Monday, February 08, 2021

Hello!


Well, hello there friends! It was never my intention to take such a long break yet I also think a break was good. And I'm not even sure what capacity I'm back in at the moment, just that I wanted to pop in and post something so I am!

It seems that so many things have changed in the last six months and I haven't processed many of them here. So I'm going to attempt to begin to change that today.

About a year ago, I was really feeling a stirring of interest to be more involved with our church. Not exactly sure what that looked like, I just let it percolate and steep. In the summer, a ministry assistant position came open and I felt interest and a tugging every time I looked at the announcement or email that came out about it but never pursued it. The deadline passed. I did nothing.

One early morning while attending a work out group at a park downtown, God provided just the conversation to be a catalyst in changing all of that. Another church staff member and I were talking and the position came up and I confessed I was interested but didn't feel qualified and also felt uncertain about how to proceed and/or if to proceed. She encouraged me to have that first conversation and I've now been on our church staff part-time since the end of August. God is so good.

Through all of this, I resigned my leadership position with Classical Conversations as doing both was not going to work long-term. I was committed through the end of 2020, so I finished that commitment and am so grateful for how God has provided each step of the way. Being at the church has been a blessing I didn't realize I needed. 

{I love this photo of Samuel and David praying together at church - 
so thankful for our worship pastor snapping it and texting it to me - it is a treasure!}

Just before Christmas some struggles we'd been having with homeschooling came to a head and God really began nudging us to consider a different schooling option for our Emily. There were many tears but also many more answered prayers and open doors that screamed of God's direction and leading in her life. Now that we are six weeks away from this time {can it only have been that long?} she is thriving in our local Classical, Christian school and my heart is full of gratitude and joy every day. Even though it took getting to a crisis to make a change - I'm so thankful that God made His way plain and clear for her. I see so many good things here. 

So yes, change has been a big thing in our house lately!

Speaking of Christmas, it was so much fun to have my mom here for a month and then to welcome my sister and her family over Christmas as well. What a treat to have everyone here! We had a photographer come one afternoon and I was wondering if it was worth all the coordinating and wrangling and then I saw these photos and yes, yes it was worth it!




Emily has passed her driver's test and will have her license soon. Rachel is enjoying ballet and planning to continue homeschooling at this point. We are praying about what is best for Samuel for school for next year. 

So many things - I guess the one thought that remains after sharing all of this is to see the steady unchanging nature of God in light of all the changes even just in our own home not to mention the world around us. Of all the things I feel, it is the overwhelming sense of thankfulness that permeates my heart these days. God has brought us through a number of things the past few months and He will do so again in the future. But there is fruit in the change and that is where the thankfulness comes in.

Anyway, we are still enjoying many of the same wonderful things at home. Slow days, slow moments, creating everyday beauty to celebrate the ordinary, enjoying all the cozy things. My heart is feeling less of a desire to be online these days so I'm not sure what that means for this space but I will just take it as it comes. 

Today I wanted to write and check in! I have so enjoyed hearing from several of you over the past weeks and pray that all is well with you too. Thank you for your friendship in this space over the years, I hope you will continue to check in now and then!

Love, Monica

9 comments:

agnes said...

Monica,
What a lovely update and thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures, you are right, it is worth it. I am glad everything is good for you all despite the craziness of this world around us. Maybe the quiet of our own lives can give us peace in these times to struggle.
Good to hear from your family
Love
--Agnes.

*carrie* said...

Love you, Monica! So good that you are processing these changes in written form: a testimony of faith and trust in all the ups and downs. Grateful for the time together, and for the ways God is at work in your family!

Connie said...

hi monica......nice to hear from you! you seem content with all of the changes and glad everything fell into place. God is good! blessings to you and your family :)

Tina said...

All of the pictures are so so good but I’m partial to the “prayer picture”. Is there anything more heartwarming than a father praying with his son? Praying with you Monica. Thank you for sharing as your testimony is always so encouraging to me.

Leanne said...

Monica,
I'm so excited for your new adventures... I hope you keep us updated on how your family is doing and the news experiences and changes that you find beauty in! I have followed you from the beginning and I know this season of teens and tweens is a busy...and fast...one! so thankful for you!
Leanne

Jessica said...

Monica, It's wonderful to hear from you here! I'm one of those people who check your blog faithfully for a new post and was delighted to see this! ;) I enjoy reading your blog - it truly is a breath of fresh air and peace - and it is calming to me over and over again. Months ago I stopped visiting Facebook and LOVE the change so now your blog and a choice few others are all that I read online. No pressure to continue writing here - I often re-read your old posts! I will be praying the Lord guides you in your online presence and thank Him for all the many ways He has answered prayer in your family recently. He is so good to us!

Mom said...

I'm so pleased to see this update! Though I knew about the things you relate here, I am glad to "hear" your heart about them as well. (And yes, the wrangling for the photos was most definitely worth it!) I'm grateful with you for the positive outcomes from these changes. Love, love, love you!

Kristi H. said...

I've been wondering what you've been up to. Glad to hear all your news.

Anonymous said...

Dearest Monica,
Along with your Mom, I am pleased to read this update. She has been keeping me posted, but it's just good to hear your heart (as your Mom said.) I'm so happy to know that the change in schools in working out for Emily...and that you are content with you position at the church. Yes, it was well worth whatever you had to go through to get these lovely pictures. The one of David and Samuel praying is precious! It was so good to hear from you. Much love to all of you, Grandma/Nana