A Killy Series: "LIVE"

Route 24 you're almost there…Watseka!

RIGHT NOW I'm in Illinois. Scott is doing sermon prep and I am recovering from a head cold and sipping coffee while big fat snow flurries swirl outside our window--no one saw those coming. But for this winter why are we surprised?! Most of my Killy Series updates are a about a week old because I can't type fast enough to keep up with real life. Even by the time you read this I'll be off doing something new. I get to update some friends in person and others not as much and I forget what I update people on sometimes so I will take a minute and give you the most up to the minute real life happenings in case you're curious.

We have buyers for our home, the paperwork is underway and should be signed next week. Before our buyers can move forward they need to sell their house. Our buyers have buyers for their home. Our buyers' buyers' paperwork is with the lender and they are ready to do the inspection on our buyers' home. Did you follow all that? Are my apostrophes all in the right spot? Once our paperwork is finalized and the buyers' buyers' inspection is done we should be ready to take steps towards a home here.

We have a home picked out. We will be downsizing a bit in square footage but gaining a bit more yard (a very good thing now that we have 6 kiddos.) It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a garage… It's old with exposed brick basement walls, original (I assume) hardwood floors, original (I think) transom windows above the doors, lots of wood, and a 3rd floor walk up attic. It's right in town, close to the bustle, a short walk to the school. We met some of the football coaches yesterday--turns out coaches moonlight as a lender at the bank and a school principal. Who knew? They were quick to help us get connected to allow our boys to play in the junior football league.

We are a football loving family. The air changes a bit, team colors fly high, the food tastes better, we sense the excitement in the air on Friday nights and we just eat it all up. Did you know it's also great for sharing Jesus? When we weren't involved in community we didn't know the people. When we sent our kids to school and got them involved in sports we found natural avenues into the lives of our neighbors. Rides get shared, phone numbers are exchanged as we help look out for each other's kids. We see each other everyday at the bus stop or picking up kids from practice. The more time we spend with each other the greater trust we develop and the more opportunities to share what the Bible says. We invite people to church and go home and pray they come. Our son has developed a new friendship with a boy he rides the bus with and wrestled with. They've shared rides to and from wrestling and parents have gotten to know the sons and each other a bit and Anthony brought the boy to youth group recently.

Last week Anthony told me how he shared about God when someone asked him why He was so strong. He answered, "because I'm a Christian" and a few other comments. Now I'm not sure he answered that perfectly but his goal was to not take credit for something good but to give God glory. I appreciate his steps toward this goal. Start small son, next time it will be a bit easier and smoother.

We've got a website up and running. It needs a little more polish but for now it will do. We started an Amazing Grace Facebook page too. When my battery is not about to die I plan to put links to those sites right here at Wee Killys. We have also officially started receiving financial support. That is the last hurdle for us.

We desire to be faithful to what God has called us to do and asking for financial support is not something that comes naturally for us. I think of my son seeking to obey God and figuring out how to turn a conversation about strength into an opportunity to tell others his belief in Jesus. He fumbles his words and says awkward things because this is all new for him but he will grow as a Christian by stumbling through those moments. By God's grace Scott and I have become comfortable with things that initially scared us to death that He put before us to do: turning a conversation towards Christ, helping people walk through crushing sins they struggle with, befriending people completely different from ourselves. All those things were once scary and intimidating and God has gone before us in all those areas over the last 20 years of our Christian walk. It's not our own abilities that have enabled us to do those things but His. He has grown our faith through those scary steps of faith.

Now He's put a new thing before us. Fundraising. I don't trust my own abilities-I've never done this before. I don't want to do it. I'm afraid I'll be perceived as pushy or presumptive. I'm afraid of rejection and hearing "no". I'm afraid I'll lose friends. Hmmm, its not unlike when I first attempted to steer a conversation toward things of God. I am thankful I have this list of things I've seen God be faithful in. I know that on the back side of those hard steps is spiritual joy and greater faith. So one day at a time I do the next thing and pray pray pray as I (we) open my (our) mouth(s) to ask for financial support and I kind of close my eyes and wince mentally and I feel a little silly because I don't want to apologize for what God has given me to do. I look forward to seeing the greater joy and faith that will come on the backside of this journey too.

Thank you for joining us on our journey. Now like I said…that pesky battery light is flashing and so ends another wee killys update.