For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:13-14

6.13.2011

Change is in the Air (Or is that Dust?)

The Westfall family is excited to report that this spring has brought some exciting new developments to our lives. I've been doing some spring cleaning, both literally and figuratively, and things are starting to look quite sparkly.

As you may or may not know, I have been working on my masters in Student Development Counseling and Administration from IWU. In short, I want to work with students in higher ed, and this degree is a step in that direction. Also, ever since my residence life experience in college, I have wanted to be a resident director at a Christian college.

Today is that day!

I have accepted the position as Resident Director for Morrison Hall at Anderson University.

While this decision may seem out of the blue for many (especially in light of the major life change we experienced with Carter this winter), I want you to know this career move was actually in the plan all along. We just weren't broadcasting it and were planning to go after it with two kids in tow. And through our experience with Carter, we believe it is even more vital to go after this dream job I have wanted since college. "Now" is the time.

So...we are in the process of putting our house on the market (any buyers?), packing, sorting for garage sale, and getting ready to move into our new RD apartment in Morrison Hall. I am so excited!

Although we will be living in Anderson, Ben will still be working at College Wesleyan Church, and Cohen and I will be there too as normal. We will just have a bit longer commute than our mile drive right now.

I just wanted to share with you our good news...just another step of faith that reminds us of God's grace and goodness to us in all things.

6.01.2011

Memorial Day, Indeed.

We really didn't plan it this way, but Memorial Day Weekend became quite literal for us this year.

With Cohen hanging out at G & G Westfall's house, Ben and I finally worked up the courage to pick out a monument for Carter's grave. We (and by that, I mean mostly me) had been dragging our feet to take care of this "last official business" of laying our son to rest. Of course, I think the real letting-go process will take a lifetime.

However, with our coffee in hand, we went into a local monument shop and walked out an hour later confident we made good decisions on behalf of our son and God. We picked out a stone that wasn't too big (why get a big stone for such a tiny boy?) and included his name, date of birth/death, two tiny footprints, and a verse that we feel encapsulated God's hand on Carter's short life: "Your works are wonderful..." (Psalm 139:14).

Yes, it surely was Memorial Day at the Westfall house.

But I have to say that I now feel good that we did it. And while it may be "just a stone," we feel the monument will not only be something we can return to and remember Carter, but also a symbol of the weight Carter's life had in this world and the next.