A raw update from our family’s journey of faith, waiting, and obedience to God’s leading
We’ve been sitting with the Lord a lot lately—reflecting on the past few months (July–October 2025)—and realizing something: if we’re going to live this journey authentically, we need to invite people into both the beautiful and the brutal parts.
It’s easy to share the exciting moments, the visible breakthroughs, and the “God showed up!” stories. But the waiting? The wrestling? The roller coaster of emotions that come with pursuing what you know God has called you to, yet not seeing it unfold on your timeline—that’s harder to talk about.
Still, we’ve learned that transparency invites connection. So, here it goes…
⚓ The Call and the Wait
Over two and a half years ago, God began steering our hearts toward the water. What started as a dream quickly became a calling. Since then, He’s connected us with incredible people and ministries in the maritime world. We’ve loved serving with Hope Fleet and being part of the Maritime Ministries family—it’s been a joy and a stretching all at once.
But waiting to fully walk in what we believe God has called us to has not been easy. It’s one thing to trust when doors swing wide open; it’s another to trust when they creak, or worse, seem to stay shut.
Still, we know God is working. We can see the fingerprints of His faithfulness all over our story, even in the waiting. Without this season, we wouldn’t have met the people, gained the wisdom, or seen the opportunities that are shaping what’s next.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14
Waiting is refining. It stretches faith like taffy—sticky, messy, but strengthened in the pulling.
💥 Illness, Injury, and the Little Battles
This past season has had its share of small battles—the kind that wear you down quietly. Colds that made their way through the family more times than we’d like to count, and then poor Tim…
While helping at a fundraiser, the steel lid of a charcoal grill fell on him. Thankfully, it wasn’t hot, but it landed squarely on his head and ribs. He said it felt like “Pac-Man eating him.” (Yes, he’s okay—and yes, we laughed after we knew he’d survive.)
Sometimes it’s the small stuff that tests your spirit the most. When you’re already fighting spiritual battles, even something like a cold or an accident can feel like the enemy’s way of whispering, “You’re not getting anywhere.”
But God…
He keeps reminding us that every little struggle still serves His purpose.
Please pray for continued health, strength, and protection—for our family, for our hearts, and for our focus on what matters most.
⏳ Time Spent or Time Wasted?
When we first arrived in Elizabeth City, we were full of energy—serving, cleaning boats, prepping vessels for ministry, and training as a family. It was exhilarating to finally do something tangible.
But then… things slowed. Opportunities paused. Motivation waned. And those quiet questions started echoing:“Are we actually making a difference?”“Did we miss something?”
Maybe you’ve been there too—when you’re serving faithfully, but the results aren’t visible.
That’s where the battle of the mind begins. The enemy loves to plant seeds of doubt right in the middle of obedience.
But truth trumps feelings every time. We keep coming back to this: nothing given to God is wasted.
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
So, we press on—choosing faith over frustration, and service over self.
🌊 Remembering What’s True
I’ve been struck by how often God tells His people to remember.
Because remembering anchors us when everything feels uncertain.
Looking back, we can trace His fingerprints over every step—every connection, every “coincidence,” every provision that arrived right on time.
He’s been weaving something much bigger than we can see.
When I think of how He first called us to the water, it all happened so quickly. But since then, the pace has slowed, and the clarity has deepened. God’s timing rarely matches ours—but it’s always right.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105
There are still days when we whisper, “Now, Lord?” or “How about now?”
And then we remember the stories of Moses, Joseph, Noah, and David—each called, each waiting, each learning trust in the delay.
Maybe, just maybe, the waiting is part of the calling.
🙏 Trusting in the Refining
We’ve said from the beginning: God has our full yes.
But saying yes once is easy. Saying yes again and again when the path is unclear—that’s where real faith grows.
We’re learning that waiting well doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing the next right thing while trusting that God is doing more behind the scenes than we can imagine.
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” — Proverbs 16:9
So we keep showing up.We keep serving.We keep preparing our hearts (and our hands) for the next assignment.
And while we wait, we choose to believe that this in-between space—the stretching, the pruning, the uncertainty—is holy ground.
🌅 If You’re Waiting Too
If you’re in a waiting season, please hear this: you’re not stuck. You’re being shaped.
God is not withholding; He’s preparing.
Every delay, every closed door, every long pause—it’s all part of the story He’s writing for His glory and your good.
“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.” — Psalm 138:8
Thank you for walking this road with us—through the ups, the waiting, and the lessons. We’re so grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your love.
We’re still believing for the right boat, the right time, and the right open door. Until then, we’ll keep trusting the Captain of this ship.
✍️ From Our Hearts
If this post finds you in your own season of waiting, we want you to know you’re not alone. The waiting room of faith is not a punishment—it’s preparation.
Let’s keep trusting together, one step (and one wave) at a time.
