One year ago

As spring begins I can't stop but think about how much God has changed this past year. About one year ago today we found ourselves on a plane flying to our soon to be new home. We knew nothing of this town or place God was bringing us to except that it was 3 hours from our family. We had finally begun to put some roots down and DC and God suprised us again and told us it was time to leave and move somewhere else. Part of us was really excited about this change, as we never really felt at home in DC but another part was worried as we finally started to see God moving in us in DC. But we knew God was calling us away and made it very clear that this was the place He wanted us to come to.

So we hopped on a plane and began house hunting. I remember the process all too well. Getting in our realtors car driving around neighborhoods we had no idea about but trusting God would show us the perfect house. First 2 days we toured houses and found nothing we loved or even liked. I was so discouraged knowing we only had a week to find a house and sign on a house before we had to hop back on a plane and return to DC. Then that night we got a call from hubby's soon to be boss saying their office would be moving in the summer so we should look for homes in a different area. I felt like everything we had worked on the past 2 days was worthless but we called our realtor and had her change areas. We were so blessed to have such a great realtor. She was so kind and helpful. We even found out that her and her team were all Christians. (Which led me to the job I had when we got here that I no longer do, but that is a whole other story)

Anyway we went out the next day to this new area of homes and were pleasantly suprised at the difference in homes. But still didn't find one we loved. The last day we could look we were tipped off by the head realtor that there was a house not listed yet but he thought we would love it so he wanted our realtor to take us by it and if we loved it he would work on getting it listed so we could buy it. We fell in love. It was the best house for us and we wanted it. The funny thing is we had no clue what the house would be listed for or how many square feet it had but we knew it was the home for us. Luckily everything worked out and it was right in our price range and the sellers were willing to move out within 8 weeks so we could move in. It really amazes me how God's hand was with us in the whole process. He really did find us the perfect house for our family and a location that has fit us perfectly. Not only that but He gave us realtors whose hearts were focused on Him and they were able to share with us how God uses them in their business and how they did not want to force anyone to spend more than they could afford. I loved not feeling forced to try to live beyond our means and they were very sensitive to that, never showing us a house out of our price range. But the best part was we were able to start seeing why God was calling us to this new location.

As I remember one year ago today I am amazed at all God has done in this past year with hubs and I. We are so thankful for our time in DC and the friendships God gave us there. Most importantly we are glad He had put us there to strengthen our marriage and foundation. But this last year God has shown us so much of His love for us. I think we are so quick to forget His love for us and see how He is blessing us each day. I had gotten in a routine of "doing" Christianity and not living it. I knew what to say and how to respond but it was out of obligation not love. I am glad God called us somewhere that has required us to live our faith daily. To show His love in our actions and words and that we have to do it from our heart out of love not because of obligation. One of the best things God has shown me is that no matter where He takes us He will always surround us with people who love Him also. That we will always be a part of His body and He will provide friendships that encourage and grow us everywhere we go.

Here are a few pictures of people from the past couple years who God has used in my life to encourage and bless me (I grabbed all this pics of fb so not everyone is in them that has made an impact but here are a few of them over the past years):

Blessing in KC:  Ashley and I on her wedding day:

Blessing at K-State:  Amanda and I on my 22nd birthday

Another K-State Blessing: Kassie, John, and I on game day

Our first house church experience at KState

Blessing in DC: Charity and I at a church party 

Newest blessings here: Me, Sam, and Steph at a retreat.

Sorry for the picture overload but I love seeing all these faces and realizing how lucky I am and how many blessings God puts in my life everywhere He takes us. God will always surround us with people who love Him and will grow us as long as we continue to be open to that and let our hearts live fully with Him. Sometimes it is easy to think of how life use to be and how when we lived in such and such place how great it was, but God doesn't want us to dwell on the past. Instead he wants us to be grateful where we are and live in that place fully. Even when we don't understand why He took us there and what He is doing with us, He asks us to trust Him and to use our gifts where we are.

Hope you all can see the blessings around you and fully enjoy where God has you. Even if it isn't the place you want to be God has a plan for you where you are at and sometimes you won't even see why He put you there until after you are gone but that is not an excuse to not live fully engaged with the God who loves you more than anything. I say this because I know the feeling of not loving where God has placed you and wishing you were somewhere else, and I regret that time. I wasted too much time wishing I was somewhere else instead of using my gifts where I was at and learning more about our God and His love. After that experience I decided that no matter where God takes us I will rejoice and look for an opportunity to know Him more. Yes it is hard and yes I still struggle sometimes with dreaming I was somewhere else BUT when I am surrounded by people who love God I cannot not rejoice. I think that is why I love looking back on these photos and seeing that God has always surrounded me with people to encourage and be encouraged by. He knows that is the desire of my heart and it is the same desire of His heart. He wants to be known and be loved by us so that He can bless His children.