Mississippi????

I realize our moving truck post was quite a shock . . . and confused everyone.  In the flurry of accepting a new position and getting ready to leave our place in Massachusetts, there just wasn't time for a good blog post.  Also the last week there we were in an RV with basically no cell reception.  So that's the excuse.


Now for the details!!!!

Yes, we are moving to Mississippi.  No joke.  Stop laughing!  Oh wait, we are too :)


As the story goes . . .

One of our dearest "couple friends" has been telling us about the children's home they work at for the past year.  Last winter/spring we prayed as they interviewed, I did a reference call for her and we celebrated as they began their new job.  Meanwhile, as this spring has gone on, housing just continued to "elude" us at camp.  They tried their best to figure out a solution and none presented itself.  Eventually they decided to build- which is a great long-term solution for their housing but would require our family to live in an RV for 6+ months.  Along with the mice and mushrooms already residing there.  We evaluated our family health and long-term goals and decided that just wasn't healthy for us.

(Elsa isn't sure the RV life is for her)


In the meantime . . . we were talking to our friends Steve and Samara, and asking them literally hundreds of questions about the children's home they work at.  After over a month of asking questions, we finally applied and continued the process forward.  It was a slow and steady process, one that allowed us to really think through all the issues, ask lots of questions, get lots of inside information and slowly wait for God's direction.  And of course allow them to evaluate us and see if we were a good fit for them.  I have to say, it was terrifying to think of moving to YET another place but at the same time getting "inside" information was so so so helpful.  And then I'd read books like this at the bookstore . . .

 


We were invited for an interview and able to fit it into our already-planned "spring" southern vacation.  We had a three day visit- a chance to ask more questions, meet the staff and see how personalities seemed to fit and watch things in action.  We got to visit the church we would be attending, meet kids, listen to the director share his story and the heart behind the organization.  As we left, our entire family was sad because we enjoyed our time so much and we really hoped we would be back.  A few weeks later we got the job offer and joyfully accepted.  I believe it consisted of me shrieking "yes yes!" out the RV window when Jer was on the phone with our future boss.

We will be houseparents at Homes of Hope for Children, in Purvis, Mississippi.


It's not a "reform" or "behavior" school (like the Ranch) but rather a home for kids who need a home.  If you are more curious about the exact way this happens and how it looks, their website has some really good information and definitely take a few minutes to watch the video by the director and founder.  They can explain it better than I can.  Our home will be a home- with its unique differences  and routines.  Our kids are so excited to be able to share their family again and have lots of kids around, even though Forest can't believe he's about to get "more sisters!"

(Dearman Cottage- our new home)


This year has been a {crazy and unusual} sabbatical year from house parenting.  It's been neat to see God bring us full-circle back to it.  This is what we are good at, what we love and what our family is uniquely crafted to do well and love deeply.  Every crazy thing has been part of this plan and part of bringing us on the journey.  Hard?  Yes.  But I wouldn't change it. I probably can't write a book anymore because no one would believe it!!!!

Questions Everyone Asks

- Can you keep homeschooling?  Yes we will continue to homeschool our kids.  This will allow us some focused one-on-one time with our kids during the day, and will also allow us the flexibility to travel during our time off (we work 21 days on, 9 days off).

(Kids and I at Pensacola Beach, on our April trip)


- When do you start?  We have finished our work in Massachusetts.  As most of you saw, Jer has already moved our belongings to MS, to storage; but the home won't be ready for us to move into until the beginning of July.  We are using this time to visit our family in NY and PA, rest from this crazy year and get ready for this exciting new adventure.  If you're in the NY or PA area and want to get together, let me know and we can make it happen!  We are counting the days until we can stop living out of suitcases!!!

(Watching Uncle Dean work on his newest construction project.)


-  Who feeds the kids?  We will cook for the kids and eat meals as a family. They have a "commissary" on property where we get food to stock our pantry and fridge.  We also get supplies for the home like paper products and so forth.

- Where do they go to school?  The kids attend the local elementary/middle and high schools.  They can (and will) be involved in activities, and we will be involved with a local church.

- Who runs this place?  Are you getting paid this time?  Will you have a house finally?   Homes of Hope is a non-profit, privately run organization.  No government funding (or control), and not run by a particular church or denomination.  We will be getting paid a good salary and will be well-taken care of.  And yes, we will have housing!  We have a lovely apartment as part of the home, where we can stay on our time off because the relief parents have their own bedroom and bathroom built into the home.

- What about the newest member of the family?  We are still waiting to hear if Elsa can make the journey with us.  You can pray about that, kids are anxiously praying every night that Elsa can move with us.



So that's that!  Thanks for sticking with us through this wild and crazy year . . . from our announcement about a year ago that we were moving to Washington; through the hard times there and the announcement we were moving to Massachusetts.  Then the crazy move with the moving truck and bad weather . . . to the announcement we had no housing.  It's been a wild ride and we are so thankful for YOU, our friends . . . who kept us going and encouraged through it all.  And laughed with us at the silly craziness of the story.  We love you!  Please keep us in prayer as we start this new ministry and give hope and family to kids who need it!

Prayer Requests
- for the kids who need a home at HOHFC, that God will be protecting their hearts and keeping them safe until they are brought there.  That God will be working to create just the right Dearman Family.

- for all the adjustment for our family as we start new routines, new job, learn another new location.

- for Elsa to be able to move along with us.

- for the construction that needs to be finished at HOHFC to be done quickly and with quality

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