We moved to Seattle expecting rain, so we have been pleasantly surprised by the beautiful summer we have experienced here! We know the rainy days are coming, so as part of our settling in, we are taking full advantage of our weekends and opportunities to hike in the several mountain ranges surrounding Seattle.

I grew up knowing, loving, and hiking in the Smoky Mountains. I thought Black Rock and Pinnacle Mountains were about as beautiful as it could get. Western North Carolina, you will always have a piece of me, and I will always have fond feelings for those beautiful, cloudy mountains --
But man. Smokies - you were holding out on me! Mount Rainier?! You have stolen my heart.
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We made our first visit to Rainier National Park a few weeks ago, planning it with our friends. We met them at their apartment and left just as the sun was beginning to brighten the sky. Elliot dozed in the backseat and Ross and I talked about making healthier food choices for our family, and decided to take the plunge and do the Whole30 diet with the Fees. Somehow we often make big decisions while driving. :)
As we got closer to the park we began passing several small lakes and then, there it was. A glimpse of the giant! On a clear day, you can see the mountain from our apartment complex, or just driving about town, and still, it takes my breath away. Seeing it so close was almost more than I could take in.
We parked at Paradise Inn, and there we were. Towering before us, in all its greatness, Mount Rainier. I know I'm making this sound like we were at the Matterhorn or something, but Mount Rainier IS my Matterhorn.

We took the most beautiful trail up (Skyline) and together with the Fees we were frequently stopping to take in our surroundings - we would turn around to look over our shoulders - to see how far we had come, and were always surprised by even more views. With Rainier in front of us, wildflowers completely surrounding the trail, the Cascade mountain range behind us, waterfalls, glaciers, and even hearing an avalanche - we couldn't quit saying we felt like we were in Narnia or Lord of the Rings. Could heaven be more beautiful than this? We spent some time talking about the New Heaven and the New Earth and what Mount Rainier could possibly look like on the New Earth. We discussed what it would be to hike and not get tired, and what a privilege it would be to be named the care taker of some beautiful mountains.
Seven miles later, we found ourselves winding back down to the parking lot. With our heads out of the clouds (literally), I wasn't sure if it was all a dream, or if we had truly experienced such beauty. I like to think it was both. I think Mount Rainier is breathtaking beauty and reality - but also a dream. A little glimpse into heaven. If I close my eyes (or open them!) I am beginning to see little pieces of heaven - I am beginning to understand what the New Earth will look like when the Lord comes and restores it to its original beauty.
Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for opening my eyes.







**For more on the subject of Heaven and the New Earth, I strongly recommend reading Heaven by Randy Alcorn**

Originally we had planned to wait a bit before starting any ministry here - we have been advised to do so, but also we just wanted to make sure our feet were firmly on the ground and our family was settled in before having many standing commitments. Our plan was to begin language learning after the holidays. However, we are feeling settled and quite at home much sooner than expected, so we are taking the plunge and beginning language learning next week! Please pray for us as we begin this journey - I tend to struggle with new languages, so I am very nervous! We will be in class two nights a week, and a third night is committed to practicing the language. This will also be the beginning stages of us building relationships with S*'s, as we seek to find people who are interested in speaking with us! We hope to seek out some people in our apartment complex, as well as visiting ethnic shops and stores where we can find people speaking the language!

We also hope to become a volunteer family through World Relief (hoping our training from Atlanta World Relief will transfer, if not we will go through training again) and begin walking with a new refugee family in October.

We are so grateful that the Lord brought us here much sooner than we expected, and grateful that He is opening doors for us to serve. Please pray that He will give us boldness in sharing the Gospel and wisdom in building these new relationships.
I got a call from Ross on Friday, "Hey beautiful. You might want to start packing. We're moving to Seattle!"

He was in Seattle for the weekend interviewing for a job, and within hours, they had offered it to him. This was the moment we had prayed for - a way to Seattle. We had prayed for the will of God - not knowing what it might be - if we would move to Seattle and work a full time job or if we would try to raise financial support before moving -- but we trusted that God would make it clear. It was clear - we were moving cross country, and we didn't have much time. Ross had to start his job in 10 days.


I blinked and the house was packed and empty, and Elliot and I were waving goodbye to Ross as he pulled out of the driveway in our old, white Geo Metro. With 3000 miles ahead of him, we were praying the car would continue its standing history of taking us where we needed to be.
It felt like only moments later (lots of blinking..oh how the tears flowed) Elliot and I were saying goodbye to our beloved neighborhood, community, friends and family, and were boarding a plane - Washington bound.


Well, here we are. Settling in to life in Seattle and starting a blog (this is for you mom!) - we want to record our life here, for our own memories, but also to update family and friends who are walking along beside us in this journey.

 We began praying about working with Muslims in the fall of 2012. We began to pray about a specific people group and in late summer 2013 we became aware of the need for workers among the S* people. 
We never imagined that almost exactly a year later, we would move to South Seattle to engage this people group. God moves in mighty and wondrous ways, and for that we are so grateful.

 Our old pastor used to talk a lot about laying our lives down before Christ as a "blank check". In our striving to do that, we have learned that it's not something you do once. As Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." We are learning that following after Christ, that laying our lives before Him is a daily process.
This little blog is here to document our journey, our following hard after Christ. We look forward to the day when we too, like the disciples, will see Him face to face.

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About Me

married to a man i don't deserve, mommy to one precious boy, with hopefully many more to come! i am this and so much more, but i am daily discovering that my true identity is wrapped around the One who loved me first. my hope is that daily journey is depicted in these snapshots of my life.
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