Check Lists

I have been creating lists of things that need to be done like buy stamps, buy more envelopes, get more ink for printer, take a family photo (since we apparently never do this), get passports, create case statement, and so and and so on... my lists in my head were producing more lists...

As Michael and I were out shopping today running errands I grew increasingly frustrated with him as he was sure that the grocery store we were at sold stamps, which we found out after standing in line at customer service that it did not, I was irritated because he had wasted my time... how ridiculous is that? I realized by the time we got to the car that my harsh words at him were wrong and I apologized and the Holy Spirit began to show me how my own busyness had shut out the joy the Lord had intended for me. An old Sunday School song began running through my mind, "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice."

I had been so consumed by my own plans that I had forgotten to ask God to help me rejoice! So, if you're like me and busy getting all sorts of things checked off "the list," remember to Rejoice in the Lord for all He has done!

Exhausted Excitment...

How do I begin explaining how I got to this point? I keep erasing words and rewriting words and over thinking ever word you see in these two sentences. So, I will just begin..

Eight weeks ago we began this process of exploring the tug to missions. Michael called me and said he was filling out an online assessment for Avant Ministries. I thought to myself ok, it will probably take awhile for this agency to get to our stuff and I kind of put it at the back of my mind. But, it would not remain there for long. About two days later we received an email from a recruiter named Joshua and we were off and running into this adventure. The emails turned into phone calls, then more emails, paperwork, dr. appointments, and before we knew it we were down in Kansas City, MO at Avant doing training. Through this whole process, we prayed and prayed and did I mention prayer? God just kept moving us forward and giving us this intense peace about what He was doing in us in regards to overseas missions. We had an early sense of connection to Italy and went into training open to where God would send us, but never lost that tug in regards to the people of Italy.

We met the amazing people we emailed and talked to in this process to learn about Avant, Joshua and Meghan and knew that the sense of family was too good to just shrug off, we then met Grayson and Eryn, Rebecca, and Emily... they would touch our lives and fuse with us this indescribable feeling of family and kinship for serving God! The way our kids Caleb and Faith feel about each of these team members is nothing short of "Family at first sight!" And so begins Team Italy IV... my heart and head are full of so much information after spending two weeks learning about what it means to be a Missionary...

I look forward in anticipation to serving God with these amazing people somewhere outside of Rome in 2012... and so the journey begins!