Things I Didn’t Expect at 38

Guatemala

My birthday is coming up in July, and lately I’ve found myself reflecting on how different life looks than I thought it would.

I’ve dreamed about missions for most of my life.

What I didn’t expect was that one day I’d actually be living it.

And I certainly didn’t expect the path God would use to get me there.

• I didn’t expect a trip to Malawi to open doors I never saw coming.

• I didn’t expect my son’s interest in welding to help lead our family to Guatemala.

• I didn’t expect to be helping connect students with sponsors and preparing for another trip to Africa.I didn’t expect to be living full-time in an RV.

• I didn’t expect to be helping my daughter prepare for college while thinking about my dad’s upcoming surgery.

• I didn’t expect any of it.

Yet here we are.

How We Got Here

June 2016

If I’m honest, our entire life looks different than it did ten years ago.

Back then, Scott was working on aircraft.

Today, he’s serving in ministry and helping people rebuild their lives.

Back then, I spent a lot of time feeling pulled in different directions...

kids in school and sports, trying to provide extra income as a hairdresser, manage a busy social life, navigate everyone’s expectations, and stay rooted in my faith at the same time.

I often felt caught between the things of God and the pressures of the world.

Looking back, I think one of the biggest things God was doing was aligning our hearts.

For years, I wanted our family to live with a different set of priorities, but I couldn’t make that happen on my own.

Then Scott surrendered his life to Christ.

And everything changed.

• The direction of our family changed.

• The things we valued changed.

• The opportunities God placed in front of us changed.

What followed has been a whirlwind of adventures, ministry, friendships, mission trips, and opportunities I never could have imagined.

If someone had shown me my life today ten years ago, I don’t think I would have believed them.

The Next Chapter

Malawi

In about a week, we’ll pull out of the campground and begin another journey west.

We’ll make our way through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and eventually California.

Along the way, we’ll spend time with family, make it back before my dad’s surgery, and visit a few places we’ve always wished we had more time to explore.

After that comes a Bible conference, family gatherings, taking Summer to college, and a trip to Malawi.

Life feels overwhelmingly full right now.

• Full of transitions.

• Full of opportunities.

• Full of things I never would have planned for myself.

Looking Back

San Diego

Looking back, I can see God’s fingerprints all over our story.

The dream was real.

It just arrived differently than I expected.

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” — Psalm 37:23

Nothing Was Wasted

2008

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that God rarely wastes anything.

The detours.

The waiting.

The disappointments.

The unexpected opportunities.

Looking back, so many things that felt random at the time were actually part of a much bigger story.

A trip to Malawi.

A son’s interest in welding.

An RV.

New friendships.

New opportunities.

Seasons I wouldn’t have chosen and doors I never would have known to knock on.

God was working through all of it.

The dream was real.

It just arrived differently than I expected.

If you’re in the middle of a season that doesn’t make sense yet, keep walking.

Keep trusting.

Keep taking the next step.

One day you may look back and see God’s fingerprints all over your story too.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being faithful, even when we cannot see what You are doing.

For those who are walking through a season of waiting, give them patience.

For those facing uncertainty, give them peace.

For those carrying disappointment, remind them that You are still working.

Help us trust You when the path looks different than we expected.

Give us eyes to see Your hand in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life.

And when we cannot understand where You are leading, help us take the next step in faith, knowing that You are already there.

May we one day look back and see Your fingerprints all over our story.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

• I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. 

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