The Abundant Wife

Have you missed reading my posts lately?  It’s hard to believe that 4 weeks have already passed since my last post!  Our family has been incredibly busy during this time.

I sold my car on September 1, taking a crash course in Craigslist, inspections, and car sales.  Brad was invited to California for another week, during which he spent some of his time touring rental homes.  I researched details on the internet which I e-mailed to him, and then he toured and photographed the homes to discuss later with me.  We chose our rental home right before we left Maryland. Our departure from Maryland was delayed two days while Brad’s grandfather was rushed to the hospital, but on Monday September 5, we were finally able to begin our journey westward.  Our family of four was accompanied by Brad’s mom and my mom.

The week-long journey across the USA was full of adventures, but we arrived in California safe and sound on Monday morning September 12.  Our new home was a bee-hive of activity as our new youth ministry committee prepared our home for us.  We decided to stay in committee homes for the week while the clean-up and painting were completed.  On September 16 we moved into our new home, and on September 17 Brad drove both of our mom’s to the airport.  For the first time in a year, our family has a home of our own.  We are still busily working on washing windows, stacking firewood, painting, unpacking, and otherwise updating the maintenance of our home.  We are also locating necessities like the grocery store, bank, library, schools, and parks.

I hope to get back to writing regularly soon, but for now I will have to ask for your patience as we continue to unpack our home (with two small children ever-present) and begin again in a new place.  New job.  New community.  New friends.  All this means lots of new things to write about!  So, hang in there…I’ll be back in the swing of things before you know it!

Jessica

“‘Come,’ he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Matthew 14: 29

Here we go again!  Like Peter jumping out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus, we too are about to take another leap of faith.

As this summer has moved along we have been looking at a few ministry options for the fall, and we have come to the conclusion that California is the place that we need to be.  On Friday, I officially accepted a youth ministry position in California!

We are really excited about this opportunity as it allows me to pursue my passion of doing full-time ministry with high school students.    They also have a middle school ministry, and a vision to minister to those with special-needs.

The start date for this position is not set in stone, but right now we hope to leave for California sometime over Labor Day weekend.   We hope to find time for family and friends on the east coast at least once or twice a year. You are also welcome to visit us!

After a year of searching, we are very grateful to have this opportunity, and we are confident in the Lord’s calling.  Thank you for praying for our ministry work over the past four years.  In fact, your prayers have been vital, life-giving, acts of faith that have encouraged us far more than you can imagine.  We invite you to continue to pray for us as we move forward in the ministry that the Lord has prepared for us.

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to move, build new friendships, and start a new job.

As always, living life outside the boat,

Brad