leaving cedar hill

I knew this day would come. I just didn't know how hard it would be. Last Sunday night, Brad had to tell our church family that we would be moving on to another ministry field. Since then, I've been thinking back over the past 7 1/2 years. So many memories come to mind. Some I had forgotten about until now. I thought I would share a few. I won't go into detail on each one. You will know if one applies to you!

I remember...

• Meeting with the Pastor Search Team. Sharing with Cathy our year long struggle to have a third child. Not knowing that I was actually two months with child!
• The kindness of the church body. I don't think I had to cook the entire first month.
• The birth of Gracie. How traumatic it was. Amazing how some of our sweet church family sensed that morning an urgency to pray for her birth. I truly feel that God answered your faithful prayers with our little girl.
• The first men's conference. Remember the service that night? That was bigger than all of us, so we knew it was God!
• Christmas. You all spoiled us so much. Phillip, I will never forget that Christmas you brought basket after basket of food! If I remember right, you even brought the ham!
• Women's Trips. We had some good ones. Birmingham, Lexington, Nashville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg. I know I am forgetting more. Then there were our Camp Linden Get-A-Ways. Those were all wonderful. The Lord brought salvation through those and renewed hearts. Then there were those of you who were a teeny-tiny bit mischievous! Oh, and please don't let me forget the canoe trip we took while there!! You know you all wanted to be in my canoe so you could experience my "expertise". I am laughing as I type this!
• Our 40 Days of Purpose Campaign. We all experienced the Lord like never before. Remember that big final event at the High School gym?
• Easter. That first one we had in the High School gym. We expected the Lord to show up and boy did He!
• Our 5 year church anniversary surprise party. You all blessed us with such an amazing gift. I know you all were like giddy little kids waiting to give that to us. I believe that is the only time I have seen Brad speechless!
• Ridgecrest. Remember THE year? The one that had mishap after mishap? Believe me, I double check for keys all the time now!
• One particular family who used their spiritual gift of giving to bless us time and time again. You amaze me at your generosity. It always came at just the right moment.
• Haiti. How my life has changed since that trip (and not just from the airplane strip or the bus ride through town!). Haiti will forever be on my heart.
• Youth retreats. Remember when Kelsey Vincent put the wig on and pretended to be me after the HS retreat? Coldstream Camp for the Middle School was also great. Rebecca and her giant that looked more like Jason from that scary movie (which I do not watch-you all know how easily scared I get!).

Gosh, there are so many! I am sure more will come to mind in the days ahead. I may have to write part two.

How about you guys? Do you have any special memories of our time here?

Oh, how I love you all so much. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above". You all have been a very good gift to me from God!