For everything there is a season...

I am finally getting some time to let all the changes we are going through set in and put all the pieces together. Also, many have asked questions, so I am writing to fill you in on what God is doing in our lives.

I am writing from the cozy living room of my parents’ house where we are calling home for the next couple weeks. We moved out of our house just two days ago and are still looking for a new home. Let me back up and start from the beginning.

About two years ago God began speaking to my heart on facing my fear of the unknown future and allowing Hector to boldly lead our family with my full support. As you all know, Hector has been a part of the ministry of Casting Crowns for about 13 years. Ten of those years he has been traveling on the road with them. What a huge blessing it has been to be a part of that ministry and see God work through it in some incredible ways. Those involved in Casting Crowns have become our second family and some of our best friends. However, God has been shaping Hector’s heart for worship ministry within the local church. Even the mention or thought of him leaving the band and taking a full-time ministry position sparked fear and a load of concerns within my heart for a few years. But at a summer youth camp with our students at West Rome Baptist Church two years ago, God boldly confronted that fear and whispered in my heart… “You are holding Hector back.” Ouch! I humbly received that word from Him, and He immediately began working in my heart and mind!

I then began a journey with the Lord showing me how much I desire control and how it is rooted in fear; fear of the unknown and fear of failure. I have by no means experienced complete victory in this area of my life, but I am thankful for the patience of my Lord and the way He graciously convicts and then instructs us. As I have walked this journey, God has been creating in me a deeper desire and conviction to have Hector home more consistently for our boys and for our family. Hector's heart is first for God, second to be a godly husband and father and third for the church and discipleship. You can imagine how he has felt pulled over the last few years with a career that demands him to be away from home and church quite a bit. You can read more from his heart soon on the Casting Crowns Blog. For me, just before the Lord provided this opportunity I was so ready for a change and wondering how long we would have to wait to see it come to fruition. What a change the Lord had done in my heart!

Through Casting Crowns’ connection with Global Youth Ministry we have a close friend who is on staff with Sugar Hill Church in Sugar Hill, Ga (about 1 ½ hrs. from Rome). What began as a passing comment to him about Hector’s desire to lead worship for a church one day has now led to him being offered a position as worship pastor at Sugar Hill. Upon our first visit to the church, before knowing a position there would ever be available, we have felt a peace about it and knew we would love to be a part of that church. To be honest, I was hesitant to entertain the idea because it seemed like such a good fit and I feared disappointment. I thought surely God was going to test my faith drastically and call us somewhere far away from friends and family and everything familiar. (Evidence that I have not fully surrendered my fear of the unknown! Ugh!) So as talks began with the pastor at Sugar Hill and the possibility of a position there became apparent, our hearts were clinging to the Lord and seeking His wisdom. Could God really be providing the opportunity for my husband to be home consistently and fulfill His desire to minister within and serve the local church?  Within a few weeks it was evident the Lord had orchestrated events within the church and the staff to confirm their desire to have Hector join their team. I will never forget the feeling when Hector called on his way home from a Starbucks meeting with the pastor and told me, “They want us.” The reality hit like a brick and I was excited, relieved and sad all at the same time. This not only meant Hector would be leaving the band, but we would also be leaving Rome, where we have made a life for ourselves and began a family. Not to mention, my parents live here and we have a great community of friends! Bittersweet has been the only way to describe our emotions! I think we say it every time we talk about it. So after talking with Mark and Melanie and the pastor of the church, it was decided that Hector would be done with Crowns at the end of December and start at the church at the end of January.

We have had such a peace through the whole process! The church has been so generous and flexible with us in understanding the major change this is for our family and not to mention the baby we had on the way. Our next major concern was selling our house in a terrible market at a terrible time of year - going into the holidays. Trusting in the Lord’s calling and His provision we knew He would sell our house in His timing. We listed our house and within three weeks the first people to look at it offered us a great offer and we accepted it with plans to close just before Christmas. Wow! God is so good and this was another major confirmation on His call for our family. The rest of the details continued to fall into place and we closed December 20th and they allowed us to stay in the house until January 3rd because Hector was gone the whole week after Christmas on his last trip with Crowns. Packing up a very full house with a new baby and a 3 year old was a little difficult, but we did it (with lots of help) and all our things will sit in storage until we find a home in the Sugar Hill area. We have so many examples of his faithfulness to call upon when we get discouraged about being “homeless” and so we anxiously await the house He has for us.

We are definitely closing one amazing chapter of our lives and beginning an exciting new one with this transition. We anticipate many new memories and friendships as well as trials and hardships along the way. We are praying the Lord prepares our hearts and our boys for this new life we are beginning. Rome is the only home Cohen has known, and it will be tough for him to leave the church, school and friends he knows and loves! We covet your prayers for his little heart and our wisdom on how to handle each day with him. I believe this will strengthen his character and stretch him for good as it will Hector and I as well. Thank you for following our family and praying for us along the way. We are so blessed and grateful for the friends God has given us with each new season.