Where do I start?

As much as many professional bloggers would probably want to declare this blog 'dead on arrival', for some reason I keep resurrecting it. And there we already have a theme brewing... But I will resist! I suppose I believe that this is a good place to process thoughts and feelings and it typically comes to mind when the need arises. Plus, there might be someone out there who benefits from these totally random thoughts. Who knows... Crazier things have happened!

Since our last post a million years ago, we have concluded that God is calling us to Wales! And more specifically, to plant an Every Nation church in Cardiff. It's been a crazy journey. We have lived in and loved Slough for the last 12 years. It's the greatest church community one could possibly hope to belong to. Ups and downs and challenges for sure, but overall an incredible group of people who really love Jesus and others. 

As if that wasn't making it difficult enough for us to move away from Slough, we have also been fostering a late friend's daughter, Atiya, for the last two years. In fact, this all started about four weeks after Suzanne's last post in 2020... And things quickly went from slowing down to constant chaos. We had to figure out how to add a fourth child to our family, while trying to build an extra bedroom with relatively little money, all during Covid lockdown of course. It took time and much effort, but eventually we got into a new rhythm as a family. When we started processing the move to Wales, naturally one of our first questions was if Atiya could come with us. The initial response from the fostering team was 'no problem!' or something along those lines. But of course, things are never as simple as that.

So today we find ourselves almost ready to move. Our new house in Radyr, in the northwest corner of Cardiff, should be ready by the end of June. My job role as Congregation Leader in Slough will officially come to an end at the end of June as well (though we will continue to commute and be around for as long as necessary up until the end of the calendar year). And our kids will finish their academic year mid July. Yet we still don't know if our foster daughter will be able to come with us. And because we don't live in Cardiff yet, and haven't been able to apply for schools because of it, we don't know where our kids will start school in September.

But God knows. 

In the midst of incredible uncertainty, we find there is much peace when we choose to seek and receive it from the one place or Person it can be found. And when we have peace, we can receive a host of other things, like joy and excitement. 

I'm not sure what you are facing; maybe uncertainty or adversity. But I pray that the Prince of Peace will give you his peace today... and much joy as well! 

Bless you!