November update.

I always know it’s time to do an update when I get a million people asking me how it’s going.  Yes, it’s been a while since I had an update to share. 

A lot has happened in the last few months.  I’ll begin with my place in ministry.  I spoke about how God had given me a heart to serve in Children’s ministry and that has gone really well.  I actually stepped down from leading and began serving as more of an assistant to the leader.  When it came to the staff position, I prayed that God would bring someone else in to take that on.  He did and Kim and I began serving together on Sundays and she took full responsibility for the work that is done during the week.   She has such a heart for young Children and I’m so happy to see her taking on this ministry!  I've enjoyed my position in Children’s ministry but a couple weeks ago when the Pastor asked us to pray about moving into Guest Services, we agreed to pray about it and go wherever God asks us.  I initially was upset that he would even ask.  I was happy in Children’s ministry and saw Kim and I as a great pair to lead both children and teachers.  We both committed to truly seek what God wanted, and we realized it was time for us to move on so we will start Guest Services the week after next.  My frustration didn't end when the answer came from God to move.  I then began to ask God why he put me in Children’s ministry and prepared my heart in such a big way, only to move me after only a few months.  I was surprised when God was clear that with the launch of the campus, there are many opportunities to grow and this won’t be the last move I make.    

Also I am now serving with the Care team, interning at Northstar so that I can eventually lead the Bereavement ministry.  This past weekend, the Care coordinator and her assistant organized a retreat for the entire Care team.  There were a few sessions on Friday and then 4 more on Saturday.  I was asked a while ago to speak on Saturday about Grief and Bereavement as well as share my testimony.  Not only was it very humbling to be asked to speak, but it was a great challenge! I poured my heart into it and searched the bible for examples and eventually put together a power point and talk that I was confident would work to communicate the direction the bereavement team was headed.  I was nervous, but powered through and in the end people were coming up to me in tears, thanking me for sharing my story.  Not only was I given the privilege of speaking at the retreat but I was also allowed to stay at the beautiful beach cottage with the other retreat staff.  The view of the gulf waters was calming and at the end of the weekend I felt refreshed and ready to face the real world again.    

Allie is in preschool here and she loves it.  Her teacher is a lot of fun and she comes home every day telling me all about her friends and what she learned at school.  She's getting so big and so smart, I love watching her grow and change and I'm still so thankful that God blessed me with this beautiful little girl!   

The women’s ministry is charging forward and doing well.  We've done 2 events and have the next one at the end of this week.  

Steve and I are still leading our small group, the Real Marriage study, and we love it.  This time we are hosting it in our home and we are so blessed to be bringing couples in every week and having that time with them.  I guess I should mention what I mean by our home since last I shared we were still living with Sara and Zach.   Sara and Zach moved out into the country in a home that is better suited for their family, leaving Steve and I in the home we've lived in since we moved here.  We love that home and are very blessed that they are allowing us to rent it from them.  We all just know that God planned it perfectly and couldn't be happier with the way it worked out. 

I couldn't be happier with living in Florida.  This place is so beautiful and we survived our first summer without completely melting in the humidity and heat, even though it did rain for 50 days straight.  We survived hurricane season without getting directly hit by either of the 2 threats.  The air is cooling down and the tourists are all running off.  There is something about the Florida sky that just amazes me.  I can’t believe how beautiful it is here and if you follow me on Facebook then I’m sure you've seen the endless photos of trees and sky and sunsets.  I just can’t get enough of the beauty!