4th thing I have learned....
Community exists everywhere- you just have to be willing to jump in and be a part of it.
Moving cities, let alone to a different province was not in my 5 year plan! We had spent the last 13 years in Saskatoon and in that time we had cultivated relationships and been intentional aboutgrowing and developing community. this was the longest I had ever lived anywhere and it truly felt like home. When I finally came around to recognizing and accepting the call that had been placed in our lives to move, I knew that part of this was going to be creating a new community for our family.
I am so thankful for our friends in Saskatoon and continue to look forward to our times together- whether in person, Skype or by email! The type and amount of conversations have been altered but knowing that we are still there for each other provokes gratefulness and thankfulness - we put the effort in when we could and it has paid off big time!
So when we were preparing to move, I prayed feverently that we would find people we could connect with, that we could develop friendships with, that we could live life with. And even though it shouldn't be a big surprise, God showed BIG TIME. The beginning of these relationships have been firmly planted-
** Riley's job has blessed us with a community already available. The people that he works with are amazing, supportive and welcomed our family with open arms. Not to mention all of the students who love our kids and are willing and want to hang out with them! Our oldest is over there helping in the kitchen as I write :)
** We knew what church we would be attending before we arrived and I was anxious ( still am some days) because we have always been in pastoral ministry and to be together as part of a church body without Riley at the front and me keeping 4 kids under control was foreign! But we have met some great people and families. Just 2 weeks before we moved here another family moved here, who has 5 kids, the oldest being good friends with our oldest son and their twins being the same age as little man ( and also adopted)! God's timing is amazing- they have become good friends and part of our life group as well!
**as many of you know, my heart for orphan care and adoption runs deep. I felt that just before we left SK, I was beginning to have stirrings of doing more, speaking more, serving more. I put those thoughts on the back burner as we settled our family and started all of our adoption paperwork in AB. Soon after we got here, we started talking to people who wanted to adopt. We met adoptive families everywhere it seemed, even on the playground one evening. I met another woman who is planning to adopt a child from the country she was born in. We skyped with good friends and heard about their desire to adopt. I have made initial connections with families around AB and my heart is stirred up again!! God showed me loud and clear that their are people everywhere with similar passion and values and that He can use me regardless of my geographical location.
** God has placed a woman in my life who has been before me and has been such an encouragement . This alone, at this time in my life is such a good thing.
I could go on, but suffice to say that I have learned that if I am open and trusting, God continues to provide- and provision of friendships, a church community and all the other people who we talk with regularly is a good...good...thing.
Blessings,
Candra
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| Matsumotos - best shaved ice ever! |
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| North Shore surf watching |
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| My best friend of 20 years, my husband of almost 15 years ..humbled & thankful for the journey we are privileged to be on together! |
SECOND THING I HAVE LEARNED....
Responding to God's call, however hard it is, is necessary to learn and grow and move forward in the adventure of the life God has set before us
I had a great conversation with a lady at church today about our adoption. She was unaware of our circumstance and had a lot of questions about our adoption, Ethiopia and adopting older children. She was genuinely interested and educated ( being an adoptive mother herself) and one question, I thought was particularly poignant. She asked" so are you adopting older children because it is faster or because you really want an older child?"
Between the lines, the question to me read " is it easier or is there something more?" We believe 100 percent that this adventure is a response to God's call in our lives. The desire to have more children is there ( but wasn't always), our kids are excited about it but there is an undercurrent that is more than just expanding our family. John Piper puts it this way " Adoption is God putting his grace on display most beautifully". It is tangible. It is missional living- i think i may write a post on just this at some point! It is learning more about who God is, through living life with another human being. it is a response.
So I have responded. And have put that response to action, along with my husband and kids. And as many of you now, I will take any chance I get to share my passion about adoption!!!
2012 brought with it many emotions that were unearthed as we responded to God's leading in many areas of our lives. In no particular order-
- finishing building our home that we knew we would not live in
- saying yes to a call to ministry in a new community- which took us away from a gret community
- responding to the diagnosis of a chronic condition with one of our children
- committing to adopting older child(ren)
- responding to my husband's leading and trusting Him as we spent the summer Camping ( it was a blast!)
- responding to God as he gently walking beside us as 4 house offers fell through, not knowing where we going to live 2 weeks before we moved, and then moving into a wonderful friends home for a couple of weeks (as she moved out) before we took possession of our new home.
The key learning point-respond and then trust.
All of this looks a little simpler when written down but life is messy. There are variable factors in everyday life that can either make things easier or harder. But I have learned more, grown more, trusted more and hopefully people have seen a little glimpse of Jesus through me.
Blessings,
Candra
As we were driving home from our first Christmas Adventure, I was contemplating the year we have had. It has been a year of unexpected turns,enduring hardships & many crazy occurrences. We have embraced a summer of camping, selling of our build, buying a beautiful home, new friends, new community and new opportunities. We have seen God's hand at work as He has prepared the way for us, gently guiding, comforting, and providing. And we have become closer as as family as we have responded to his voice and leading both in ministry and adoption. So at the end of 2012, I can honestly say it has all been worth it. God is good and He is faithful. Riley had felt from the very beginning of this journey (back in 2011) that he felt this would be from " strength to strength" and it has.
So to close 2012, I wanted to share with you 5 things that I have learned through this year. Each one will be a different post as there is too much to share in just one. So grab a tea, fins a comfy chair and join me as I share What God has been up to in my life.
FIRST THING I HAVE LEARNED
Taking risks is way better than not.
Let me first say, that this is my husband's natural state and for this I am Very thankful. God has graciously allowed me to grow into risk taking, and this year was no exception. I have to say that the decision and the time leading up to the decision to move our family to another city, province and join another ministry was a huge risk for me.
On paper, the pros far outweighed the cons for staying. And I fought it tooth and nail for a good 6 weeks. But the moment Riley share with me that he had received the call, I knew. That still small voice ( AKA the Holy Spirit) that said it was time to risk. To make a move. And when we made the decision and took the risk we leaned hard into God's faithfulness and provision. There were numerous things that happened that we kept asking why ( vehicles stolen, emergency surgery, failed offers on our home, etc.) but we kept going. And it was worth it. I know without a doubt that this is where God wants us for this time.
I also learned the value of taking a risk with our adoption. As you know from previous posts, we are in the midst of another adoption of a sibling group (2-3 kids). When we first prayed about this possibility in August, I was unsure as that is a lot of additional people in the family! But again, that still small voice kept nudging me...against my doubts of finances, the 'stigma' of being a large family, how I could have enough time for that many children, and many more....We knew it was more than us just wanting this but that another call had been placed upon our lives. And taking the risk was a great move. We have so much support from our social worker & our new community, both of which were unknowns when we decided to go for it. and now, as we await 2013, we look forward to hopefully knowing and meeting the children that God has for our family.
Taking a risk & responding to God's call has given me new perspective and allowed me to be reminded of my priorities. Following hard after God (even when it is seemingly the toughest thing ever) is far more life giving than living in relative comfort and perceived contentment. I have learned more about God, myself, my marriage and my children through stepping into the risk and I am forever grateful for it. Hopefully it will prove to also be a reminder in the future as well!!!
Blessings,
Candra
Christmas holidays have arrived & our kids are beside themselves with excitement. This year, we are with Riley's family for the beginning of the holidays and my family is coming to our new home in for New Years. I was joking with my dad that will have to have our first fire in our woodstove with his help ( our friends have been bugging us about doing this!). Christmas this year has had a completely different feel.
About a 2 1/2 weeks ago, Riley sustained a bad injury to his knee and continues to be on crutches. It is likely that he will need surgery but first we have to wait for an MRI (3+months). This development has led to me doing most of the driving, packing and packing up and unloading the van, all household chores etc. But it has also given me a new appreciation for all that my amazing husband does for me and for our family! I sure hope he is walking in the New Year.
Secondly, Riley's new job has given us a different rhythm and pace around the holidays. The students have been gone since the 14th and we ended the semester with a great staff party! The last week was full of Christmas concerts and hanging out with friends- it has been good. As we were heading out of town for the holidays, Riley and I both remarked that we already missed our home. That is a good sign that we have begun to put down roots in our new community, and for that we are truly thankful.
This Christmas also has a different feel as we continue to wait for our child(ren) from Ethiopia. Through advent, we began to learn a few phrases in Amharic along with our devotions. The kids continue to pray regularly for them ( as do we!) and are excited to welcome them home. Although we do not yet know who and how many, they are truly part of our family...we continue to pray hard for all the pieces to fall into place - for our home study to be approved in a quick timeline, for provincial approval letter to be signed and for our dossier to make its way overseas!!! God is so good and we thank and praise home for this incredible opportunity to expand out family-we continue to trust Him for all the practical aspects to be worked out as well!
So Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of a King and reflect on His glory and grace!!!
Blessings,
Candra
