We're Here!! (Part One)

This time last week, Jake, his mom, his dad and I were going crazy getting everything ready to finally make the big move up to Jackson, Michigan. This week, I'm sitting here peacefully thinking of how I'm going to put into words just how vastly the Lord has provided for/blessed us as we traveled/arrived/unpacked. It's probably best just to dive in. :)

We went to sleep last Monday night looking like a couple of raggedy orphans after spending all day in the Alabama heat loading up the truck, semi unloading and rearranging it again all the while trying to figure out how were going to make it all fit (both in the truck and our car, but more importantly in our living space once we got to school). It was all hard to believe that the waiting was over, we'd both finished our last days at our jobs and we were just hours away from hitting the road to come up to the Bible school. We finally got most everything packed and decided to call it a night and get some rest. Well....we were WAY too excited to sleep, so when we both woke up around 3 AM and couldn't fall back to sleep, we decided why not just get the show on the road already!?! So we did...at 3:45 in the morning. This ended up being great because not only did we avoid a lot of traffic, we were able to stop in Nashville to have breakfast with my (Jasmine's) cousin, Justin. 

This is the sun FINALLY coming up after driving for about 4 hours.

The Lord gave us a great trip and we were able to make it to Jackson around 6:30 PM. Not bad timing when you've got a pregnant lady in the car who has to stop every hour on the hour! 

Happy doesn't even begin to describe how we were feeling when we saw the Michigan sign!

Our home away from home.

When we got in, we were immediately welcomed by a wonderful staff couple (Scot and April Keen) who, when I was in Bible school, let me share in their family Thanksgiving when I couldn't go home one year. We were SO encouraged by their kindness as they opened their home to us, fed the weary travelers, and then came over to our house (that's right I said house, more on that later) to give us our keys, and show us around before we headed to our hotel. I can't say enough about this sweet family and the graciousness they shared. They have always been a testimony of God's goodness and make being away from our own families a little easier. God truly does use the Body of Christ to both build up and encourage. Thanks Keen family!! We love y'all! 

Okay, about that house! We had been planning on moving into an apartment in the main school building until about 2 weeks before we got to Michigan, we were given word that we'd actually be living in a small house that is owned by the school. We were blown away!! What a blessing to have a little more room as we prepare for our sweet Harbor to arrive as well as a place we can open up to students. Since I'm not a student, I knew we would have to be really intentional about getting together with people so I wouldn't skulk back into my hermit ways (being the introvert that I am) and never know a soul. We are hoping and praying that our home will be used to bring glory to the Lord as we open it to staff and students. 

Well, I am FAR from finishing about this week, but for now, we'll call it a night. Thanks for reading! We'll try and put up another post in the next few days. Until then, know that we are missing family and friends like crazy, but are resting in the Lord knowing we're exactly where He wants us to be and he is making that more evident with each passing day.