homesteaders

Due to Hannah's love of the pioneers, we have read a good many books on homesteaders. 
The stories we have read all tell of a family's joys and sorrows as they strive to find a place, that in their heart, they can call home. 
I think what I love the most about these stories is that they show in a raw and authentic way what really matters the most down here below.

I love that homesteaders have something deep within them, something in their soul, urging them on to the wild frontier.
That they courageously do the right thing even when it is dangerously hard.
That they have such determination and work together as a family or community team.
That they love and value one another and God above all else.
And I sure am impressed with how hard they worked every moment of the day.  Every moment, every day. 


























Matthew and I hope we can live to be half of what those old homesteader were. 






After we sold our home, we prayed as a family to understand where the Lord would direct us to live.  Our belief is that we are here to learn and progress and to serve and can do that much better when we are having the life experiences the Lord desires for us. 
So, we fasted and prayed several months regarding this and felt strongly that we should look into job opportunities in St. Louis.  Matthew called out there, just to kind of see what the chances were that an opening would be available within a year, and was told by the company he currently worked for that they were just about to post an opening that very day.  Matthew discussed the job details and felt that this would be a wonderful opportunity for our family financially.  We, also, felt that it would be a wonderful opportunity for our family to see a new area and learn about so many things.  So, he called back and was given the job. 
This propelled us forward at a much faster rate than we anticipated but, even throughout the stress of the move, we still felt strongly that we were doing what the Lord wanted for our family. 

And we still believe that.

Once Matthew started working, however, we realized that the position wasn't exactly what he had hoped for.  We kept thinking that things would get better.  When they didn't, he started looking for something else.  First, here in St. Louis and, then, when nothing presented itself, elsewhere.

Matthew found a wonderful position working as a pediatric OT in Las Vegas and, although, we will miss so much about living here in Missouri, we have decided to move. 

Again.

I don't know for certain why we were to move and then move again so soon, but I do know God loves us and believe that His plan for us is what is best eternally.  We have many ideas for why we have been here in Missouri but the only one that really matters is that it was what the Lord wanted us to do.  That is all we need.  We trust Him completely.  His ways are higher than ours.

Some may naively wonder what we could have gained in these travels of ours.
To those I need not say anything at all. 
They wouldn't understand even if I tried to explain. 

Most, though, will understand our gratitude for the opportunity and blessing we have had to live here in St. Louis.  What fun we have had together and what beautiful people we have met.  These experiences will always remain within us and a part of us.

I hope that Hannah and Caleb have learned as much as Matthew and me.  

I hope they learned.....

That life is a school and that all we experience is to help us progress 
How to fast and to pray and to be patient for answers from God
That God's ways are not our ways but it is always what is best for us
How to be new and meet new people
That they can do hard things
To see things from a different perspective
To appreciate things that are different from them
To understand how to learn for themselves
To love adventure and life experience
To know that the world is a beautiful place with beautiful people
To listen and obey the Spirit of the Lord no matter what

I hoped they learned like those old homesteaders of the past......

To work so very hard
To do the right thing even when it is difficult
That we are all in this together as a family
To love and value one another and God above all else.

I am grateful that the Lord in His infinite wisdom and with His eternal eye gave us,
like the homesteaders of old,
that which never dies and
that which matters most down here below.







Las Vegas,
here we come.