The beginning of our journey down south.

I've decided to start a blog. Since we are farther away from family and friends I wanted to have a way I could keep you all posted and up to date on what is going on with our family. Now I just have to stay on the ball and keep up with this. Today is my first day of being a resident of South Carolina. How we ended up here has been a journey and I want to let you all know about it. Many of you have already heard, so I'm mostly just writing this so I never forget the chain of events that led us here to South Carolina. I'll try to breif. :)

It all started when Craig started looking for a new full-time job. He was an awesome realtor and did fantastic at it, esp his second year. The economy took a turn for the worst and so did his real estate business. Knowing he couldn't provide for our family by working part time at Asbury he began his search. Now, I had a rule for Craig to follow...he had a 3 hour window around Minford, Ohio. I would move, as long as it wasn't farther from my family. He applied for every type of job, not just coaching. Nothing was working out. Finally, I told him just do what you have to do to get a job anywhere. At this point I knew something had to be done. Bills were not going to get paid soon if something wasn't done. Speaking of bills being paid, the Lord provided for us always!! Just when we thought we weren't going to be able to make a payment, Craig would sell a property and the closing would come just in time for us to get our bills paid on time! This happened several times. Matthew 6:31-33 says, "so do not worry, saying,'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all thises things will be given to you as well."
Long story short, Craig applied for the Anderson job the day I told him to do what he had to do. A month or so later Anderson University called, he went for the interview and here we are. It wasn't an easy choice for me.

I would ask God to lead me to verses to help me make this big decision and here are some I read:
Ephesians 5:1517 "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every oppurtunity, because the days are evil. Therefor do not be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is.

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord.....Not as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything!"
I knew Craig wanted this job, it was his dream job...fulltime Div. 2 volleyball coach.

Craig and I took a trip down here by ourselves. As we were driving around I pulled out my daily devotional. I was feeling very torn and knew that this place is nice and all but I want to stay put in KY. I am comfortable there, I have friends there, my family is only 3 hrs away, I love my church. I prayed "God, please let today's devotion lead me to the right decision." Be careful what you ask for. The devotion was from the book of Joshua chapter one...this is what it said, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go." The devotion went on to talk about how God may be calling you to make a move that you are not comfortable with, but to have faith b/c if God is in it, then he will bless you...okay, okay...I thought I might throw up after I read that, but I thanked God for the guidance anyway. :) As if that wasn't enough, on the way home my conversatation with God was going something like this..."WHY?????????????? No, I don't want to, I won't do it, you can't make me, why would you want to move us farther from family, it doesn't make since and these are the reasons why...if you really want me to go God show me a sign, some kind of visible sign...a rainbow? a flash of lightning? Well, I didn't see a rainbow, I didn't see a flash of lightening, instead I was two big Greyhound buses drive by that said GOANDERSON.COM. (Anderson is the name of the university). Ouch!! I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach.
The days following were hard, but once the decision was made God gave me a peace that passeth all understanding.
Now what? The decision has been made, now what? We had to sell our house and in the market today, I was scared! Praise God it sold in 37 days. Not only did the we have to sell our house, but the ppl who bought ours, had to sell theirs, and the woman who bought theirs, had to sell hers. It all worked out and everbody's sold in less than two weeks!

One more thing I have to add to this. I've been reading a book called 100 + Ways God Shows Me He Loves Me. It is a book compiled with stories of women who have picked something special to them so everytime they see it they will remeber God's love for them. I picked a yellow finch, b/c it was my grandma Lou's favorite bird. I hadn't seen a yellow finch since I had been reading this book, about a month went by and I was feeling down. It seemed like nothing was going our way and I prayed, "God, I know you love me and I know you are in this move with us, but things just don't seem to be working out right now. Can you please send a yellow finch to remind me of your love for me and to remind me that we are doing the right thing." A little while later after saying that prayer I arrived at the Arboreteum to take a walk. I had just started my walk and guess what flew right in front of me?! A yellow finch! Thank you God for loving me and for reminding me of the love you have for me! Amen!!