sold!

With great joy and excitement, we can announce that our house has sold!! Two weeks ago we accepted an offer and have now passed through the inspection and appraisal process. Selling this home was the final barrier between us and moving to Honduras. With much prayer and petition, Sean and I knew and trusted that God was in control. He continues to bless and affirm our decision to follow Him to Danlí.

We now are quite busy making plans and getting everything ready for the big move. Our scheduled closing date is October 18th. After that, we plan on driving up to Chicago to say goodbye to our family and friends there. Then, we will be flying to Honduras on the 27th!

Though it has been difficult to say goodbye to our wonderful Texas friends, our jobs we love and our beautiful home, we know with absolute certainty that God is behind this decision. He has been so faithful every step of this journey so far, providing just what we need just in time. I know as we move our dependence on Him, His provision and His strength will grow each day. This process has brought us both closer to our Father than ever before, and close to Him is exactly where we want to be.

wait upon the Lord

I have never been good at waiting. I like to take control and just get it done. Even procrastinating is a skill I have never succeeded at. Here I am though, waiting.

Our house has been up for sale now for a little over two weeks. This is the last roadblock between us and our big move! At first, my phone was buzzing with interested realtors. Then, there was silence. My thoughts became anxious, and my heart grew weary. I constantly checked my phone for messages, missed calls or emails. My phone battery was quickly drained as well as my own.

Then, God intervened. Though it he had to say it more than once, he patiently reminded me...

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary  and increases the power of the weak... but those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

How great is our God that he pays attention to us! Though He reigns over all of creation with great power and strength, He still loves us individually. He knows our hearts, our needs and the lessons we need to be taught.

As I wait for our house to sell, for this adventure to begin, I no longer wait upon realtors, emails, texts, or calls. I do not wait on people to fulfill my desires. I wait upon the LORD. He has a plan. A perfect plan. Though I cannot know it, I can rest in the knowledge that He will work all things out for His purposes. With that, my heart has peace as I learn to wait.

where my heart lies

house for sale

Yesterday, Sean and I put our house up for sale. It has been a long time coming. For the past month, I've been cleaning, fixing, taking pictures, and removing pictures. Yesterday morning, I fell to my knees asking God to allow us to move forward in our decision to move to Honduras in some way. I felt stuck. A ship ready to sail onto great adventures, but remaining tied to the dock. Within an hour, I had a text from our friend and realtor, asking if we wanted to meet and put the house up for sale that night. I read it as I was exercising on the treadmill. My already quickly beating heart nearly exploded. With sweaty palms, I praised God and thanked Him for listening to my desperate prayer. The rest of my run, I couldn't help but smiling and singing along with my favorite worship playlist.  I'm sure the elderly man next to me thought I had completely lost my mind, thinking senility wasn't just for the ol'timers anymore.

Now the sign sits in our front yard. Waiting. Telling the world that we are ready. We are ready to go. To follow Him and His plans.

I am beginning to read "Kisses from Katie." I feel as though I am the last person in the world to read this beautifully written story of a young woman, probably a lot like myself, venturing into uncharted territory. Rewriting her life plans that once revolved around everything normal to plans that now revolve solely around God. As I read her words, I almost feel as though we are sisters, for surely we are in Christ. But even more, I feel as if she understands my heart. She writes:

The fact that I loved Jesus was beginning to interfere with my plans I once had for my life and certainly the plans others had for me. My heart had been apprehended by a great love....As I read and learned more and more of what Jesus said, I liked the lifestyle I saw around me less and less. I began to realize that God wanted more from me, and I wanted more of Him. He began to grow in me a desire to live intentionally, and different from anyone I had ever known. 

Certainly, it makes little sense to the world why we are leaving our beautiful home, dependable jobs, and loving friends. Sometimes, it makes little sense to us as well; however, I am reaffirmed in my desire to follow Jesus and great love for Him. To live and love as he did. I want to live intentionally... intentional on changing the world.

Kisses from Katie Blog

strengthening

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We're going. I have quit my teaching job, our house will be on the market in the next few days, and we will be sending out letters asking for our friends and family to help support us very soon. Everything is moving quickly, but so slowly at the same time. Part of me wants to leave immediately, and the other still anticipates awakening from this dream.

Though my mind is lost in this confusion, my heart is steadfast on the Lord. As I prepare to take this step of faith, I am drawn so close to Him. Closer than ever before. I am enraptured by His promises, His strength and His authority.

I feel like Gideon. Weak. Small. Confused. Called to something so much bigger than my abilities. I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me. And then I realize, it really isn't at all about what I can do. It is about who has called me, and what HE can do. I praise the Lord that he is faithful, when I am not. He is strong, though I am weak. I praise Him for he is strengthening me daily for the great calling he has placed on our hearts.