Why Georgia?!

    It's amazing to me how easy it is to live a reactionary lifestyle. How we react to life is often a pretty good indicator of what's going on inside of us. I think it's our nature to react to events and changes in our life whether large or small. It's midnight right now and I'm sitting down to rewrite a blog that I spent hours tinkering with to get it just right…and then lost my sketch internet connection in the middle of saving it. I'm thankful that I'm at peace and it really hasn't bothered me as much as has it would in the past.

    The first time that I really realized how I was affected by "reacting" was when I lived in the Bering Sea as a teacher. The educational system in America often provides teachers with so many hoops to jump through that they often end up reacting to situations instead of being proactive with them. It was at this time of my life that I determined to get better at making choices proactively in my life instead of living a life that was one reaction after another to my ever changing surroundings.

    Changes…we all tend to have more than enough of them whether we want to or not. Sometimes we like the changes and sometimes we don't. I've found that when I'm proactive with my choices, I tend to enjoy  the changes in and around me more…even when it's uncomfortable. Angie and I are about to go through a lot of changes and we're trying our best to be proactive instead of reactive to them.

    In the matter of days (or hours) we will be first time parents!! For all of you who are already parents, you are probably chuckling right now with the thoughts of "yup, you're about to have some changes and good luck with not reacting to those changes." Haha, yeah! You're right. We know that there are things we are about to walk into that we have no concept of or even a starting place to comprehend. We've decided proactively to engage the journey and blessing instead of dreading sleepless nights, poopy diapers or anything else that may come our way.

    For those of you who don't know yet, we are headed to Gainesville, Georgia in a little over a month to work with AIM once again! That is a major change…especially with a newborn! Even more, we will be living with up to 15 AIM interns (in their Center for Global Action program) as house mentors. How does that work as a married couple with a newborn? Haha, good question! We're not sure but we've decided we are going to enjoy the way these young men and women will invest into our boy and how we can return the favor by encouraging them in their own journeys. Community living isn't easy and in this culture isn't natural. We believe in the value of it after being drawn into through years of working with AIM. It won't always be easy or pretty but the road to loving others often takes uncomfortable depth.

    In the next blogs I will tell you more about my position and what is going on with AIM. I'll also continue to fill you in on what's going on with Angie and I…and baby 🙂 We'd love to have you join us on our journey. We really could use your encouragement, support and prayers. We are currently at 30% of our financial goal if you would like to help us that way. If you have questions or anything to share with us, please don't hesitate to send us an email or give us a call! Also, if you would like periodic updates from us, can you please send us your address!

 

Much Love,

b