so our lives have changed drastically within the past few weeks. we recently moved from cincinnati to toledo. and it has been hard. sigh.
first of all, i am really sentimental and it was hard to leave brian and i's first home together. there are lots of memories there and it was the place we spent the first two years of our marriage. it was also a place where the Holy Spirit showed up and ministered to us and a lot of high school students. it was a great (and not to mention, spacious) first home.
secondly, my family lived about 15 minutes away from our home and i could go hang out whenever i wanted. dates with my mom, snuggling with some pretty sweet labrador retrievers, and family dinners were easy and accessible. not to mention, i had some pretty awesome girlfriends all around me.
thirdly, i really took for granted everything there was to do in cincinnati. i have always loved cincinnati and having a coffee shop about every half mile to go chill in was normal. here, not so much.
it's not that i'm not an adventurous person...i am...i've never been opposed to moving to a new place. but no offense, toledo, you're not exactly included in the hip cities that i dream of visiting or living in.
that was my flesh just speaking.
my spirit knows that God has brought us here for youth ministry. that He's going to do mighty things and that we will get to play a part in students flourishing in their relationships with the Lord. i'm really excited for that. but i won't pretend that i am the nice Christian girl who enthusiastically said "yes, Lord!" to coming here. it has been a struggle. and it will be. its going to be a season of choosing contentment when i can already find a million things i don't like about this area. and i pray for the grace to choose contentment and joy.... because wow, is it hard. and i can't do it by myself, but He promises that His grace is sufficient.
i know the Lord has something great here... and i also know that His definition of "great" and my fleshly definition of "great" are probably a lot different... but i know that He is going to grow brian and i spiritually, and probably in a lot of other ways too. i am excited to grow, but also dread the process, as it can be painful. i am so torn!
here are a few instagram pics of our apartment here... still lots of work to do, but it's looking homey, what with the christmas decorations and all. my mother in law and sis in law helped us unpack and my mom came up to help me organize and decorate...so thankful for them!
first of all, i am really sentimental and it was hard to leave brian and i's first home together. there are lots of memories there and it was the place we spent the first two years of our marriage. it was also a place where the Holy Spirit showed up and ministered to us and a lot of high school students. it was a great (and not to mention, spacious) first home.
secondly, my family lived about 15 minutes away from our home and i could go hang out whenever i wanted. dates with my mom, snuggling with some pretty sweet labrador retrievers, and family dinners were easy and accessible. not to mention, i had some pretty awesome girlfriends all around me.
thirdly, i really took for granted everything there was to do in cincinnati. i have always loved cincinnati and having a coffee shop about every half mile to go chill in was normal. here, not so much.
it's not that i'm not an adventurous person...i am...i've never been opposed to moving to a new place. but no offense, toledo, you're not exactly included in the hip cities that i dream of visiting or living in.
that was my flesh just speaking.
my spirit knows that God has brought us here for youth ministry. that He's going to do mighty things and that we will get to play a part in students flourishing in their relationships with the Lord. i'm really excited for that. but i won't pretend that i am the nice Christian girl who enthusiastically said "yes, Lord!" to coming here. it has been a struggle. and it will be. its going to be a season of choosing contentment when i can already find a million things i don't like about this area. and i pray for the grace to choose contentment and joy.... because wow, is it hard. and i can't do it by myself, but He promises that His grace is sufficient.
i know the Lord has something great here... and i also know that His definition of "great" and my fleshly definition of "great" are probably a lot different... but i know that He is going to grow brian and i spiritually, and probably in a lot of other ways too. i am excited to grow, but also dread the process, as it can be painful. i am so torn!
here are a few instagram pics of our apartment here... still lots of work to do, but it's looking homey, what with the christmas decorations and all. my mother in law and sis in law helped us unpack and my mom came up to help me organize and decorate...so thankful for them!
thanks for reading/listening to my heart!
Oh Court...I miss you! I am praying for you and hoping you can find the fun in Toledo! In the meantime, God IS using you and Brian both and you should read 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp!! Love you girl!
ReplyDeleteYES!! im still in the middle of the book. i really want to keep a journal of 1000 gifts though... i think that will be a great way to practice contentment :)
DeleteLove all the decor you've done so far Courtney! Hope the move is going a bit smoother for you =)
ReplyDeletethanks sweet natalie :)
DeleteI LOVE this post. You are so real girl, and I'm thankful for that. Wow, I had no idea you moved to Toledo! I will pray that God will provide an amazing community for you, because no matter how lame the place where you live is, the people make ALL the difference:) Please keep posting, I love following your adventure. Also, you are an amazing decorator, want to come to my place and help me?! haha!Your house is SOOOO cute! love Katie
ReplyDeletethanks katie! youre so right too, the community really does make all the difference. thanks for your prayers and encouragement!! youre such a wonderful friend!! and im sure your place is super cute!! especially with all the cute kiddos you have around your neighborhood!!
Deletemoving is ALWAYS so hard, but I really honour your guys' decision to follow the Lord's leading.
ReplyDeleteyour house also looks AMAZING! beautiful :)
The Lord honours you guys!
btw i'm in Toledo at least 3-4 times as year! i think we should meet up soon!
thanks hannah!! and really, youre here 3-4 times a year?! i would LOVE to meet up!!! yes!!
Deletemy parents are from toledo and both of my grandma and aunt still live there!!!
ReplyDeletereally?! well lmk if youre ever here!!!
DeleteWhat? Toledo isn't the hip city you have always dreamed of? Hmmm...yea, I can see that! But those other fun and fancy cities are lacking two things: 1. Andrea 2. Me. I think we make Toledo a better place, don't you {haha}? I'm glad you are here my friend and can't wait for our next outing. I know it is hard to move and I will continue to pray for you and Brian as you adjust. I promise that it will get better {and someday you will cry when you leave}.
ReplyDeleteoh dea, i dont know what id do without you and andrea!! you two have been awesome and i always love our outings and converstaions!!!
Deletecourtney! i'm doing a small series on my blog about being "away from home" - in light of the fact that i am moving across the world in a few short weeks. would you like to write something like this post for that?! facebook me, or email me at alliespencerphoto[at]gmail[dot]com!
ReplyDeletei hope that your heart has settled a bit since you wrote this. my family moved recently from the home we have lived in for 13 years and just yesterday i FINALLY spent time here (after like 3 months!) and it's like the walls are closing in around me - it's so small and so strange and NOT home! yet? like you I'm sentimental and i didn't think i would have to deal with this change amongst all the other ones that have been going on! praying for you courtney. i see your posts on fb and instagram and think of you often! talk to you soon :)