Our New home: Part 3--The Duck Pond

There is a duck pond in Narrows, VA.  

For Abby, this is heaven on earth!  On our first visit, we got to spend two days in Narrows and she insisted that we visit the duck pond each day.  The first day, we just stopped by and watched the ducks swim and play.  The second day, Abby insisted that we stop and get some bread so that she could feed them.  She fed them an entire loaf of bread in about 5 minutes!  She is such an animal lover.  

When we go to return to Narrows about a month later, she could not wait to show Anna the duck pond!  

I can't emphasize it enough that Abby LOVES the duck pond.  

Our New Home: Part 2--the schools

We have had the opportunity to visit Narrows twice this spring.  Abby went with us the first time and both girls were able to go the second time.  The schools are divided up a little differently than we are used to and that has created a little bit of anxiety for the girls, but I would be shocked if there was not some anxiety about changing schools, etc.

Abby's school will be a combination elementary/middle school comprising of grades K-7.  Anna's school will be a high school with grades 8-12.  I believe that the size of the school will be the thing that will require the biggest adjustment on all of our parts!  Anna's graduating class (did I really just right that????)  will have about 70 students in it.  After a few years of a pretty big middle school, I am looking forward to the more intimate atmosphere.  Hoping to actually be able to speak to a teacher when needed!!

The schools have co-ed sports...even FOOTBALL.  Aaron is struggling a lot a bit with the thought of Abby playing football...she is loving the idea!  We will see who wins this battle.  Their colors are green and yellow and they will be the Mighty Green Wave.

Here are a few pictures of the schools:

This is the first time that Abby will go to a school where her
sister has not been a student!

We think this is the middle school wing.

Anna wasn't with me to get a picture with her school sign...bummer!

The  High School

Can't wait to the fall!  Love me some football games!!

Our new home is going to be in....

We have been dying to announce where we were moving to in June but have had to keep it a "secret"....that is until NOW!

Aaron has been appointed to the Narrows Circuit in the Tazewell District of the Holston Conference.  He will be the pastor to two churches:  Kathleen Memorial UMC and Hales Chapel UMC.

Hales Chapel UMC

Kathleen Memorial UMC

We will be living in Narrows, VA.  You can visit the town's website here.  We have had the privilege of visiting a few times and have found Giles County to be breathtakingly beautiful!

No one will be surprised that I have a TON of pictures from our visits and I will  be sharing them over the next few days.   Stay tuned!

Emotions of a Pastor's Family: Part 3--Overwhelmed

I had a mini-breakdown yesterday and today.  I did a dangerous thing and started thinking about all of the things that will need to be done between now and when we move.  Here's just a sample:

• Midterm for Theology of John Wesley
• Find a moving company
• Write 13 more outlines of John Wesley's sermons
• Read 700+ pages for class
• Write 5 page paper on Social Justice and John Wesley's theology
• Go to 3 soccer tournaments
• Plan and throw Anna's 13th birthday party
• Participate in Abby's 5th grade blessing
• Go to work everyday...(the list of what to do here is too extensive to even begin to list)
• Design and print Aaron's graduation announcements

You can see why I am became so overwhelmed....sometimes it is more than I can wrap my mind around.  It just doesn't seem like there is enough time in the day to get it all done. It is easy to lose perspective when you feel that you might just choke to death on your to-do list.  It is during those times that I turn on my Pandora and listen to my Praise and Worship station.

As I did that this morning, the first song that played was Chris Tomlin's I Will Follow You. (Listen to it here.)  This is a beautiful song and I can remember the very first time it was sung in worship.  By the end of the song, my face was wet with tears as it expressed beautifully the prayer that I had prayed for many years. 

Here are the lyrics:

"I Will Follow"

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone

In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow 

 Following God's will is not always easy.  There is a peace that comes from walking the path that God has set before you.  Even in the midst of stress, heartache, and to-do lists that seem unending, God is my rock and my refuge.  I trust that he loves me and wants what's best for me. 

During this crazy, hectic time, it will be important for me to remember that what God wants most from me is me.  Not my to-do list, not what I am doing for him, but ME!  So, if you see me overwhelmed and about to crack...ask me if I have spent time with God lately.  No item on my to-do list is more important than that one.