I’ve always felt like I was a rebel of sorts, not that I always hated being told what to do (though most of us do, I think) just that I never found normal, average, or the boxes society and culture wanted to put me in to be neither desirable nor appealing in any way. Things like, for the love, why do we have to color in the lines? What if it could look beautiful without being in the lines? How irritating to my Sunday school teachers. Why use only 1 cookie cutter shape? What if we make our own shape without even using a cookie cutter? Or in school, what if there are other ways to find x? Why is this THE way? What if there’s another method besides the scientific method that would be more useful? What in the world is the point of it anyway? If it didn’t have a purpose, why was I learning it in the first place? I’m not one to easily do something just because I’m told I should do it. Yeah, a rebel of sorts. Good or bad, I don’t know, take it or leave it, I’m just saying it’s who I’ve been since I can remember.

Apparently, it stuck around through adulthood, too. Where did you meet your husband?…awkward silence…wait for it…”A homeless shelter.” Isn’t that where normal girls meet the man of their dreams? Again, normal was never appealing to me anyway, and by God’s great grace and possible sense of humor, He brought me a man who desires abnormal, too!

Selling everything and moving across the Atlantic to the world’s poorest country seemed the logical thing to do for such people as ourselves. I’ve been asked recently if I regret it, or if I would still choose to go had I known how it would end-packing everything and leaving with 8 days’ notice. The answer was easy for Josh and I both. Absolutely.

There are no regrets. We fully believe God wanted us to go to Burundi, and we just as much with pain in our throats believe and say He wanted us to leave also. I won’t ever understand God or His plan, maybe in 10 years or so it will make sense, but what I know deep in my soul is that my family has grown closer to Him and to each other this past year of ministry and life together. We are anything but normal, and I love it.

My husband challenged me to write a book while we were in Africa. We had the time, the environment was perfect for such a thing and when we got back from Kenya the topic for a children’s book flowed out of me easily! But then we left, suddenly. We’ve lived the past 2 months in a 400 square foot barn and we’re in the process of packing up again to make a move to Oklahoma of all places. God has such a sense of humor. He consistently takes me through things to remind me, it’s not me. I have no power or strength in and of myself to deal with what comes our way, but His divine power does give us what we need.

So, no, the timing is not ideal, it rarely is. I know it hurts some that we are moving again. I know it is crazy to launch my first children’s book in the midst of moving twice in 3 months. I know we’re crazy for multiple reasons, and I still love it. Normal is still not appealing. I don’t want a nice house with a picket fence and 2.3 children living in a cookie-cutter neighborhood while working a 9-5 job. I want to go when He says, “Will you?” I want to be unafraid to face the difficulties as a family, because we know and have seen firsthand that He has only been and only can be always faithful. I want to stumble through the mistakes we will inevitably make feeling embarrassed but always getting back up.

I met someone recently, and he said, “Man, I wish I were in a season like you guys are.” In my head, I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Oh yes, who doesn’t want to uproot their family multiple times and be in a state of complete unknown? But then he continued and shared how he just felt in a rut with his life and family. He didn’t feel like he was leading well, because maybe God had something for them, and maybe they weren’t listening. Josh and I encouraged him, and now I want to encourage you the same.

God has a calling on each person. He has things for us to do. He is whispering to each and every person, “Will you?” Don’t let life be too loud, too busy, or too fast to hear it. It doesn’t matter your age, your health, or your finances. He is asking you something. He has a job you are uniquely designed to do. Is it taking a meal to that shut-in? Is it visiting that neighbor you wave to, but have never actually spoken to? Is it taking a risk and trying a new job? Is it saying no to another sporting event so you can be home and engaged with your family? Is it turning the screens off and sitting with each other to discuss what ways God could use you? Listen and obey. I’m not saying we do this perfectly BY ANY MEANS. I am excited for this move to Oklahoma, because I know God said, “Will you?” and Josh, me, and the boys are saying, “Yes, Lord, we will.” 100% imperfectly and 100% reliant on Him. It’s a grand adventure, it looks different for each and every person, but it’s good. Even through the pain, it really is good!