Surrogate Families

"All the missionaries at Lomalinda knew the ache for our families we left behind.  

We filled the void by becoming surrogate families to each other."

Carol Martin | Wild Indians and Other Common Misconceptions

Pete and I have been asked on several occasions if we are still sure that we are supposed to raise our family overseas.  I am not sure if this question has come up more recently because we have now officially begun working for a mission organization or if it is due to the fact that we have a precious 8 month old son.  Either way, I can confidently say, "YES!"  I am now more sure than I have ever been that Pete and I are exactly where God wants us and we are thrilled to be preparing a team of prayer and financial support partners who are excited about what God is doing through aviation in Indonesia and around the world!  Without these partners in ministry, there would be no ministry.  Pete and I covet the prayers already prayed and the ones committed while we are overseas.  

Yesterday we arrived back in East Texas.  This place that I fought so hard to not call home.  This place where I struggled to make friends when Pete and I were first married (due to my unwillingness to be fully here).  This place where despite my best efforts, God placed us and formed the beginning of our marriage and the start to our family.  Cade will always be a sweet reminder, a fun little souvenir, of our start in Texas.  

I am so grateful that God saw fit to have Longview, TX be the starting point for this amazing journey called family.  Just when I believed that I had left all my family back in Georgia, God was creating before me a surrogate family in Texas.  We have best friends who are refreshing to return to and pick right back up on life.  We have more mature couples we are more than happy to call our Texas parents.  We have dear friends/family who are just like an older sibling helping guide us, nurture us, and remind us of God's promises and strength.  

So far on this trip, Pete and I must have said 100 times, "it feels like we never left".  This is so true.  This is family.  This is how I know and am certain beyond anything in me that God will provide family for us thousands of miles away from "home," in a new environment with a different language and a diverse culture.  This is how I know that we will have a surrogate family in Indonesia, because He has already provided one for us here in the States.  

I am grateful for the sweet blessings of a surrogate family and this precious time to reconnect with them before we make the huge move to the other side of the world and meet our new surrogate family!

Jenny, Kym, and Ashley at Kitty Hawk | Summer 2009

Longview Family on Vacay in Outerbanks! | Summer 2009

Webbs and Greenwalds at the Lake! | Summer 2011

"I'm at the other end of my life now, and looking back, I have yet another moment of understanding, another "Oh," a new perspective.  Was there really a cost to following Jesus?  Did I really make any sacrifices?  The joy of the years of being God's child has been so great, the work so rewarding, the "oh the places you'll go" have been so interesting, the experiences so vast, it appears after all, there was no cost to me, only gain."

Carol Martin | Wild Indians and Other Common Misconceptions

Brisk Moments of Fall

I love the first brisk moments of fall.  Those of you who know me, know that I LOVE warm weather and that I would much rather live in extreme heat than extreme cold.  And although I do enjoy the heat, there is something so refreshing and exhilarating to my soul about the first brisk moments of fall.

Perhaps it's the bundling and layering of clothes, perhaps it's the crunch of leaves, perhaps it's the warmth of boiled peanuts (those of you in the South know what I'm talking about), perhaps it's the college football, perhaps it's the warm apple cider.  Or perhaps it's the change of the seasons and the excitement of the refreshment it brings.

The change in seasons, while more mild here in the Southeast than other locations, always reminds me that His mercies are new every morning and there is no end to His faithfulness and love.

 ²² The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
    "therefore I will hope in him."

Lamentations 3:22-24

Munchkin on the Move

The days of setting our little Cade-man down and finding him where we found him are OVER.  Today Cade took his first crawl!  I would love to say that those first few moves were towards myself or Pete, but alas they were not.  They were, however, towards our sweet cocker spaniel, Ansel, and his toys. 

What a fun milestone to see!  While there are days that I miss the hustle and bustle of life in the Admissions Office, I couldn't be more thrilled than to be right where I am at, at home, with a lovable little munchkin who is now officially on the move.  Oh, what adventures lay ahead!

Joy and Faithfulness

This morning Pete and I had a great time in prayer together.  As we prayed, I couldn't help but become overwhelmed by God's goodness and faithfulness.  He is truly in control!
I am overwhelmed at the way He is building our team of partners as we continue preparations to go serve Him overseas.
I am excited at the work He is doing in Pete and myself during this process.
I am grateful for the love He continues to pour over us.
I am refreshed and renewed by His Spirit living in me.
I am reminded that His timing and ways are best.
I am overcome by His joy and faithfulness!

A Return to Reality

Yesterday morning I awoke to a beautiful sound of an amazing little guy whose smile, coos, giggles, and nose scrunches make my heart skip a beat.  After a four day hiatus from all things responsible, waking up to Cade's little sounds was a sweet reminder of reality and joy.  

Pete and I went on our first vacation alone since the little monkey was born.  A much needed break, Daytona Beach provided the backdrop for a refreshing and relaxing time of reconnecting with one another.  In the past few months we have left our former jobs, packed up our apartment in Texas, drove our little Cade-man, Anselbear and boxes to Georgia, unpacked in Georgia, repacked and flew to Idaho, started full-time with Mission Aviation Fellowship, learned we will be serving in Indonesia, flew back to Georgia, visited with dear friends who live in Florida, continued unpacking in Georgia, and started support raising for MAF.  When I think about the past few months I feel like I need ANOTHER vacation!  

On Monday, we dropped our little guy off with Pete's sister and began our journey to relaxation.  Pete and I had a great time in Daytona Beach!  We enjoyed relaxing at the pool, taking walks along the beach, listening to the sounds of the ocean, dining at some great local establishments, and watching dolphins play along the surf.  We both left the beach thinking it was the best vacation we have had to date.  What a joy it was to reconnect with one another.

Cade had his own fun vacation while Pete and I were away.  He stayed with his Aunt Katie, Uncle Ryan and cousins, Kaden and Porter.  When we arrived home to pick him up, he was all smiles.  Porter and Kaden loved sharing stories, toys, and their lives with our little Cade-man.  

We are so grateful for Katie and Ryan for making this trip possible!

Athens | The Classic City

Downtown Athens, GA - well, part of it...

Ahh, Athens.  As a Georgia grad, my heart is truly refreshed and energized when I enter the classic city.  Students scurrying about going to and from classes, coffee shops for studying on every corner, trendy boutiques and quaint restaurants clutter the streets in Downtown Athens, not to mention loads of local music joints.  Athens is a place my heart will always call "home". 

The Arch

UGA Wesley Foundation - taken right after graduation!

Yesterday, Pete and I met with an old friend in Bethlehem, GA and had a great time reconnecting and sharing our journey with MAF.  The last time we had seen him was before Pete and I even started dating... wow, that world seems so far removed. 

UGA VII

Alma Mater

After leaving Bethlehem, we continued our journey to Athens.  We enjoyed seeing friends at the Wesley Foundation on Lumpkin, had coffee at 2 Story in 5 Points, walked around, met up with a friend who lives off Oglethorpe, strolled around downtown Athens, and ate at Transmetropolitan with some dear friends we hadn't seen since before the wedding. What a glorious day!  I felt like a college student again, only without the homework, speeches, and with the addition of a husband, baby, and some seriously old bones/muscles. 

Oh, Transmet, how I love thee!

Throughout our support-raising journey thus far (three whole weeks), we have been amazed to see how God has surely gone before us in a most obvious way.  What a mighty God we serve!