Change…. it’s in the air

So, I haven’t posted about it yet… I guess I am still digesting it all. Tomorrow is my last day in the office at HPC. I will be working all the Christmas services, but tomorrow’s the last day at this desk, surrounded by these people, doing this work. It’s such a weird feeling. Since I started Elevate full-time 2.5 years ago, I really thought I would be here forever. Interesting how God’s plans are always different than ours.

He has called me back to the teaching field, and in January I begin teaching resource special ed at a local inner city school. Chris and I have been praying about this for months, and God just totally opened so many doors wide open to make this happen. I told Him that He would have to make it obvious, and that’s exactly what He did. I have a job from January 7 until the baby comes, when I will take maternity leave (and still get paid part of my salary). Then in the summer, I’ll go back to school to get certified (while still getting paid, and EBRP will pay for the school, too). Next fall I will start up another school year wherever God puts me, but I know wherever it is, it will be in His plan, fulfilling my purpose.

I am SO EXCITED about going back to teaching. Inner city kids are my most favorite people in the world, and the fact that He has chosen me to impact some of their lives blows my mind. Why me? I don’t know… All I know is that He instilled in me a love and passion for them that is second to none. It will be challenging- but it will be SO worth it. The kids I taught three years ago are in still my thoughts and in my dreams. I can only hope I changed them a fraction of the way that they changed me. And now I have that opportunity again, and I am just feeling so blessed.

HPC and our pastors take such good care of the staff. This has been the biggest honor to get to serve here everyday for the last few years. What a privilege to get to learn from people like Pastors Dino & Delynn, Mike Haman, Marc Cleary, Dan Ohlerking and Michelle Gros on a daily basis. Plus the people I work with everyday have truly become family to me. They were in my wedding, they will take care of my children, they are some of my very best friends and they will be a part of our lives forever.

That being said, please don’t mourn! I am not dying… I will still be at HPC every weekend, at life groups, at women’s nights, at outreaches… still serving it up HPC-style. This is my home and it always will be.