My Journey Toward A Trusting Heart

Its about time...

Well, hello, World...

To say its been a while is an understatement...I honestly forget about this place! I've been busy enough with STUFF to simply forget there's a place for me to vent! LOL

Let's see...where to begin...Right now, we have our house up for sale. We reduced the price this week, since we are "Motivated Sellers"! I don't favor that term -- it really means DESPERATE. And I guess we are. Considering we have purchased a home in Fishers IN and will close on it June 21...we NEED to sell this one.

Now before you go rolling your eyes, saying, "What in the world were they thinking?" -- just know we are SURE the Lord is directing our steps. We found the right house, right lot, right neighborhood, right locale to the local public HS where Kate will attend...close to just about everything (a little bit from church but that's okay!)...right $$...RIGHT TIME...but for some reason we are still sitting on our house here in St. Charles, having to reduce the price...WHY??? I have no idea. But it is what it is. And we move forward.

We are SO excited about what lies ahead for us in Indy. Like never before, we feel so much anticipation. Mark and I talked the other day about this...since we married in 1999, and have moved 2 times before, this being our third move, we have NEVER felt as we do now. Previously, our moves were dictated by Mark's work opportunities...and we were sort of 'forced' to go by people and circumstances beyond our control (or desire)...HOWEVER, even in those moves, we did see God's blessing. No question about it. BUT this move is based purely on OUR choice -- knowing w/o a doubt that the Lord has opened the door; He moved in our hearts to even begin to consider it back in December...and has answered SPECIFIC prayers about several things.

Those things might bear sharing -- permit me to go on and on...

Because Kate will be a Junior in HS next year, I knew any move would be so very difficult for her. Leaving is always hard, regardless of what you know lies ahead, BUT I have prayed the Lord would confirm to HER that He was leading this charge and had specific plans and blessings in store for her, as well as for Mark and me.

SO, back in Feb, as we were planning for an early March trip to Indy (Fishers), I took the liberty of sending inquiries to three high schools in the area...I think I mentioned that a while back. Anyway, I contacted the music people at the HSs, asking if they would grant Kate an audition for their music program for the fall. I didn't want her to miss a whole year of music/choir if there was any way to avoid it.

Following that, I really began to pray earnestly about the Lord's hand in all that...IF He wanted her in the music program, He's open the door somehow, someway...

All three were very gracious and gave time for her to sing for them...Her first choice, as I also mentioned, was Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) HS. And the choral directors indicated their pleasure at her audition and encouraged us to let them know ASAP if we'd be moving to their district, as they would be placing choirs  w/in the couple weeks following.

Well, our timing wasn't that good. We did not buy our house until late April. Still, I emailed the HSE team and let them know we WERE coming to the district; I told them I was sure they'd already placed their groups, but what did they see as an opportunity for Kate? I thought this would be helpful as she begins looking at the classes for next year/scheduling, etc.

I got a call the following day from Mrs. Mullen, one of the Directors. She told me that they had taken a chance and counted Kate IN for their top performance choir, hoping she'd be there to fill that spot!!!

I nearly danced! It was such a wonderful confirmation to me regarding Kate's talent, that the Lord was indeed preparing the way for HER, and had truly orchestrated this to come her way.

On a back track...Kate has been serving the Student Council Executive Board at St. Charles East HS as their tech mgr...this means she has been monitoring and updating the Student Council website all year. She took a web-design class last year and did excellent, so a friend recommended her for this job and she took it and has done a great job.

I really felt impressed that the Lord was using this to prepare Kate for something more...that this was not a dead-end job, but that there would be much opportunity come her way because of the experience...She was not so positive. Her remark, "Sure Mom...I'm going to just walk into a new school and they are gonna say, 'WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU!'  Not likely..."

I just 'pondered these things in my heart' and continued to pray and ask God to confirm it all to her.

FF to the March visit to Indy...we were given a tour by the Guidance Counselor at Hamilton Southeastern and 'happened' down a hallway...there was an open classroom, and Mr. Davidson popped his head in and greeted the teacher, Mrs. Garrett. She came to the hall, where Mr. D introduced us and we had a friendly little chat.

Mrs. Garrett 'happened' to mention that SHE one of the two sposors for the Student Council! I said, "Hmm...Kate has been working with the Student Council E-Board as their techie...managing the website, etc.." Mrs. Garrett stopped dead in her tracks and said, "YOU'RE KIDDING!? My tech people are graduating next year and I don't have anyone lined up to fill that position! YOU COME TO MY SCHOOL. YOU FIND ME NEXT FALL. I'LL PUT YOU TO WORK."

Needless-to-say, I cuold not resist an "I told you so" glance to Kate...who we expecting it and grinned ear to ear!

That was TWO major things in Kate's 'world' that I fully believe are God-directed. Still, she is struggling with the leaving -- good friends, a good church, etc. It will be so very hard. So, if you are reading this, WILL YOU PRAY FOR KATE in the coming days? Today is her LAST day of school; she has two finals today (Mon, June 4) and then that's it! There are a couple more youth events at church she'll be part of, but all too soon that'll be done, too.

My heart aches for this...but I KNOW w/o a doubt that the Lord is ordering HER (and our!) steps.

We are exctied about the ministry opportunities ahead as well. Genesis Church is small'ish, and growing, and needs Kate's contribution to the youth AND children's ministries. She will be helping w/ the kids services, doing worship, tech and maybe some teaching...wherever they need her. She has her Dad's gift of "helps" -- meaning she can show up and say, "Where do you need me?" and will go to work.

Right now, that's the biggest thing on my heart...is soothing over the pain of leaving; the anxiety of a new school...in the long run, I know she'll do great, but its the 'short run' that is hard.

SO, THANK YOU for your prayers -- first for her, and second that we sell this house!

We had FOUR showings this weekend -- not bad...but no offer(s). We'd love to see a bidding war going on! But of course we'll just be happy to see anything happening!

Today we'll do some more packing; closets, clothes (that we don't need anymore!), and books. We've gotten rid of so much stuff, that packing is not really stressing me out at all.

I think that's enough for one day, All.

Be blessed on this Monday and in the days ahead. Drop me a line some time, too, will you!? I'd love to know what's happening in your world!

Kimmy Fantastico

1:02 AM, Jul. 2, 2007 .. Posted by Steve Roberson

I just have to say something about this girl! Have you ever felt really bad because you haven't been in contact with someone you absolutely treasured? This is the way I feel about you, Kim. There has never been a time in my life when I didn't trust your judgement or your stability. I told someone the other day, "I have very few friends with whom I would share EVERYTHING, but I would receive her (Kim's) advice wholesale, across the board." I know that this may seem a strange place to do this, but as I read this blog and realized how much we have missed of each other's lives, I had to take this time (and space) to say how special you are. For anyone else that reads this, know that she will be embarrassed by this, but no one else deserves this praise any more that her. Thank you my true and consistent friend, regardless of the miles or the years.