Since my last post back in December of 2016, so much has changed in our lives. Not only have we been blessed with another child since then, but we also live in a different state, and my husband now officially has his PhD. So, shall we recap?
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| The last photo update on here. Fall 2016 (Josiah 2, Caleb 6 mo) |
St. Louis, MO, the place we called home for 2 years and 1 month, the longest that we have ever lived anywhere, to date. This place holds a plethora of memories, changes, challenges, and testimonies. Going to St. Louis and pursuing a PhD shouldn't have worked out. Finding a house after housing on campus fell through shouldn't have worked out. Having any sort of income to support a family of 3 and then a family of 4 while pursuing high education shouldn't have worked out. Finishing a PhD in record time of 2 years and a few months should not have worked out.....the list goes on and on.
But, by the great mercy and grace of our Lord, it did work out. The math doesn't work and my emotions still get all tangled up in tears and fears and the what could have happened's. Praise the Lord that we made it through and that by His grace, we have grown closer to Him and closer to each other.
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| Reverend Dr. Olson |
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| You should have seen the smile on my face seeing him up there. <3 |
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| Nathan's Advisor, Dr. Okomoto. |
So where are we now? Just a little over a year ago, we moved to the land of 10,000 lakes, back to where it all started between Nathan and I. A wonderful church extended a pastoral call to Nathan that we prayerfully accepted in the earlier half of 2017 and we moved here shortly thereafter in August. We feel incredibly blessed by the family we have found in this church home and are filled with joy to see the love this church extends to one another, to us, and to anyone who walks through its doors. Our children have found friends and trusted adults to build relationships with, people whom they look forward to seeing on a more than weekly basis. I have been deeply impacted by several women in the church who have ministered to me in ways I have so desperately needed and in some ways I had no idea I needed ministering in. Praise the Lord that He knows our needs and seeks to fulfill them in His perfect ways. O and ne'er shall I forget to share that we now have chickens!!! This farm girl is gonna do her best to bring the farm with her wherever she goes! This is home, and we love this place.
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| 3 Black Australorp hens make their residence here in our 1/2 acre property. <3 |
We've also added another little blessing to our quiver, a little girl, Anna Rebecca Olson. She's 5 months old now and is quite the little personality! We love her immensely, though her brothers would contend that their love for her supercedes all. You go for it boys, she's got the best support system and protection a girl could ask for!
As for me, I am still here working out with blood, sweat, and tears, this journey of living my life as a daily labor of love. Some days seem more like labor than love, but even so, my prayer is that my heart would be turned to sing His praises as I serve my husband, my children, and my Lord in this endeavor. And may this revived blog, be a testimony of that to you my friend.
Much love and hugs.
Emily
