A Tree Analogy for You!

(Krista) Hello family and friends! As I was walking today, thinking of how I could explain to you how it's been going lately for us, I thought of a tree analogy. I feel like the past few weeks we have been like a new little tree, that seeks to be planted in the perfect spot. As a tree right now we are young, not much to look at, with just a few leaves here and there. But we are a happy little tree. In God's perfect timing we will be planted and I trust our roots will run deep at that point...but right now we are in the process of looking to see where the Lord desires to have us firmly planted. Meaning

...by the end of April our time in our temporary rental apartment will be up...so currently we are figuring out where we are going to live...where we will be planted community wise...

...we also need a church home, and so on Sundays we've been enjoying checking out local churches to see which fits our family the best...where we will be planted spiritually...

....we also have been continuing to meet with local pastors and ministries to see if any might be a fit for us...to see if any there are any other 'like trees' that may want to join us in God's plan for us...

...we have been blessed to be deepening our relationships with friends we already had here in Hamburg but we are also delighting in making a lot of new friendships as well...fellow 'trees' to grow alongside us in this journey...

So we are still in the 'everything is new' phase. It is clear that God has brought us to Hamburg. We have such a deep peace and joy being here--it feels so right--there is no place we would rather be. We look forward with anticipation to the upcoming weeks and months to see exactly how God's plan for us becomes more refined and as He plants us in places where we hope to grow our roots deep and produce much fruit. It is so exciting, and we are so thankful that you are a part of it. Be blessed, as you are such a blessing to all of us!

A few of my favorite experiences here thus far:

• Buddy and I getting the opportunity to share our story at a local church
  
• Meeting my new friend Maren who has a little girl who is 2 1/2--a perfect little pal for both Jose and Grace. Maren was an exchange student in California when she was in highschool in Auburn/Grass Valley, which is where my parents live. She is an easy new friend who I truly enjoy being with and I thank God for her :)
  
• Being invited to share a meal with various new/old friends (thank you Iris, Catherine & Volker, Ulli & Susanne, Maren, Jan & Anja, Uwe & Vera! )
  
• A local church had a welcome breakfast for us--I was so touched when the pastor's wife called me to invite us to it that I got all teary on the phone
  
• Watching Jose and Grace dance in the snow the first time they experienced it
  
• Seeing Buddy soar in His new calling!!!