so much CHANGE

My word! It feels like everything in my life is changing this year. I have never had a year so full of change in my life - and it's only April!!!

It started in January when Drance and I decided to go our seperate ways. It was probably the calmest break-up ever in the history of couples, but it was still heartbreaking.

Then 3 weeks later my dad went to be with Jesus after spending 15 days unconscious in a hospital bed.

Next Sunday is my church's senior pastor's last Sunday here. Pastor Mark has been senior pastor for 15 years and now God is calling him on to a new ministry in a new state. I'm very excited for him and his family, but I am going to miss them so very much. Pastor Mark has spoken into my life in so many powerful ways through his sermons and the way he lives his life. His wife Terry was my "Star Sponser" in Missionettes and has been like another mother to me - always concerned about how I'm doing and giving me great big hugs. I consider his daughter Nicole to be one of my closest friends. We have been friends for 12 years and have gone through so much together. I am going to miss their daily presence and the wonderful way they have led our church.

Along with the change of the senior pastor leaving comes the change of a new pastor - who will it be? Our associate pastor (Pastor Dave) is going to be presented to the church next Sunday night as the first (and hopefully only) candidate for senior pastor. I hope he gets the vote! If he doesn't we'll have an interim pastor until the board can find a new pastor to present to the people. No matter which way it goes - the church is facing a lot of change in at least the coming year. (Our visitation pastor is also retiring - his last Sunday is May 2nd. I'm going to miss him and his wife too. They are very wise, very welcoming people and I love them dearly).

My mom and I have had to sell our house so May 15th we will begin moving into our new apartment. The closing on the house will be somewhere in the last week in May/first week in June.

Those are just the big changes in my life - there have been many other small changes in my life as well as big changes in my friends lives.

All I can say is that I'm glad I serve an unchanging God, because without him I would be a mess right now.