One year ago

One year ago, today, we put our house on the market. Our plans on April 1, 2008 were to sell our house, move to Fort Worth, TX, start a new 2nd grade teaching job in Mansfield, TX, start Josh on his doctorate at Brite, live in an apartment, etc!

A year ago we had a storage facility full of boxes of things ready for the big move. We had our house completely spotless and cleared of all the personal items (photos, etc.). We had resumes sent out, interviews scheduled, lists of properties to check out, packing lists compiled, and more!

Towards the end of the month, we would get an offer on our house. We would also have a possible OKC ministry job opportunity in the works. I can remember the major anxiety of last spring! I remember waiting to hear back by 6pm for the counter-offer on our home. I remember praying so hard that we would be able to pull our home off the market and get to stay in town. I remember 6pm on that Wednesday night rolling around, and the counter-offer not making the deadline! I remember joyfully pulling our home off of the market, trusting that God had plans for us to not make the move after all!

Last year was filled with SO many emotions! I really wanted Josh to fulfill his dream of getting his doctorate, but was also filled with so much hesitation. I knew this move would mean going back to full-time teaching, which I dreaded. I knew it meant not spending as much time together because of work and studying commitments. I knew that the 2+ years of trying for a baby would have to come to a halt, because fertility treatments would be too expensive and too time consuming to do while teaching. I feared being away from friends and family, too.

God taught me last year to TRULY trust him and HIS plan. I have always been a huge planner. I like to know at least a week in advance what I'm doing the following week. I like lists, long-term plans, short-term plans, and more. Last spring, God taught me that I am NOT in control. I think I thought I was. But, I was humbled and He showed me that His plan is much better than my own. It's sad that it took so many tears, so much anxiety and so many crazy events to teach me to trust Him. But, it worked.

Now, one year later, I have tears writing this, know that God is SO amazing and faithful! His plans exceed any that I could ever dream up! I now hold true to this verse: The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Because of God's plan, we have been blessed this year with....

-Josh's wonderful new ministry job at MRCC
-My Sonshine School job at MRCC
-Joining a new church family
-Staying in our home
-Staying close to family and friends
-Becoming foster parents (earlier on in life than expected)
-And best of all.....being able to adopt our precious daughter (to-be), baby M (can't wait to share REAL pics of M and share her name!)!!! To think that we would not have her, had we moved, makes me so sad!

I hope I can continue to reflect on these blessings each day and remember that God's plans are of utmost importance! He has brought us to a wonderful place in our lives. For that, we are truly grateful!