The story:

a brief history of how ... and why we are driving across the country today.

Today -September 19, 2011- we sold our house! And now everything we own (except Pippin) fits in a 16 foot trailer aaaand the car towing behind. Pippin is sitting in between Chris and I :) So here's what happend

We moved to Indiana in the first place July 2009 because we wanted to build some equity and were fairly stir-crazy in our tiny basement apartment. We started renovating 5418 Central the day we moved in- pictures on facebook :) - including new stairs, new electrical, refinished floors, new windows, it was amazing!

We were thoroughly enjoying ourselves-really! And, yet there was a question, "how long should we be doing 'this'" this part of our life where we were saving up, paying off debt and enjoying a lot of comfort. Chris and I talked about how , when we were dating, we prayed that God would only draw us to marriage if our ministry would be more effective together than it would be apart. So, this is the gist of what we were contemplating.

One night chris taped some paper on the wall of the dining room and said- 'ok, what do we want to do?' We wrote down our hearts' passions, our dream jobs, our giftings, things that would need to happen financially and physically. We love camping, Chris loves working with his hands, I love working outside, and with art. He hoped for a hands on environment- i hoped for a ropes course. And then we started praying.

Between that night and now we were distracted, we were confused, and sometimes we were just swamped. But at some point we started looking at camps. We felt out hearts aligned with our gifts to work in a camp setting. For several months we were completely unsure of what was going on or what would happen next and i became pretty discouraged this past spring about where we 'belonged'.

Then we learned about an open position at a camp in NY for a Facilities Director. Chris sent them a resume and we had a few conversations with the camp that were open and exciting. So we decided to cancel our camping trip in June and drive out to see the camp for ourselves.

We were warmly greeted by the staff, volunteers and the board- our investigative trip turned into a job interview and offer!

We came back home after a whirlwind 36 hours with a load to pray about. The desire came down to two things- Would God release us from the financial burden of our house and truck? and Would we let go of a life we had gotten comfortable with? More prayer, some fasting, asking for wisdom and prayer from others. Ultimately, Chris and I went to the beach one night - sat down and decided that we wanted to do this.

We listed our house on July 6th and told the camp we would come if it sold or we had an offer by September 1st.

A lot more praying, and waiting and surrendering, and doubting.

Would God bless our desire to go, or would he teach us more by having us stay? No offers in July and August flew by with only a few showings- August 27th I was working at the church and a video played I have to mention because I felt my will rend before the Lord. (a very quick aside is something i learned from a dear friend, "Not my will, but yours be done" became very real to me during this time and thanks to her) My God is sovereign over all my desires, all time- all i can NOT understand. I can not begin to make a plan to match what he has designed to glorify himself.

The next day (sunday) we made a tentative plan for what we would do if the house did not sell- something we had not done. Monday night our realtor called with a verbal offer- a cash verbal offer, which we worked out. We signed a contract for sale on August 30th!!

The inspection and appraisal came through by September 5th and we agreed to close today - September 19th, and so began a whirl wind of packing and notice at work- literally two weeks from labor day we pulled away.

So, we are moving to NY today, to Sacandaga Bible Conference where Chris will oversee all the facilities and I will get to help with programming and activities - they have a high ropes course.

There are many smaller stories of God's providence threaded through here but I didn't want to lose too many of you along the way. Those will come. As of now, please pray for us as we drive, and transition.

By his grace, for his GLORY!