God's Funny Sense of Humor, part 2

So. We have been praying. We had been very excited about the North Carolina opportunity. I prayed specifically that God would take my desire away if we shouldn't go there, if He had something else in mind. I can honestly say, any excitement I had is gone, I do not want to go. It can be debatable if it is God, I know. But I think He gives us options, and what we pick, He will bless.

This was about a month ago. I no longer wanted to go there, but didn't know where we would be going. My mind was taken back to the place I had decided before this other came up. Would you like to know where that is???

Beautiful Sonora, CA!!! I can't tell you all the wonderful Sonora has for us. Here are some reasons: it is close to Yosemite, it has an Adventist hospital, which I am hoping to get a job at, we have friends there, the church... Although a good chunk of our friends just left there when ARISE moved up to Oregon, there are still very dear people there who I am really looking forward to building my friendships with, and many more people and families to meet!

There are opportunities for both Rob and I to be involved in ministries, and we are very excited to be back in California and close to family again!

And I am coming back to CA in only 4 short weeks! The kids and I are riding the train from Denver, CO to Hanford, CA where my mom lives. We are coming so early because my cousin Joy is getting married on the 3rd and I don't want to miss it! Then we will be visiting with family and heading up to Sonora to scope out some possibilities. Rob will join us sometime... October probably. Although fall seems to be coming a little early. (I may just be being hopeful with that assumption, although I have heard locals say it.)

God may still have other ideas for us. But as for now, this is the direction we are taking. We would appreciate your prayers. We still need to figure out jobs, housing, etc., but I cannot wait to get settled and serve God in the area He leads me to!

PS- I am blessed to have my dear friend Sammi Ridley riding the train back with me. She is flying to Denver to meet us and will ride with us to Sacramento and head on back to Santa Cruz while we head on to Hanford. My mom may be riding the train up to Sacramento to ride with us 4 hours back to Hanford! Imagine 37 hours on a train with a 3 and 5 year olds! Praise God for friends and family!

God's Funny Sense of Humor, part 1

It's been almost a month since I've written anything.
To be honest, I have been in a... funk. I feel so... I don't know. It's been so hot I can't even stand to be outside (remember, I'm from Central California Coast where 72 degrees can be hot!). So I've spent my days tucked away in our apartment with the windows and blinds closed to keep out the heat, with the fans blowing on high to act as our pathetic AC. Yeah, no AC.

Hee hee!

I have also been feeling discouraged about what we are going to do. I am enjoying it. The people are great, the food is wonderful, not having to cook is a dream! But, I miss home. This feels very temporary and I am really feeling it. I want a home. Near family.

God must have really taken sympathy on me because we have had several options come up as to what we could do after this. :)

After I had decided to settle down and even thought of where that would be, a wonderful opportunity opened up in North Carolina. Free rent on 19 acres to do what we would like on it. 2 houses, a tractor with all the attachments for Rob, 2-3 acres garden area... Whoa! We looked into, the lady wants us to come. I am leaving a lot out, but you get it. Some negatives of it: an hour to anywhere, no electricity (it does have solar), what about income, and it's a long way from California. But we decided we would plan on that. I was very excited, our families were somewhat excited for us (I think they were pretending!).

After that, I got a call from some wonderful people in the British Virgin Islands to see if I would like to come there to help with a health food store/restaurant/lifestyle center. Did someone say ISLAND???

The view from my hammock in my mind!

But Rob had no interest in that. I know, what planet is he from??? :)

There was cowboy who visited the farm the other day that informed Rob he is wanting a family to come live on his ranch to work a garden. He raises organic cattle (I'm not sure if he butchers them there). He would pay for everything, he has horses... Rob was smitten. He wants to be around horses. It sounded nice, I will agree, except the cattle part. I keep thinking about smells of a slaughterhouse... : /

I decided to choose a friendly picture of a cow

Just today I had a message from a friend who recently moved to Kentucky. To make it short, there are possibilities for us out there, including a nursing job for me, which I would like very much!

There others that I'm not mentioning, but would be wonderful as well. But, after praying and praying, we have decided to take a step in a particular direction. That will be in part 2.

Please pray for us!