First moving day...July 13, 2012

After a week full of more pitching, giving away, packing and many final good-byes, we loaded up my dad's truck and trailer along with what fit in our van and car and made our first official trip south to the new place we were going to call home.  Ripon was our destination.  We were emotionally and physically exhausted, but knew only by God's power at work within us would we find the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other and follow His leading to our new calling in Ripon. 

This first moving day was kind of exciting because we were thrilled to be following God's leading to Ripon.  The possibilities were out ahead of us.  We knew we'd be back to Medford one more time to close on our house.  It eased us into the finality of the final goodbyes to many whom we love dearly, the final time we'd enjoy our home on 219 Lincoln St. where so many sweet memories were made in the last 4 years and the final exit out of a town we appreciated living in for the last 6 years.  

My mom came for the week to help lead the packing endeavor.  She kept us moving in the right direction when we got stalled or weren't sure where to start.  Of course we had to pack all of our stuff, but we also needed to do it strategically because some of it was coming with us on our first trip to Ripon and the majority was staying behind to eventually (when we closed on our house) head to Luke's parent's basement unaware of when we were going to reunite with it.  So BIG thanks to mom for carving out the time to help us out and to dad for making the time to come up and get us all loaded and unloaded once we arrived at our short term housing that God graciously provided for us.    

All loaded up...

Thumbs up and big smiles for the new adventures God has waiting for us in our new calling in Ripon.  

First stop in Ripon.

We have much to thank God for in how He orchastrated and moved in a big way to allow us to stay in the Nelson family's missionary quarters while we waited to sell our house, raised our support and search for a place to call home in Ripon (in town and closer to campus).  It's hard for me to find words to express how incredibly grateful we are to the Nelson family for providing this for us in the transition time.  Without their generosity and gracious accommodations, our move here would have looked a lot different.  Our hearts are overjoyed at God's amazing grace in our lives as we have stepped out in faith and followed Him.  

 We can trust God with our future even if we don't know the outcome!