 45 minutes from VA Beach for over a year and will be glad to be in the immediate area of our church and friends. Within this week the Lord provided a house right "downtown" Windsor through a family in our church (we will rent). We can move in as soon as we are ready since the house is ready and has been unoccupied for months.
So we never would have imagined that this is where we would be at this point. But we know that this is where the Lord wants us, and we are excited, content and eager.
Make plans to visit us sometime in Windsor!