New blog?

Hey everyone! I had a great day with Becky yesterday. And, yes, Emily, I actually did buy something - although it was mostly gifts! It was fun to just relax and talk, oh and eat fudge! Yummy!

Today was a strange day. It is so weird to be at Oak Pointe, knowing it is my last time there as a regular. Everything was normal, yet in the back of my mind, I'm reminded that it's the last time for me. The small groups pastor, Greg Moore, gave the message today. It was one of those "kick in the pants" types of messages that every church needs every month or so. Way to go Greg! The air conditioning wasn't working and it was soooo hot. I felt really bad for Greg being up in the lights. If you go to Oak Pointe and I didn't see you today to get to say good-bye - sorry and I missed seeing you (i.e. Loren, Jeff K., Emma, etc.!). We spent the afternoon getting our stuff out of the Adelsman's basement (thanks once again Tom & Connie!) and painting our walls. The movers are supposed to come tomorrow between 1-3 pm to load up everything. Then we'll ride off into the sunset!

I am starting a new blog. It just doesn't seem quite right to have my blog named after 707 anymore. I just started it today and still have tons of work to do on it, but you can check it out at www.jonathanherron.typepad.com/amberherron . Eventually, I am going to probably buy the domain name so it will just be amberherron.com. Anyways...I gotta go medicate myself from my sorrows and eat some fudge!

My Friend, Becky

I have been looking forward to tomorrow all week long! I get to spend the day with my friend, Becky. This may sound funny, but as a person whose love language is quality time, it means a ton! God has blessed me with numerous, life-long friendships. Each place I move, however, it is necessary to find at least one quality friend. I always bring this matter before my heavenly Father. I prayed for a friend in Ohio and He brought me Emily. I began praying for a friend even before moving to Michigan. I remember times when the pastors' wives here would get together and we would talk about and pray for God to bring me a friend. That friend was Becky. She has stuck by my side through thick and thin. She cries with me and laughs with me. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago when we were offered a position in South Carolina and I told her on the phone, she cried tears of joy! She prays with and for me. She holds me accountable. She has often been the prophetic voice of God in my life the last year and a half. She has opened herself up to me and allowed me to speak into her life as well. It's hard to believe that I'll no longer be able to meet up with her for coffee on a whim, but the ties run stronger than good coffee. I know I have made a life-long friend with her. I also know that God will provide for both of us in new friendships - I've seen Him do this before too. So tomorrow is our last hurrah as we spend a couple hours in the car and drive to Frankenmuth to see the Christmas Wonderland or whatever it is! I know she will still be just a phone call away, no matter where I go. (ok, so I've started bawling as I wrote this!)

We got our house!

We heard back yesterday that the offer we put on the house was accepted! We have a closing date set for September 7! Still keeping busy around here. I took the cats to the vet today and got tranquilizers for the long drive next week. I had some help with packing up part of the kitchen today - yippee! I will probably finish most of it tonight. Then, I just have some bath items, clothes, and cleaning supplies and I'm ready to go! We have to put primer on some of the walls too. I decided that I am taking Saturday off - Becky and I are going to drive up to Frankenmuth to see the cool stores there and also go to the outlet there. I hear they have a Pottery Barn Outlet! Jon gets back on Sunday afternoon. We will be picking up some stuff we've stored in another pastor's basement, finish the primer and be ready to go for Monday! All in all, things are going fairly well.

Boxes, Bubble Wrap and Blogging

The last couple of days have been just a little bit stressful. I am attempting to pack up all our stuff in about a week's time. I am so overwhelmed as I look around. I know there are tons of things to do, but I just can't keep my head straight to know where to start! It seems like no matter how many boxes are packed, I haven't even put a dent in the job. Add to this, the need to get the cats in to the vet, the cars fixed before our drive, Jon's leaving tomorrow to speak at a camp, etc. Yesterday, Jon's car got inspected and needed $800 worth of repairs!!! How can a car only 4 years old with 44k miles on it need that kind of work done? Today my car goes in, pray that it is cheap! We still haven't heard back on our offer on the house - which I'm really not that concerned about. I am concerned about the fact that we have no place to live prior to the closing on the house! All of this weight seemed to be bearing down on me yesterday. Today, I decided, more than ever, I need to start my day with the Lord and His strength I flipped into one of my favorite devotional books, "Streams in the Desert," and found this verse: "By faith Abraham...obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Heb. 11:8
It was followed by this excerpt.
"Too many of us want to see our way through a new endeavor before we will even start. Imagine if we could see our way from beginning to end. How would we ever develop our Christian gifts? Faith, hope, and love cannot be picked from trees, like ripe apples. Remember, after the words, 'In the beginning' (Gen 1:1) comes the word 'God.' It is our first step of faith that turns the key in the lock of His powerhouse. It is true that God helps those who help themselves, but He also helps those who are helpless. So no matter your cirumstance, you can depend on Him every time. Waiting on God brings us to the end of our journey much faster than our feet. Many an opportunity is lost while we deliberate after He has said, 'Move!'"


It's true, I don't know how in the world I'm going to get everything packed, I don't know where I'm going to live at first, I don't know if or what kind of job I may get, but it doesn't matter. God continues to teach me to walk by faith. I think this could be my theme for 2005!

Greenville Airport

The airport in Greenville, SC is one of those that is smaller with the little planes. It's nice because you don't have to beat the crowd. We still got there a little early today and sat at a table to eat lunch before boarding our plane. I realized that there was an area outside with a fountain and flowers. We had some fun and took some pictures of it.





This is me in front of a HUGE flower pot! Now, that's what I call planting flowers. I hope to have lots of beautiful flowers in my yard eventually.









This picture is of me impersonating the weird statue in the water.












This is me and Jon on a bench by the little pond and fountains.

House Hunting

Well, we got back this afternoon from South Carolina. We were there house hunting. After much deliberation, we decided to pu in an offer on a home. We will find out tomorrow the details. It should be accepted because it is new construction, so the price is pretty much set. We are checking into some upgrades - I want a different veneer on the sink in the master bath and I would love to switch out vinyl for pergo in the kitchen / dining area. It is 3 bedroom and 2 bath with a bonus room off the living room. There aren't really basements in SC, so it has some attic space for storage and is a little over 1600 square feet. The floor plan has split bedrooms (master separated from the other 2). I especially like the garden tub in the master bath - I love taking baths. Enjoy some of these pics we took while walking through.

This is a picture of part of the kitchen. I plan on getting stools to pull up to the bar so you can eat there or at the table.

This picture is taken from the doorway of the master bedroom looking through the back half of the living room and into the hall where the 2nd bathroom is.

This picture is of the sink in the master bath (which I'm changing). Jon is standing in the walk in closet taking the picture. To his right is the tub, shower and toilet and to his left is the master bedroom.

This picture is of the bonus room. It is off the back of the living room with double doors to close it off and glass doors out to the backyard.

Moving is so much fun!

I've been feeling a little guilty lately about how much we've left the cats this summer. Add to that, knowing how stressed they are going to be about moving (cats don't move well). Yesterday, they got a rare treat. I was making some tuna fish for lunch and decided to give them some. This was very exciting for them! Today, Jon and I decided to buy them a new bed. I'm hoping they will sleep in it in the car while we drive to SC. Snickers immediately knew it was for him. He was purring really loud and has been laying in it all night. Here's a picture of him lounging in it. Poor Schweeny hasn't even gotten a chance to try it out.

I've been keeping really busy the last couple of days. We started packing and got most of our books (which is a lot) done. I've also gotten some of the pictures off the walls and wrapped. I got quotes for moving from half a dozen moving companies, got preapproved for a mortgage and emailed several house listings back and forth with the realtor. I also scheduled for our utilities to be shut off and confirmed our move out date with the leasing office. Whew! Does that make you as tired as it makes me?

Tomorrow, we fly out, again, and go house hunting. We are having lunch with our super cool new pastor, Perry (on his day off, I might add). Then we meet with the realtor to check out some homes tomorrow night and all day Saturday. Sunday, we will go to church at our new place, New Spring and then head back to Michigan. Hopefully, I'll have an update with a picture of the house we hope to buy!

I am just so amazed and thankful to God for all He is accomplishing in our lives! Before long, I'll be telling you all about the adoption we plan to go through. Can't wait to post pictures of my coming baby!

Thanks to everyone who has emailed, commented, or called to encourage us! Your prayers have sustained us through this time. Thank you so much for remembering us before our Lord! We love you all!

We're Moving to South Carolina!!!

Hey everyone! I'm sure most of you have either read Jon's blog or talked to me. We were offered a position at an awesome church in Anderson, South Carolina! We are soooooooo excited and thankful to God for His provision. I now have to shift gears to check lists. We have to find a house, buy a house, pack our things, find a moving company, and on and on and on! Just thinking about it makes me tired. Well, I gotta go get some packing done!

Photos: Me sitting in a rocking chair in the airport at Charlotte, NC.


Schweeny helps with the packing!








Snickers stakes his claim on a U-Haul box.