Moving always seems to revolve around milestones of some kind. It is a surrendering of sorts for some things for something new on the horizon that seems to be beckoning right around the corner.
In my sophomore year of college, I made a journey along Interstate-90 from Washington eastbound toward the Midwest with one of my best friends. It was a major transition. I had spent the first year of college without a car - getting around by finding rides from friends, taking the bus, and spending time doing what I was supposed to do in school. Having my own car in college was going to change all of that completely! I would sort of be on my own for the first time, and have complete freedom over where I went and what I did. It was during this time of my life when I put my faith in Jesus, and began to grow as a follower of Christ. It was also during this time that I began several life-long friendships, including the love of my life. I didn't know what would happen after I graduated, but I knew I was in the right place. God was with me, and I could feel Him leading me on.
Fast-forward about seven years, and Erin and I found ourselves on the same interstate, driving the opposite direction just after being married. I had successfully escaped with the best North Dakota had to offer! We were off to find the tulips, and smell the flowers, and get the tulip monsters that come after you (apparently, you do a lot of abnormal things when you are in love)! We settled in Vancouver, WA, and began building our nest. We made new friends, continued to grow with family, and were blessed to add Elsie and Samuel to our journey as we attended to what God was doing around us. We didn't completely know what the road ahead looked like, but we felt assured of His Presence and activity around us.
God has carried us through all our lives, and He still continues to lead us on into new adventures!
"Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you,
and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)
We can rest on God's promises and trust them completely. As we look back through our lives, His promises ring true, and even go beyond that - into places that are beyond ourselves as we could have imagined them! What an awesome God!
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18)
God, our lives are in Your loving hands! All we are, and all we have is Yours! Thank you for your promises! Thank you for the peace that You give us in your abiding Presence that is like no other comfort this world can offer. May we continue looking into Your eyes, and depend on You to sustain us and keep us along the roads You establish. Thank you for these tremendous blessings and encouragements! Thank you for leading us to a life of abundance with Your Holy Spirit!
A special thank you to our friends and family in Vancouver, to Greg and Christine Ireland for their special help and fellowship this past week, and everyone who made us meals and cared for us. We love you, and we will keep you updated until we see you again soon!
