A pretty big update

Well, it’s official. We are moving to Grand Rapids! Many of you know we’ve been wanting to for quite some time now, and things have finally worked out for us to do so.

At the beginning of February Ben saw a job posting with Lutheran Child & Family Services for a Foster Care Case Manager position. That’s exactly what he does now, so he figured he’d apply for it and just see what happens. We prayed that he would not get the position if we weren’t meant to move. Within 2 weeks of the job being posted Ben had an interview and a job offer!

We really felt like God was telling us that this was something we were supposed to do, so we decided to make the commitment and just hoped that I would be able to find a job as well. Last Friday I put in my notice at work, and immediately they asked if I would be willing to work from home until the current recruitment cycle is over (next fall). I was ecstatic and for me it confirmed that this was God’s will.

It gets even better though! Many of you know that we’ve had Liam in daycare since I went back to work from Maternity leave, and it has been really difficult. While we love his teachers, it has still been emotionally difficult to take him every day. Additionally, we’ve been praying for my sister who has been wanting to be at home with her daughter (who is the same age as Liam). It has worked out that she is leaving her job and will be able to watch her daughter & Liam. God is SO good!

We’re currently looking for a place to rent, and figuring out the details of moving, but when we see how God has already worked out so many of the details, there’s no way we can worry.

As of right now March 31^st is the big day! While we love and cherish our friends & family in the Jackson area, we are SO EXCITED to finally settle down in an area we love so much.

Celebrating 2 Years

Ben and I celebrated our two year anniversary this week! Needless to say, time flies! We celebrated by taking a short, three day trip to Orlando, Florida while my mom came to stay with Liam.

The whole two weeks leading up to the trip, I was feeling really nervous. The flu has been going around my work and I just had a feeling I would get it during our trip. Ben got it a week before, and I ended up getting it two days before we were supposed to fly out. Thankfully though, I was back to feeling 100% by the time it came to leave.

We arrived in Orlando Monday morning and spent the day lounging at our hotel (poolside, of course!) and exploring the area. I love getting to know new cities, so we spent a good 2+ hours just driving around. :)

We spent all of Tuesday at the Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and then Tuesday night we met up with a friend who moved to Orlando last fall. We went to Downtown Disney, which is basically an area by Disney full of shops, restaurants, and street entertainment. It was so cool. The entire time I couldn’t help thinking, “Michigan has NOTHING like this!”

We were scheduled to fly back to MI on Wednesday, so we woke up early to maximize our time. We went out for breakfast, hung out more at our hotel and then headed to the airport.

It was such a relaxing time and was so great to have alone time with Ben for really the first time since Liam was born. I never fully realize how needed vacations are until I go on one. We so hope to go again next year, but take Liam with us. While we did have fun, it was also good to come home to our baby boy. :)

Here are some pics!

Outside our hotel room

Hogwarts!

I couldn't go to Orlando without seeing Bethany!