We had a good-bye party today for Thang, Jennifer and Reyshawn. We already had ours because we are done at MSU but since we are still in Bozeman we went to theirs. They are moving to Seattle to be on campus at UW. It is so bittersweet for us and our team. Matt, Shana, Thang and myself met 12 years ago on a summer project and have worked together at MSU for 8 years along with Bob. We have walked through hard life things, great life things and watched God do incredible things in ministry together. We have grown to be more than co-workers and friends, these people (all of our MSU team) are like our family. So to say good-bye to seeing them every day is totally heartbreaking. We are so excited for what God is calling all of us to however.

One of the hardest things I think about leaving though is that it’s not just us that has to give up friends, Jenna does too. During out time there today Jenna turned to me and said “Look at all my friends.” She was looking around and admiring all the people who she loves and loves her back and to have to leave that is so hard. Thankfully we are moving to Portland with a great team who Jenna will love seeing and living life with but it’s still hard to leave these friends. I always pray that instead of us, and Jenna, seeing  people come and go as a loss but as an incredible gain of friendships for the sweet season that it is. And we never say good-bye, just see you later.

So here’s to an end of an era and moving on to the next.

I’m hesitant to even do this post. But here it is anyway.

I’m reading a book by Max Lucado called Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms. It’s been such a great addition to my quiet times with the Lord. God has used Psalm 23 in my life in some really intense ways and was a turning point in my relationship with Him a few years ago as a result of losing our first baby. We’re at such a different place in our lives right now but God again is using this Psalm and this book to challenge me. I may share a few times from this book. Here’s the first nugget that really rocked my boat so to speak.

The section titled “I shall not want” then has a statement below it and this is what it says.What you have in your Shepherd is greater than what you don’t have in life. I say that I believe that but do I really? Do I live that out? Do you? Is God enough for me all the time? Is God enough when we’re infertile and long for another child? Is God enough when our house isn’t selling? Is God enough when we lose support as a result of moving to a new city that He is clearly asking us to go to? Is God enough when we have to give up friends, the beauty of Montana and a whole lot of comfort? I could go on and on.

I am thankful for this: “You have a God who hears you, the power of love behind you, the Holy Spirit within you, and all of heaven ahead of you. If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner, and an anchor for every storm. You have everything you need.”

We went shopping last week with our friends Christina and Andy because Jenna is going to be the flower girl in their wedding. Jenna is SO excited and keeps asking when the wedding is going to be. It’s hard for a 3 year old to wait 3 more months. It was so fun to see her in the dress section and frantically pick out her favorite dresses (she’s unaware at this point that the Bride gets to make the final pick) to try on. Every time she would try one on she would run out of the dressing room yelling “Daddy Look!” She was so excited to show her daddy (and Andy) her beautiful little dress and it brought Matt delight to see her in it and her excitement as well. It’s such a sweet picture as a parent that I’ll treasure forever. There’s nothing sweeter than a dad with his little girl. But it’s also such a sweet picture of how God feels when we run to Him yelling “Daddy look” when we are so delighted with something that just brings our hearts joy. He delights in us and wants us to run to Him like that too. It was a reminder that I should do that more often. Who knew that dress shopping with a 3 year old could be so sweet (minus the meltdown we almost had when she didn’t want to take off the pretty dress).

*picture courtesy of Madelena Photography