Most of you reading this blog will know Eric and I enough to know this story. BUT, I thought it would be good to have it all written down in one spot. Let's see how well I can articulate how this journey has transpired.
Years ago Eric and I prayed about direction in regards to his education, life goals, ministry opportunities, etc. Hearing God's voice is not easy, though. Our own ideas and desires very quickly muddy the waters. Eric has always had stirrings toward ministry and has never been able to settle on doing one particular thing. We've pursued many things in many places we thought God had called us to. It was a frustrating many years as we tried to refine God's voice. The most frustrating thing was probably talking to people about our dreams or our next plight and then having to share with all of those people why we eventually couldn't follow through. I firmly believe we didn't miss God's voice many years ago when Eric started pursuing finishing his college education at U of H Clear Lake, then at Sam Houston, then looking at SFA, then Baptist College of Florida, and now here at Hardin-Simmons University. I think there were many things gained in waiting until the right moment. So how DID we get here?
Earlier this year, Eric and I once again came together in prayer about applying to HSU. We didn't tell anyone! We prayed and came to believe that this was where we thought God wanted us. But by this point, we are a little gun-shy. So we approach everything with caution. Still no one knows. He applies for financial aid and follows through with the application procedure for HSU.
Meanwhile, Eric especially is unsure about our ability to follow through with selling our house. We decide to tell a select few people about our new adventure pursuit. Big step! So I ask a friend to help de-clutter and then ask a few realtors to come look at the house. There are some major issues with selling our house, foundation issues being only one of many. We met with one realtor Monday of one week and another Tuesday. I have an appointment scheduled with another realtor Friday that same week. But on Thursday, I began talking with a co-worker about helping me fax my application to Abilene High. In the process of talking with her about selling our house, another co-worker (whom I'd never met before) overheard and mentioned that she was in real estate. I asked her if she minded coming to look at the house Saturday. She got my information and I faxed my papers. On a side note, a friend of mine had told me about her connection with the superintendent of Abilene ISD. She put in a good word and assured me that he would help me if that's the direction I wanted to go.
Back to the house... Thursday evening, I told Eric I had scheduled another appointment and we got the kids through dinner and baths. As we were dressing them for bed, we got a knock on our door. Co-worker/real estate agent lady is at my house - unannounced at 8:30 pm. I'm already upset because it was pretty tacky in my opinion to knock on someone's door that late without a prior phone call. BUT we answer the door and she explains that her son is looking for a house and they wanted to walk through tonight if it was okay with us. Right... So they walk through and chat with us for a minute and leave within about 30 minutes. Long story short: we were still looking for a realtor with the house not yet listed (nor an asking price determined) and within 2 weeks we had a contract with this lady who wanted to pay cash for her son and daughter-in-law to move in immediately... like as in before school ended. YIKES but HALLELUJAH!
HUGE hurdle and God took us over it without a scrape of the knee. So, we've sold the house, but have no job. I sent an email to the superintendent in hopes that my friend was right in saying he would help me. He replied back that he'd help in any way he could (which seemed a little vague and political at first) So Eric and I come together to pray again about the job situation. Remember that teaching jobs in a town where there are three universities and a junior college are hard to come by. But we lay it before the Lord. Within 24 hours of that prayer, the principal at Abilene High called me and said that the superintendent had recommended me for a job and that he was eager to interview me that day! We scheduled a time for him to call back. He officially interviewed me later that day over the phone and said he was very interested. I told him I was too, but that I wanted to pray about it. We emailed back and forth in the next 2 weeks and God gave me a peace about the job. He called again 2 weeks after the first interview to conduct a second interview and in turn offer me the job over the phone! I accepted. 2nd hurdle cleared! HALLELUJAH!
So Eric and I are getting anxious again about the loose ends that haven't been tied up. We didn't have a place to live and couldn't afford much. We didn't live in Abilene, so we couldn't just go drive around... We had applied for married student housing for HSU but hadn't heard back yet. So once again we get together and specifically petition the Lord to provide. Within 24 hours, we get a call saying that we have a housing assignment AND it happened to be the house that Eric and his roommates lived in before he left HSU (and the house we met in :) )! 3rd hurdle cleared! HALLELUJAH!
Somewhere in there, he gets accepted to HSU and receives some scholarship money. Two more victories! People from Heights bless us with gifts, money, prayers, a brand new Mac laptop! The blessings keep pouring out and God continues to confirm His will in ways he really didn't have to!
God had paved the way for us to get to Abilene! All we had to do was say goodbye and take the steps He would lead us down. Goodbye was hard. I won't lie. I still miss the comforts of having family near, having a fireplace, a backyard with more than 2 trees, friends to hang out with, a dishwasher, etc. But God has been SO faithful in getting us here, there's been no doubting His plan.
So as we are settled now and struggling through a new set of hurdles, we covet your prayers! Getting here was easy. God made it easy. Nothing has been easy since. We are continually having to let go of our materialism and well... OUR plan. God hasn't been too predictable, but He's ALWAYS been faithful! He's pruning and providing. Eric and I are closer than we've ever been. Our kids are a bit lonely... we're still praying through that one. But OH how He's been faithful to us!
Pray for Eric (well all of us) as he will be serving at a small local church (we think the vote will go through :) ) and still going to school full time. We believe God has led us there and will be faithful in accomplishing His purposes through us there! Pray that we keep our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith and that we would run this "race" well! Thank you all for your encouragement and support through all of this! We couldn't have done this as well without such a strong network behind us! We love you all!
Melissa, Eric, Clayton and Bryson
And yes, I will try to update the blog more often and keep it shorter in length :) (I started this entry back in July... haha)
