Holiday Letter

In case you are still wondering how we ended up in South Carolina, here is part of a letter detailing the process...

The Move
This journey began in June with a call from the Youth Pastor Search Committee at Providence Baptist Church in Pageland, SC. From their initial contact to the invitation to come for a face-to-face interview and see the church took just over 2 weeks. With all that was going on in our lives at the moment we felt a bit overwhelmed and took ample time to pray and talk things over. In September, though, we drove to Mississippi, got on a plane in Memphis and flew to South Carolina. We had a full, but insightful visit with the folks in Pageland and began believing this was where God was leading us. We flew back to Memphis and spent time with Robin’s family, introducing them to Anna and then headed back to Texas. Within just a few days, both Doyl and Robin believed Pageland was where we needed to be. So did the committee. In November, they flew us back out for a final interview and vote from the church body. Obviously, they extended the call and we accepted. Thus began the craziest period of our married life. Five weeks later, we loaded up the moving truck and left Texas.

As we said before, God worked out all the details of our move beautifully. We pulled out of Joy, Texas on December 18 and drove to Mississippi. There we were able to spend eight days with Robin’s parents and celebrate Christmas. That was not how we thought things would work out. We had planned on moving the first of December, having an early Christmas with both sides of the family, and being in our home by the 16th. Well, that did not happen. We had thought we are going to have to rent a house that was much too small for us for a few months and then move again, but God provided a home on a lease-to-own basis that is just the right size for a growing family. The catch was it could not be ready for occupancy before the very end of December. That pushed our move date back and allowed us more time with family. On December 27th we left Mississippi and drove to Spartanburg, SC, stayed the night and drove into Pageland the next morning. Yes, that’s right. We moved on our anniversary! I thought the fifth year was linen, but we got a home instead!

The rest of this process is very confusing and, let’s face it, this letter is really too long already. So, let us be as brief as we can. The house was not cleared for occupancy because much needed rain had delayed putting in the septic system, so we stayed in a hotel for a week. Now that might not sound like God had seen to the details very well, but He did. We saw the graciousness of those we’d come to join in ministry and learned that our girls are real troopers! We were worried that they’d not get enough rest, get sick and be miserable through the whole experience, but all things considered, they were none the worse for the experience. After breakfast each day, we’d spend the day at the house getting what we could unpacked and organized. We’d eat supper and head back to the hotel. Finally, on Thursday, January 6, we were granted occupancy and got to sleep all night in our own beds! Every day since then has been busy trying to get settled. Doyl has started work and has gotten off to a great start. The youth really seem to respond to him and Robin keeps getting good feedback from the adult youth leaders.

Whitley has really hit her stride! She went from having no playmates to having an abundance of playmates! She attends a Sunday School class of two- and three- year olds, Kids’ Club on Sunday nights, and Mission Friends on Wednesdays. She’s already had one friend over to the house (parents and little brother in tow) and wants to have another over soon.

Anna is just growing way too quickly! With all the chaos that has been since her arrival, we don’t think we’ve captured the moments very well. It just does not seem possible that she is crawling everywhere and trying to pull up. Really! She’s not quite 7 months old!

With all the changes that 2007 brought to our family, we hardly dare to anticipate what 2008 may bring. Through it all though, we have experienced the Father’s sovereignty. It is amazing how God provides in ways we could never anticipate or expect, yet He does. And He does so with the same grace that led Him to send Christ as our sacrifice. As we continue finding His hand at work in our lives, we pray that you will do the same. Our God desires to be actively and intimately involved with each of us. May you continue find His faithfulness in your life as we all begin a new year in His grip.