Your patience paid off! Here's the scoop! I've been writing this for more than a week, so it's really, really long. I had to blog, though, even if I couldn't let you see it right away! We got home at 2 AM this morning, so I'm glad I had this "pre-blogged" so you could get it this morning! Now, I'm going to spend some time with the little orange-haired boy I missed so much while I was away. I'll blog more about the weekend itself when I can!

On July 1st I wrote about faith and my Divine Discontent and the feeling that we were on the edge of something, waiting for God to say "Jump!" Ten days later, he said it! Aaron and I both felt the winds of change a-blowing and decided to talk to Patty about what needs we might be able to fill for Acres of Hope. So, July 11th, we called and talked about Pence's case at length (that's when we found out about the aunt and him asking about his turn) and then told Patty that we'd been feeling this way and wondered if there was any way we could get more involved. I expected her to give us a few options of things we might do--volunteering a couple hours a week from home, giving financially to some need, something like that. Aaron had told me just before the call that while he'd been praying throughout that day, he had the impression that Patty would say, "Funny you should ask..." and then tell us something that was right up our alley.

Well, Patty did say, "Funny you should ask..." and then went on to say that she'd just been praying for someone to fill Donna's position ASAP. Donna is the office administrator for Acres of Hope and gave notice in April that she wanted to be out of her job by June 1st. Patty had been diligently interviewing, but couldn't find anyone who had both the necessary skills, as well as a minister's heart. When Acres of Hope-Liberia began five years ago, it was truly a mom-and-pop style organization. But, now, they do so much more and need a full-time administrator of the US office. Patty really was looking for a couple to share the responsibilities, a couple who would be missionaries, right there in Wisconsin, a couple with organizational and administrative skills as well as the pastoral heart to guide families through the ups and downs of adoption.


Everything Patty said about the job rang bells for us. It was exactly the things we'd been dreaming of. We knew that we're not cut out to be "traditional missionaries" and that, instead, we make a great team serving together behind-the-scenes for the success of someone who is gifted in evangelism and visioneering. Aaron was growing more and more dissatisfied with "wasting" his skills and gifts to make computer chips. He wanted to use them to make a difference in the kingdom. And, as much as I enjoy Punk, stay-at-home-momming is a bit tedious for me. I also felt some of my skills and gifts have been shelved a little while I've been home. Patty told us of her vision for having a couple share the responsiblities. This so resonated with us--one of us could be at home with the kids while the other was in the office and both jobs (home/parenting and the office work) could be divided and conquered as a team. Neither of us would be "stuck" in the office or "stuck" at home. It was shocking how nicely this all seemed to fit in with our conversations with God behind closed doors.


We ended the conversation with butterflies in our stomachs and tears on our cheeks. Was this God? Could it be? Was He really asking us to give up everything here, move to Wisconsin, and start a whole new life? It sure seemed like it! We were shocked and overwhelmed.


We confided in a few close friends and mentors. All of them were shocked and affirming. As the days passed, it seemed more and more like we could and should do this.

Sunday, July 15, we talked with Patty for three hours. At one point, I mouthed to Aaron, "I'm ready to do this, if you are." He smiled his nervous smile (sometime I'll tell you all our dating story--we had a similar incident--I basically told him that I'd say yes if he asked me to marry him--5 months before he did!). The conversation seemed to be winding down, but Patty hadn't directly offered us the job. Aaron asked if she was. She said yes. He said he needed to sleep on it. She went on talking for a few more minutes. Then, Aaron said he was being silly and he really didn't need to sleep on it, it's a go!


We began researching all the things that need to be done. We saw a financial planner and talked to our tax man. We looked into health insurance plans and realtors. We found out how much our extra car is worth. We decided to sell the house and our Focus. We started planning a big ol' yard sale! We called our pastor to talk about making the transition as well as we possibly can. It's wild! WILD!

Then we talked with Donna and Patty both again on the evening of July 26th. We talked about when we'll be able to move to Wisconsin for training, covering emails and phone for Donna while she's in Africa at the end of August, and even about going to Africa first thing in September!


(August 2)
So, since I wrote the section above, things are really taking off and becoming so real. The word isn't out totally yet, but we've been widening the circle of those "in the know." When we're able to talk freely after the Festival (and A turns in his resignation), the reality will really set in.


We've talked to the realtor and set a price for the house. He'll be putting the sign out front in a couple of days! I washed the outside of the house one day. I started packing things up in "SELL" boxes and "KEEP" boxes. I've taken out 4 or 5 "tall kitchen garbage cans" of trash (so far, my stuff has been pretty evenly divided between those three categories, but then I was tackling things I knew had to go somewhere!).


I chose new carpet to replace our raspberry jungle and new peel-and-stick vinyl tiles to replace the mess we inherited as a master bathroom floor. I told the carpet sales-lady that we will NOT pay $2/sq ft (!!!!) to have the raspberry rhapsody "professionally removed." (Thank God for FRIENDS!!). I have looked at faucet replacements, begged grocery stores for empty boxes, bought bubble wrap, and many other activities I never thought I'd be doing. Wild, wild, WILD, friends and stalkers!


And, now, I have to pack for the Festival. Which requires some laundry be done. And, e-check-in for our flight. I already printed MapQuest directions last night from the airport to the Bed and Breakfast (I'm REALLY looking forward to that!) and then on to Acres of Hope! Wowee! I wonder if I'll get to publish this post from my soon-to-be office! That'd be something, huh?!