He is FAITHFUL!

That has been my heart's cry these past couple of days.  Mmm, so true.  God is the most faithful, compassionate, kind, powerful, holy One who ever has been or ever will be.  I say these things from experiencing their truth afresh this week.

We have been here for 17 days today and still haven't moved into a home, still haven't gotten jobs, and still haven't fully settled here.  Boy, did we have different plans.  We figured we would get here the night of the fifth, start looking at apartments and homes the next day, I would have my Children's interview on the 8th, we would find a place in three days, I would get the job that week, and we would move in by the 13th.  So, today is the 22nd and none of those things have happened!  The house hunt was becoming more and more discouraging with each day, but we remained hopeful and continued to trust in God.  He had promised us that we would live in a home where we could minister the love of Jesus from and where people would be able to experience his presence.  We knew He wanted us to be in a place easily accessible to ASU students.  There weren't many options around campus.  But we kept looking.  We even applied to 3 different places.  Different things came up that made us change our mind or pull out.  We were particularly needing encouragement this past monday.  We had signed a lease on a house that the landlords had promised we could move into "soon".  "Soon" turned into July 1st, and that wasn't possible for us.  (Our pack rat is due back on June 27th or else we have to pay for an extra month & we're staying with friends but can only stay til friday).  So we had to decide what to do.

Andy, John, and I prayed together Sunday night, feeling like we just needed to praise God and give Him the glory.

*Sidenote:  We had been staying at the Phillips' home until Sunday, when Joy and their 3 girls and our friend Kristen (also on the Tempe team) arrived home from being in TX for 4 weeks.  We relocated to a wonderful Antioch family's home in Paradise Valley, about 20 minutes away.  And let me emphasize the paradise part of Paradise Valley.  We are staying in the most beautiful and amazing guest home in their back yard.  We open our windows and look up towards a beautiful landscape of mountains and blue skies.  We have a resort style pool a few steps away.  King sized beds with mattresses like a cloud.  Ahhhhhh-mazing.  We're so thankful for this little retreat!  But still, our hearts are longing to be settling into a place in Tempe and getting ourselves ready for life here. 

So, we worshipped and prayed that night, and I was just feeling good.  I didn't know what would happen, but I knew again that God was in control.  He didn't call us here to leave us in the dust.  He had a plan.  The next morning, Andy felt like God gave him a picture of a piece of half-eaten cake.  God said, "I always save the best bite for last."  The best bite of course being the very back of the piece of cake where you get lots of frosting :)  He didn't know what that really meant in terms of us either looking for a new place or waiting on the current one and hoping we could move in soon.  We decided to apply for a different apartment complex, but we had to wait on some paperwork to prove income from CFI in Boston.

There was one last apartment complex we thought we'd take a look at on Tuesday.  I honestly asked if I could stay back and just have Andy look at it. I wasn't expecting we'd like it, and I just wanted to wait on the house.  To me it was just easier to do that, even if we had to move in late and pay extra for our pack rat.  I wasn't super in love with the house, but I felt like I was sacrificing and was happy to do it.  As long as we could make it homey and inviting, I was fine with whatever.  The kitchen was pretty small and not updated, but I had given up on having a wonderful kitchen the first week of our search.  So anyway, Andy wanted me to come look, so I did.

We three stepped into this apartment and immediately felt the peace of God there.  He was smiling.  We were smiling.  I didn't think we wanted to even be in an apartment complex.  It was all recently updated, and the kitchen.  OMG.  I love it.  I couldn't have dreamed of a better one.  The landlord and all of his family are believers, and he is the nicest guy!  He is excited for us to be here planting a church and even knows what that means!  To top it off, this is the most affordable place we have looked at and the closest to ASU.  GOD IS GOOD!  We didn't even expect this.  He saved the best for last.

That morning, God led me to recount the promises He had made about coming to Tempe and about where we will live.  I feel like these past three weeks have been a true test of faith.  I'm learning to trust God and believe what He says like never before.  I was reminded of Hebrews 11:1 and meditated on that passage for awhile before we left to look at the apartment.   It says,

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." 


He is worth waiting for.  He always comes through on His promise, on His word.  I learned early on in this process that it is Him I was waiting on; not on an outcome or on a circumstance or on a blessing.  He is enough for me.  When we get that perspective shift, life is so much more enjoyable.  He is patient and kind with us as we journey through life, though.  Thank you for your prayers and thoughts throughout this process.  We move in this weekend :)  

Send us mail! 
2525 S. College Ave. #6
Tempe, AZ 85282

We made it!

Well, we're here in Tempe!  We've been here since June 5th, but I've hesitated to write until I had some more things to say besides "we made it"!  I don't have THAT much to say, but I figured I'd keep you up to date anyway :)

Our last several days in Boston were bittersweet...

*packing up all of our possessions into a smallish pack-rat crate in only 3 hours thanks to a lot of sacrificial, wonderful friends... sweet
*only fitting one half of our dining room table in said crate... bitter
*great friends the Reeds offering to take the other half when they move out... sweet
*"last meal" at Wild Willy's with great friends... sweet
*saying goodbye to friends who will be overseas next time we're back in Boston... bitter
*getting to spend a few hours with one of my closest friends, Amy, before we left... sweet
*not really spending much time with Amy 3 weeks before we moved because she was in Cambodia... bitter
*lots of friends coming up to Marblehead for a going away party my parents had... sweet
*spending a few days just hanging out with my family before we departed... sweet
*not feeling like we had much time to spend with family before we departed... bitter
*going out to dinner and bowling with a bunch of my nursing coworkers... sweet
*not being able to say goodbye to everyone at work... bitter

You get the idea.  Andy and I were so excited and ready to get going, but we also savored every last minute we had in the place we called home for the past 8 years.  Well, 8 for me and 6 for him.  (I have lived in Boston longer than any other city in my life!  Crazy.)

Here are some pictures (I have been bad about taking pictures, sorry!) from the last lunch we had with friends and some with family:

My aunt Sherrie, Victoria, Nanny, mom, and me on the beach at the Marblehead house.

Very cute picture of Amy and Andy.  Why didn't Amy and I get one together?!

Lisa, Luke, and me.

 

 June, Lily, and me

A few highlights from our roadtrip:
*our air conditioner broke (read: started blowing warm air not cold air) halfway thru New York

Annnd, that's about it.  Ok, just kidding.  But the a/c did break, and the first two legs of our trip, which were both 17 and 16 hours, respectively, were BRUTAL.  We were driving too fast to have the windows down, and although it was blowing warm air, it was better than nothing because it was to stuffy not to have moving air.  Oh man.  Bloomington to Ft. Worth was SO HOT.  I even got a little dizzy... while seated!  The great friends we stayed with in Ft. Worth have a mechanic friend, so we were blessed to have him fix our a/c, add oil, and add anti-freeze at a minimal cost, though.  So our drive into Arizona was much more enjoyable!


Roadtrip itinerary:
June 1st:  Marblehead, MA to Bloomington, IN
June 3rd:  Bloomington, IN to Ft. Worth, TX
June 5th:  Ft. Worth, TX to Tempe, AZ



It was great to spend time with my dad in Bloomington at my parents' cute little house there.  We ate at his favorite restaurant called The Farm, which I loved, and we explored Indiana University campus, which was great.  In Ft. Worth we drove to Lake Mineral Wells to spend some time with our friends Brendon and Sarah Joy, who are pregnant with their first baby.  We stayed at their house while they were on a little babymoon at a friends' ranch.  Thank you, guys!  Then we dove into Tempe Saturday evening, stopping at Sonic one more time for dinner before we pulled into the house :)


Since then we have been looking at a ton of rental homes, praying, eating, swimming, jogging (me), playing basketball (Andy), and hanging out.  We haven't found the right one yet but know it's out there and are hoping to nail something down in the next couple of days.  I also had my interview with Phoenix Children's Hospital and expect to hear back soon, too.  The interview went great, and I am hopeful.  I'll post again when we find our house!

Goodbye 9South

I just drove home from Children's Hospital Boston for the last time.  I just worked my last shift.  When I opened the door, I walked into an apartment that looked drastically different than when I left.  All the frames are off the walls.  The tv is packed away.  The entertainment cabinet is on the curb.  Boxes are piled high.  This is really happening!  I turned in my badge tonight; I had my exit interview.  It's done.

As much as you can prepare yourself for goodbyes, that doesn't make them any easier.  Although I haven't cried any tears yet, my heart is full of emotion.  Walking off of my 9South tonight was very hard.  My stomach felt a little sick.  Here is a quote from the goodbye letter I wrote my colleagues: 

"I don’t know where to begin when thinking about all the things I love about you all.  I truly believe that we have the best job around.  I know we know this, but it’s hard to remember when we’re working our third 12 hour shift in a row with the same family that’s driving us nuts or as we empty our 50th hat of the day; what a privilege it is to be a nurse.  We get to enter into people’s hurt and pain and love and care for them--offering hope--in such a vulnerable time in life.  We get to be healers, counselors, shoulders to cry on, mediators, translators, advocators, playmates, bottle-feeders, teachers, baby rockers, and friends.  And you all play these roles so well.  Some better than others, but the sweet thing is that we can all find our niche and excel in that place.  As nurses we wear many hats, and I will miss swapping hats with all of you."

I honestly think the hardest part about leaving Boston is walking away from this incredible "job".  I put job in quotations because so often it hasn't felt like a job, it has felt like an honor, a blessing, an amazing opportunity.  I will miss every single person I have worked with.  I am so expectant and excited for what God has for us in Phoenix, but boy, will I miss Children's.  I will work at another children's hospital, and there will be more amazing people to work with.  I will meet more kids that I just love and more families that bring joy to my heart.  I will learn how to work on a team of different doctors and nurses and social workers and child life specialists...  but memories of 9South will always be fond in my memory, close to my heart.  I am so thankful for this opportunity I have been blessed with these past 4 years. 

I will hopefully have some pictures to post tomorrow from the little dinner and bowling get together my floor planned for my going away.  I just had to get these thoughts out now. 

So this is really happening.  One chapter is ending in my life... and a new one is beginning.

Food for Spring

 Shaved Asparagus Pizza from Annie's Eats

 Blueberry Crumb Bars from ...?  I forgot! But you can find the same recipe here.

Homemade sparkling orange fruit jello from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

She's having a baby!

Today a group of ladies and me helped celebrate our friend Emily Little as she prepares for her first child, due this August.  The baby shower turned out great and a lot of people came and had a lovely time.  Emily is married to Seth, the worship pastor of our church, CFCF.  They have both been involved in our church for several years--in college ministry, worship, the training school, serving so many people--needless to say, many women want to celebrate this baby along with them!  She is a sweet friend to me,  and Andy calls Seth one of his closest friends, too, so we will miss them out in Arizona. 

onesies sewed by Lisa Pierce

one of the 2 tables of treats

delicious and colorful!

Cake Pops... recipe below!

Always a blessing to have a Starbucks alumni in our midst! (They generously donated coffee.)

Um, these are being added to my Crate&Barrel wishlist... in my head.

I was in charge of flowers.  Trader Joe's is the best!

Kristen's famous fruit pizza (seen at any gathering/party/shower). I LOVE it!

Rose Cake.  Made by moi.

The guest of honor and her mom--who flew up from Georgia and surprised Emily today!

Standard awkward opening presents pic.

Cake Pops
So, cake pops started gaining popularity from this blog, Bakerella.  I definitely did not make this recipe up, and to be honest, I more call it "directions" not a "recipe" since it involves store bought mixes.

• Make a cake mix according to the directions. (I used rainbow chip--classic!)
• Bake cake and let completely cool.
• Break up cake into your mixer.  Mix in on low speed a can of frosting. (I used rainbow chip again).
• When everything is incorporated, you have a pasty mix.  Scoop the mix up into little balls (I used by small cookie scoop and then hand rolled them after they were chilled) and put on a cookie sheet.  Put in freezer until chilled, or until ready to dip.
• Dip balls (by using spoon or lollipop sticks) into melted chocolate or candy melts.
• Let harden up in freezer or fridge.  

I kept them in the freezer overnight before the party.  They never freeze rock hard, so I think that's fine to do!  If making cake pops (as opposed to cake balls--with no sticks), make sure you dip the entire ball in your coating so the stick is anchored.
Enjoy!

Three Weeks

So today marks the 3 week countdown until Andy and I leave Boston.  For some reason today I have only started realizing what we are doing.  It is finally hitting me that we are crazy!  We are choosing to leave the comforts of life here... my amazing job at a world-class children's hospital, Andy's great job with potential for more at a middle school down the road, our incredible church and church community, sweet friends, and our family close by.  We are up and leaving it all to live 3000 miles away.  It's not like we're being paid to move.  No company has hired us and offering to cover the moving costs.  In fact, I'm still waiting for confirmation that I have even been hired at Phoenix Children's!  We're not leaving Boston because Phoenix is so much better.  We are going on a word, a call, a promise from God that a revival is going to happen in Arizona and he's asking us to be a part of seeing it happen. 

I said to Andy last night, "If things don't work out, then we are fools."  And you know what?  We already know that we're fools.  A famous Christian missionary once said, "Everyone is someone's fool.  Whose fool are you?"  We decided long ago that we are going to be fools for Christ.  So, here we are.  If this isn't a journey of faith, then I don't know what is!  If I ever get discouraged or second guess our decision, I can't help but think of...  the girl we met on ASU's campus last year who said, "Revival is coming!  We have asked God to send laborers, and here you are!"... a well-known Christian prophet who said last year that the next great revival to hit America will be in Arkansas, Alabama, and Arizona... the Christians we have all met in Tempe who love God but haven't found a church or a community of believers that they feel connected to yet...  the picture God gave me of a well in the middle of the desert with thousands of people lining up to get a drink of water from... 

Though I am a little scared for the unknown, very sad to leave family and friends behind, and quite unsure of how this will all play out, I am certain of these things: 

"He will be our guide even to the end" Psalm 48:14  

Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20


"Delight yourself in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..."  Psalm 37:3-7


"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.  But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.  I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.  I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.  I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.  I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."  Isaiah 41: 18-20


"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

God is good, and he's calling us to be a part of seeing the poor and thirsty in the desert be filled with the Living Water that is Jesus.  And we're not here to say that our church is the only one that is doing this.  There are lots of Bible-believing, Jesus-preaching churches in that area, but for whatever reason, God needs more laborers to bring in the harvest.


So, here at the three week countdown, I am a nervous yet excited, sad yet hopeful.  The emotions haven't hit me yet, but I have a feeling they will come with abandon at the end.  Until then, we're trying to get time with all of our friends.  I am looking forward to a much needed "girlfriends weekend" this friday and saturday with my closest girlfriends in Marblehead.  We haven't started packing, but that will be soon.  I'll leave you with a few photos of what we've been up to.

Hannah and me at the end of the year college ministry party

with Luci

Erin and Kelsey

Lauren and Beccah

Little Mary and Lisa over for dinner

 

Happy Birthday, Victoria!

My parents were in town this past weekend, which meant that we all got to celebrate Victoria's 22nd birthday (minus Caroline).  Her birthday is April 7th, and we all went to dinner saturday night downtown.

We came back to our place to have a slice of this cake I made...

A six-layer rainbow cake!  I've been dreaming about making it ever since I discovered it on a blog (www.whisk-kid.blogspot.com), and Vic wanted it for her birthday.  It was a labor of love, taking about 3ish hours, but it really wasn't that hard!  I hope to make it again someday.


I'll leave you with a picture of my technologically advanced family...

To be fair, we all had our phones out to snap pictures of the cake!  We do talk face to face... :)