It is with such joy that I say that my family is moving into a new season of life.
For the past year, I’ve had the honor of watching my parents live with open hands, surrendering themselves to the will of Christ. After circling it in prayer, they both felt like God was calling them into a new season of life, but weren’t sure exactly what that season was. Several months ago, without an explanation, they felt God was nudging them to put our farm on the market, but couldn’t explain why. Little by little, they finished projects around the house, began the process of putting the farm up for sale. With no other explanation than they were acting on faith, they moved forward. Acts of faith begin with a willing heart that says ‘yes’ to the nudging God has placed on one’s heart.
It’s so easy to say we would do radical and heroic things, but when the time comes, our action may not reflect what we preached about. One of my favorite examples of this lies in Genesis 22, when Abraham takes his son up the mountain after God told him he needed to sacrifice his son. Remember, Abraham had waited years and years for a child, and now he was supposed to sacrifice him? In case you’re not familiar with this story, don’t worry, Isaac didn’t die. Abraham relied on God’s sovereignty, knowing that His will was greater than his own wants. Luckily, this is one of the more extreme examples of a willing heart in the Bible, but a powerful one all the same.
Anyone who knows us knows that our family dynamic consists of planners and analysts with a spontaneous streak. You can imagine that putting our farm on the market, without a clear reason or next home planned out, has the potential to put us in a frenzy. Planners and analysts don’t like the gray area; we love to have things in order, with each decision carefully thought-out. But you see, that’s where God lives. He puts us in the gray area because it makes us dependent on Him. Many times, when things are planned to the hilt, we don’t feel the need to rely solely on faith, because we already have a map of how things are supposed to go. Living in the gray means living by faith, with our only assurance being God’s sovereignty.
A few months ago, my parents felt another nudge: to take a foster care training class. Though they had considered adoption, they felt certain they needed to take the class, and thus they began the path to becoming foster parents. Because their hearts were already open to adoption, the shifted focus on fostering is only another example of how beautifully God orchestrates things. Though I’m incredibly biased, I believe my parents will be amazing foster parents, as I’ve had the opportunity to grow up under their watch, as well as see firsthand how well they serve others. I have complete confidence in their parenting abilities, as they are the ones to thank for how close our family is. As of now, they’ve finished the class, gotten their background checks, and will do the home study next. I’m sure by now, y’all are all thinking they’re crazy; taking a fostering class while getting ready to sell the farm? Bear with me here, y’all.
Last week, my sweet family drove up to the District (Washington, D.C.) for a weeklong family vacation and to celebrate my college graduation. Last Wednesday, after much encouragement from the realtor, they went ahead and officially put our house on the market, though they weren’t sure it was quite ready yet. While we were out having fun in D.C., someone came to see our house, and made an offer the next day.
By Sunday night, our house was under contract, and we all sat at the kitchen table with slack jaws, speechless in disbelief. That’s right, our house was on the market for less than a week! This was the fastest my parents and our realtor have ever sold a house, and the contract was exactly what my parents wanted. That’s how great our God is. My parents acted on complete faith, and God has taken care of the rest. The boys, of course, were ecstatic, because it meant they didn’t have to clean their rooms.
It’s all happened so quickly that we didn’t even have much of a chance to tell everyone that we were selling the house, let alone that it’s sold. Momma says it’s because when God moves, He moves fast, and I’d say this is a clear indication of that.
There are a few little things that have to be done, and when I asked my parents if they were worried about it, they responded with confidence that if it wasn’t meant to be, then it wouldn’t be. Our closing date is June 26th, and as you can imagine, our house will be full of packing tape and boxes these next few weeks. Because we were in D.C. when the farm was put on the market, they hadn’t had a chance yet to look at any houses or even figure out what kind of house they wanted. I can tell you this, though: the new house will have space for us and any foster children my parents take on, and they’re looking in the North Rutherford/Mount Juliet area.
Head-Quarters Farm has served our family well for the past nine years. We’ve had hundreds of people pass through our front doors as guests, and leave as family. One thing that I love about the farm is that it’s not just a house, but a home. It’s a safe place for loved ones and strangers alike, and one of the best parts is that it’s not the building that made this possible: it’s the people. My parents have such gracious hearts, and live to serve, which is why I have no doubt that our new house will also have the same welcoming atmosphere.
John 13:7 says, “Jesus replied, ‘You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will,” (NLT). I speak for all of us when we say that we don’t know exactly what God has planned for the rest of our lives, but we’re taking that first step in order to find out. One thing I’m sure of: when you say ‘yes’ to God, you say ‘yes’ to adventure. This is exactly what we’re doing right now: beginning a new adventure.
Our whole family is entering into a transitional season of life: with Avery starting high school in August, Nathan continuing college, me starting graduate school and getting my own place, becoming a foster family, and moving to a new house. We will continue to move forward as we feel God calling us, wherever that may be.
As we begin this new adventure, we ask for your prayers as we move into this transitional season of life. We’re looking forward to seeing where He leads us!
-The Head Family
