Surrounded by Love

8/20/25

Last Sunday our kids (and grandkids and family dogs—we have a crew!) all got together and hosted a family BBQ to spend time with us before we leave. Tonight our Northridge Fellowship small group family gathered together around us to pray and worship and bless us. The day before we leave (Sunday August 31) the whole church will join to pray and commission us to step into this adventure of faith. We are tearfully grateful for every single prayer and every single word of encouragement.

In marriage, often one leans more into the visionary role and the other focuses more on the details required to execute on the vision. This is certainly true for us. Twelve days from our flight, it feels like God is confirming the vision and weaving together an amazing number of connections for Cal. But if I’m honest, I’m struggling to trust God with all the details. Or maybe more precisely I’m struggling to discern where my appropriate “due diligence” ends and God’s “Trust me, I’ll take it from here” begins. Regrets over time not used more wisely earlier in the summer are not particularly helpful at this point, but they keep coming back just like the weeds in my flowerbeds that I no longer have time to pull.

Many powerful verses were shared with us tonight, and I suspect each one will resonate in God’s timing. But the one that my heart leans into right now is from Isaiah 41:10:

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

We feel overwhelmed by these blessings and surrounded by Love.