Living in a Scrapbook

Have you ever returned to live in a place where you've lived before?  Big Man and I went to college in the town to which we just moved.  As did 45 other members of our immediate and extended families.  Yes, you read that right: 45! (And that's only the ones off the top of my head, without asking those who'd know of more!! I couldn't begin to count the friends!)

I grew up hearing their college stories, and then Big Man and I made our own college stories.  Some of those family members lived in this town for reasons other than college, and so I've lived with their town stories, too; now Big Man and I are making our own town stories.

In the month since we moved here, I find myself flooded with those memories, from generations of our family.  Someone we love bought a significant item at the store we just passed, or had a first date at the restaurant we just ate in, or snuck off to make out in the cornfield we just drove by (I'll never tell!).  I can't set foot off our block without being reminded of a dear one, and yet, none of them live here now but us!

It's like living in a scrapbook, and I'm profoundly grateful for our heritage, for the opportunities this place has brought to me and mine.  So now it's time to make it our town again, to add another few pages to the Stewart-West-Coleson-Rickard-Derck family scrapbook.

Finally settling in

Ok, so I am aware it has been a verrrry long time since my last post.  And in the intervening months, everything about our life has changed: new country, new house, new job, new school, new puppy (see pic below), new church.  The only things remaining the same are the people in our lives.  Our God is the same, which has been more meaningful to me than during any other transition in my life.  Our families and friends have remained just as supportive and loving through this transition as they always were, despite the fact that the miles between us have changed.

We've gone from living in a beautiful village of gloriously international Manchester, England, to a slightly "worn" neighborhood in small-town Indiana.  But God must have known we were coming, because a Japanese restaurant opened recently on the main road, just in time for our arrival!!  ;)

The good news is abundant.  We've found a great church full of warm people who welcomed us so well that on our very first Sunday, Little Man pronounced on the way home, "That is definitely the church where we need to be."  Out of the mouths of babes...  They are a great group of people, though, who have made room for us in the congregation.  I suspect our gifts will have a chance for exercise, but on the other hand, they aren't desperately in need of us, either.  That is just the right balance for us at this point in our life!

All through the move, each of thousands of details fell into place seamlessly.  A fortuitous Facebook post ended with a gorgeous, old house being dropped in our laps.  It meets all our needs, and even some of our dreams (butler's pantry!  leaded glass bay windows!  front porch!  shady trees!).  And best of all, a GREAT family of old friends, with 7 kids right across the street.  Little Man need never again be lonely.  :D  If you're heading through or near Marion, Indiana, get in touch; we love houseguests!!

The financial provision through this transition has been inspiring, too.  We basically had to start over; it felt like when we were first married 10 years ago.  In a two-week span, we had to buy: a car, two sets of mattresses, washer, dryer, and stove.  Talk about sticker shock!!!  But again, God went ahead of us to provide what we needed.  And we feel so loved by that care and provision.

It's a good thing the good news is abundant, because in some ways this has been the hardest move either of us have ever had to make.  The culture shock in reverse has been even more jolting than it was when we moved to England.  (Exhibit A: a near melt-down a few weeks ago in the grocery store bread aisle!  Why on earth are there soooo many brands and varieties of a simple loaf of bread????)  But here, too, God has gone ahead of us, preparing friends new and old who have lived in England (really, it's a bit spooky how many of us there are around here!!), proper English tea in the grocery store, and even a real butcher's shop, which set Big Man's heart at rest.  :)

So, I say with all my heart to God, "Thank you for being the God of Psalm 121."  He has kept our goings out and our comings in.  Amen.

The newly-six Little Man, and his puppy, Chester.

The Now and the Not-Yet

So I haven't posted about the big change coming our way, yet, but we've been living with it for a couple of months now, and the contract is signed, so it's time to go public.  :)  We are coming to the end of my PhD programme here in England; I'm aiming to submit my thesis on 1 July.  Which means I've been job searching!  And the winner is: Indiana Wesleyan University!  I've been appointed as a Visiting Professor of Religion in the undergraduate School of Theology and Ministry.  We're moving to Marion in late July.  Which means, among other things, that we've been preparing to wrap up our life here in Manchester.  I stepped down from my role as college chaplain at NTC this week.

Yesterday was my last chapel service, and it went very well.  My sermon was concluding our year-long series on 1 Cor 13, and we had a special focus on the graduates, and communion.  It was very moving, but I managed to make it all the way to the end with no tears!!  Until, that is, I came up at the very end to give the benediction.  My benedictions have become a bit of a special thing for me over the last two years; I take great joy in blessing my people.  So, I was perfectly fine, until I raised my hands for the benediction, and then, as I looked out over the congregation, BAM!  My face just crumpled, and I had to put my hands back down and compose myself before I could go on.  Lots of others joined me in crying, too, so it was ok.   :)  After the service, we went out into the sunshine for an end-of-year BBQ.  

Then this morning at coffee, they had a 'leaving do' for me.  The Student Council had bought me flowers and a card, and the faculty/staff had all signed a card, and bought me a HUGE box of chocolates, a lovely journal, and a stunning set of necklace and earrings, solid silver with onyx.  And several cards from others.  So all in all, a very nice celebration, and I feel loved.

People keep asking me how I feel, but I'm at a bit of loss to describe it.  I'm caught in a 'now-and-not-yet' place; having ended my ministry, but still with almost 3 months before we leave.  And at the same time, beginning to get communications and bits of our future life in Indiana creeping in.  So, I'm devastated to be leaving this place, and thrilled to be moving on, and overwhelmed with all the work left to do, and desperate to get it done and off my back, all at the same time.  They're letting me stay in my office until we leave, so I'll actually keep on working here, and being around for morning coffee, and lunch in the staff room, etc.  I'm glad for that.

And for a God who ushered the Not-Yet into the Now on the Cross.

Getting ready for the last chapel service of the year

Flowers Needed

Ok, how in the world did it get to be the 26th of January?  Seriously?  On the other hand, walking to work in the cold today, and seeing little buds on the trees and daffodils shooting their stems out of the earth (yes, spring comes early in Manchester), I thought, yes.  Yes, I am ready for spring.  Ready for sunshine, and flowers, flowers, and more flowers.  So, I've preempted this flower hunger with a new background for the 'ol bloggeroo.  

That's all.  Nothing profound today, I'm afraid.  Haven't had enough caffeine to be thinking profoundly yet today.  I hope your day is great!