A few random thoughts...

As I write this I'm swinging on our glider watching the water flow in the lake/retention pond enjoying the sun while Clark naps and Michael watches the Master's tournament while napping intermittently. I'm struck by all the blessings we're enjoying right now even though this isn't the place or situation we would have chosen for ourselves or envisioned when we were in seminary. If you had told me that we'd spend 3 years in seminary so that we could move away from our family (or most of it), good friends and church that we love to work for a temp agency with no benefits and no church calling anywhere in the near future (that we can see) I would have said you were crazy. I probably would have also thought that this situation would make me depressed. However, it's amazing how good God has been to us and how he is bringing good from our situation.

I know I've said it before, but I can't possibly express how much I have appreciated being close to my grandparents and now my grandpa these last few months. Being able to share Clark with Grandma during her last months and watching her face light up every time she saw him is something I wouldn't want to replace with a secure job or better finances. Clark knowing and loving his Great-Grandpa brings me so much joy. Grandpa is literally one of his favorite people in the whole world. He leaps to him whenever we walk in the door and will sit still in his lap when he won't sit still for anyone else.

Grandpa has tried to help us out in any way possible. The church where Michael preached this morning was a connection Grandpa made for us. He called a friend who used to be the pastor of this church and recommended Michael to him. He was trying to find out if they were hiring a full time pastor, but unfortunately their budget will not allow that at this time. But, Michael has now had the opportunity to preach there twice and will hopefully be asked back again in the future. As we were leaving the church today Michael said, "Grandpa is too cool!" When I asked him to elaborate he said, "He drives all the way across town just to hear me preach." The awesome thing is that we know he will keep coming whenever Michael preaches. It's nice to have support right here in town.

We are also closer to my life-long friend Kathryn and her family than we were in Orlando. We've enjoyed being able to see her more and spent time with her husband and two boys. She came over for Clark's first birthday party and Clark and I went to celebrate with her for her birthday. We got to see her son Dillon play quarterback in one of his first middle school games and we've enjoyed several days in St. Augustine together. God has been doing amazing things in her life in the last year and I count it a privilege to be able to be close by to witness what God is doing.

The place where we live is fantastic! It's the nicest, newest place I've ever lived. We have a garage, community pool which Clark and I used a bunch last summer and place to use again this summer, a nice place to take walks, pretty views of the lake and nature out our back door and the peace of mind for me having our bedrooms upstairs so I don't worry about someone sneaking in to hurt Clark (I'm a bit paranoid sometimes). Our life group at church has provided friendship and community for us. I checked our bank account yesterday and between Michael's pay checks and the recent deposit I made we had the same balance we had a week ago before our rent check cleared. God has been so good to take care of us. It has now been 4 months since Michael quit with the Boy Scouts and we're no worse off than we were then. That's God's provision!

We're still waiting to see what God has in store for us, but I feel more content now than I have been in a while when I realize all the blessings God has poured out on us even in this time of waiting.