Today we did one of the hardest things we've ever done which was announce to our church family that Jason will be leaving in August to accept a position as full time minister of music and worship at a church in Lancaster, SC. This has been in the works for us since the beginning of April, but for obvious reasons, it was not something we could talk about, discuss, or that I could blog about until we were sure it was definite. I don't even know where to begin to express my feelings about this move for us. On the positive side, it is truly an answer to our prayers and our families' prayers. Of course, having a child completely changes the way you view everything. Being a newlywed couple, I think it was a great thing for us to be in Anderson - a place that was comfortable for us because we met and went to college here but far enough away from our parents that we were allowed to be independent and learn to be a married couple. Once Camryn came into the picture, we really started to wish we were closer to our family. Jason and I both grew up with both sets of grandparents in the same town we lived in and playing a huge part in our lives. We, obviously, want that for Camryn as well. Jason was also very close to his aunts, uncles, and cousins growing up, and we want our daughter (and any future kids!) to have that same closeness with her family. The move to Lancaster puts us right in the middle of Jason's parents, my parents, and our sisters. This is also an exciting opportunity for Jason. He is going to a church that has some great talent waiting there but is basically a blank slate. He has the opportunity to really grow and stretch the music program at this new church. We are also very excited about the kind and welcoming people we have met there and the enthusiasm of the staff.
The negative for us, of course, is the reality of having to leave a place we now consider our home. I have tears in my eyes even as I'm typing this because we have met and grown to love some of the most wonderful, giving, precious people I know we will ever meet. We have invested in them, and they have so lovingly invested in our family, and it will be one of the hardest things ever to leave them. Without our immediate family here, they have become our family. They know everything about us (sometimes more than they want to know probably!) but love us anyway. Anderson is so special to us - we met here, had our first home here (the crazy basement apartment and our home now), had our first child here, had our first church here, and have been loved here. There will never be a moment that the people won't be in our thoughts and in our hearts!
So, right now, we are soaking in every bit of Anderson that we can! We're going out to eat way too much at all our favorite places, making ourselves permanent fixtures at some of our friends' homes, and just spending every free moment we can with people that we love. There are some scary unknowns out there right now for us - we have to sell our house in a pretty bad real estate market, we have to find a house that fits our taste and our budget, we have to find a daycare for Camryn, and I have to find a job! But, we are determined to give God all of the glory in this situation and know He has the details all worked out - we just have to be patient and watch them unfold. This has definitely been a decision we, our family, and our friends have prayed hard about, and we really feel God is leading us to this new town and church. This has to be a God thing, otherwise, I would not allow my husband to move me to a town without a Chili's! So, please be in prayer for us. This is huge, this is hard for us and our church, but it is also exciting. We'll keep you updated as it all happens!
