Ever since we arrived on campus a month ago (a month?!?), people have been asking us, "Are you going to Marilyn's transition talk?" Of course, we were new to all things Asbury so we were like, "What transition talk and who is Marilyn and why is everyone asking us this?" New Student Orientation rolls around and lo, and behold, there it is in black and white - Marilyn Elliot, Transition Talk, Thursday at 9:30 am. As it turns out Marilyn is the Vice President of Community Formation for the seminary and the transition talk was... a talk about transition.
"It's a great talk!" "It will cut to your heart!" "We're actually going back to hear it again because it was so good." I had heard so much. I was prepared. I was prepped to hear about transition; the good, the bad and the ugly. And I wasn't going to cry (all of you who know me can stop laughing now).
What nobody told me about was Dr. Stamps. There it was on the same printed piece of paper. Breakfast with a devotional by Dr. Bob Stamps. No one said, "Hey you might not want to drink two cups of coffee because Dr. Stamps is going to give the best welcome you've ever heard and you are not going to want to have to stand up and walk to the bathroom in the middle of it." No one said, "You'll want to bring your own tissues because the napkins in the cafeteria slice like sandpaper when you wipe them on your face." No one warned me that the prelude to the transition talk (which WAS fantastic) would speak right to my soul and dissolve me into a goopy mess in 5 minutes flat.
So, now you are all probably asking, "Who is this Dr. Stamps and what was so great about his devotional?" Well, let me tell you. Dr. Stamps is the Dean of Chapel for the seminary and he and his wife Ellen live in Kalas Village and act as chaplains, mentors, babysitters, welcomers and all around friends of the families who live here. As an older couple, they have so much to give to the young married couples and families that fill most of the Kalas homes and they serve with overt enthusiasm and pleasure in their role. Ellen spent 9 years of her life traveling as the personal aide to Corrie Ten Boom, one of my heroes, and Bob has served in ministry almost his whole life. They contain a treasure trove of experience, advice and laughter that they willingly share with all of us.
This morning Luke and I had the pleasure of eating breakfast with them before Dr. Stamps spoke. He was still working on his talk as he sat down and read us a few quotes he was thinking of using and ask our opinion before he left us to "go work the cocktail party." As he stood to speak, I settled back in my chair next to his wife, ready for an uplifting and jovial word of welcome and encouragement. Instead Dr. Stamps preached a sermon, not just a sermon, a cut-to-the-quick, don't-pull-any-punches, gut-wrenching sermon that had me in tears within five minutes while his wife Ellen smiled knowingly at me as I grabbed an awful sandpaper napkin to dry my tears.
I cannot do his words justice. He spoke of God's will, of God's call, of our obedience and our call to worship. He warned us of accumulating too much knowledge and then warned us of leaning too much on experiences. He encouraged us to remember that all the work we do in seminary has a name - the names of the lives and the churches we will touch after we leave. He spoke to us of loneliness and purposelessness and of redemption and our awesome God. In that cafeteria as he walked around and spoke to each of us as his little flock who he loves as a pastor with the love of Christ, God used him to address every doubt and fear I had bottled up in my heart and to encourage every dream and call I have heard God whisper in my ear. He went over by 15 minutes. I didn't want him to stop but those two cups of coffee I did not have the foresight to forego sent me skittering away.
The transition talk was wonderful. For me, it was icing on a well-baked cake. It addressed the specifics of transitioning, the feelings and emotions and the behaviors and the adjustments. I shed a few tears there as well and was blessed to speak with Marilyn afterwards (she's kinda my boss... she's the boss of the person who is the boss of the person who is the boss of me - follow that?). But I feel especially blessed today by Dr. Stamps and his words of encouragement, hope, warning and love. I feel it even more knowing that it won't be much longer that he and his wife serve here (they are getting older and probably close to retirement) and I won't be able to go up to future classes and say, "Make sure you are there for breakfast with Dr. Stamps." But this year, for this class and maybe even for this person, God used him and I am grateful.
We are transitioning well. We have our moments. Some days are fine and life feels "normal". Some days are hard and life feels uncomfortable. Sometimes I just want to wrap my arms around something familiar and sometimes I enjoy the idea of something new. I know our friends and family back home are transitioning too and our new friends who just moved here are going through the same thing (I was not the only one crying this morning!) I also know this, the same God who called us is the same God who leads us and the same God who fills us. Today, I was graciously reminded of this truth. Maybe you need a "Dr. Stamps" talk in your life too. I'll pray it will come to you as unexpectedly as it came to me and you will know again the surety of God's foundation and the reality of His great love. I'll also pray that there are tissues with lotion in them nearby!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
We are here
"I was a lawyer... a realtor... an insurance agent... a banker"
And then
"We heard the call... God was leading us more and more to ministry... it became clear we were called to full-time ministry...apparently, God wanted us in ministry."
And then
"We talked to our pastor... our friends... our family... prayed a lot"
And then
"We visited Asbury... we loved the community here... we had other offers but God led us here... we accepted the scholarship"
And then
"God worked so many miracles... He sold our house at the last minute... He made provision where we couldn't see any possibility of making it... God moved mightily"
And finally
"And now we are here... WE are here... We ARE here.. We are HERE."
For those of you who have followed our blog since the start, or better yet, lived it with us, you may have mistaken the stories above, minus the banker/realtor/insurance part, as being our story. But the truth is, these are the stories of the families that now share our little village in the city of Wilmore. Yes it actually is considered a city but it would take some serious convincing of all of us that it could ever be labeled that.
Since we moved here, we have had the great pleasure of meeting new friends and neighbors from all over the world. Inevitably, conversations begin with "Where are you from?" and "What brought you here?" While the answers to the first question vary tremendously from Singapore and South Korea to Ohio and Texas, the answers to the second most often bear a surreal resemblance to one another. They basically go like this: We were there. God called us to ministry. It took some time but we finally answered the call. He worked a bunch of crazy miracles to confirm and affirm us. Now we are here."
I used to think our story was unique and miraculous, and while it is to us, it is certainly not out of the ordinary here. God sold your house at the price you needed? Yeah, been there, done that. You got a scholarship out of the blue that covered your full tuition? Not surprising. You left everything behind so that you could answer the call to ministry? Right there with you. You are excited, scared, nervous, and exhilarated all at once? Sure, I know the feeling. You serve a a crazy big God with crazy big plans and the grace and power to lead you, provide for you, and even wow you with His goodness on a daily basis? Yeah, me too.
The experience of being here as new family after new family move in and their stories echo yours and their visions for God's kingdom affirm yours and their excitement of what God is going to do over the next four years fuel yours is not one I can accurately put into words. Last night after Caleb was in bed and the girls were watching a show before bed, Luke and I snuck out for a walk around our neighborhood. As we walked we were greeted by so many people of so many backgrounds and so many stories but one common purpose; we are here. And we are not here by some random chance or because it looks good on a resume or because it was the next thing "to do". No, the people we talked to and the stories we've heard lead to one conclusion; we are here because we believe God has called us here in order to send us out.
There are a lot of bad things happening all over the world. It can be disheartening. We can see darkness and we sometimes wonder, "Is there light left?" In the few short weeks, my heart has been buoyed by this fact; we are not alone. Many others share our burden. The kingdom of God has some very willing soldiers lining up for training to advance His purposes and share His life with future generations. Like Elijah who cried out in the desert, "God, I am the only one left who seeks You" and God replied, "I have 7.000 who have not bowed their knee to idols" I have been blessed to see a tiny microcosm of the vast kingdom of brothers and sisters all over the world, fueled by the same Spirit and refusing to bow their knees.
No one here is perfect. We (they) will be the first to admit it. No one here feels special or gifted or particularly talented in terms of "being a Christian." Rather, in the stories I've heard, there is a deep sense of humility, reverence and gratitude that we would even be able to participate in such a profound way in the continuation of sharing the truth of God's Word for generations to come.
Next week we will have our New Student Orientation. I'm sure we will meet more new families from all over the globe. We will get picked on for being Yankees and we will pick on others for their sweet tea which is actual a thick syrup more appropriate for pancakes than thirst quenching. We will talk about our kids and our families "back home", our plans and our future hopes, but one thing will inevitably be the same: We were there. God called us to ministry. God did amazing things. Now we are here. And our unique story will be repeated over and over again as people nod and smile at the familiarity of it. For indeed, WE are here.
And then
"We heard the call... God was leading us more and more to ministry... it became clear we were called to full-time ministry...apparently, God wanted us in ministry."
And then
"We talked to our pastor... our friends... our family... prayed a lot"
And then
"We visited Asbury... we loved the community here... we had other offers but God led us here... we accepted the scholarship"
And then
"God worked so many miracles... He sold our house at the last minute... He made provision where we couldn't see any possibility of making it... God moved mightily"
And finally
"And now we are here... WE are here... We ARE here.. We are HERE."
For those of you who have followed our blog since the start, or better yet, lived it with us, you may have mistaken the stories above, minus the banker/realtor/insurance part, as being our story. But the truth is, these are the stories of the families that now share our little village in the city of Wilmore. Yes it actually is considered a city but it would take some serious convincing of all of us that it could ever be labeled that.
Since we moved here, we have had the great pleasure of meeting new friends and neighbors from all over the world. Inevitably, conversations begin with "Where are you from?" and "What brought you here?" While the answers to the first question vary tremendously from Singapore and South Korea to Ohio and Texas, the answers to the second most often bear a surreal resemblance to one another. They basically go like this: We were there. God called us to ministry. It took some time but we finally answered the call. He worked a bunch of crazy miracles to confirm and affirm us. Now we are here."
I used to think our story was unique and miraculous, and while it is to us, it is certainly not out of the ordinary here. God sold your house at the price you needed? Yeah, been there, done that. You got a scholarship out of the blue that covered your full tuition? Not surprising. You left everything behind so that you could answer the call to ministry? Right there with you. You are excited, scared, nervous, and exhilarated all at once? Sure, I know the feeling. You serve a a crazy big God with crazy big plans and the grace and power to lead you, provide for you, and even wow you with His goodness on a daily basis? Yeah, me too.
The experience of being here as new family after new family move in and their stories echo yours and their visions for God's kingdom affirm yours and their excitement of what God is going to do over the next four years fuel yours is not one I can accurately put into words. Last night after Caleb was in bed and the girls were watching a show before bed, Luke and I snuck out for a walk around our neighborhood. As we walked we were greeted by so many people of so many backgrounds and so many stories but one common purpose; we are here. And we are not here by some random chance or because it looks good on a resume or because it was the next thing "to do". No, the people we talked to and the stories we've heard lead to one conclusion; we are here because we believe God has called us here in order to send us out.
There are a lot of bad things happening all over the world. It can be disheartening. We can see darkness and we sometimes wonder, "Is there light left?" In the few short weeks, my heart has been buoyed by this fact; we are not alone. Many others share our burden. The kingdom of God has some very willing soldiers lining up for training to advance His purposes and share His life with future generations. Like Elijah who cried out in the desert, "God, I am the only one left who seeks You" and God replied, "I have 7.000 who have not bowed their knee to idols" I have been blessed to see a tiny microcosm of the vast kingdom of brothers and sisters all over the world, fueled by the same Spirit and refusing to bow their knees.
No one here is perfect. We (they) will be the first to admit it. No one here feels special or gifted or particularly talented in terms of "being a Christian." Rather, in the stories I've heard, there is a deep sense of humility, reverence and gratitude that we would even be able to participate in such a profound way in the continuation of sharing the truth of God's Word for generations to come.
Next week we will have our New Student Orientation. I'm sure we will meet more new families from all over the globe. We will get picked on for being Yankees and we will pick on others for their sweet tea which is actual a thick syrup more appropriate for pancakes than thirst quenching. We will talk about our kids and our families "back home", our plans and our future hopes, but one thing will inevitably be the same: We were there. God called us to ministry. God did amazing things. Now we are here. And our unique story will be repeated over and over again as people nod and smile at the familiarity of it. For indeed, WE are here.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The "So-Fun" Part about Moving
So, a little over a month ago, my blog was entitled "The Not So Fun Part" and in it I wrote about the things we would miss as we moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, namely our house, our church and our friends/family. These things were such big overarching components of our life that they overshadowed the few things that I knew I wouldn't miss like, oh, mowing our yard especially the sand mound out front and driving at least 15-20 minutes to get to anything including the bus stop for the kids (and the gas bills and mileage put on our car that went with that) and random gunshots and fireworks set off in the middle of the night for no apparent reason.
In my head I started this little list of things I would and would not miss. I've found that since moving out here, I've started a new mental list. I thought it was only me but the other day as Naomi and I were having some quality snuggle time, she started putting into words her own little list. Of course at the top were things like missing family and friends and excited about being closer to our IN family and making new friends but then she started in on the little things like missing our back yard there but super excited about being able to ride bikes here.
With a blog like this, it is easy to focus on the "big things" but we have found that it's the little things that throughout the days keep popping up and making us say things like, "Well, that's nice!" or "Ooo, I like that!" The little things that make moving fun, that make the big things easier to accept and the hard things easier to swallow. The little things that take the edge off when our tears are surfacing and bring comfort when we are missing the "big things" and the familiar things.
So, taking our big things from the "not-so-fun" post, can I share some of our little things that have been filling our days with smiles and gratitude? First up, our house - oh how I dreaded moving to a smaller house. I was convinced we would feel squashed and squished and we wouldn't have enough space to store our oh-so-important stuff. Well, after visiting back in the beginning of July, we downsized our "stuff" quite a bit and now we are here in our little house and WE LOVE IT!! So much less to clean, to keep track of, and to keep us inside. We haven't missed our "stuff" yet and it has been freeing to have less instead of more. Some plusses in my book is that our new stove heats up super-fast so dinner prep time has been significantly lessened; our dishwasher is super-quiet so we don't have to wait to run it until we are all in bed because the noise was so deafening; our washer and dryer are not far far away in a basement but right on the main floor; our back porch is perfect for storm-watching, bird-watching, and train-watching (see picture of Caleb - he loves the trains); and last but certainly not least, our geo-thermal heating and air works splendidly and costs us less than our previous home. It's a great house and I think our family is doing a bang-up job of making it a home.
The next biggie? Church. We have visited two churches since we've been out here. Both have been very welcoming and both have been very focused on family and children, which is nice for a family with children. The first church we visited had many of the families we have gotten to know here in Kalas Village so we felt pretty comfortable and "at home" there. The second church we visited didn't have many people we knew but my goodness did we feel welcomed. Met at the door by assistant pastor, welcomed by the nursery captain, prayed for/with by this sweet older lady named Vivian who just beamed with God's love and compassion, and followed-up with two welcome letters and an invitation to lunch with the pastor. Nothing can replace the familiar fellowship of worshiping each Sunday with brothers and sisters you've shared life with, but the little things listed above have gone a long way in making us feel widely accepted into the larger body of Christ and we know God will lead us to the place He has for us to plug in and worship as a family here in Kentucky.
Okay, I'm gonna add another biggie I didn't have have in the original post - SCHOOL. Wow, was it hard for our family, especially my girls, to say good-bye to their classmates and friends at Shalom Christian Academy back in PA. There was a certain level of dread that filled our home the closer we got to "first day" out here. But God is full of "little things" to help ease our way such as finding out that teachers and classmates had grown up in PA which creates an almost instant bond, friends here in Kalas coming over and helping Hannah get ready for her first day so she didn't have to worry about if what she was doing/wearing, etc was "right" or not, and lots and lots of prayers and notes of encouragement for the girls. Morning of D-day we headed down to the bus stop with all their new friends who were buzzing with excitement and then, the biggest "little thing" of all - we all prayed at the bus stop together; kids, parents, and anyone else who happened to be there. Apparently this is a little tradition our bus stop; on Monday a parent leads prayer, for the rest of the week the kids lead prayer and at the end of the week we all pray The Lord's Prayer together. Church at the bus stop. So incredibly cool. The girls had a great day. They liked their new school. The little things all add up.
Finally, the biggest "biggie" of them all; friends and family. Absolutely irreplaceable. See unlike the school, and church, and the house, the friends and family all maintain their place in our heart. There isn't empty space to fill. Instead, we had to let our hearts get bigger to fit more people in (kinda like the Grinch's heart growing "three sizes that day" only we aren't Grinches and we love Christmas). The little things like neighbor kids spending the night and eating dinner with us and using our bathroom and drinking our water; the little things like new friends coming over for dinner and running with us in the mornings and helping us navigate our new town and borrowing burn medicine and dresses for the beach; the little things like text messages and waves "hello" and gifts of homemade hummus and little notes of encouragement - all these little things have stretched our hearts and made us richer with more friends and new faces. It's like our love has multiplied and our friendship quiver is fuller and we are doubly blessed.
Since we have moved, my heart and mind feel like they are more in tune to the little things. I'm looking for reasons to celebrate and to smile and have joy. I'm hunting down happy moments like Mick Elder on the first day of doe season (for all of you who know Mick, I'm sure you are smiling - if you don't know Mick, let's just say - he likes to hunt). But hey guess what? I'm fairly certain you've got some little things going on all around you too!! It's so, so easy to get caught up in the big things because... well, they are big. But the little things are what shape our days and I think I've overlooked a lot of blessings because I wasn't on the lookout for them. Maybe after you read this, you'll think of some little things in your life that bring you joy in the midst of some big things that may not. A hug, a smile, a note, a kiss, a rainbow or a butterfly, a bird's song or a friendly hello. Just like my little house, the blessing may be found in less, not more - the little and not the big. It may just be the "so-fun" thing about life!
In my head I started this little list of things I would and would not miss. I've found that since moving out here, I've started a new mental list. I thought it was only me but the other day as Naomi and I were having some quality snuggle time, she started putting into words her own little list. Of course at the top were things like missing family and friends and excited about being closer to our IN family and making new friends but then she started in on the little things like missing our back yard there but super excited about being able to ride bikes here.
With a blog like this, it is easy to focus on the "big things" but we have found that it's the little things that throughout the days keep popping up and making us say things like, "Well, that's nice!" or "Ooo, I like that!" The little things that make moving fun, that make the big things easier to accept and the hard things easier to swallow. The little things that take the edge off when our tears are surfacing and bring comfort when we are missing the "big things" and the familiar things.
So, taking our big things from the "not-so-fun" post, can I share some of our little things that have been filling our days with smiles and gratitude? First up, our house - oh how I dreaded moving to a smaller house. I was convinced we would feel squashed and squished and we wouldn't have enough space to store our oh-so-important stuff. Well, after visiting back in the beginning of July, we downsized our "stuff" quite a bit and now we are here in our little house and WE LOVE IT!! So much less to clean, to keep track of, and to keep us inside. We haven't missed our "stuff" yet and it has been freeing to have less instead of more. Some plusses in my book is that our new stove heats up super-fast so dinner prep time has been significantly lessened; our dishwasher is super-quiet so we don't have to wait to run it until we are all in bed because the noise was so deafening; our washer and dryer are not far far away in a basement but right on the main floor; our back porch is perfect for storm-watching, bird-watching, and train-watching (see picture of Caleb - he loves the trains); and last but certainly not least, our geo-thermal heating and air works splendidly and costs us less than our previous home. It's a great house and I think our family is doing a bang-up job of making it a home.
The next biggie? Church. We have visited two churches since we've been out here. Both have been very welcoming and both have been very focused on family and children, which is nice for a family with children. The first church we visited had many of the families we have gotten to know here in Kalas Village so we felt pretty comfortable and "at home" there. The second church we visited didn't have many people we knew but my goodness did we feel welcomed. Met at the door by assistant pastor, welcomed by the nursery captain, prayed for/with by this sweet older lady named Vivian who just beamed with God's love and compassion, and followed-up with two welcome letters and an invitation to lunch with the pastor. Nothing can replace the familiar fellowship of worshiping each Sunday with brothers and sisters you've shared life with, but the little things listed above have gone a long way in making us feel widely accepted into the larger body of Christ and we know God will lead us to the place He has for us to plug in and worship as a family here in Kentucky.
Okay, I'm gonna add another biggie I didn't have have in the original post - SCHOOL. Wow, was it hard for our family, especially my girls, to say good-bye to their classmates and friends at Shalom Christian Academy back in PA. There was a certain level of dread that filled our home the closer we got to "first day" out here. But God is full of "little things" to help ease our way such as finding out that teachers and classmates had grown up in PA which creates an almost instant bond, friends here in Kalas coming over and helping Hannah get ready for her first day so she didn't have to worry about if what she was doing/wearing, etc was "right" or not, and lots and lots of prayers and notes of encouragement for the girls. Morning of D-day we headed down to the bus stop with all their new friends who were buzzing with excitement and then, the biggest "little thing" of all - we all prayed at the bus stop together; kids, parents, and anyone else who happened to be there. Apparently this is a little tradition our bus stop; on Monday a parent leads prayer, for the rest of the week the kids lead prayer and at the end of the week we all pray The Lord's Prayer together. Church at the bus stop. So incredibly cool. The girls had a great day. They liked their new school. The little things all add up.
Finally, the biggest "biggie" of them all; friends and family. Absolutely irreplaceable. See unlike the school, and church, and the house, the friends and family all maintain their place in our heart. There isn't empty space to fill. Instead, we had to let our hearts get bigger to fit more people in (kinda like the Grinch's heart growing "three sizes that day" only we aren't Grinches and we love Christmas). The little things like neighbor kids spending the night and eating dinner with us and using our bathroom and drinking our water; the little things like new friends coming over for dinner and running with us in the mornings and helping us navigate our new town and borrowing burn medicine and dresses for the beach; the little things like text messages and waves "hello" and gifts of homemade hummus and little notes of encouragement - all these little things have stretched our hearts and made us richer with more friends and new faces. It's like our love has multiplied and our friendship quiver is fuller and we are doubly blessed.
Since we have moved, my heart and mind feel like they are more in tune to the little things. I'm looking for reasons to celebrate and to smile and have joy. I'm hunting down happy moments like Mick Elder on the first day of doe season (for all of you who know Mick, I'm sure you are smiling - if you don't know Mick, let's just say - he likes to hunt). But hey guess what? I'm fairly certain you've got some little things going on all around you too!! It's so, so easy to get caught up in the big things because... well, they are big. But the little things are what shape our days and I think I've overlooked a lot of blessings because I wasn't on the lookout for them. Maybe after you read this, you'll think of some little things in your life that bring you joy in the midst of some big things that may not. A hug, a smile, a note, a kiss, a rainbow or a butterfly, a bird's song or a friendly hello. Just like my little house, the blessing may be found in less, not more - the little and not the big. It may just be the "so-fun" thing about life!
Friday, August 9, 2013
New Normal, Same Great God!
"Mom, I'm going out to ride my bike with Zoe!!"
"Mom, can we play with the walkie talkies?"
"Mom, I need another bandaid!"
"Mom, Caleb got out... again!"
Welcome to our New Normal. Life in Wilmore, Kentucky for the Embrees thus far has consisted of many new phrases having entered into our everyday vocabulary and a new "schedule" for the day that consists of a lot of outside time and long, sleep-filled nights. As I write this blog, all three kids are still fast asleep and it's almost 8 am. Luke and I have been up since 5:45 because we have been trying to create our new normal of getting up to workout and have quiet time before the tornado we call children make their way down the steps and the day's activities begin in earnest.
It's a good new normal. It has a lot of good things. But it also has some gaps, gaps that used to be filled with certain people and certain activities that we left back in PA. I've kinda been waiting for a moment where all of the sudden it hits me (us) that we have indeed moved to Kentucky and the new normal is the real normal and life is different. I've (we've) had a few waves of grief and times of tears but I keep thinking that there's going to be this moment where we just all get hit at once with a time of deep sadness.
But the other night, God spoke to me through an impending storm; an actual impending storm not some surreal philosophical one. The clouds had begun building up around us and the "feeling" of a good storm was in the air. The kids were getting ready for bed and I snuck out on the back porch to wait for the storm to roll in. Oh, the wind and the lightning and the rolling thunder in the distance! This promised to be an epic event.
I was so anticipatory I posted on facebook, grabbed a cup of decaf and sat outside waiting for the full wrath of this tropical weather to begin in earnest. Which...it never did. Somehow all that lightning and thundering and windyness and rain skirted right around our little village and while I could hear the storm on every side of me, above me there was actually a little patch of blue sky with the colors of the setting sun visible between the clouds.
I was disappointed because I was all geared up for a good storm and that's when it hit me. I'd kinda been living my life that way down here. I've been waiting for this moment where all of the sudden I and my kids just break down in some kind of grief-stricken frenzy, a storm of sadness as we come to fully realize that we have moved... moved! But in that moment I felt as though God spoke to my heart that because of Him and His great love, because of His comfort and His peace, we don't have to be overcome by the storms in our life. We can grieve, but we can do so with hope. We can cry, but we can do so with assurance. We can be sad, but we can also have joy.
This is not to say there won't be times that I cry because I miss my friends and family (because I already have, and I know I will again) but that doesn't have to be something I am anticipating and dreading. God has gone ahead of me and provided all the resources I need for joy, peace and comfort in Him. And when my girls are sad, I can lead them to that same place of hope and restoration. Our own little patch of blue sky and beautiful sun right in the middle of life's storms. We've been blessed by brothers and sisters in Christ here who not only share our calling and vision, they also know what it is to say goodbye to loved ones and move away. Even last night as we sat in our living room sharing our testimony with another couple who shared theirs with us, I marveled at God's great love and constant faithfulness. His love always shines brighter; his joy always give us strength.
I have many friends who have gone through and are going through incredible times of testing and sadness. They are right smack dab in the middle of an epic storm. And I have seen those who have run to God and clung to His promises filled with a peace that truly is beyond comprehension. It's not just sentiment; it is reality and God's truth is unchanging.
It is now 8:10. Caleb is awake and already trying to get outside. In a few moments, my girls will sleepily make their way down the stairs and realize their bikes are soaking wet and the "What are we going to do today?" questions will start. Their new normal so far has not existed without bikes so today will be another new day to discover what Kentucky holds for us. It may lead to some lightning and thunder, a few tears and sadness, but I know that joy is above us; we need only look up!
"Mom, can we play with the walkie talkies?"
"Mom, I need another bandaid!"
"Mom, Caleb got out... again!"
Welcome to our New Normal. Life in Wilmore, Kentucky for the Embrees thus far has consisted of many new phrases having entered into our everyday vocabulary and a new "schedule" for the day that consists of a lot of outside time and long, sleep-filled nights. As I write this blog, all three kids are still fast asleep and it's almost 8 am. Luke and I have been up since 5:45 because we have been trying to create our new normal of getting up to workout and have quiet time before the tornado we call children make their way down the steps and the day's activities begin in earnest.
It's a good new normal. It has a lot of good things. But it also has some gaps, gaps that used to be filled with certain people and certain activities that we left back in PA. I've kinda been waiting for a moment where all of the sudden it hits me (us) that we have indeed moved to Kentucky and the new normal is the real normal and life is different. I've (we've) had a few waves of grief and times of tears but I keep thinking that there's going to be this moment where we just all get hit at once with a time of deep sadness.
But the other night, God spoke to me through an impending storm; an actual impending storm not some surreal philosophical one. The clouds had begun building up around us and the "feeling" of a good storm was in the air. The kids were getting ready for bed and I snuck out on the back porch to wait for the storm to roll in. Oh, the wind and the lightning and the rolling thunder in the distance! This promised to be an epic event.
I was so anticipatory I posted on facebook, grabbed a cup of decaf and sat outside waiting for the full wrath of this tropical weather to begin in earnest. Which...it never did. Somehow all that lightning and thundering and windyness and rain skirted right around our little village and while I could hear the storm on every side of me, above me there was actually a little patch of blue sky with the colors of the setting sun visible between the clouds.
I was disappointed because I was all geared up for a good storm and that's when it hit me. I'd kinda been living my life that way down here. I've been waiting for this moment where all of the sudden I and my kids just break down in some kind of grief-stricken frenzy, a storm of sadness as we come to fully realize that we have moved... moved! But in that moment I felt as though God spoke to my heart that because of Him and His great love, because of His comfort and His peace, we don't have to be overcome by the storms in our life. We can grieve, but we can do so with hope. We can cry, but we can do so with assurance. We can be sad, but we can also have joy.
This is not to say there won't be times that I cry because I miss my friends and family (because I already have, and I know I will again) but that doesn't have to be something I am anticipating and dreading. God has gone ahead of me and provided all the resources I need for joy, peace and comfort in Him. And when my girls are sad, I can lead them to that same place of hope and restoration. Our own little patch of blue sky and beautiful sun right in the middle of life's storms. We've been blessed by brothers and sisters in Christ here who not only share our calling and vision, they also know what it is to say goodbye to loved ones and move away. Even last night as we sat in our living room sharing our testimony with another couple who shared theirs with us, I marveled at God's great love and constant faithfulness. His love always shines brighter; his joy always give us strength.
I have many friends who have gone through and are going through incredible times of testing and sadness. They are right smack dab in the middle of an epic storm. And I have seen those who have run to God and clung to His promises filled with a peace that truly is beyond comprehension. It's not just sentiment; it is reality and God's truth is unchanging.
It is now 8:10. Caleb is awake and already trying to get outside. In a few moments, my girls will sleepily make their way down the stairs and realize their bikes are soaking wet and the "What are we going to do today?" questions will start. Their new normal so far has not existed without bikes so today will be another new day to discover what Kentucky holds for us. It may lead to some lightning and thunder, a few tears and sadness, but I know that joy is above us; we need only look up!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The Move, Part 2
I hope that last few days have given everyone a chance to read the first blog about our move and thank you to the many people who messaged me and shared with me how the blog was meaningful to them in some way. It has definitely been a learning experience for us and I hope that our sharing our story and experiences can continue to be a blessing to others in their various journeys in life.
So, I left off with our drive away from Pennsylvania and towards Kentucky and all the love that both surrounded and carried us forward from our old home toward our new one. Luke was driving the UHaul with Hannah and I had Naomi and Caleb in the minivan. That meant I was rather alone with my thoughts for about 8 hours on the road; a daunting experience for someone who doesn't really like the whole idea of being alone and processing and whatnot. Fortunately, one of the ladies from church had given me a cd that morning full of some of my most favorite worship songs. I must have listened to and sang with that cd four or five times on our way to Kentucky. The one song that reverberated in my soul was "You Never Let Go" performed by Matt Redman.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life, I won't turn back, I know you are near
And I will fear no evil for my God is with me
And if my God is with me,whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go in every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me
Not that I felt like I was going to the valley of death, don't get me wrong. I had peace in my heart that God was leading us to Kentucky. But I am not real great with the "unknown" and there was so much "unknown" in front of us. If I let myself focus on that, I was easily captured by thoughts of worry, doubt and fear. So this song became for me as I drove a reminder that what is unknown to me was known by the One who loved me and called me and He would never let go so I had nothing to fear.
So, I left off with our drive away from Pennsylvania and towards Kentucky and all the love that both surrounded and carried us forward from our old home toward our new one. Luke was driving the UHaul with Hannah and I had Naomi and Caleb in the minivan. That meant I was rather alone with my thoughts for about 8 hours on the road; a daunting experience for someone who doesn't really like the whole idea of being alone and processing and whatnot. Fortunately, one of the ladies from church had given me a cd that morning full of some of my most favorite worship songs. I must have listened to and sang with that cd four or five times on our way to Kentucky. The one song that reverberated in my soul was "You Never Let Go" performed by Matt Redman.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life, I won't turn back, I know you are near
And I will fear no evil for my God is with me
And if my God is with me,whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go in every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me
Not that I felt like I was going to the valley of death, don't get me wrong. I had peace in my heart that God was leading us to Kentucky. But I am not real great with the "unknown" and there was so much "unknown" in front of us. If I let myself focus on that, I was easily captured by thoughts of worry, doubt and fear. So this song became for me as I drove a reminder that what is unknown to me was known by the One who loved me and called me and He would never let go so I had nothing to fear.
The ride was long... and hot.. and we arrived late... and I was frazzled and then, we finally pulled into Kalas Village. As I drove towards the end of the road I knew we lived on, my eyes were taking in address numbers trying to find 1007, the home that would be ours. Turns out, it didn't matter if I saw the numbers because standing on what would be our porch were about 10 able-bodied volunteers ready to help us unload a UHaul and begin our life in Wilmore. And the porch belonged to a house located at the end of a unit, next to the woods with a huge yard in front of it and yards on the side and back of it. It was the perfect house for this mountain girl who was willing to live without trees but secretly dreading the thought of it.
Remember all that love we experienced as we left our home in Pennsylvania? Well guess what; somehow it found its way down to Kentucky. I knew that we would have help unloading the truck, but I didn't know the unloading included a great deal of warm welcome, furniture set-up, dinner delivery and a lot of laughter. I knew that the girls would find friends here, but I didn't realize that within an hour of being here, they'd be out riding bikes until bedtime that night with a posse of new friends that accepted them in as quickly as our new neighbors had. I knew what our house looked like from floor plans on line, but had no idea that within two days a house would be transformed into a home and that the same spirit of rest and peace we so loved in our old home would indwell this one. I knew that Duane and Doreen, my in-laws, were coming down to help us get settled, but did not realize what a blessing it would be to my soul to have family here as we arrived and how much their love, support and presence meant to my heart (and we got to see Jennifer and Chad, Luke's sister and her husband, on Friday to boot!). I knew that God was with us, but He showed me again in the lives of His people that He never lets go.
We are still adjusting to life here. It's a little strange to me to have people around all the time even though I am very much a people person. It's weird to know I can walk pretty much anywhere (store, bank, PO, friends, etc) and it is very odd to have my children out riding bikes and bringing friends over and going over to friends' houses all day long. Whenever my phone signals a text, it's usually another Mom updating me on where my kid is or finding out if their kid is here, which is great but much different from where we lived before. On Friday night we had a potluck with our new neighbors; neighbors that hale from Sudan, Nigeria, China, South Korea, the Philippines and such far-flung places as Michigan, Tennessee and Alabama. The food was eclectic and delicious and the fellowship sweet and welcoming. We ended that night with S'mores and a bonfire, tired kids and happy parents and a sense of belonging and community that assured us that indeed, He never lets go.
I can already tell that this place, this community is going to leave a lasting impression on our life (ARISE volunteers, that term should sound very familiar to you!) We've already felt the love of Christ manifest here and we've already begun to find our place. I'm sure as I read this blog post four years from now as we are packing up to move and following God on the next step of our journey, I will smile at how naive I sound and marvel at how much we learned and gained and gave and served while living here but for now, I just smile because I know that God is with us and, as I may have mentioned before, He never lets go.
Friday, August 2, 2013
The Move, Pt. 1
Whew, I sit here looking at this blank screen, thoughts swirling around but not landing on the way to start this blog post or the words to use in it or the message I want to convey through it. My mind jumps from the amazingly blessed final day we spent in PA with our family, friends, church, and brothers and sisters in Christ and then to the drive from Pennsylvania to Ketucky and that final Sheetz stop, to our move-in day at Kalas Village where a welcoming crew unloaded our truck in under an hour and stuck around to put together bunk beds and feed us dinner, to my kids' first sleepovers and our first potluck, our first visitors to our first facetime with Mom and Dad... so many things to say, so many ways to say it... I am left a bit speechless.
So instead of focusing on details in the story, can I focus instead on what makes the story so beautiful and amazing? The thing that makes it more than a story but a picture of the love of Christ lived out in the lives of people who choose to love others over themselves and seek first the kingdom of heaven. The beauty of true fellowship and love found in the bond of Christ and lived out by His people here on earth.
Our final Sunday in PA, I awoke with a sense of dread mixed with anticipation and overlayed in a fully Type A "get her done" attitude. I knew that at church, we'd be prayed over by our pastor and sent out in faith. What I did not know is that so many of our church family would come up to pray over us and gift us with everything from monetary gifts to bags full of goodies and treats for our ride to Kentucky. I knew that Pastor Brent was teaching on Timothy, but I didn't know that at the end of his sermon he would ask people to pray for one another and that Trina Snoke would envelope my girls in a prayer time that will never be forgotten by either of them. I knew that we were going out to eat with our friends, Pastor Larry and his wife Jamie, but what I didn't know was that while we were there we would have a sweet time of fellowship and sweet potato fries (new favorite food obsession) and that others in the restaurant would come to say good -bye to us before we left. I knew that we'd go home to start packing a UHaul but I did not know that our dear friend Pete Byers would be in our driveway waiting for us so he could give us a proper good-bye (yes, at this point in writing this blog, I am crying). I knew that I was going over to have some time alone with my parents before I left, but I didn't know how much we would cry. I knew we had friends coming to help us load the truck and clean the house, but I didn't know that their help would be mean I didn't have to go inside and see "my" house empty without our belongings in it and that in my mind's eye it would always be the house we lived in. I knew our friends and family would pray for us as we left, but I didn't know that we'd stand in a circle in our front yard as prayer after prayer of love and support were lifted to heaven on our behalf. I knew we'd grieve the final goodbyes, but I didn't know that as I drove the words that were prayed over us would swirl around me with the peace of Christ, soothing my soul and drying my tears.
You see, it wasn't so much the stuff that happened that day; it was the sacrificial love shown to us that day that I will never ever forget... well, that and the sweet potato fries (seriously, go get some at Red Robin and be amazed!) My memories of that day are pretty fuzzy when it comes to what actually happened. I purposely didn't take pictures. I didn't want to remember what it looked like. My heart has captured what was important that day. The lasting things.
"Now these three things remain; faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love."
And there you have it my friends. Our moving story in a tiny little verse, all wrapped up in perfect succintness and beautiful truth. We are stepping out in faith, we are filled with great hope about what God will do, but more than anything else, we are in awe of His amazing, abundant love lived out in our brothers and sisters and shown to us in a myriad of ways.
As I drove out our road one last time, past all the familiar houses and down all the familiar roads, farther and farther from the place I have called home for so many years, I could literally feel the love that was carrying us ahead. At that time, I had no idea what the next day held (and you'll have to wait a little bit for that too as this blog is already quite long). I had no concept of what the future looked like. I didn't even know what our house was going to look like or be located. But I knew, and know, Love, lived out through you and encompassed in Christ.
"He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the wind of His grace and mercy. When all of the sudden, I am overwhelmed by these afflictions eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me. Oh, how He loves us so... oh how He loves us, how He loves us so" - David Crowder
To be continued... (hey, I've been gone a whole week!! It's gonna take more than one post ;)
So instead of focusing on details in the story, can I focus instead on what makes the story so beautiful and amazing? The thing that makes it more than a story but a picture of the love of Christ lived out in the lives of people who choose to love others over themselves and seek first the kingdom of heaven. The beauty of true fellowship and love found in the bond of Christ and lived out by His people here on earth.
Our final Sunday in PA, I awoke with a sense of dread mixed with anticipation and overlayed in a fully Type A "get her done" attitude. I knew that at church, we'd be prayed over by our pastor and sent out in faith. What I did not know is that so many of our church family would come up to pray over us and gift us with everything from monetary gifts to bags full of goodies and treats for our ride to Kentucky. I knew that Pastor Brent was teaching on Timothy, but I didn't know that at the end of his sermon he would ask people to pray for one another and that Trina Snoke would envelope my girls in a prayer time that will never be forgotten by either of them. I knew that we were going out to eat with our friends, Pastor Larry and his wife Jamie, but what I didn't know was that while we were there we would have a sweet time of fellowship and sweet potato fries (new favorite food obsession) and that others in the restaurant would come to say good -bye to us before we left. I knew that we'd go home to start packing a UHaul but I did not know that our dear friend Pete Byers would be in our driveway waiting for us so he could give us a proper good-bye (yes, at this point in writing this blog, I am crying). I knew that I was going over to have some time alone with my parents before I left, but I didn't know how much we would cry. I knew we had friends coming to help us load the truck and clean the house, but I didn't know that their help would be mean I didn't have to go inside and see "my" house empty without our belongings in it and that in my mind's eye it would always be the house we lived in. I knew our friends and family would pray for us as we left, but I didn't know that we'd stand in a circle in our front yard as prayer after prayer of love and support were lifted to heaven on our behalf. I knew we'd grieve the final goodbyes, but I didn't know that as I drove the words that were prayed over us would swirl around me with the peace of Christ, soothing my soul and drying my tears.
You see, it wasn't so much the stuff that happened that day; it was the sacrificial love shown to us that day that I will never ever forget... well, that and the sweet potato fries (seriously, go get some at Red Robin and be amazed!) My memories of that day are pretty fuzzy when it comes to what actually happened. I purposely didn't take pictures. I didn't want to remember what it looked like. My heart has captured what was important that day. The lasting things.
"Now these three things remain; faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love."
And there you have it my friends. Our moving story in a tiny little verse, all wrapped up in perfect succintness and beautiful truth. We are stepping out in faith, we are filled with great hope about what God will do, but more than anything else, we are in awe of His amazing, abundant love lived out in our brothers and sisters and shown to us in a myriad of ways.
As I drove out our road one last time, past all the familiar houses and down all the familiar roads, farther and farther from the place I have called home for so many years, I could literally feel the love that was carrying us ahead. At that time, I had no idea what the next day held (and you'll have to wait a little bit for that too as this blog is already quite long). I had no concept of what the future looked like. I didn't even know what our house was going to look like or be located. But I knew, and know, Love, lived out through you and encompassed in Christ.
"He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the wind of His grace and mercy. When all of the sudden, I am overwhelmed by these afflictions eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me. Oh, how He loves us so... oh how He loves us, how He loves us so" - David Crowder
To be continued... (hey, I've been gone a whole week!! It's gonna take more than one post ;)
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