We’ve arrived in St. Paul!

It’s been three months since we arrived in our upstairs duplex apartment in St. Paul based solely on God’s call and a leap of faith.  In these three short months, we are amazed at what God can and will do if you are obedient to His call. Our last two moves, God has shown me His presence and provision.  It’s strange how we convince ourselves that drastic changes will cause far more disruption than it is worth.  Once we are willing to make those drastic changes, we find they not only reveal what we have been settling for, but the drastic changes were necessary.  We have been putting God’s promises to the test like never before.  He promises that He loves us and knows our needs more than we do.  The one who has benefited from this truth the most has been Lynn.  As her mother, the thought never came to my mind…. You know what Lynn needs… to move to the city.  Lynn is not surviving, but thriving!  I was concerned about her missing the best back yard in Red Wing (yes, we had it!), her neighbor friend, her small private school, etc.  Sure, she was nervous her first week or so.  I am seeing her come to life more and more each day.  She and Gideon soak up the constant movement and noises of city life.  Well, St. Paul is nothing like other cities we are familiar with.  It sort of reminds us of a friendly suburb where neighbors interact and love to.  Our neighbors on each side found us to be a sight for sore eyes.  They were both relieved to find a family had moved in and asked us to please consider staying.  Our neighborhood and Lynn’s school is extremely diverse in terms of race and other backgrounds.  I absolutely LOVE IT!  We finally found a place where people make eye contact and are interested in hearing how different I am as I listen to how different they are!  I believed leaving Minnesota all together was the only way to find such an environment. 

As for Jeremy and I, we are quickly immersing ourselves in ministries.  Jeremy’s fear was that I would be gone doing one ministry after another while he was at home alone with the kids.  Now, he is out and about more than I am.   We continue to assist within the church plant in prayer, leading a small group, and heading up nursery.  Recently, we were welcomed into the beginning stages of a ministry for young men and woman lead by a man named, Quest.  Jeremy’s gifts, talents, and no nonsense reasoning are blossoming in this ministry.  I can’t wait until he comes home each meeting to share what happened and he is excited to share.  I love seeing him become the man of God I know he can be.  He does not enjoy the push, but always flourishes. 

Our only disappointment thus far is that our home is not rented out and remains vacant.  I am not sure what God has in mind for this stagnant part of the puzzle, but I am being stretched in how much I trust Him.  It was not until we left our home, I realized how many things I was just living with.  Since the painful end to our adoption, that home is filled with pain to me.  We bought it for our adoption.  I had no intention of purchasing a home in Minnesota.  As I passed by Lynn’s room, I thought of all the times she watched for the neighbor girl and prayed for a friend.  I peered into Gideon’s room knowing that deep within me… that room will always be Levi’s to me.  My kitchen contained the most popular electric stove on the market and I hated it.  I’ve always hated it.  Our home is beautiful and wonderful.  I ask you to pray alongside me that a family will enjoy it for what it is.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support in our move to St. Paul!  I can’t wait to keep you updated on all that God is doing!