How much transition can one family take?

So the month of December has been a whirlwind... decorating for Christmas, finding a place to rent until the spring, caring for sick family members, packing boxes, upon boxes, upon boxes... and yes there's more to pack, cleaning out the barn to get it ready for storing the majority of our belongings while we rent, and finally looking for new employees as Dave Artrip and intern Kira will not be traveling with us, and trying to give a Christmas present to all of our January customers by getting their product done in time for Christmas.

Through it all the Lord has allowed for some precious moments but there are days when Marghie Christensen and I just stare blankly at each other and remind each other to keep breathing.  Each of the family is dealing with the transition in different ways. Many of the kids are acting out in unexpected ways and we just have to remind ourselves to put on compassion and love each other through this.

Dave Artrip has worked with us for like 6 years now and seeing him move on to the next season of his life is a bit like losing a family member. I'm not really sure how to process it (JC). He certainly is a key man on our team and we will surely miss him. We're not sure he can be replaced but someone will have to take his place. We love Dave and the ways in which he has taught us to serve others with a gentle and quiet spirit.

In the past week the Lord has opened up doors for a new staff member for the mill, a place to rent in Orrville that meets all of our family's needs, and we've gotten a ton of things packed so far this weekend. We were also able to share with our church family about our future move in the Spring this past Sunday. The older boys are being such a huge help.

Please continue to pray as we continue to listen and walk according to the Lord's leading.

Sincerely,
JC on behalf of the Christensen crew

Emerson Road and beyond...

“If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?” - David Livingstone

A couple of weeks ago we found out that our house was being considered by a local couple here in Apple Creek. Another week later and we were under contract. Our house will close on January 5th and we must be all moved out by January 19th.

Pray for us as it's hard to decorate for Christmas and celebrate and keep things "normal" that way while packing up boxes and preparing for a move shortly after the holidays. Moving in the winter is not anyone's idea of fun but we'll make the best of it. The majority of our stuff we will put into storage which my parents have agreed to allow us to use the barn for storage. Then the smaller amount will be moved into a rental some place close.

We're still looking for a rental place to stay while we wait for the spring. We will move down to North Carolina then in early spring. I'm sure it won't be easy to find a renter who would be interested in a 3 or 4 month lease but the Lord knows best. We're not looking for awesome just 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a dining area/living room.

I'm sure the next several months will bring up all sorts of emotions in Marghie and I and also our children. For most of our kids this is the only house that they know and while they might be excited about moving they may not realize how much they are going to miss this place. We've had lots of amazing memories here in this house. This is the longest we've ever lived together in one place so that's going to carry some weight.

Please pray as we go through this transition and that we listen to the Lord voice in the process and don't hesitate to follow where he is leading. Thanks again everyone for your support!