The thoughts in my head today

Well, I started to post my thoughts in the status bar on Facebook and quickly realized there were way too many to post there. So many thoughts fill my head today as I sit here and type to the rhythm of new life tapping away in my tummy. On this day, one year ago, my husband, children and I (with our 13 lb. puppy in tow) boarded a one way flight from New York City to Southeast Texas. We were comfortable in New England. We were surrounded by so many things we loved. God was showing us favor and provision. He was using us and stretching us and life was good. We knew God had something big for our future, we just didn't know what....not yet anyway. One year later, we have had a minor glimpse into what God had been preparing us for, for many years. What a year it has been. The vision God has given us for our community and our region is far beyond anything we could have ever imagined. The road He is taking us on to get us there has been one we could have never planned. Many of you know that at the end of August 2017 our entire home and our entire church/school campus flooded as a result of Hurricane Harvey. We had been here for almost 8 months and I was 10 week pregnant. Thankfully, our family evacuated to Baton Rouge before the water reached our home. We were coordinating boat rescues and all kinds of other assistance from the hotel room several hours away. Those are days we will never forget. When we returned, we were blessed with a place to stay by an amazing family in our church. They did not flood and had an attached garage cottage that they willingly welcomed us into immediately. What a tremendous blessing. In December, one week before Christmas, our home was ready enough for us to move back in. We got a fake tree, put it up and celebrated being home! God is faithful. Through this time, we have been so blessed by our  church community, our friends and family out of state and churches around the country who have sent aid and supplies to our church for us to distribute to our community. We have been in awe at the hand of the Lord.
I still can't believe a year has gone by since we got here. We have gotten to love on so many new friends and family. Our hearts have been so blessed as we have spent our days and nights Pastoring a beautiful community of people. We are rebuilding the church and school campus. Today, our elementary students were able to move back onto campus and we are seeing progress everywhere we look. I believe in a year from now, everyone will look back with dropped jaws as we remember where we have come from. Even through disaster, we are seeing the Lord work. Every weekend, hands raise to say yes to Jesus. Families are being restored, a husband who has been prayed over for 10+ years came to church for the first time this past weekend! God is faithful people and we are beyond excited to see HIS vision come to fruition at Community Church.
Granted, we miss our friends, we miss our families, we miss the things that became familiar to us. But we know, to be chosen doesn't always mean to be comfortable. God has anointed us for this season and He focuses, equips and sustains us. He's a good, good Father!
We are excitedly expecting. We are expecting amazing things for our church and for our family. In March, we are expecting our third baby, another sweet little boy. We are thrilled. Not many know, but we have been trying off and on for the past three years or so for baby number three. Praise God for his answer to our hearts' desire. We cannot wait to meet Baby Ezekiel! Okay, I take that back. If we are being completely honest, we can wait to meet him. So far his room is stocked with his stroller, car seat, diapers and diaper bag! Haha. So he can wait for a little while so we can get all of his room done. When you are having to re-do your entire house, the baby room falls last.
Well, my lunch break is coming to an end. I am expecting great things for 2018 and I hope you are too. No matter where you find yourself today, know that God sees every detail. He wants to see you have your best year ever. Thanks for reading my thoughts for today. I will leave you with some pictures. Our last weekend in New England was spent in NYC, so this is Chris and the kids ice skating at Bryant Park. The second pic is them with their new school sweatshirts after we arrived in Texas. They have done great throughout the entire process and are learning and growing so much.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us during the last year. Many of you have called, texted, sent packages, sent gift cards, sent love notes and covered us in prayer! We could never thank you enough. Continue to pray as we rebuild and the Lord continues to pour the foundation of the excellently amazing vision He has for us and for our ministry here. Get ready Southeast Texas. Get ready, get ready, get ready!