Seasons

Seasons.  Times to laugh, cry, rest, work, dance, mourn, stay, go..  Learning to recognize and respond to the each season we encounter is crucial.  I've failed at this over and over again.  God has a way of patiently trying to teach me over and over again, too. :)
Recently, the idea of "seasons" has been a sacred echo in my life.  This first year of ministry and motherhood combined has been the most stretching year of my life.  I've never had so much opportunity to grow (and fail) and learn.  Having a baby turns your life upside down.  Full-time ministry turns your life upside down.  Moving to another state turns your life upside down.  It's been a ride.

It is so easy to only recognize the struggle of the season you're currently facing.  Maybe it is because stress, pain, fear, envy, loneliness, hurt, etc are sometimes more sharply felt than the strengths of a season.  But every season has both: struggle and strength.  Identify both and then call out the strengths.  Believe the strengths.

I pray this is a principle I learn to practice for the rest of my life.  Life-altering Truth.  This stuff promises to change the ins and outs of my every day life.

Yes, this is a busy season.  No, my life is not exactly as I pictured it five years ago.  Yes, I am a mother a lot earlier than I planned.  No, I don't have time to shower every day (just being real).  Yes, I miss my family and friends.  No, we don't get our weekly date nights anymore.

But, you know what?  I am a part of something bigger than myself.  That busy-ness means we are actively advancing His Kingdom and helping to facilitate life change.  That baby I get to raise is going to change the world (He's already changed mine).  That shower wasn't necessary anyway- dirty hair is easier to style. That family and those friends are the best part of holidays and homecomings.  That date night will be even sweeter when we DO have time to go.  We are healthy, loved, and called according to His purpose.  This is a strong season.


As we just finished the last youth service of the year and the last Wednesday night service EVER, I'm feeling nostalgic (can you tell?).  Let me go on a little bit about what else this season has brought:

My husband has expanded his heart over and over again, showing his love to me, our babe, and the greatest students in the world.  He preaches his guts out every week and brings his best home every night. He embraces change and growth... He teaches me every day about selflessness and humility.

Luke has added a dynamic to my life that I never anticipated.  He adds wonder to the mundane, ordinary moments of the day.  His smile has captured the hearts of more than one girl already.  I feel the weight of his incredible purpose and destiny.. believing so much in one little babe's future is a perspective that has helped me understand (just a little bit) how God must feel about me.

Church Alive has become our new home.  This is where we are cutting our teeth on ministry.  How lucky are we that we are in a safe place- where we can be honest, make mistakes, take risks, and go DEEP with our church family.  Our season at Church Alive will be a bench-mark season for us.. I know it.

As I navigate this fresh season of marriage, motherhood and ministry combined, I want to document the triumphs and the growing pains.

I haven't blogged in over a year for several reasons.  Mostly because I was too tired to think about punctuation and sentence structure.  Truthfully, the thought of summing up this enormous year into a blog post was too much to attempt.  If you want all that, check out my instagram.  It's updated hourly. (kidding..sort of).  So here it is: my reentry into the blog world.  I hope my perspective is an encouragement to anyone who reads it..

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

It has been a full month since I last posted!  A lot happens in a month so this post will be a quick recap:

First: The Move!  We are officially living in North Carolina.  We've adjusted pretty quickly with the help of so many amazing people.  We love the area, the people and our church!  Our new apartment feels like home...the awesome pool, hot tub, and free starbucks helps with that. :)  We unpacked at lightening speed!  I was so ready to be settled.  I'll be sure to post pictures of the new place as soon as I remember to take them.

Second:  Ministry!  Being in ministry together was a huge reason for Matt and I wanting to be married. This new season is so exciting for us...after a season of "meantime" we are living our dream!  I will say I have never been more aware of how valuable our "meantime" waiting season was.  We learned so much from our time in Columbia and as hard and frustrating as it was at times, I absolutely do not regret a second.
We are now the youth pastors at Church Alive in Fuquay Varina, NC!  Being a part of Momentum Youth has been a great experience so far!  I have loved loved loved being able to get to know the girls! It is so cool how God just sets you up with friends and co-laborers that have passions and vision that complement the passion and vision He's put in you!  We're having our first girls' event in a few weeks and I am really excited!

Most of all, it has been the BEST seeing Matt operate in his element!  I love hearing him preach.  I love seeing him interact with students.  I love his creativity and work ethic... I'm so blessed by him.

This is our first sermon series! Man In The Mirror

Our very first 5th Quarter Bonfire!  Huge success!

One of Matt's points that was a real crowd-pleaser. "Pharaoh is an idiot."

It has been a really fun few weeks.  We're bursting with ideas and the students are so hungry for relationship, accountability and the Word... I'm just a little bit excited. :)

Third: Our very 1st Anniversary!  We have really come full circle in a year!
We celebrated our anniversary by having our first official night with Momentum Youth on September 5.  It was a cool moment for me, reflecting on the ups and downs of our first year of marriage and seeing my amazing husband preach his guts out...doing exactly what he was created to do.  Like I said...full circle.  God is so faithful.  Seriously, go read my first couple of blogs.  He is so so so so faithful!

Eating our cake topper to insure many blissful years of McAndrew-dom. 

 We got to celebrate our anniversary the next day.  And it was awesome. :)  Matt took me to the Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh and we had an amazing dinner and some quality hot tub time!  Just what we needed after a crazy few weeks of moving, unpacking, and getting adjusted a fast-paced schedule.  Also, there's an underground Super Target right beside this hotel.  Ummm.. I was home.

My incredible, anointed, hot husband.

Finally: Baby!  We've still got about 7 weeks to go and I am so ready!  We are not ready, though. haha!  No crib.  No stroller.  No diapers.  No bottles.  Nothing.  It is next on our to-do list!  As we get closer to the big day time moves more and more slowly.  I can't say it enough: I want my body back.  I want to take full, deep breath.  I want to lay on my back.  Most of all, I want meet our baby!

I'm going to leave you with a few of our wedding pictures in honor of our 1st year.  Also, I just really love our pictures. Thanks Carrie Ann!

Our first communion together. 

The changes aren't stopping here!  We've got crazy adjustments coming up pretty soon and I truly believe Matt and I are ready.  This year has been crazy but if you're not changing you're not growing!  We have definitely grown.

Until next time!