Goodbye…Again?

In the fall of 2006, Garry and I came out to Virginia for a wedding. Little did I know at the time that Virginia would become home for the next thirteen years of our marriage, bringing with it tremendous change in our family, our ministry, and our daily lives. In 2014, we thought we were leaving Virginia permanently when we moved out to Central California for a new ministry position. However, as He usually does, God had other plans for our family. In the summer of 2015, we moved back to Virginia, and we have been serving in ministry in Culpeper for the last six years. The last six years have been challenging for several different reasons, but the challenges have made us stronger as a family and as ministry partners.

This last summer, we went out to Colorado to help my mom and stepdad after my stepdad had open heart surgery. We started to feel the pull then to move back West, a pull that has called to us again and again during this strange pandemic year. We thought it best to stay put for another year because we did not want any major changes in my position as a teacher or in our ministry role during COVID. A few months ago, the pull became stronger after I learned that my stepdad was once again in the hospital. In conversations, Garry and I both determined that we needed to head back West to family, friends, and familiarity. 

Over the last few months, we have started to put the plans together for yet another cross-country move. A few weeks ago, I was offered a position at a high school in Monument, a school that seems exciting and progressive. We have been in conversations about ministry opportunities in Colorado, but for now there is no ministry position for Garry at least not in the traditional sense. We are hopeful that God will provide housing, transportation, moving expenses, and all that we will need emotionally and physically to make this move to Colorado. 

This move is taking sacrifice. Virginia has been home for many different reasons, but home looks different now than it did fourteen years ago. Our need for belonging has changed over the years, and at this point in our lives, we belong with our family. We need to celebrate holidays and birthdays with our families, especially after spending so much time apart over the years. Our son needs a sense of family as he is preparing for life on his own. And we need to minister and do life in an environment that we are more suited for. We have loved living in rural communities over the last fourteen years, but we are city folk at heart. We need something new but familiar at the same time. 

Please be in prayer with us as we await God’s leading for somewhere to live and a place to minister. We are excited about what God has in store, but we are also anxious about all of the details that need to fall into place. Remember that love is always a sacrifice. Be encouraged to sacrifice for your loved ones today.