Keep On Dreamin' - Kristin Sterk

Life has been a little hectic for the past couple of weeks, but as I sit back and think about those weeks, God has reminded me numerous times of how He is God and we (thankfully) are not.

Yup, still pretty stoked about the vehicle. We had to take it up to Grand Rapids this weekend for a middle school youth group event to Craig’s Cruisers and we were able to test it out. The kids said it was very comfortable and that is what we care about – a vehicle to take kids with us. You’re probably thinking, Kristin, it’s JUST a vehicle – but God provided for us in SUCH a perfect way – I’m not going to go without giving Him the credit b/c it has nothing to do with us – we just acted on what He showed us. It’s just another way God watches out for us – even with vehicles.

In what small way has God provided for you? It’s easy to overlook those things, but if we only look for the “big” ways that God provides, we will be missing out on many blessings!

I have been seeing that a lot of people I know have been having babies or have been announcing they are having one. I see on facebook a lot how many people are expanding their families. Every time I see that, I think about us. Every time. That calculates out to be a LOT. I dream about our family. I dream of what it may look like. I dream of what our life will be like. But I try not to go too far with those dreams because I don’t want to determine my life by them. I want God to determine my life. When my parents came down a week ago, we went to a toy store. I was looking at all the “old school” toys that I used to play with and thought “I would LOVE for my kids to have those someday if we have them.” My mom said something to me around the lines of “you can dream Kristin.” Those words hit me so hard because I haven’t allowed myself to. When Dan and I were driving up to look at the vehicle last Tuesday, I told Dan about that and he agreed with my mom. We have to enjoy the moment we are in with Brenda. I am SO hesitant sometimes – like even to accept baby gifts/hand-me-downs from people because I am so fearful it may not work. It’s a constant battle. I can’t fear it – but like Brenda has always said, we need to live expectantly. God has provided this avenue and we will go with it until He says “stop.” So until then, I WILL dream about getting those old school toys. I WILL accept hand-me-downs from those who have offered. I will dream. My mom probably didn’t think that what she said would mean so much, but it was almost a corner-turner for me. I needed to hear that. Just because one “dream” of conceiving our own may not be there, doesn’t mean that having our own can’t be a dream yet. Live expectantly.

Yes we dream, but we are also thankful for the life God has given us now. It has been an absolutely
CRAZY year thus far, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Sometimes we lay our heads down at night and think wow, we are tired. But, isn’t everybody these days :)? We continue to love youth ministry and can’t see ourselves doing anything else. We continue to love to love on kids. We wouldn’t want it any other way. We continue to love building relationships. We couldn’t ask for better friends and family. We continue to anticipate what God has in store for us. We couldn’t be more eager :). Until then, we rest in assurance that whatever is ahead, God has already paved the way.