One year ago it seemed as if we were facing Mt. Everest.
When you make a 900 mile drive... twice... for vacation, which we recently
did, it gives you a lot of thinking time. And since on our trip home hubby fell
asleep for a couple hours, I had a good amount of time to reflect. God took me
through memories of the past year and reminded me of all the little details that came
together for us to get where we are today.
Last year at this time, I was trying to plan a wedding as
well as figure out with my husband-to-be how we were going to move to South
Carolina and get jobs. Beginning chronologically, when we got engaged, May 15,
2012, I had not found a summer job yet. Every year for the past 5 years, I had
returned to my parents and worked at an ice cream shop. At this time living
with my grandparents, having most of my friends in that area, and being newly
engaged, I wanted to stay there for the summer. Having already been looking for
jobs with no success, I was becoming quite discouraged. After only three days of being engaged, I was debating returning to my parents where I’d be far from my
friends and far from my new fiancé, not exactly what I thought would be best
for me, but I was beginning to get desperate. This day in particular the
internet was out so I had gone to a McDonald’s parking lot to use the wireless
internet for a few minutes. Being overwhelmed with discouragement, I was
sitting there sobbing. Phone in my lap, without it ringing yet having service,
my phone said I had a new voicemail. Odd enough as it was that it never rang, I
listened to it. “Hi Sarah, this is ____. We had an interview the other day, and
I think you’d be perfect for the position we’re hiring for. If you’re
interested give me a call back.” I was in shock. At the perfect timing, God
supplied me with a job that would suit my current circumstances. He is so good.
Also on our minds was how we planned on paying for the
wedding. Since we got engaged semi-quickly, I didn’t want to expect anything
from my parents or his. Jame and I chose right away to rely on the Lord and
have a small backyard wedding if we had to, but, my parents generously helped to
pay for our wedding! Deep down I had been praying God would provide money so I
could have the wedding of my dreams , and He did! It was absolutely beautiful
and perfect in every way. I loved our location. I loved my dress. I was so
thankful for how many people were able to come and celebrate. I was thankful to
be marrying my best friend. And like every girl should, I felt like a princess
all day long. We were able to have a
gorgeous wedding and reception. God fulfilled the desires of my heart for my
wedding day through my parents’ generosity.
In July, I made a new friend. This friend got me a job at a
daycare. I had never worked at a daycare but I did have experience with children
and desired to have a job in childcare. Although it seemed rather silly to me
for them to hire me in July knowing that I’d be leaving in October, I was
thankful and knew it was God’s grace that I received that job.
In August, we had a wonderful opportunity to meet our to-be
pastors who we had only known through listening to their sermons on podcasts. They
happened to be coming to Michigan for vacation and were able to get together. We
trusted their teachings, Jameson’s sister had gone to a church they were former
assistant pastors of, and we had been in email and telephone contact with them,
but actually meeting them put a lot of anxiety to rest and they gave us
tremendous encouragement.
We had begun the process of looking for apartments in late
August or early September, but most required that you have a pay stub proving
you had a job in the area. Obviously we could not provide that. (Besides the
fact, we can’t get jobs without somewhere to live.) It seemed more and more
difficult to find a home as well as more and more terrifying imaging moving
without having a home. Towards the end of September, we decided to make a
trip down to SC to visit the church and look for a home. Jameson had made some
appointments and the week we were to leave, they all got cancelled. As
imaginable, it was extremely discouraging. He prayed with a friend who
encouraged us to take a step of faith and come down anyways. It would be good
to visit the area before moving anyways. So, we continued with our trip as
planned. We came down on a Friday. Since we were leaving Sunday night, we
called around everywhere Saturday morning trying to get appointments. We got
three! If you ask me, that’s a miracle in itself to get three tours last minute
on a Saturday. On one specific tour we spoke with the landlord about our
situation and explained we needed to know we’d have somewhere to live. By God’s
grace, she told us she could rent us the townhouse, if we decided we wanted it,
without running background checks first. She trusted us to be cleared. After
discussing and praying, Sunday after church, we signed our first lease! What a
relief. God gave us a home for when we were to move.
After the trip, we had about three weeks until our wedding.
We finished working, hammering out details, and then we got hitched on October 19th! We went on a
honeymoon to Isle of Palms, and yes, we swam in the ocean in October. After
all, we were northerners in the south, so it was warm enough :) Since
we didn’t have jobs lined up yet, it seemed scary trying to imagine how bills
would get paid. Amazingly, God blessed us at our wedding with plenty of
financial provision!
Not shortly after moving down (early November), Jameson got
hired as a tile setter full-time and I was hired part-time at a daycare! I had
searched for two weeks without any success of even getting an interview, then
one day I took my resume to a daycare, she offered me an interview for the next
morning, and the following day I was offered the job! It felt like God just
dropped it right into my lap. And little did I know before moving, the resume I
needed to get it was provided by working only 4 months at a daycare in
Michigan. Also little did I know, it would be an amazing facility where I would
be treated well and I would love working there.
To start wrapping up since this is getting long, I’ll
briefly mention all the other blessings that have happened in the past 8
months. We were able to go home to Michigan for Christmas for an entire week,
Jameson got a new job doing photography that isn't exhausting on his body and
we see each other more, we were recently able to take a visit to Michigan while
getting to attend my cousin’s wedding, AND I've been accepted to a nursing
program down here. For those who didn't know, I was in a nursing program when
we felt God tell us to move, and I did withdraw without knowing whether or not
there would be a university near us or if I could get into another program. He knew all along there was a school here with a great nursing program!
In hindsight, it seemed like the past year wasn't that
difficult, yet during all those times, they were some of the scariest times.
God held our hands, walked with us, and provided every step of the way and
still is. Never underestimate your Daddy’s love for you and His desire to
provide and bless you!
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life –
whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life
more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t
plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.
And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?”
Matthew 6:25-26
