A Whole Year in Kentucky!

As we have thought of all that transpired a year ago when we were moving to Kentucky, we wanted to post about our goals for moving here and update how the move has worked out for us.

1.  Get out of debt.  Selling in Colorado when the real estate prices were great allowed us to pay off the rest of the loan and buy our house here in Kentucky for cash.  Not having a house payment allows us to work for less income than we had in Colorado and still stay out of debt.  Though we often say this is not our 'forever home' (which is really heaven) here on earth, because we are planning to continue getting older instead of younger and there are too many steps in this house for old people--we are very happy with what God has provided for us.

2.  Allow our college kids to live at home with us instead of in the dorms.  We have been blessed to be with Elizabeth and Jason instead of 1240 miles away from them, occasionally calling or videochatting.  We have had so many fun and informative meals together, hearing what they were learning in classes.  Now Jason is married and we miss seeing him every day, but we still are glad to have Elizabeth and Emily at home, and we get to hear about their lives and pray for them every day.

3.  Get to know Karen and have her in our lives before she and Jason got married.  We enjoyed the many meals and sharing holidays and family times leading up to their wedding on July 1.

4.  Be a part of a growing church fellowship.  Burlington Bible Church is so special to us.  We have loving, precious pastors and congregation.  It is our joy and goal to get to know each of the 175+ congregants by having them in our home for meals.  In our blog, we post pictures often of those who come over.  We are so blessed by knowing these good people, and we are fed spiritually every service we are in.  Janet enjoys substitute teaching for 4-6 and 7-9 year olds Sunday School classes on a prn basis.  Elizabeth is very involved in bus ministry and junior church.  Emily plays the violin each Sunday.  Rowen has done some driving for the bus kids pick-up and take-home.

Our senior pastor and pastoress, Darrell and Regina Stetler, and our assistant pastor and pastoress, Andy and Sherilyn Stroud and their precious children, Wilson, Marshall, and Karilee.  We love these people like our own kin.  They exude God's love!

5.  Have students from God's Bible School and College in our home for fun, food, and respite.
We had some mission students over for a meal last fall, and we had a game night for girls lately.  We have "adopted" a couple girls who are invited to eat Sunday dinners with us and call on us anytime they need us.

Missions class with Dr. Dan Glick

 Girls' Game Night

Our adopted girls: Lily Rectenwald and Danette Teed on the left side.  Sunday dinner with some of our church folk, the Tallmans and Sister Smith.

6.  Be the protectors of our precious daughters until God brings them their life mates.  This is an on-going responsibility and we are so glad to be where our girls are during this important season of their lives.  They are our precious treasures and worth protecting!

7.  Have meaningful jobs to provide for our livelihood.

Rowen is enjoying working for Budget Blinds as an installer.  

 Janet enjoys care giving and companionship to Beulah Conley in this stage of her life when she can't be alone safely.

God has been so very good to us.  We cannot thank Him enough for leading our lives and allowing us to move to Kentucky.  We added these words to our kitchen wall in January as we prayed for a meaningful job for Rowen.  It is a great reminder to us everyday.  God is in charge of our lives!