
Last Friday Brandon and I had the fun opportunity to go out to Corona California for a few days to visit with a church called South Hills. Our church here in San Antonio {where Brandon currently serves as associate pastor} will soon become a South Hills campus and in September of next year Brandon and I will actually be starting our own South Hills church somewhere here on the North West side of San Antonio.
I remember so clearly that when I first met Brandon, one thing he said to me before we got really serious was "you know I will always be in ministry, so that means you will always be in ministry too."
In other words he was letting me know then, that this would be our life. Ministry. At the time I was so love struck with this boy that I was like "oh yeah, of course, uh huh, ministry, yeah, sounds great"
Over the years I've been stretched and grown in so many ways. I used to pray that God would give me a compassion for people. A love for them that was so strong and so real. Because I wanted so badly to be used by him, for him, and in a real, genuine, from the heart way....with a passion for those who are lost and hurting.
9 years ago, being a young and in love girl, I would never have wished for what has come my way over the years. But 9 years ago I could never have known how it would all change me. Completely. And I would never have guessed that I would one day be thankful for how it did.
Even though this has been a prayer of ours for a while, the timeline for how God has made it all happen is perfect. It always is isn't it? And we are really excited to see how it begins to unfold over the next few months.
I'm not going lie, it is a tiny bit scary for me. I get nervous about not being the typical "pastors wife"...or about the responsibilities that come with leading a church. But something I've recently resolved within myself to do, is not to focus on what I am not, and instead on what I
am.
And what I am is a girl who is genuinely seeking after God's heart. A sinner, a mistake maker, a mess...an imperfect girl totally reliant on a perfect God. A girl who loves people and wants them to know God's love for them in return.
California gave us a chance to see and hear from the hearts of the people who will be praying with us and supporting us when we step out. It was really good for us to be able to connect with them on a deeper, more familiar level.
It was hard to leave the kids for a week though. I cried like a big baby when I had to say goodbye to Mia. I've never been away from her for longer than one night. She is basically just another part of me. Like an extra arm or something. But I got daily pictures and text updates and they all did great. We are extremely fortunate to have family who love our kids like we do. It was so good to be away knowing they were in good hands.
I was definitely having a pity party up until we boarded the plane to take off for Cali. Then it hit me that we have no idea when we would get to go on a trip just Brandon and I again, and that I am always pushing to live in the moment and be glad for where you are.
So I slapped my self upside the head, told myself the kids would be fine and made a choice to enjoy my time with Brandon.
And I did.
We ate a lot. We met some amazing new people. We ran. We shopped. We went sight seeing in New Port Beach, Anaheim, and Laguna Beach {I kept looking for L.C}
We slept a lot in between meeting times and places to be. Literally I slept like a baby on this trip. I haven't had that much uninterrupted sleep since Asher was born. No lie. Also, I ate cheesecake for breakfast one morning.
And I got to meet my sweet blog friend
Leslie. She took us to a yummy restaurant right on the beach. It was so fun to meet her. Sometimes you forget these people you get to know on the internet are real....like it's sort of bizarre to see them in person. but I'm here to tell you that they are real ;) Leslie was just as beautiful on the outside as she was the inside.
California was refreshing and eye opening in more ways than one. I'm super excited for where God is taking mine and Brandon's path.
But there is nothing like coming home to your own bed and your own home and your squishy kids.
We got home late Thursday night so the next morning I went to get Mia from her crib, and she was so happy to see me, then stopped for a second, reached for my face and touched my cheek, as if to make sure I was real. I couldn't even handle it. I melted like putty in her little hands.
We picked up Asher out of school early and went to our native land---chikfila and Target.
California obviously has both of these but it's just not the same as your own, you know?
It's good to be home with these 3 turkeys.
xo