Chapter. CLOSED.

We are embarking on a new journey. It is kind of big. Chandler is leaving retail and I am going back to work part-time for the first time in two years. We are excited for many reasons; mainly because God's hand has been so incredibly evident in the whole situation.

Anyone who knows us, even as an acquaintance, knows that for many, many months Chandler and I have hated his job. So. Much. Stress. (And I won't throw anyone under the bus, but I am over his co-workers.) When the economy goes from bad to abysmal, retail stores are the first to suffer; people stop purchasing wants because they can barely afford their needs. Being on this side of retail, employees and their families have suffered the affects of the public's responsible spending. And there's another side to the story: investors; shareholders who put money into the company and expect to see results. Corporate can't go to the shareholders and say, "Well, business is just down, so we aren't making money." So who suffers? The managers. Ugh. (Thanks, Dad, for the shareholder explanation)

(Sorry if the end of the last paragraph and the beginning of the next don't make sense.. Waverly added her flair, unbeknownst to me, so eight hours later after Chandler noticed the craziness, I'm trying to fill in what she messed up)

Anyway, for months we prayed, sometimes desperately, for the Lord to bring something our way. A new job. Or just a change. But there was never a fire under us to actively search for a new position. Part of that is because we knew there would not be a job out there that would be flexible with Chandler's schedule (going to Louisville two days a week for classes) and provide financially for our family. Having been with his current company for seven years, he was doing okay on the payroll; enough for me to stay home and for us to live conservatively.

The thought of Chandler staying in his current position through the holidays (another big headache) and for another 9-12 months was just depressing, but we did not have much hope for any change. Until...about a month ago, now, we received a phone call from the senior pastor of our church letting us know of some staff changes and asking if we would be interested in talking more about an interim position. We were definitely interested and so, so excited. We met with Pastor on a Sunday night after church where we received the details: our youth pastor and his family were approached by a church in Alabama and asked to take a position as their student pastor. They accepted the position and their last day at our church would be October 2. When we first heard this news, we were shocked. We LOVE our youth pastor and his wife. Although he took the youth pastor position after Chandler and I had graduated high school, we knew them very well and are friends with them today. I even sang in their wedding seven years ago. But God was calling them elsewhere and they had to obey. I am glad that another church gets the opportunity to know them and their kids.

Enter: Chandler and Kelli. We were asked to take the youth pastor and secretary's positions on an interim basis until 1. We go to Africa and 2. Our church finds a permanent guy.

Could the Lord's timing be any more perfect? There are definitely a few times in my life where big events have occurred that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that He orchestrated every detail. This is one of those events. And we couldn't be more happy, relieved, excited, anxious... insert positive adjective.

Yeah, we're taking a pay cut, but neither of us want anything more than to do ministry together. Our prayer for the next few months is that God will give us direction for the youth, that we won't screw anyone up, and that we will just love what we do.

God is so good.