A Decision Has Been Made...

We Are Moving to Arizona!

I cannot believe it even as I type it. But it's awesome!

Our Decision
This week and last I spent a ton of time thinking, praying, talking with friends and family, and talking with all of the churches we were interested in. I have a cold now from all of the worrying - I always run my body down when it comes to big decisions or the unknown. Plus I was at High School Camp running around after hyper, hormonal teenagers!

Our decision all came down to a job description that was the most me, a salary comparable to my experience and education, a location where Jake feels he could have a good start at a career, and an exciting church we could believe in and support its leader.

As I was thinking through my decision I couldn't move past the fact that I really wanted to work somewhere where I was a lead pastor for a youth ministry and not an associate. An associate position was what I was doing a couple of years ago and now I feel ready to take on more responsibility. I called Bayside, the church up here in Roseville, and Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo, (never heard back from Rock Harbor in Costa Mesa), and told them that I was no longer interested. Both were offering Associate Youth Pastor positions and I just feel like that would be a step back for me. Both churches were sad, which was such a compliment!

After being annoyed with Arizona they finally got things together and had alot to offer. They changed the job description to what I wanted, my salary, my direct report (my friend Jon who I worked with in the past)... it was almost like, why wouldn't we go? I know... Because it's the hottest stinkin' place in the U.S.! I guess I'll have to adjust. :) But the more we thought about it, the more we felt drawn there. Like the door was wide open and all we had to do was walk through. Friends and family were saying the same thing.

We called up Arizona last night, after receiving all of the details, and told them we were in.

A couple of other cool things Central offers... A weekend off once a quarter to rejuvenate, my own office, a team led ministry - I don't like working solo, matching up to 12% for my retirement fund, PPO for our health and dental benefits with 100% coverage, and a search team that would help us find a home to rent. We're probably going to rent a house since the cost of living there is so much cheaper. I'm praying we get one with a pool! :) Hopefully I can go there soon to take a look.

My first day on staff at Central will be August 26th, which doesn't give us alot of time. My last day at Adventure is the 3rd and Jake's last day with Koinonia is the 16th. I just filled out our 30 Day Notice for our apartment lease and now it's time to research moving companies. Central is so awesome that they are paying 100% of our moving costs... including shipping one of our cars, paying for our meals along the way, boxes, tape, our gas, and for the movers. I feel so taken care of!

So we are off on a new adventure! I've gotta be honest, it's going to be hard. I struggle with leaving friendships and starting all over in an unfamiliar place, so I'm trying to keep in mind that this is all about a new adventure. I do have a couple of friends there, my dad is there, and my mom is getting more business there, so it should be good. And... this time I'm not going alone. Now I have a husband, my best friend to go along with me.

Something that really stuck with me after this weekend of sharing with the students and parents that we were leaving was when one mother in particular said she heard from the Lord as I was sharing. He told her, "There must be death before there can be new life." That was so comforting. I'm SO ready for "new life". It's time. I need wings again. I need a new wide open space to start over and embrace. I think what she said also speaks of Adventure. The church needs me to leave (die) so that it can have new life. I will miss you guys so much who are still there!