remembering that first weekend! (pictures added!)

***Update! Found some pics! Random People captured them!***

Six years ago this Memorial Day, Whisper Mountain had its first Grand Opening! The weekend was beautiful and packed full of the excitement of finally launching this amazing, long anticipated and prayed for, miracle-start ministry. As with anything new, the optimism and support (and energy!) was flying high! Many, many people came to share in the celebration, many driving from Florida where the base of the support was coming from!

Our little family of four had been living in Charlotte at the time. I remember carrying our weekend things out of our little house and loading our little car, worrying I was forgetting something. We were heading to Selah's preschool graduation that morning, anticipating the drive into the mountains following. Shaun would meet us there the next day after finishing out his work week!

With starbucks in hand, the happy chatter of two little girls in the back, we headed into a weekend that would soon become our lives. In all my excitement, I forgot the flowers I was to pick up in the city on my way out, which allowed me to rub elbows with the inconveniences of small town living. In all my excitement, I bypassed the exit off the big road and headed into Tennessee instead, discovering the frustration of patchy cell service in the mountains. I didn't know, couldn't know, all the changes, struggles, work and letting go that was in store for us. 

Rosy colored lenses can sometimes keep us from seeing the rough of life. But that's not all bad, is it? If we knew all we would be called to endure ahead, we may not be willing to get started at all! In our faithful walking we are able to see the struggles becoming worth it because something greater is attained!

Whisper Mountain Youth Camp started off with such excitement and such a crowd! We had seen God move in a big way. We anticipated such movement in the road ahead.

Six years later, after the rush of stepping out in faith, after the crowd dispersed, we feel more tired, more strained, more unsure, but we still see God move in big ways and we cling to Him more readily. We anticipate more of Him in the road ahead! Thank you to those who have come alongside us from the start! Thanks for believing in the vision! Your investment in God's work really is amazing! We joyfully carry on!

where our feet are matter

He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. //Psalm 40:2//

A friend can bring such comfort and encouragement, but nothing compares to our feet standing on the rock of God! He is our firm place to stand, our peace in the chaos, our joy in the sorrow, our companion in loneliness. Without Him we are lost.

Your way went through the sea
and Your path through the great waters,
but Your footprints were unseen. //Psalm 77:19//

Many feel the absence of God’s presence in times when they feel He should be very present. This doesn’t make sense to me, but I do know He truly is always working for His glory and our good. When we don’t see evidence of His leading us, of His “with us”-ness, of His help, our faith in Him sustains us while we wait for Him! Even when His footprints aren’t seen, He is there.

I don’t know what’s going on in your world, but I do know where you plant your feet matters. Our God is at work, evidence seen or not! May you be encouraged to keep standing in faith.

blessings on your day.