Smells like Change!

Mid March.  In less than one month our family will be experiencing the first of many big changes in our lives this year, Our Year of Transition.  Eek!

In January of 2009 Darren and I started working in a group home at Gateway Woods Family Services with pregnant and teen moms.  Shortly thereafter Tallie arrived in the world, followed by Kaia in the fall of 2011.  We have enjoyed our time at Gateway, but always knew that it was temporary; a step to further missions, if you will.

Darren has had a desire to formally study The Word since we were at Purdue getting our Bachelor's degrees.  It's five years later, and God has never stopped pressing this desire deeper into Darren's heart and mind.  Darren knew that this was no small calling, but he worried about finances and the stresses associated with him going back to school with a young family.  We put off Darren going back to college, and in the meantime we were enjoying our time fulfilling our calling at Gateway.  

One night, when we were at my parent's house for a few days, Darren couldn't sleep.  He was wrestling with God, knowing that he was clearly being asked to go to school to study The Bible...but there was that $ question again.  We don't have much of this stuff, and him going back to school would really put us in the hole.  Did God REALLY want us to go into debt?  And besides that, what in the world did God want Darren to do with this new degree?  Would we even be able to dig out of that financial hole?  Full of confusion and worry, Darren opened his Bible. That night God breathed His Peace into Darren. God told Darren not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).  Darren was refreshed and his resolve renewed.

Over the next few months Darren spoke with both my dad and his dad, who threw their full support behind Darren, even offering financial help!  What a blessing and relief.  Darren also spoke to two elders within the Apostolic Church.  Everywhere we went, doors opened.  Now Darren's spiritual gifts are vast, but Faith is probably his strongest gift.  Now, me...Faith doesn't even hardly make it in my top 10, I struggle with Faith.  I was thinkin' "Oh man, your dad is gonna kill you with lectures, and my dad is just gonna not gonna know what to do!"  But it all went smooth.  Now, things haven't been perfect; but we couldn't ask for more.  Amazing, supportive family and friends and a clear calling.  We still have no idea what God has in store for after this phase, but we are walking in God's Will, and that's enough.

Well, that is our story thus far.  Our blog is now open!

Love, Britni