goodness...will it ever stop?!

Without further adieu....

Kraig and I have been called to a little church out in the valley to serve as youth pastor (and wifey). What a drastic change this will be!?! But a blessing that I never saw coming :)

Kraig has been struggling off and on for about a year now about youth ministry and his (our) role with youth. He knew he loved teaching at OCA and we both loved serving the youth at Oakwood. Kraig just wasn't sure if there was more to his struggle than just teaching and just serving at the capacity that we were in. So, with lots of prayer and searching the scripture, Kraig knew that we were supposed to do something more. Well, that was that. We didn't pursue anything, we had a lot going on at our church and we were just getting into the swing of things and really enjoying our youth. About January...I guess...

L O N G S T O R Y short....Kraig got a call from a pastor that I have known probably as long as I have been in the Chickamauga area...and Kraig met through his administrator at OCA. Pastor Terry wanted to meet with Kraig about a possible youth opening at their church. At first...I was kicking and screaming. I did not want to leave everything I had known to go to this little church that is the complete opposite of what I have known for so long. The LORD again...had other plans. He has methodically planned this whole thing out and why would I be surprised that He is providing exactly what BOTH Kraig and I need. As of last Sunday, with a vote of 100%, Kraig is the new (part-time) youth pastor (along with a very supportive, no longer kicking/screaming wife) at a very friendly - God loving church.

We couldn't be more excited, terrified, in AWE and humbled by this opportunity and can't wait to get started. We covet your prayers because this is a whole new world for us and a brand new group of kids that we want to share the Truth with and hope that they can fall in love with the Heavenly Father like never before.

AND, again...why am I surprised?! The Lord has placed a house right in front of us and we are just praying that it works out. The house hasn't gone on the market yet because the people had to fix up a couple more things so we have been able to go in, see it and decide we want it in a matter of days. They just want the pay off amount which is a blessing because it is right where our budget allows. It is in a great location. (NEXT DOOR TO MY SISTER) It has a great big yard for our dogs to play in and our son when he gets older...it just has so many things and more than what we had asked for and we just feel like this is the Lord again providing for us in ways we could never imagine. So, we are praying everything works out smoothly and that we are able to get this house.

I was talking with a friend the other day about all of these changes in our lives...the upcoming birth of Baby G (NAME SOON TO BE REVEALED), this new church, our POSSIBLE new house and how our lives are going to be completed rocked by all of these things. I told her how stressed I was getting and just overwhelmed by it all. She reminded me again that the Lord is ever faithful and never leaves me. Which I had read a couple weeks before in a story in Genesis...but it was just a great reminder that He will not give me (us) more than we can handle. And truthfully, I don't think the Lord has scratched the surface of what He wants from us and will continue to show His faithfulness to us so that we are forced to trust Him more and more. So, I look forward to what is next. :) Through all of this, I don't think I can stress enough how I have had to trust Him and trust that His ways are good and pure. Because MINE are so NOT! So, I'm not sure if all of the new changes or things will ever stop and I doubt they will. But I will continue to pray and seek His will through all the life's changes (blessings in disguise) He gives us so we can praise Him because He so deserves every bit of it. His hand has never left us and will continue to guide our steps, we have seen it so clearly the last few months, it is truly AWESOME. I can't even describe it. Maybe another post when I have more time...

We are excited. We are scared. We are humbled. We can't wait to get started. It's a bittersweet feeling to be leaving something we love so much to be going into uncharted territory. But the Lord is guiding us and will help us make our way. Praise God.

Kraig, Ashleigh and Baby G :)