How does a Hoosier end up in Idaho?

Since my lady mother has started a blog, I thought it was about time I did too. Especially since my entire family is on one side of the country and I am in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

So how did a Hoosier end up in Idaho anyway? This is a question that ends up getting asked more often than one would think. (also the question "What's a Hoosier?" Which is, in plainspeak, one from Indiana.)

I grew up in the hills and dales of South Central Indiana where I hiked a lot, read a lot and played a lot. In short, the ideal way to spend a childhood is with TONS of imagination and lots of woods around you, though I didn't always appreciate it at the time.

I also grew up with one sister (Valerie), two brothers (Matt and Aaron) and various animals. Growing up in a big family isn't always easy but it does have its joys! I also grew up with a myriad of animals and being very active in our church (New Life Apostolic Tabernacle). I was a clarinetist at 15 and teaching Sunday School and working Children's ministry by the time I was 18.

I joined the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) in 2004 or so and was an active member of the Shire of Cuil Cholium and am a shieldmaiden to Lord Sedric Westbrooke who is squired to Sir Alan Culross. I spin, weave, knit and sew.

It's the latter part that brought me to Idaho.

See, as a church leader I was at leadership meetings. I was also young, single and didn't keep my mouth shut. (yeah, big shock to those that know me) My big push in our church was for a single's group. Our young singles were falling through the cracks and I didn't like it! Besides, I had missed the fellowship from the church I had gone to in college (United Pentecostal Assembly in Bloomington, Indiana). So I pushed.

Brother Seniour's response? Get a leader and I don't have a problem with it. (had a cool pastor then too!) So about a year after Brother and Sister Snyder came to our church we asked them to be our single's leaders and they accepted joyfully. (Having already earned the title of "coolest old people around" from some of the youth. They're in their 60's)

So why is this important?

Because the youth pastorship of Mountainview Christian Center as well as the Jr/Sr high teacher in the Christian School is all their fault.

See, the first thing they came up with? A missions trip for summer to somewhere called Idaho Falls, Idaho. Their son-in-law pastored a church there in Idaho and could use the help. The community was predominately LDS and we could be of service there.

So off we went on a bevy of fundraisers and preperation for the grand time! Problem was is that with a lot of circumstances in my life I was deciding that I didn't want to be in ministry anymore. And frankly, I was a little unsure of going to Idaho Falls where I knew I'd be in the center of it and have to deal with the teenagers.

What happened? I fell in love. Not with a guy, but with a community in desperate need of the truth. I fell in love with the mountains, with the area, with the fact there was no ragweed (secondary to other things, but breathing freely in August was AWESOME).

I wasn't the only one. Aaron David Sanders fell in love too. The difference is that he fell in love with the area and then on close heels he feel in love with the pastor's daughter (they were married last fall). And he was out within six months.

Three years later, I was at a YMCA camp (Flat Rock River YMCA camp) teaching Outdoor Education quite contentedly, having thought that Idaho was not in my future anymore when I got an e-mail that turned my world upside down. It said simply "Idaho needs you".

You see, when I came home and Dad wasn't too thrilled with my moving and when things didn't start to happen, I thought it wasn't God's will, that I had somehow misheard his voice. I gave up on coming back so I was living part time in Southeastern Indiana (St. Paul) and teaching kids about nature, spending my days delightedly getting wet and muddly and playing with snakes and bugs and turtles.

So the idea that a school teacher was needed here was a surprise. When Sister Rice mentioned it, Sister Snyder remembered me. Talk about my world being disordered in five minutes...

Before midsummer of last year, I had the approval of three pastors (Bro. Seniour, Bro. Sangl and Pastor Rice), two professional colleagues (Mark and Marcus) and my parents and siblings. As Mom put it "What are you waiting for, God to hit you over the head?"

So I came. All the way to Idaho Falls to start a phase of my life beyond my wildest dreams. Away from my family, my church and my SCAdian family.

Idaho is far more beautiful than anyone knows. It's set in the Rocky Mountains and is more exquisite than I can describe. I live in a high desert area so our precipitation is mostly snow. (and too much of that!)

It's been rough, but it's been so worth it.