Potty chair: pott-ie or pott-y?

I just laughed out loud. The moving company is here, packing up our whole house. One guy just asked the other how to spell "potty". A little comic relief in an otherwise hectic day.

We thought, possibly, things weren't going to work out. We were scheduled to crate on July 27, which wouldn't be the best possible scenario considering we're heading out to Virginia on the 22nd. Then we were assured that the 17th, today, would be fine, then we never heard from the crating company. Then they just showed up on our front doorstep, almost out of no where. I was relieved and frantic at the same time.

But I'm used to that. You know, two opposed feelings at the same time. Happy and sad. Excited and absolutely terrified. If anyone asks, I'm always the more positive of the two and I'm am totally not lying, but inside, there is turbulence. It's not every day that the half of your house you didn't sell, is boxed up and shipped away, not to be seen for at least a year, if we're lucky.

It's definitely not every day that Chandler and I make life decisions drastically opposed to the life in which we were raised. Let's be honest, it's been pretty easy. We've both grown up in the same town, did the predictable school thing, attended the local university, and when we got married, not much changed! We continued to live in the same town, worked on finishing school, had a baby, yadda yadda.

Everything was "normal", it was all "easy" and "comfortable", except that bubbling underneath the surface was the call that the Lord had placed on our lives to be international missionaries. We both had it and were willing to do whatever and go where ever; it was only a matter of time. And now that time is here. And now our lives are anything but "normal" and "easy" and "comfortable".

We have an amazing future ahead of us, living smack in the middle of God's will, but we have to say "good bye" to a lot of things and people and our lifestyle and the ease with which we have done everything. Hear me though: We are nothing special. We are no more "Christian" just because we're going overseas.

I believe a lot of people think we are more holy or that we're "heroes of the faith". Listen, we're just two, young, terrified kids fulfilling what God has planned for our lives. That makes us no different than anyone else our age fulfilling God's will for their lives. Our life will just look a little different.

You know what the beauty of all of this is, though? God is sovereign and completely in control. We know that. We have to know that; we have to constantly remind ourselves of that fact. He chose us to live this life, He chose this time, and surrounded us with our families and friends. He perfectly orchestrated our past and has done the same for our future.

I learned something about myself today as I paced the house, wringing my hands, praying that the crate company hadn't forgotten about us: it's not that I don't believe in His sovereignty or that I don't think He knows what He's doing; I just don't see the whole story, I don't know His detailed plan and that's what makes my heart palpitate. It's been easy for us to say, "Okay, God, you want us to move our whole lives to Madagascar so that those who haven't heard will hear. You got it." It's been faarrr more difficult to surrender the details along the way. In those times, like this morning, I am constantly reminded of Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

And when I freak out about what's to come, I am reminded of John 16:33, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

And when Satan sneaks in and tries to hold me back, I think of the verse that challenges me to my very core, Luke 9:62, "Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" He doesn't call us, or me, to "bury the dead", then follow Him. He calls us to drop everything, give it all up, let it all go, and follow Him.


These truths weren't spoken just for me and Chandler. 


Ps. The moving guys decided on "pottie", thus making my entire day.