My Provider

After 2 days at Gaston Hospice, I have been offered a full-time position. Praise the Lord! He knows our needs and provides so well. I am very encouraged so far that the folks at Hospice are compassionate professionals who love what they do. I think it's going to be a really special time.

and Speaking of Kids...

We are thrilled to announce that we are about 6 (ish?) weeks pregnant (see photo--the little bugger is in the small circle in the NE corner of the black blob). It was all I could do to not run screaming around my new office today when she called me. WOOOHOOOO!!! I am obviously and absolutely and entirely excited about this. Our Father knows and has been so faithful to us. We know the child is and is always in His mighty and capable hands...even regardless of what happens from here....we know He will always be good and sovereign. I celebrated this and the many other milestone changes of the last month with a new (and first) piercing in my left ear lobe this afternoon. Looks kind of like the picture--made of niobium and is more of a dusky bluish gray. Hurt pretty good. Thank you Ink Link of Gastonia! That's all for now. Thanks to all who have been praying and encouraging us.
dk

New chapter

We've been home for 2 weeks now. In that time, we've done simple things like get our budget back in shape, switch to cable internet, get a new cell plan, visit friends, etc. The hard part has been working out the "take homes", know what I mean? What did it all mean for us? How have we come home changed? How has our thinking been changed with respect to life and God and Church and Purpose? Needless to say, but this is of course an ongoing process. One thing I know, though, is that I am always to be "on mission". I believe my life here is purposeful, that I have been put here and kept here and rescued for a purpose, for life. This has made a real difference in my thinking, my routine, my days. When I talk to people, I know that every interaction is purposeful. I don't believe in accidents or coincidence. While I am not in control of every aspect or outcome, I am simply here to trust and obey, to walk behind and serve in the steps of Jesus. Living in Sol Duc for 2 months stripped away a lot of the non-essentials. Left behind was a growing hunger for more and more of life as God Himself understands it. The Bible calls this zoe. The abundant life from John 10:10. This is no prosperity theology, but far more deep, far more lasting, and far more satisfying. He has just recently shown us His faithfulness, for which we are so grateful. I have accepted a job with Gaston Hospice as a social worker (starting Monday). I took the job expecting it to be part-time/as-needed for a while until a full-time position came available. But yesterday, while getting a pre-employment medical screen, the boss called to say that a FT position is coming open immediately so I'll be putting in for a transfer on my first day! Amazing! Also, we received our final paychecks from Aramark on the same day I got the new job. And all this on a day when we were looking at our budget and praising God, not because there was an obvious abundance (there wasn't), but because we knew that He is a Provider and He never fails His kids.

New pics up!

Have got the rest of our trip pictures (selected) up on the photo page. Some of them are out of order for some reason. Working on titles and descriptions and think I will try to tell the narrative of our trip home that way rather than doing that and redundantly posting it here as well. I plan to keep both pages going though with whatever strikes us as something we'd like to share. Of course jobs and future thoughts rest heavily on us now but we are confident in our Lord to provide and to lead. Thanks again for following us virtually on our adventure.
much love
dk

Safe at home

We've had a home run of a couple months. Promise to get latest pics and stories up soon. Tonight...pet the dog, do laundry, eat chinese takeout, make calls to family, sleep in own bed, that's all. Thanks to all for following our adventure...will keep the blog and pic page going on. Love to all and all praise to our Father for an amazing time.
dk and lx