Well, it's out there now...

Today was a bittersweet.

Nine years ago, I came to San Antonio to spend the summer at River City as a youth intern. I spent that summer getting to know some of the coolest people I'd ever known. There was something different about River City. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I felt it. Summer came and went, and I found myself not wanting to leave. So I stayed, went to school, worked, and continued to work with the youth. Many things have changed since then (like getting married, having kids, and becoming the youth pastor's wife), but in a lot of ways they haven't. I've been involved with youth basically since I was a youth, and it's been so cool to watch students grow throughout the time I've been involved.

Today, though, is the beginning of a new chapter for us. We announced to our teenagers that at the end of this school year, we'll be stepping down and moving on. There were tears. It's hard stepping down at a time when things are going so well.

At the same time, I'm excited, because we've been given a new mission. Aaron and I will be launching a new multi-site on the Northwest side of San Antonio and we're thrilled.

How did this come about? Well, it started last summer. In July, Aaron had some time to himself while driving from Bastrop to San Antonio one afternoon and he just began to sense God telling him to get ready for the next step. He wasn't sure what that looked like. Are we supposed to go to another church? Was his role within the youth ministry about to change? He didn't say anything to anyone (not even me) but just tucked it away. Over the next number of months, he continued to hear the same thing, still not completely sure what he was supposed to do, but he began to become passionate about the idea of the multi-site, like we have in New Braunfels. But still, he said nothing...

Until one day in November (or was it December?), we loaded the kids up in the car, got Starbucks and were driving around looking at Christmas lights, and I looked over at him and said, "I feel like God is telling us to get ready for the next step."

He stared at me, wide-eyed. (I took this to mean that he thought I was crazy.)

After a long pause, he said, "Well, what do you think that looks like?"

"I don't know, really. I don't think we're supposed to leave River City. And I don't think we're supposed to plant a church. I don't know, but I think it'd be really awesome to launch a new campus."

Another long pause. This time I was sure he thought I was crazy.

But then, the most amazing thing happened. He said, "Wow. I've been feeling the same thing." Then we were both quiet.

For the rest of the night, though, and over the coming days, we found ourselves lost in conversations about what God had been saying to each of us individually over the past number of months, and the excitement built as we realized that the hand of God had been guiding us individually, but very much together, all along. The ideas and the possibilities were overwhelming and thrilling, and we just knew this was where we were being called.

God has continued to confirm this every step of the way. As we approached Sean and the church leadership, we found that God had been moving in them too, and doors have continued to open.

Today, we were finally able to announce this new ministry to the youth and to the congregation, and I can't wait to see how things continue to unfold from here. We're so excited to see the team of people God puts together and all that He has in store. Please pray for us as we begin this journey! We'll keep you posted along the way!

Thanks for being a part of our life. Sorry for the super long post with no pictures. :)