BRING ON THE CHANGE

Tonight I find myself unable to sleep again, but this time not so much due to insomnia as so many nights in the past. Tonight I find myself reflecting on the many blessings that God has imparted upon our whole family and the mercies that He has shown us and rejoicing in His goodness and provisions.

At moments like these I am thankful for a Savior that will take the sadness in our hearts and show us joy. Our hope is found in Him and there I will rest.

I have been thinking so much about Ruth and how she followed her mother-in-law to an unfamiliar land and was dedicated to her even though it was not required. It is interesting that the reason I have been looking to her is to draw some wisdom and encouragement for dealing with the relationships of in-laws only now to see that God had that passage there for me to be preparing my heart for some other changes that are coming.

I want to tell you all how proud that I am of my brother and my sister-in-law. My brother is a wise and intelligent man that loves his family and loves his Lord. He is embarking upon a big change in his life and the life of his family and I am sure that he does so with anticipation and excitement but also with reluctance and a heavy heart. What brings me peace is knowing that he is a man that seeks God and is doing what God has called him to do for his family and the betterment of their lives.

Now, as to my sister-in-law, she reminds me of the love that Ruth extended to Naomi. As Ruth did not have to follow Naomi, Cristina doesn't have the same option physically, but she could choose in her heart to be resistant to what God has for their family at such a time as this, but she isn't. She is being such a godly wife and mother and supporting her husband and being the helpmate that God made her to be for Kelly. She is looking to what is best for her husband and giving up some of the wants she might have so that he can be successful in his role as husband and father. There are tears, as one would expect, but her heart is beautiful. She has her priorities in place and loves her husband so much that she is willing to be uncomfortable to see what God has in store for them.

I would love to request the prayers of any of you looking onto this post, because this will be hard in so many ways. We all are trying and desiring to be supportive, but there is the selfishness that we can so easily battle in this decision. Our family is such a blessing from God in that we LOVE each other dearly. We have often been told that we have a unique family that enjoys being together and does so often, and because of what God has allowed in our family, it makes this change extra hard. Yet still I REJOICE, because in hurting much, I know that we LOVE much and at this time of year, what better way to relate to Christ and his death and resurrection. Because He LOVES much, he DIED for us so we can forever live with Him. Because of that great hope, we can rejoice in this very circumstance in our lives because God has given our family that great hope. We will NEVER be separated from Him first and foremost, but because of that, we will ALWAYS have each other.

1 Peter 3:13-22 (New International Version)

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear[a]; do not be frightened."[b] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[c] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[d] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

I am uncertain of all of the ways that God is going to use this change, but I know He will because we know that God works all things for the good of those that love Him, and we love Him.

Romans 8:28-30 (New International Version)
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

We praise you Jesus for your provisions and the opportunities that you afford us because you love us. We do not always understand your ways, but you do not call us to understand all your way. Just as you tell us in Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

You will provide us a peace and I can say that you have done that for me far before we knew the outcome. I do ask that you will comfort all of us during this time and most especially I ask that you will be with all the children as I know that our hearts are aching most for them and the relationships you have given them with each other and how their hearts are just not going to understand. I thank you already for how you will protect those relationships and for the ways you have allowed them to know each other and love each other so completely already.

I know you will continue to show your goodness and mercy to us as we will separate for a short time until we meet again. We do pray that our meeting will be here on earth year after year(even month after month would be okay for us), but we rejoice in that you have already provided a way for us to meet again if our wants to see each other frequently here on earth are not part of your plan. Help us accept your will and help us to want your will more than our wants...turn our wants to match Your will. - AMEN and We LOVE you LORD.

Rest assured all that things are fine...our family is just getting ready for a change that we don't want, but we know that it is God's leading. Change is never fun or something that is often looked for, but God does it to grow us all to look more like Him, so because of that we are crying out - "BRING ON THE CHANGE!"

I love you Kelly, Cristina, Christopher and Adrianna. I know there are so many aspects to this change that haven't all been thought through, but know that I/we are praying for you and will be here in every way that we can be to support your next endeavor in your lives. We will miss you and will hurt and notice your absence physically in so many ways, but because we love you, we want you to go. This will be a great time for your family to strengthen itself together.

Thank you Lord for technology for it will provide us the means in which to be better connected than we were able to be when the Colorado Larson clan had to leave their Home and head West. Because of that move, we are so close and appreciative of the unique experience that we find ourselves in, so we pray that you can provide that kind of support for the Georgia Larson clan that will be heading South. They will FOREVER be the Colorado Larson's, but we know that you want to use them in Georgia to show more people your love through them. Guide each of their steps and provide them an adopted family there that can bring them happiness and the support they need. I pray that someone can be a GREAT babysitter to my kids so that my brother can love his wife as she will need at this time. They will need their date nights, so provide for them in the way I know you can. - AMEN again. :)

If you all made it this far in the post and still feel that it has been cryptic, it hasn't been deliberate entirely. I want to allow my brother to share with those he will, but also know that so few read this page and I was just prompted to get up and reflect and love God through this moment and to hopefully use this as an encouragement to the family that I love so dearly.

To break the code for you, my brother has been given an opportunity to move up with his company(Technical Leader TPQCA), but it comes at the price of having to move from Colorado to Georgia. We all are excited for the opportunity and are already starting to save for our trips back and forth so we can continue the love we have and to keep our children close as well.

Please pray with us and for us.

THANK YOU