Can I tell you right off, that God has such a perfect plan for His children.
Even during those times none of it makes sense.
Let me see if I can break this down in the shortest possible way, without confusing myself or anyone else. Although I really doubt this will be short :) – but if you want to know the whole story, read along.
1) June 2011 my husband was asked to resign as Pastor at a church we had served faithfully for almost 4 years. When this happened we had NO CLUE what we would do. Our 1st thought was “we’d have to go move in with my parents again…” – but we knew that be so hard on them, esp since our family had grown. So we searched for other options. It was a very hard and crushing time. We were heart broken things were ending the way they were – and felt such sadness over the situation.
2) During the next month 1/2 we were so unsure where God would take us… or what to do. We bought as much time as we could and even though the odds were against us, we got into a program that takes in hurting Pastors and their families… In this program they love on you, provide a home and time to get back on their feet… 100′s of Pastors apply for it each year, in fact I think that year 300 had applied… and yet only a handful get in, when we got in there were only 8 families? maybe 9. Travis knew about the program from following their Pastor for years. He respected him greatly.
3) August 2011 – 2 months after my husband was asked to resign.. he did finally go through with the request… despite the fact he did nothing biblically wrong. We knew us being there with the leadership against us, would do no good. So we left… and felt totally confident the Lord wanted us to go into this program in GA – and step out of ministry for some time. All that being said, we now know what seemed so wrong… and so hurtful and bad.. the Lord meant for good. We would of never “chosen” to go through things that way… but God saw the bigger picture.
4) Mid Aug 2011 – we moved to GA and began our journey in COR.
5) From Aug – Oct – Travis had a severance package with the former church, that held us over financially. Even though the program we were in was there for us – being able to pay your own bills is helpful, and we were glad we were able too. After his severance ran out… we were so unsure what we would do in order to contribute financially. Travis had applied for countless jobs at that point… none of them had come through. Jobs such as UPS, FedEx, that sorta thing… nothing permanent… just a job to provide some income during this season. While you are in this program they ask that you don’t seek another ministry position until you graduate the program. However, with Travis having 3 degrees, ALL of them in “ministry type areas” – finding a “normal” job, was easier said than done…
6) 1 month after his Severance ended – Nov 2011 – I was offered a job with BOBA photographing their line. I had tried promoting my photography business around town but it was difficult. Even though Im a professional now and not new… no one knew us. So it was hard to get the word out. I tried everything, from sending letters to local businesses, advertising on peoples facebooks, and so on. I got some jobs but not enough to support our family. Being able to work for Boba was the perfect solution. I am so thankful for them!
7) I also began to earn a good amount of money through sponsored post on my blog…. enough to cover our groceries and some each month! Such a blessing.
8) Jan. 2012 – Even though Travis had not worked since Aug 2011, except for doing some occasional painting for a local business man, we were in the best financial shape we had ever been. Almost totally debt free… none of it made sense :) – but it was just really cool to see.
Now….
9) In Feb. 2012 – I found out something interesting. During the time we are here, we have to go through some pretty intense counseling and group time with others in the program… things surfaced that we had never dealt with in our marriage and lives… that we really needed to… but because we were serving in full time ministry, the focus on these things was never a priority… we always poured ourselves into others, and so often put ourselves and our marriage on a back burner. Not healthy btw. We were, in the words of a guy here :) – “surviving” – which is so sad if you think about it… but so common for those serving in ministry…
Throughout the process, things have been very emotional… and the thought of expanding our family was last on our list. It just did not seem like the right time…
10) God obviously had other plans. Early Feb 2012 - I began to sense I was expecting and decided to take a test… sure enough it was positive… I decided to wait a few weeks to tell Travis… due to the situation we were in during that month being a bit tense and emotional… even telling him seemed “not right” at that moment. I held off until Feb 14th, Valentines Day… and finally told him that morning.
11) His 1st words “How is that possible?” – Well I can think of a way haha, but really… it was a shock. The month that this would have happened, was during one of the most emotional months we’ve had here… and for it to happen with us not even trying – is such evidence this is what the Lord wanted.
We however decided at that time, to keep it a secret from the world…
I wanted to share the news… but I was so uneasy about sharing it – with everyone knowing Travis was unemployed… our situation was far from ideal.
12) At around 9 weeks – we began to share it with those in the program we are in… I felt I could not share honestly with the group hiding it… and they all thankfully embraced the news :) – but even from then on, we were keeping it under wraps… from family even.
13) At 10 weeks I finally went to the Dr. I had to wait for medicaid to kick in… it after all was our only option, as we could not afford health care, AT ALL… It took 6 weeks for the medicaid to clear! despite them telling us it only take 10 days :) – good thing this was baby #4… and not #1… I think had it been our 1st I would of been slightly nervous waiting so long. I went in though and baby looked great… heart rate was strong – and baby measured perfectly. My vitals were good too. Here is baby’s 1st picture :)
14) Now lets rewind a bit. Back in Oct 2011 - Travis began filling out forms for a Law Enforcement Job. It was something he was always drawn too deep down… but because he felt God had called him to “full time ministry,” it was never an option. It was a long shot but he applied for a particular position regardless. Actually, this particular job was the second one he had applied for… with the first one, other candidates who had already been trained were picked instead. Being somewhat discouraged and disappointed, he decided to try just one more time. So, he filled out the application online and waited to hear something back. About 2 weeks later, he received a letter inviting him to come to do a physical agility test. This occurred in mid Nov. All through December he waited to hear something. Nothing… Not a word. Discouraged and disappointed again, he figured this was just not God’s will.
15) To our great surprise, Travis received a call in mid Jan, asking if he was available to come in for an interview… right before I found out I was pregnant. The interview went well, and they wanted to proceed to the next steps of the process, which meant extensive background checks, giving many references, getting a physical, psychological testing and evaluation, polygraph test… and so on. He did it all…
16) Yet here we were March 2012… and still had not heard back from the law enforcement agency. Each passing week we waited to hear if he got the job. Nothing.
17) As my pregnancy progressed I began to show – and so we began telling locals, as it was hard to hide. Just so you know, with 4th babies, your belly just pops right out… I look so much more pregnant now, than I ever did with my 1st three.
18) In April my dad told me he was wanting to come visit… it was his 60th birthday the end of April – and since they had not been since Nov… he figured it was a good time to drive down and see us. Him and my mom at this point did not know… I knew once they came, we’d have to tell… I was however fearful on how he’d take it, since Travis still… had no job.
19) April 17th, 2012 – My husband gets a call… they want him to come in for the final interview of the process for this job. The interview was scheduled for April 20th, 2012 – a day before my parents were due to visit.
20) April 20th, 2012 came… and my husband went to the interview… did in fact… get the job! He is no longer unemployed and will start his new job mid May…
Now ill stop with the counting :)
But can I just say. God has such a perfect plan.
When none of it made sense… when we were so unsure… questioning things… so confused… in a constant state of limbo… just waiting… for an answer. God knew.
He knew I would get pregnant when I did.
He knew it would come at a hard time…
He knew we’d be scared and unsure.
But He also had us right in His hands… and was so faithful.
He knew my anxious thoughts… I really believe because he knew I was nervous to tell my parents… due to the job situation – the fact they called 1 day before my parents visit, is as if God wrapped his arms around me and said “you can rest.”
We are so thankful for how God has provided for our family.
A year ago I would of never dreamed we’d be where we are today. So many things have changed.
We won’t be in full time ministry in the traditional sense for some time, if ever again…we just don’t know what God has in store, but wow what a mission field my husband will have! And that is exactly the way he sees it…God calling him to be what he has preached and encouraged so many church members to be for years… salt and light in a dark and dying world. We also believe, this has the potential to open so many possible doors… and while I am fearful in some ways of the danger his job will bring… I can’t help but have just an overwhelming peace, knowing God has a Perfect Plan. :)
& for those curious, how far along I am.
That will all be revealed soon ;-) may as well drag my feet a wee bit more right?
