...right back where we started from!!!
It's true!
God has opened one door and closed all others.
It is more than a comfort to know that God has clearly called us back to the same community we moved from 3 years ago when we left all we knew in California to answer His call to Illinois.
If you've been reading long, you know what a miracle that call has been for our family.
In moving to Illinois, we left everyone we knew and loved to follow God's call for our family. God opened one door and closed all others.
Answering that call meant going to an "unknown land." We didn't know much about it...had never set foot in it...even picked our house out on the internet, and laid our first steps in IL in early August 3 years ago.
From that step of obedience, blessings have been poured out on us...
God provided friends we'll have the rest of our life.
God provided a church family who has taught us what authentic life in Christ looks like.
God provided HEARING to our son who was deaf.
God provided the resources for our EVERY NEED...
An appendectomy for Ryder
Cochlear Implant surgery for Cole
Prenatal care for me (times 2!)
Two AMAZING births for Cora and Rylee
Amazing schools, teachers and therapists for Cole
Pre-school for Ryder
and so much more...
He has been GOOD to us!!!
And now, He's called again.
We're so excited for hearing His call to return back to so many family and friends!!!
...and now we trust Him to provide the rest.
I LOVE listening to Seeds Family Worship with the kids in the car for all of our trips here, there and everywhere. All of the songs they write are 100% scripture. Needless to say why I love listening to them in the car! The verse that has been standing out to me lately is...
Don't only think about what you will eat and what you will drink, the thing you should seek is God's kingdom and all the other things you need will be given to you.
paraphrase from Matthew 6
When we moved to Illinois with our boys and one little princess on the way, God provided beyond what we knew we needed...at the time, we didn't even know Cole (11 months) was deaf. God moved us 15 minutes away from (in my opinion) one of the best cochlear implant teams in the country.
Now that we are moving back to Southern California with 2 more kids and tighter finances than we left with, we again say...we trust you Lord to provide! All we are responsible to do is love God by placing our trust and faith in Him and to GO when he calls us and...He has CLEARLY called!!!
4 months from now, in July...we're packing up and going!
I'd be hiding something if I said I wasn't a little overwhelmed as I think about all the needs our family has now in returning. When we left, I didn't know many of the needs we'd have in these 3 years...I didn't have a chance to fear because I didn't know I'd have to find resources for Cole...God provided a way before I knew to look for one.
Now, I know. Now, my challenge, is walking in faith, knowing He's called us, and trusting Him with all I know we need. This is new for me...moving 4 kids with a variety of needs (therapy/preschool for Cole, kindergarten for Ryder, affordable housing for us all) but since I've never done it before, I know we can't help but grow again in the process!
One thing I do know, is that they say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we have 4 children and an incredible village waiting for us back in CA. He is GOOD!:)
Stay tuned for more miracles...and until then, a lot more Illinois fun!
There's lots of life to live before we get to California!!!
