WOW - I just looked at my blog and realized it has been FOREVER since I have posted!!! I wish I could keep it up but when I am in my every day life mode I don't think about blogging since I don't think I have much to share. I need to think about this and see what I can do!
Anyway, a lot has happened since I have posted.
First, I started a new job! After 17 years with the same company and took a huge risk and jumped into consulting! I LOVE it and have no regrets making this change. I love working with different people, different companies, different places in the country. I love flying but could do with the weekly travel woes that I have experienced but it comes with the territory!!! I just go with the flow and not let it get to me. Knowing that I have a loving husband to come home to every week is my reward!
To have my husbands unrelenting support is invaluable! I have learned to never take it for granted. People wonder how we can do it and have done it for so long (since 2001 with me commuting out of town every week). First and foremost, there is respect and trust between us. We trust each other. Second, we communicate. We talk EVERY evening and pray before going to bed. We also 'talk' during the day - a text here and a text there. We do everything possible to stay connected. The weekends we do things together and love the time that we do have! We are also thankful for the work that God has given us and the opportunities that our lifestyle gives us - travel, people, etc. Thankful for jobs that we love. Thankful for each other. We realize that this type of lifestyle isn't for everyone but then others lifestyle isn't for us. It's where God has us and is using us.
Another change we made this past year was change churches. This wasn't an easy decision. We had been with the church since it's start and were in leadership. It was a long time coming and wasn't made quickly but we knew when the time came to make the change it was the right thing to do. It wasn't easy and we learned a lot through the process. We wish we could have done a few things differently through the process and are sadden by some things but we don't regret the decision we ultimately made. Lots learned that's for sure. I am still saddened about the loss of friendships but I understand. When we left that was one of the risks we took. Feelings were hurt. :(
It's not that our former church was bad, it just wasn't the 'structure' that we were wanting. We don't believe in church hopping; we believe people need to be grounded in a church. God brings you to a church for a purpose. But sometimes He will also move you on somewhere else to show you something different. Is He going to use this as more training for future use in our work for the Kingdom? I believe so - in so many ways!
Anyway, God has led us to a wonderful church. The church is a 'come as you are' church, reaches out to folks in rehab, ministers to the homeless, has a passion for adoption and orphan care, believes in foreign missions, pastor that is not afraid to admit he is human, vibrant worship, eager to learn congregation, and real people who get to share the pulpit and preach what God has placed on their hearts. They are also a supporter of LAMb and have done fundraisers for Dayspring Family Life Resource Center in Kyrgyzstan. Also, it is where missionaries with LAMb attend and we didn't even realize that until we went there the first time! The church is STRONG believers in foster care and adoption. The passion and compassion for others that I am learning is amazing and refreshing. I can see how I can use this learning on the mission field! I'm excited to see how God is going to use us and changes us through this church.
Randy is teaching a Sunday school class that regularly has 18 people in it. We are viewing Andy Stanley's "Twisting the Truth" sermons for a second time. The discussions and what people are learning are wonderful and the new people that join us is refreshing. I'm looking forward to see how God uses Randy and his passion for teaching in the future. This church is hungry for teaching and learning! I still need to find my nitch. I think it's time that I reach out to the pastor and see where I can be used. He has given us a lot of space to rest and be refreshed. He and the leadership have been sensitive to our need for space and we have appreciated that! But we can't be complacent and dormant! We need to proceed and do the work of God!!!!
On the mission front, we both want to do more for LAMb International here in the states. We want to travel to adoption conferences and promote their mission, help raise funds for the team, find sponsors for the different programs and projects they are supporting, anything possible to raise awareness for a World Without Orphans! We plan on going back to Kyrgyzstan this fall/winter. We miss it and miss not being there this Spring. We miss the girls of Dayspring, the seniors at Kemin, and the men at the home. We miss the people and the friends we made during our previous trips. We miss serving and doing foreign Kingdom work! Please pray for us to find our place in missions. We don't know where God wants us and how He wants to use us. But, while here in the states we can raise awareness and we want to figure out how to do that with excellence.
Anyway, that's where we are right now. We are both lovin' life and the adventures that God is taking us through and can't wait for the next step!
Blessings!
Kim & Randy
Few pictures from our trip last year ... Can't wait to return!!!!
Anyway, a lot has happened since I have posted.
First, I started a new job! After 17 years with the same company and took a huge risk and jumped into consulting! I LOVE it and have no regrets making this change. I love working with different people, different companies, different places in the country. I love flying but could do with the weekly travel woes that I have experienced but it comes with the territory!!! I just go with the flow and not let it get to me. Knowing that I have a loving husband to come home to every week is my reward!
To have my husbands unrelenting support is invaluable! I have learned to never take it for granted. People wonder how we can do it and have done it for so long (since 2001 with me commuting out of town every week). First and foremost, there is respect and trust between us. We trust each other. Second, we communicate. We talk EVERY evening and pray before going to bed. We also 'talk' during the day - a text here and a text there. We do everything possible to stay connected. The weekends we do things together and love the time that we do have! We are also thankful for the work that God has given us and the opportunities that our lifestyle gives us - travel, people, etc. Thankful for jobs that we love. Thankful for each other. We realize that this type of lifestyle isn't for everyone but then others lifestyle isn't for us. It's where God has us and is using us.
Another change we made this past year was change churches. This wasn't an easy decision. We had been with the church since it's start and were in leadership. It was a long time coming and wasn't made quickly but we knew when the time came to make the change it was the right thing to do. It wasn't easy and we learned a lot through the process. We wish we could have done a few things differently through the process and are sadden by some things but we don't regret the decision we ultimately made. Lots learned that's for sure. I am still saddened about the loss of friendships but I understand. When we left that was one of the risks we took. Feelings were hurt. :(
It's not that our former church was bad, it just wasn't the 'structure' that we were wanting. We don't believe in church hopping; we believe people need to be grounded in a church. God brings you to a church for a purpose. But sometimes He will also move you on somewhere else to show you something different. Is He going to use this as more training for future use in our work for the Kingdom? I believe so - in so many ways!
Anyway, God has led us to a wonderful church. The church is a 'come as you are' church, reaches out to folks in rehab, ministers to the homeless, has a passion for adoption and orphan care, believes in foreign missions, pastor that is not afraid to admit he is human, vibrant worship, eager to learn congregation, and real people who get to share the pulpit and preach what God has placed on their hearts. They are also a supporter of LAMb and have done fundraisers for Dayspring Family Life Resource Center in Kyrgyzstan. Also, it is where missionaries with LAMb attend and we didn't even realize that until we went there the first time! The church is STRONG believers in foster care and adoption. The passion and compassion for others that I am learning is amazing and refreshing. I can see how I can use this learning on the mission field! I'm excited to see how God is going to use us and changes us through this church.
Randy is teaching a Sunday school class that regularly has 18 people in it. We are viewing Andy Stanley's "Twisting the Truth" sermons for a second time. The discussions and what people are learning are wonderful and the new people that join us is refreshing. I'm looking forward to see how God uses Randy and his passion for teaching in the future. This church is hungry for teaching and learning! I still need to find my nitch. I think it's time that I reach out to the pastor and see where I can be used. He has given us a lot of space to rest and be refreshed. He and the leadership have been sensitive to our need for space and we have appreciated that! But we can't be complacent and dormant! We need to proceed and do the work of God!!!!
On the mission front, we both want to do more for LAMb International here in the states. We want to travel to adoption conferences and promote their mission, help raise funds for the team, find sponsors for the different programs and projects they are supporting, anything possible to raise awareness for a World Without Orphans! We plan on going back to Kyrgyzstan this fall/winter. We miss it and miss not being there this Spring. We miss the girls of Dayspring, the seniors at Kemin, and the men at the home. We miss the people and the friends we made during our previous trips. We miss serving and doing foreign Kingdom work! Please pray for us to find our place in missions. We don't know where God wants us and how He wants to use us. But, while here in the states we can raise awareness and we want to figure out how to do that with excellence.
Anyway, that's where we are right now. We are both lovin' life and the adventures that God is taking us through and can't wait for the next step!
Blessings!
Kim & Randy
Few pictures from our trip last year ... Can't wait to return!!!!
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