Mountain Callings: Our God Story

Parksville Lake, photo creds: Julia Lowe

The mountains have been calling for as long as I can remember. Generationally it was born in my bones. My first summer alive I spent there on those waters, mountains surrounding all sides, growing up learning the names of them all...Big Frog, Sugarloaf, Chilhowee. Teenage years brought rides in cars with best friends and boys, windows down, music blaring, up to those mountains. In college, I spent the summer in North Carolina as a camp counselor. Waking up on top of the Blue Ridge mountains, seeing that fog from above, that soul slow. Soon after, I saw the Tetons for the very first time. They sucked me in, sucked us in. And we couldn't not go back. So he and I took that ten day trip. It was there that he asked me to be his wife, in front of those Tetons, right by Jackson lake. It was then that our dreams really started to take root and we could see ourselves there for the long haul. 

Engagement, Chape of the Sacred Heart, Grand Teton National Park

Engagement spot, C was 6 months old

So we dreamed and kept right on dreaming that dream of moving to that last true mountain town...as we joined in marriage, fought cancer, after baby boy #1 and baby boy #2, through adoption and building Tennessee homes and new jobs and experiences. We grew our family, along with our dream. 

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"When you hold your dreams with open hands, you let them breathe, grow, and have life. This can be scary because living things move, change, and take shapes we can’t predict or control. But what good is a dream if it doesn’t grow along with us?"-Emily Freeman
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SO many times we tried to do this whole chasing our dream on our own accord, on our own time line. Each time, we failed. I am pretty sure our parents and closest friends got tired of hearing about it. Bless 'em. For a while, this shocked me, that all the mechanisms of a move across the country didn't add up. For a while, I threw some pity parties and temper tantrums, crying out to God, questioning Him. How naive and immature of me. Truthfully, how sinful. So after our last attempt to hitch our wagon and move west failed, we began to come to peace that Tennessee was where we were suppose to be (for the time being) and we started to settle down after a year of uncertainty.  We found land. We built our dream home. We plugged into new schools for the kids and new community and friendships. Things started falling into place and feeling ever so comfortable.  And then God...

Kyle got a call from the company he had interviewed with TWO YEARS prior. They were basically wanting him to come out to meet one more time, discuss details of this job. The timeline of it all is a blur, but it went something like this...we put the house up for sale. It sold. Within a month. All God. We took the trip. He had the job. A dream job for him. All God. We found a house. All God. That community and those dear friendships rallied around us, cheered us on (although many times with teary eyes). They helped us pack and load the Uhaul. They kept our kiddos. They prayed over us, for us. All God. 

And before we knew it, we were rolling down the highway, headed for those mountains. Across states we had never been, towns we had never seen. The five of us. Watching our dream unfold as the hundreds of miles passed us by. This was really happening. 

There is something about those mountains that say anything is possible. I love this quote from Emily Freeman "...we want to be a couple brave enough to move toward what makes us come alive..." Oh how true that is for us and oh how He he has made us brave. We are called to greatness. We are called to live a life of feeling ALIVE. We are called to live these crazy awesome dreams God has called us to. For our tribe, that plan was to move across the country, away from family and all we've ever known.

So now what? What is life like for us here? It is simply put, messily perfect. Messily perfect only because He made it so. Because that is what He has called us to. We have found a church. So different from what we had before and it's good, so good. We have found friends, slowly but surely. A body of believers that have put themselves out there for us, to help us feel more at home here. We have found ourselves surrounded by a mission field of lost souls that He is calling us to love big. Our time outdoors has been multiplied. Our kids are experiencing things they never could have experienced elsewhere. They are happy. Kids are wildly resilient. Life is much slower, much more simple and much less materialistic. People come as they are, no frills or facades, and accept you that way as well. We have found much freedom here, more than I ever thought possible. 

Through all of this, the Lord has been speaking softly to me. He has been persistent with me in this whole biblical concept of seeking and finding Him and being obedient to His dreams for our lives. When we are walking in complete faith and obedience, when we are at peace with His timing and His plan, when we are seeking Him with our whole heart (not just part of it), that's when real freedom comes. 

So I don't know what it may be that He is calling you to do. My prayer though, is that you can read our story and see His ultimate hand on it all and that it will encourage you and move you toward Him. Toward what He has for you. That dream that you have deep within your soul, let Him make it come true. Be brave to take the first step. Listen to the calling, whatever it may be. For us, it was and is and will continue to be these mountains. 

Taking Stock

When in doubt, take the back roads. 

Making: Stuffed Pepper soup, whole30 compliant. A little of this, a little of that. So good and easy and warm to the belly on these cold winter nights. Here is my concocted recipe:

1 onion

1 clove of garlic, minced

package of ground turkey

-Brown all of this together in a pot with coconut oil. 

4 potatoes, cubed up pretty small

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

1-2 red (or green or yellow) bell pepper, chopped

28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes (I like the fire roasted kind)

Salt and peppa and any other spices you have on hand and want to try out. 

-Throw all this in with the turkey/onion/garlic and coat well with the tomato paste. And allow all the flavas to "mesh"

Cover with chicken broth.

Add in 1/2 cup coconut milk (this made it a little creamier and sweeter! loved this addition to soups!)

Let it simmer away until potatoes are done. The husband and I topped ours withs some Frank's hot sauce to kick it up a notch. 

Every single member of our tribe gobbled this goodness up and there are plenty of leftovers for lunch today. 

Drinking: La Croix coconut...new fave. 

Reading: It Starts with Food.  

Wanting: Nachos. The craving is real. I think about them all the time and in my dreams. This will be my first cheat meal off Whole30, FOR SURE. 
Watching: Once Upon a Time. Started out good, but the Anna and Elsa story line is a bit much to me. 
Listening: Kidz Bopp on XM radio. The kids and I jam to this.
Eating: more veggies than I ever have in all my life. 
Smelling: Went HERE and spent a good 30 minutes smelling all the goodness in their apothecary shop. Came home with THIS. It was time for a new scent in my life and great packaging to boot. 
Enjoying: Watching my boys ice skate and get better and better each week of practice. Such a fun new sport for them. 

Loving: Our new church here. The Lord has really been working on my heart in regards to church and how I view it. 
Hoping: For new relationships as we start leading a community group here next month. God has been so gracious in going before us and bringing people into our lives.  Forming friendships in a new town is a total 'put yourself out there' kind of thing. Probably the hardest aspect of being the new folks in town. 
Needing: A hair cut and color. Desperately. I have gray hairs. It scares me a little. 
Feeling: A little sickly. Not able to shake off a nasty cough that keeps me up at night. The combo of cough suppressant meds, essential oils, and homemade elixirs just barely touch it. 
Wearing: If you know me well, you know my love for jewelry. Since moving here, I'm lucky if I have on any earrings at all. If I do, its my Nickel and Suede earrings in signature gold. Lightweight and soooo pretty. I have my eye on those cognac cut outs next.  
Bookmarking: Mark's Daily Apple. Not normally a site I would spend much time on, but after reading one of his articles on oils and cooking and using them in food, I want to spend some time here learning more. 

Head Cheerleader for the dreamers and doers

I want to be head cheerleader of the dreamers and doers.

I want to cheer and encourage that high school senior, the homeschool mom, that empty nester, the retired grandmother. I want to tell them to chase after those dreams. Those BIG, crazy, scary dreams.

We live in a selfish and fast 'I want it and I can get it right now' technological world.  Because of this, I think it is harder for us to wait, to trust, to have faith, that the same Jesus that healed the sick and walked on water can indeed perform miracles in our lives today. It makes us want to put a BIG God in a tiny box. Our dreams we once had as young children simply stop because we get too busy and impatient to simply see God work in mighty ways and have our dreams come to fruition. I am so guilty of this. I want things done in "Amy-time."

We also let fear grab hold of us so tightly and get so consumed with the 'what-ifs' and the 'what will so and so think' and the big one... 'WHAT IF I FAIL.'

I have found that it is a combination of those things that leave people stuck, unfulfilled, and downright comfortable in a tidy, well packaged life. This is not God's plan for our lives, friends. He wants us to live a life of full surrender and abandon. He wants us to be a bright light in a dark world. He wants us to get uncomfortable and messy. He wants us to live a life of PURPOSE, for Him.

I have been alive for 31 years. I have had a roller coaster of life experiences. It is through those things that I know these things to be true...

Be brave enough to dream.    
Don't base your life on other people's expectations.    
Be intentional, be intentional, be intentional.
Believe that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. -Luke 1:45
God will confirm, restore, strengthen, and establish you. -1 Peter 5:10
There is so much going on behind the scenes. God is ALWAYS at work, even when it seems He is silent.
{And never, ever underestimate the power of driving down the road with windows down and music blaring to clear your head and slow your soul.}

Yes there will be naysayers and negative Nelly's and people who call you crazy and want you to know that what you are doing is a terrible mistake. Don't listen to them. Instead, find "your people."

My TN people! I've got some beautiful friends! 

It will be those people who will pray you through. It will be those people that rally with you in your dreams. They aren't perfect, but guess what, neither are you! Grab your megaphone and pompoms and cheer for people. There is room for you. I think this world needs a few more head cheerleaders.

****The Lord has laid it upon my heart to share the stories of women I know that are living their dreams and giving Him the glory. I want to allow them to use this space at Mountain Callings to share their hearts, in the hope that one of their stories may touch you in a way that moves you. That maybe you will see a flicker of one of your dreams in them and it will prompt you to chase it like crazy. As I thought through this idea, He one by one brought these women to my mind. They are all incredible. Some have started non-profits, others small business, some are stay at home mama's. They are all lovers of Christ. They are all living such beautiful lives, for Him.

As these next weeks unfold, I can't wait to introduce them all to you. And if you have a story that He is wanting you to tell, I would love more than anything for you to write your heart here. Shoot me an email if you feel led. In the meantime, grab your people. Cheer them on. Let them cheer YOU on. Dream and do and dream and do again. For Him. All for Him.

Be blessed!

Taking stock

Taking a que from one of my favorite blogs, tales of me and the husband, and offering up a fun post on Fridays.

Jackson Lake, frozen over

Making: Homemade mayo...where has this been all my life?! Go HERE for the recipe. So delicious and a base for so many other good sauces and dips. Minimal ingredients, all of which you probably have on hand. Whatever you do, do NOT use extra virgin olive oil. Made that mistake...so gross. 

Drinking: La Croix orange with fresh squeezed orange juice and La Croix lemon with fresh squeezed lemon juice. My afternoon pick me up. 

Reading: Interrupted by J. Hatmaker, been trying to go through this study for months I tell you, MONTHS  

Wanting: to go to Target, ya'll. Closest one is 2 hours away. What I would give for a Target run. 
Watching: Downtown Abbey (Mary?! So scandalous!)
Listening: T. Swift. Everyday. 
Eating: hard boiled eggs, apples, and almonds for breakfast. Whole30 is rocking my world, in a good way.
Smelling: Thymes Fraiser Fir candle, the one with a wood wick. So cozy.
Wishing: For more snow.Tons and tons of fresh powder. 
Enjoying: Cold weather

Loving: This season we are in as a family. Blog post about our big move coming next week. 
Hoping: To purge some toys. This rental we are in is short on storage and I feel we are busting at the seams!
Needing: To exercise. Story of my life. 
Feeling: Excited to head back to those sweet, southern rolling hills in March to visit family and friends and hopefully see my nephew be brought into this world.
Wearing: Sorel boots, with the fur. A staple for Wyoming winters. 
Bookmarking: The Hunted Interior. Such eye candy for interiors. 

Have a great weekend. Get out and do something adventurous and new.