#blessing – Team Carter's Big Adventure

Ever since David started his real-estate journey, approximately fourteen months ago, we have been a one-car family. Actually, upon reflection, we have not owned two vehicles since 2012. (His work van did not count as “ours”, although it was a blessing to have to commute with). Seeing that number of months is crazy to wrap my head around. I don’t know how we did it with two littles and two very different schedules. David and I have prayed for the provision of a second vehicle since October 2016. I suppose we are picky, because we couldn’t drive a clunker (not in the real estate business). It became a frequent saying of David’s because he had so much favor this year in real estate, he would tell his coworkers, “Hey man, if I can sell houses in a mini-van, what’s your excuse?” And the Honda Odyssey was (and is) serving us well. Our requirements for a second car were: it had to be big enough to fit 3 car seats (in case the Honda is ever out of commission in the shop) and it had to be new enough and reliable for David’s work commute and presentable to go to appointments. Also, David has a thing for Toyota 4Runners. We are also still making car payments on the Honda, so for our family, it didn’t make sense to take out a second car loan. Going into more debt just didn’t seem like the best option for us. No, we were not picky in the least…

Opportunities would come up to look for a car, or maybe put a down payment on something, but we kept hearing “wait…”

I am so grateful over the past fourteen months to have had rides from family and friends who were willing to take us to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store and run errands for us throughout that “waiting period.” I am thankful that we live a mile away from a CVS and Harris Teeter and two gas stations and a bank (if I needed to walk, I could). It made me exercise and get the kids outside. I am so thankful for our double stroller that enabled us to make those walks. I am thankful that there is a playground in our neighborhood and plenty of walking space to get us out of the house. I’m thankful for the mommies and littles of “The Mommy Group” who came to my house to entertain us weekly and help me keep my sanity. Most of all, I’m so thankful that God has given David an incredible work-ethic and an amazing job that has enabled us to put a down payment on a friend’s 2003, Toyota 4Runner and pay it off fully by Spring.

Many thanks to our generous friends who are letting us buy their Toyota, it is going to be such a blessing to us! Y’all have championed us while we lamented and dreamed of a second vehicle. You are awesome friends, who saw our need as a family. Now they are being blessed with a third car (and wanted to bless someone else with their Toyota) and they said they thought of us. We are so thankful for their generosity and friendship!

I’m telling you guys, the year is not over yet and God is still working! We didn’t have the money anymore for a down payment, when they proposed the idea of selling their car to us. I had no clue how we were going to save up again to find something at a dealership. I just figured we would have to “make due” and somehow I was hoping God would provide before the baby arrived. (Y’all, he’s coming in 2.5 months….that is crazy!)

To our wonderful Christmas surprise, family gave us money for Christmas and these friends blessed us with a great deal of a car! THANK YOU LORD! We have wanted this for so long!! And thank you, friends, who have stood by us in prayer for this last year as we were waiting and praying to find the “right car.”

We are thankful for so many things from 2017. Lots of things happened this year, but it was truly a year of “repayment for things that had been lost.” It was repayment and growth from 2011 when we gave up so much to “say Yes!” to volunteer missions. God has given us everything back and more that we “gave up.” And the best part? HE HAS EVEN MORE TO GIVE OUT. Not just to us, but to everyone who obeys what He says to do, in every season. In this instance, David gave up his green 4Runner back in 2010. Faith came “full circle” this Christmas and he now has another (even newer) one! We are still in shock…

So, are you ready for the blessings God will give you in 2018? We are. We hope that this year is YOUR BEST YEAR, YET!

With so much love, joy and hope, Team Carter

Hey family and friends!

Just wanted to give you an update as to what we have been up to over the past month of returning to the States, coming home to South Carolina, taking some “us” time, preparing for Miriam’s birthday and seeing family and friends. Our traveling schedule has been quite different this time coming home (as we can’t be as mobile as we would like to be), but we see confirmations everyday that it was the best decision for our family to come back to South Carolina.

For starters, the three plane rides home were an adventure all in itself. Our flight that left from Cusco was delayed for a few hours, so they waived our extra luggage fees. We were blessed to get an amazing deal with Delta airlines with first-class tickets from Lima to Atlanta and while we can’t say that we got the full “first-class experience” (who wants dinner at 1:45am?), sleeping for 5-6 hours straight was a blessing in itself. We didn’t care that the flight from Atlanta to Charlotte was delayed and freezing cold, we were just happy to get home with all of our luggage. We were surprised at the airport by David’s dad and some sweet friends who had a gift bag for Miriam. Our first meal on American soil was Bojangles.

An update on all things Miriam: we got to the house and David’s parents and aunts had our room set up with nursery things. It really put our mind at ease to see all the furniture and the thought they put into “our family space.” We were also blessed by our family at Faith Baptist Church (in Swansea, SC) who gave us a baby shower one weekend. Miriam got so many beautiful clothes, afghans and diapers! The state of SC is paying for Miriam’s prenatal care and giving us a free birth with a great hospital (less than 5 minutes away from the house). Our team of OBs (the ones we have met so far) are all very nice and helpful and they have all said that Miriam is doing great–totally normal and healthy. Her due date was actually a bit off than what we previously had thought, so her new date is supposed to be April 22nd. (If she doesn’t come on that date, please refrain from asking me when she’s coming…I don’t know any more than you do 🙂 God said it will be “a surprise.”) Also, thanks to living at high altitude in Cusco for awhile, the docs say my hemoglobin levels are “off the charts, amazing.” Little elevation here makes me a bit of a super-human.

Jen at 36 weeks

David and I have felt very encouraged to see family, to spend time with them and to catch up with friends this month. We can’t express how loved we felt (and still feel) from people and their generosity. We are thankful for your phone/Skype conversations, treating us to dinner or coffee, asking us what we need for Miriam, opening your homes to let us spend quality time with you, to let us talk for hours on end in English, ect. We really appreciate everything!

seeing old friends and old waterfalls

As far as what God has been teaching us over the past month: we need to continue to trust him. He has proven over and over again how much he loves our family and how he wants to take care of us (see examples above). He provides even though the cost of living here is more expensive than what it was in Peru. He provides the desires of our hearts. So we can trust him for our future plans. We both feel like we are on the edge of discovering something BIG with our next steps, but we are still discerning exactly what that is and what that looks like. (Becoming parents is definitely a new, very BIG, adventure in itself and we feel that God will reveal more to our family after Miriam gets here). Until he gives us a clear picture of where our family is headed next, I (Jen) am going to be a stay-at-home mommy.

How can you be praying for us over the next few weeks, you ask?

1. For a smooth and easy delivery for Jen and Miriam (and David–as he is the pillar of emotional support). Team Carter is ready to go at 38 weeks…now we wait and see.

2. A job for David: he had an interview for a job in Charlotte last week and will hear in back in the coming week.

Team Carter's Big Adventure

Tag: #blessing

It’s A Christmas Miracle, the story of our second vehicle!

Y’all Come Back Now! (International Move Returning to the USA from Peru)