New home

We have moved to a new apartment. When we were talking about moving to Reba Place, we had hoped that some day an apartment building might open up for several Reba-connected families (maybe young families) to occupy the same building and have some sort of common living space without giving up our private space as we raise our kids. Well eight months after moving here that has happened! We are excited to share this six-flat with four other Reba families. There is a newly wed couple, a family with two pre-school aged boys, and two older ladies we have come to know in some capacity.

Although this move is a good thing, we have been dealing with transition since before we left Clovis. Moving here, finding work, making new friends, having a baby, life with new baby, out of town visitors to see the baby, and now moving into another apartment. We already see this as a great new place to be (first floor!) but we are hoping that we can settle in and just stay for a while, and get our selves together.

During the move my (Josh) bike went missing – we have lots of friends who helped us move and repaint etc. and I though maybe someone was “helping” by grabbing my bike for a while. Well I was missing it for a day or so when I passed it, locked to a fence. And it wasn’t my lock, or my fence. The person who stole it only took the bike one street away…and we had just moved from the street south of this location to the street north of this location. I was able to recover the bike without incident, and I praise God for that.

We had our great friends the Clarkes visit this past week. Matt and Rachel came the day we moved, just about ten minutes after the last box made it into our new space. They are the kind of friends we feel comfortable being a mess around. I am really glad to have their friendship. I don’t have too many friends I have been in contact with since high school, and I am seeing the value of staying in one place for a long time – namely keeping relationships going over decades.

Candace is seeing her work relationships take more significant strides, and we would appreciate your prayers with that.

On the move

     Candace and Lilia went to Florida over the weekend to be with her covenant group to catch up on each others' lives and to pray together. They made it home safely this evening.

     On Saturday we will be moving AGAIN - only two streets over, to be in a building with some other young married couples interested in making a household type community. This building has six apartments in it, and we already know four families there. We will live on the first floor, too, which sounds great to us since we currently live on the third.

Here is a 3 minute video of our first move:

and pictures of the kids

Reba Retreat

     We were on the Reba Fellowship retreat last weekend. In the past they’ve taken a trip to some other location to be away. This year they decided to stay in the neighborhood because there were folks who couldn’t come otherwise. Most everyone took it seriously, and shut down their activities (including work) and made the retreat their first priority. We were very glad to be with the fellowship members, have fun, eat, and be silly for two and a half days.

     Last Sunday morning we were encouraged to have some solitude – as solitude is important for community to function well. We asked some non-fellowship friends to take Jedidiah to worship while we went to the lake to sit still, read and pray, and listen for the Lord. Rather than coming up with specific insights from time in quiet listening prayer, I want to say that solitude allows us to come to the community as givers rather than takers. In solitude we can get in touch with God, and kindle the inner flame that allows us to be of service to our neighbors. We need both community and solitude. One is not good without the other.

     After the retreat we both feel more ready to take an active part in serving in this community. We are people who want to serve and step up in active contributions. Until lately we have been taking our time, listening and learning about the culture of Reba Place. Now, some nine months later, we feel attuned to the mores of this particular gathered people.  We don’t know what our future roles will be – but we are feeling ready.