Updates: A Comedy in 3 Acts

Act 2- Dare You to Move

As I stated in my last post. One of my biggest prayers over the last year has been that God would make it possible for me to spend more time at home with Isaac. Please don't get me wrong, I love my job. Teaching is my passion and calling. I am in a career where I get to witness miracles. As much as I love teaching, I love Isaac more. But at the same time, if God asks me to stay at work, I will, because He knows best. But I am happy to share that God has released me from teaching for a few seasons and is giving me more days with Isaac.

This post is dedicated to the amazing past and the bright future.

Last Septemberish there was a classified ad in the Baptist Messenger. Let me be quick to point out that we do not peruse the Baptist Messenger for career opportunities- we have never been that way. Ryland's jobs have come through recommendations from other people or word of mouth. Let me also point out that we are not unhappy with Ryland's current job. I don't want anyone to get that idea either. Anyways, I believe that God showed it to me for a reason. The way the description was written, it was seeking a "Worship and Media Arts Pastor" for a church that had everything form senior adults to a skate church. Something about it made me tell Ryland that the description sounded like it was perfect for him. He is amazing at media stuff and even more phenomenal as a musician. We were actual speaking with another church about a different position at the time and God very clearly told us that job was a "no". So several weeks later we came back to that ad and prayed about the possibility of looking into it. God confirmed to both of us that He desired for us to proceed. We dusted off Ry's resume and sent it in. Over several months, a few phone interviews, a meeting or two with the search team, and a lovely weekend meeting the church family, God called us to go to Central Baptist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma.

We have no doubt that God lead us every step of the way to this place. There are some amazing blessings that were wrapped in with this new job.
1) Ryland's income is increasing enough that I am going to be able to stay home part time. I am planning to work at the pre-school at their church three days a week and take Isaac with me. I get Mondays and Fridays to be a stay at home mommy. I am crying with joy as I type this. God is so good! Don't get me wrong, we are not going to be rich, we just have an opportunity to scale back in some areas and make it work.
2) My two childhood best friends live in Owasso. Charity, Aubrey, and I were born within 2 weeks of each other, grew up in church together, went to school together, have been through EVERYTHING together. And I have no doubt that God has planned for us to be back in each other's lives for a reason. My Morgan from my teenage years is also across town. I am so excited!
3) I am 40 minutes away from my parents and grandparents. I have missed family things for 9 years and I am looking forward to making up for lost time.

Things that are sacrifices:
1) Lane and Jilian- Ryland and I are both leaving siblings here in the OKC metro. I don't even think we know how much we are going to miss them yet. I have loved being part of my nieces and nephew's lives. I love that we can randomly meet for dinner or be together for any tragedy or celebration. This part hurts.
2) 9 years of familiarity- The Edmond area has been my home since Fall 2001 when I moved here as a little college Freshman. I know this area. I have many precious friends here, and I love it here. This place is the setting to so many sweet memories. My first job, our first married home, our church homes, our alma mater. I will always love Edmond.

People ask me how I feel about it all. The only word that really fits is bittersweet. I am so thrilled to go, but just as sad to leave. I know that there are challenges ahead and so many sweet changes. We would be wrong to stay when God has so clearly set this in our path.

To my UCO Broncho Brothers and Sisters, HPBC, Ignitioners, EPS co-workers, WRBC Family, and my beloved brother and sister-in-love- You have all worked together to weave a tapestry of beautiful memories that have changed and impacted me in so many ways. There is not enough time for me to write it all out- it would fill books upon books. Thank you for investing in me, supporting me, grieving with me, and rejoicing with me. I will never be able to repay all that has been given to me. May God bless you all. Thank you for filling my life with beauty.

To my new family at Central, and my long neglected friends and family- Get ready, this is going to be epic!

Gratefully and Tearfully,
Mindy