Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Here's the Scoop!



OK, so I thought I should wait to announce our big news until Monday, but Mr. WhiMSy love just gave me the green light to shout it from the roof tops.
We're moving! Far away! To a tiny town! Out in the middle of pretty much nowhere!
So, here's the scoop...
Scott (a.k.a. "Mr. WhiMSy love") has just accepted the position as pastor of New Life Assembly of God in Bridgeport, Nebraska. Population? Approximately 1700 lovely citizens. The Tri-Cities, Washington, where we live now, has a population of nearly 236,000.


Scott & I flew to Denver last Friday & took a 3 hour drive to Bridgeport where we were greeted by a very warm & friendly bunch of people. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, pretty jam-packed & tiring: meeting people, seeing the sights, touring the school, potlucks, donuts & chatting, cookies & visits, church, & finally....the vote. They liked us! They really liked us! Well, most of 'em did anyway. And, really, they were only voting on Scott. I was just the bonus prize. This is something that Scott has worked hard for. In a way, it was a long time in the making. It's a passion of his & I'm proud that his dream is being fulfilled.
So, are you weirded out that I'll be a pastor's wife? Dorky ole me? Yeah, me too.


It almost feels like we're moving to a different country. That is not meant in a disrespectful way. I'm not used to all the agricultural stuff & the smallness of the town. I mean, we'll be in the heart of it. The size of the town doesn't overwhelm me, but I know it'll take some getting used to. The people are hard working, very tight-knit. We're about to step into a different way of life. But I want to soak it all up, take it all in. I want to know everything: from the people & what they do & how they live, to the small-town way of life, to the history that surrounds us on every side.


We met so many characters... Beulah the beekeeper. Leo, who raises buffalo. Kevin the principal, who, along with his wife, own the local newspaper. Darrell & Lynette, who farm & ranch & are extremely hospitable & beautiful people, with a long history of farming in their blood & 16 cats that I know Pazely will go "ga-ga" over. Animated Scott & Angie, who have 2 kidlets, just like us. Supermom & Superdad, Brandy & Brent, who are parents of 8 kids, all boys, including 2 sets of twins. Kooky & adorable Annie. Softspoken Rose & handsome Ray, who will be one of many adopted gandma's & grandpa's to my girls. These are just a few of the delightful people we met who will now be a part of our family story.


I have not gotten emotional, yet, at the thought of being away from my family--who all reside in very close proximity to me. Or being separated from my favorite friend in the whole wide world, Tia. I'm pretty much just shoving those emotions deep, deep inside & they'll probably just explode in a most messy way at some random & inopportune time. That's how I roll.


We are driving to our new home in Nebraska on December 1st-ish. (I know! Less than 3 weeks to pack & get ready & do all the stuff you need to do to move & say goodbye?! I'm trying not to freak out.) My mom & dad are driving with us to help out. Becauase, did you know, that I get really-really-really-really sleepy when I drive? Without my parents help driving, it may take us months to get there. We may as well hitch a wagon like they did in the "olden" days.

We're excited for this adventure though! And it has been a peaceful journey from the beginning. That's how we know it's meant-to-be.


45 comments:

  1. Congratulations! I had a feeling it was a move for a job of some sort. I've made a couple comments on here before but that's it, so I know you don't really know me. I'm a pastor's wife too! We just moved to a small rural town too. What adventures await you and your family! I look forward to hearing more about it as you move and start a new life serving Him!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness!!!! How exciting! Is this a permanent move-there-'till-they-kick-us-out kind of a move, or a more temporary (5 years?) one? You'll make an AWESOME pastor's wife, I think. (I don't know...we don't have pastors, and we don't get to vote. LOL) and 3...I always thought of the Tri-Cities as rural, growing up in Spokane and Seattle. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so happy for your family and your new adventure! Good luck and a safe journey!

    It seems so odd but a lot of folks in my mini bloggy world are moving and we will be joining the ranks in the coming year too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. How exciting!! Congrats and good luck :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations! I am so excited for you and your family. I think those people will be very lucky to have you as their "Pastor's wife" Good luck with the quick move, and here's to many new adventures on your journey! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats....so glad you are embracing change. That rocks! No matter where you are always be 100% where you are. Wish I would have done that in all my adventures so far. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. i love moving!!! have fun and good luck!

    ps... i LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE your striped pants in the pic with the cat. where did you get them???

    ReplyDelete
  8. I push things deep, deep inside and then explode in confused agony too! I believe it's some form of escapism, and I'm glad I'm not the only one that rolls that way.

    I'm sure you will be fast friends with your new church family, and you seem like an awesome potential pastor's wife!

    Our Pastor and his family are moving to Alaska in like 2 weeks, and while I am so excited for them, I also really hate to see them go.

    Good luck on your new adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nebraska isn't so bad! We've lived in NE for three and a half years and we like it. :) I'm in the Omaha area, so a little bigger than Bridgeport, but it is nice here. Welcome to the state of Nebraska!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! Congratulations on your life's new adventure! My message got cut off, so I don't know if you're getting this twice.
    Anywho. I hope the move doesn't drain you too much. I bet you'll find some fun stuff boxing up your craft room. :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations! I had a feeling it was a job-related move :) Hooray for the new position, and the new town sounds wonderful! Just keep telling yourself 'moving is FUN' - because it is! Enjoy the adventure :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's going to be a fun adventure for you and your kids. And yes- moving to rural, bible-belt America is going to be a huge culture shock. I know when I moved from Tampa, FL to Cloquet, MN when I was 9- yikes. It's a HUGE change, but I didn't have parents to help me socialize, etc. BUT, small towns are usually big on crafty stuff- so that is super exciting! I love church bazaars!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! Moving to Nebraska at the beginning of the winter - wow again. Don't worry though, I have a good friend who is a pastor's wife, as well as a sister-in-law, and my mother was one, and you don't seem any more odd, than any of them - I'm sure you'll do great.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I grew up in a very small town (less than 1,000), and went to college in Cleveland. It was certainly a change, and I stayed there a long time after graduation. Eventually I ended up moving home, getting married, and now we're raising our large family in the smallness where we grew up.

    All that to say this: There is nothing, I mean nothing, like living amongst real, true neighbors.

    Good luck on your transition.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations! It'll be a fun new adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well, if you are going to move- I think it's great to try a completely different way of life- what an adventure! I think you'll be a great pastor's wife- remeber those Monday night dinners you hosted? You have so much to give and have such an open heart- you would be a welcome addition to anywhere, I'm sure. Good luck and get packing, this time of year is crazy enough without squeezing in a move. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. What can I say that hasn't been said already?
    Congratulations! Mr WL will spread the word of God and you will spread the joy of crafting with passion and love, just like you show us every day. :)

    I'd love to take my hubby and kids and find a small town to live.
    BA is a beautiful city, but I'm getting tired of all the traffic and noise and change of mood and all....

    Cheers to you all!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very exciting. I see some interesting blog posts in your future. So does if Mr Whimsy Love is a pastor does that make him Rev. Whimsy Love now?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Laura--haha! I was TOTALLY waiting for someone to say that! That's awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  20. How exciting! One of the first things that come to mind is- get skype! you can keep in good touch with your family and your beloved Tia.
    secondly, you are going to get into all kinds of wonderful crafty things over there! You can make quilts with those church ladies, and have bake sales and craft sales, you are going to be sort of like a queen!
    Very very exciting!
    Congrats, and high five for going after your dreams!

    drive safe and keep us posted.
    oh another note, stock up on tape and garbage bags. Huge-o garbage bags are great for packing.throw whatever will fit, like clothes, toys etc. It dosent all have to be neatly folded, especially when your having to do it semi speedily!

    good luck, and take care, and have fun and congrats!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. i'm so jealous! i'd love to move to a small town like that! :)

    i live where there's a population of nearly 500,000 so a small town would be an equally big change for me. :)

    good luck and congrats! sounds so exciting!

    i'm a preacher's kid, so i know the life. :) its wonderful, really!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm sad that you're moving away... but happy that you get to have this fun new adventure that I know you & The Rev. have been praying about & for... Our prayers are with you & your family & if you need our help, let us know... we're here for you.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congrats! If small-town life gets to you, remember we're just 3 hours away in Denver...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey, I know exactly where that is! My great aunt lives in nearby Mitchell and we visit her all the time (we're in CO). Congrats, and maybe I'll come see you sometime in the near future!

    ReplyDelete
  25. bittersweet news. frowns for us, sweetness for nebraska! what about the bazaar? when is that? i know you'll be able to blog & run your etsy shop still, but it will be strange to see someone else's newspaper under your awesome creations. what a fun new adventure though. i'm picturing something kinda like "because of wynn dixie." congrats to mr whimsy love! you'll aore small-town living. very cozy and quirky---both are good aspects!

    ReplyDelete
  26. p.s. aside from being sad for the rest of us here, i'm sad for tia. =(

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow! I still live in my hometown (since I was 2). sometimes I wish we would move far away and experience a different kind of life. I will live vicariously though you. Can't wait to read all about it.

    Congratulations to Mr. (Pastor) WhiMSy! May God bless you both as you transition!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. ok, so not pregnant then! THAT IS SUCH COOL NEWS!!! you are going to be so busy over the next 3 weeks nik! what a wonderful adventure for you and your family. wishing you all the best and can't wait to see some pics of small town america!!!

    at least you know it won't rain as much!

    ReplyDelete
  29. oh my goodness!
    congratulations!!!!!

    Anyway,
    take care yea..

    Don't forget to update your blog yea!

    May God bless you~^^

    ReplyDelete
  30. wowzas. you sound thrilled, and indeed, peaceful. congrats.

    Hey... from one pastor's wife to another... it's not so bad (then again, I'm used to life in the fishbowl, I'm also a pastor's kid)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wowzers!! You're going to get an accent! Ha! ;o) So excited for you.

    ReplyDelete
  32. wow~ congratulations. it really is a different culture out there, but not in a bad way, just in a different way. good luck, if it has gone this smoothly, God must have an awesome plan in store for you. I can't wait to see what happens next!

    ReplyDelete
  33. congratulations & good luck! find your page when I seek handcraft for children, I use much frome you in my job =))


    have a nice day/ hugs from me
    junhe frome sweden

    ReplyDelete
  34. When I told Miss M you were moving she got excited and thought it was to our city! Although you are a bit closer now....
    Best of luck with everything. We put a little game in the mail earlier this week to your girls....

    ReplyDelete
  35. I made the WA to NE move in 1994. I went from Puyallup to Lincoln. I love NE, the people are truly wonderful. If you want to get along well you have to: learn all about Cornhusker football (lovingly called the Huskers), learn to wave while driving by lifting just your left index finger off the steering wheel (no joke) and learn to love loose meat sandwiches (they are ground beef cooked loosely instead of patty shaped).

    ReplyDelete
  36. Congratulations Nikki! What an awesome opportunity for you and your family! A month ago my husband and I moved from Boston to Minneapolis... it was our first big move (crossing time zones and everything!) and so far we are loving it! It's stressful and crazy, but it's ok because it's an adventure! Good luck with packing! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wow! Congrats to Scott on the job! Good luck with the move, we moved a few states away from CA to CO and away from family.

    I admit I was choked up reading your post, what an amazing adventure you all are embarking on!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sounds like you have a great support system in place already. I guess Church communities are like that? I can't really say since we are Pagans, BUT we ARE military and know all about BIG moves. Sometimes all I want in life is to move back home (I'm from a small Canadian town....okay, more like a hamlet!)and be near my family. Good luck with your move...sounds like such an adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wishing you the best of luck! You sound like you have such a positive attitude and are looking forward to this next step in your lives.

    The comments are funny to read here. Being from the midwest, it makes me laugh the things people say / assume about living here.

    I got excited when I saw Nebraska...hoping you would be closer. We are right by Omaha, so that makes us about 7 hours away.

    I'm looking forward to hearing about this adventure!

    Yea! for all of you!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Congrats to your husband! I'm glad he is being able to live out a dream. I'm sad you will have to leave family and friends behind, but this will be an exciting adventure for you and your family, I just know it. And hey, home is only a plane flight away. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Holy moly! I've been dying to know the news!

    It will be hard to leave everyone behind, but they are only a click away on your blog. Now you will have to get mom and dad a Tia a blog, so you can all keep up-to-date.

    An exciting new chapter...good for you :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wow, wow, wow. I am SO happy for you! What an exciting adventure for your family! I've always wanted to live in a really small town (like in Runaway Bride). Then again, I've always wanted to live in New York, too. Hhhmmm....

    I'm so excited for you and can't wait to read about what adventures you're having in 'Population: 1,700'!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Congratulations!! I am also a pastor's wife, and we are going this weekend to be voted on at a new church too...

    ReplyDelete
  44. First of all, you would be my kind of pastor's wife: free and loving GOD and bringing beauty to the world in a tangible way. Secondly, when the emotion catches up with the decision: good job for being a supportive wife. I am relocating to Germany for my hubby's dream job and I am happy and yet ah.. it is a hard thing to decrease a bit in my own eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Grandma Starla can't come visit in her "winter" sandles and doesn't have a have a coat, something about the Arizona weather. I was born in South Dakota, in the black hills. Maybe we will try to find my grandparents farm when I come to visit when it warms up. Aunt Bev knows where it is. I was on the town's site, whoa, it will be really a change. My grandparents were homesteaders, given free land when they imigrated to settle the "west". It was a very hard life, especially with just one child, a girl (grandma Hall). She went to boarding school, as the ranch was too far to go to school. I checked the school out, hope you have some plans there to augment the girls learning. Small schools don't always have the same resources of a big one. Hopefully there will be good things that come with that choice as well.
    You will make a great Pastor, or is it Rev. wife, and I bet it will be full time for you as well.
    Are the girls excited? Where shall I send the Christmas dresses and presents?
    Love,
    Grandma Starla

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Every time you do, I do a little happy dance. For reals.