When we left Thailand, we were stepping into a big unknown. Everything from jobs, to where we would live, to a community of believers we could join seemed like one big question mark of “Ok God, show us what you want us to do.” People were asking us, “What’s your plan?” Aside from visiting friends and family, we didn’t have one, so we left that up to God to plan for us.

Over the last month and a half we have been blessed by a really sweet time of encouragement and refreshment from our families and friends. Thank you to everyone who penciled us in their busy schedules to have a meal with us, talk with us, worship with us and show us amazing hospitality. If we missed you, no worries, we will have to arrange something very soon!

During this time, we flirted with the idea of living in Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina, but there weren’t any doors opening up. Then out from left-field, our former boss from camp called David and offered him a job working in the facilities department. He knew we would only be in Charleston temporarily, but offered him the job anyway. (In a worldly sense, you don’t give someone a job if you know they’re leaving in 6 months time, that’s crazy.) David’s loving working with a bunch of solid, Christian guys that he already had a relationship with, but he can continue to build-up and encourage them and vice versa. Meanwhile, I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off trying to also find a job. Sometime during my week of searching, I stopped into the James Island Chick-Fil-A and my former boss from summer camp was working as a manager, as well as two other friends from camp. (Camp St. Chick-Fil-A, anyone?) I took that as a sign and applied because I knew I wanted to be in a place where I could serve others and be encouraged. The Lord knew what he was doing and I got hired as a team-member. David and I are both in great positions with co-workers that we love and who encourage us and show grace.

We are so grateful to my parents and brothers for letting us stay with them for an extended amount of time at their house while we were in transition. We appreciate their generous hospitality to adjust to our moving in with them and grace while adjusting to the fact that their daughter is not an 18-year old college student any longer, but their son-in-law’s wife. The typical reaction when we said we were living with my parents was “WOW” or “that’s really hard.” It definitely was an adjustment period, for both parties,but it was also an answer to prayer for provision and it went better than I could have ever anticipated it would go. Thanks Mom and Dad, Banks and Jake. We love you guys.

As grateful as we were for the living arrangement with them, we were also praying for a place of our own where we could be our own family. After MUCH praying and lots of doors (literally) opening and closing, we met a wonderful couple, Lester and Nancy, who offered to let us rent out their summer home on Johns Island for an amount that not only fit our budget, but also came fully furnished and with a dock. We feel so incredibly blessed by this opportunity and we have given this house to God and His purposes.

Our door is open if you need a meal, place to stay, encouragement, ect. Just ask. 🙂 We want to be good stewards of what God has so generously blessed us with.

(the view from our dock)

Our Daddy has also led us to a wonderful life-group that meets throughout the week with City Church (downtown Charleston). It’s a group with single and married people, young and old, in all places of life and we can eat, pray and worship with each other. We are surrounded by amazing friends who we can be in community with who continue to pray and build us up in our faith journeys.

WOW God, you are such a good Daddy to us! Jobs–check. A house–check. Being in community with other Christians–check. All we have to do is ask and you love, love, LOVE to give way beyond our imagination. We know that this season is  temporary and you will continue to lead us as we are seeking you, but we are so thankful to spend a season rejoicing in your goodness and provision. Thank you Jesus! We love you so much!!