More Big News!

Okay folks, tis the season for change I suppose. The Webster family will be moving back to Alabama very soon. Hooray??

I write that because it truly is bittersweet. We have a wonderful life in Kansas City and feel so blessed to be in this area with such good friends, a wonderful church, a beautiful home, great schools, so much to do... etc....

But at the same time we are 14 hours away from our closest relative. Rob's family is in Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. And all of my family is in Alabama. We have loved being here in Kansas City but I do get sad when we don't have any family members at birthday parties. I hate it when Rob and I are the only ones in the audience at dance recitals. On the flip side, I hate that I am missing out on the lives of my family members. I hate missing my nieces' parties, recitals, basketball games, and plays. It still hurts that I didn't get to say goodbye to my grandmother before she passed away last summer. My dear cousin is struggling with ovarian cancer and I want to be there for her. It is just hard being so very far away.

I grew up only a few miles from both sets of grandparents and my cousins were my playmates. My aunt took me home from school every day in Kindergarten. I can't imagine growing up without my family. That's why we are all still so close to this day and I would love that for my children as well.

I'll make a very long story short. A wonderful job opportunity opened up for Rob in Dothan, Alabama. Dothan is a small town, but it is a great community filled with wonderful people. Rob has the chance to work at Covenant UMC as their Contemporary Worship Leader, but he will also be able to produce videos and bring a creative touch to the worship services which is a passion of his. During our job interview we did struggle that Dothan wasn't Kansas City as far as things to do, but we loved the pastor, the church, and were excited about what we could both bring to the table there.

We wrestled a lot with the decision. We went back and forth for weeks. But ultimately it came down to where we felt God was calling us. When we had decided not to go, neither of us felt a peace about it. We both want to be where we feel God can use our talents and gifts to best serve Him and in the end that desire led us to accept the position.

That being said, I am still sad. It is bittersweet. I worry about the transition for my kids. And I'll be honest. On a selfish front, I am really going to miss all the things to do in Kansas City. We love going to farmers markets, Fall festivals, blueberry farms, horse ranches, petting zoos, great restaurants, live theatre, sporting events, concerts, the Crown Center, Cinema Suites... I loved growing up in the suburbs of DC because there was so much to do and I have loved that about living here. I love my girlfriends here. They have become my family these past 3 1/2 years. I love the opportunities for my kids and the school system here is top notch. Rob has loved his job and has learned so much in his time here. Kansas City is an absolutely wonderful place that we are very sad to leave.

But we are excited about working at Covenant. We are thrilled to be closer to family. We are grateful to even have this dilemma when so many people are looking for work. It is almost an embarrassment of riches and we don't take that lightly. I am so happy for Rob to have the chance to shape a worship service again. I think he and the senior pastor are going to be such a great team and I can't wait to see his wheels turning again to bring his ideas and creativity to a worship service.

Keep us in your prayers as we try to sell our home here, find a home in Dothan, pack everything up, look for preschools, look for doctors, wrap up like in KC.... oh, and I'm nearly 5 months pregnant.

But God is faithful. God is sovereign. And our main desire in life is to be obedient to His call and His plans for our lives. Here we go on another journey. Ready, set, Go!

Jeremiah 29:11-  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 6:25-30 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"

Isaiah 6:8- "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”