my last day at Desiring God

Today was my last day of work at Desiring God.

I have loved working here.  The only job I would rather have than working at DG is the job I officially start tomorrow morning- a full-time stay at home wife and mother-to-be!

One of the greatest blessings since getting married and moving to Minneapolis has been the opportunity to work at Desiring God for the past three years.

The mission of Desiring God and the people who serve here are what makes this place so hard to leave.  Sine 2006, I have served in many different capacities…

My first role was Assistant to Jon Bloom, our Executive Director, in the Development Department…

My second role was working for Bill Walsh, our Sr. Director of Operations at the time and now our Director for International Outreach.  I worked for Bill the longest during my three years at DG and served as his assistant in both the Operations and International Outreach departments…

And last but not least, my final role at Desiring God was serving Scott Anderson in the Events Department.  Scott made my last year at Desiring God one of my absolute favorite.  I had the privilege of serving alongside him at two National Conferences, three Pastors Conferences, and three Regional Conferences.  Scott and his entire family have become close friends to me and Joe. So, again, I thank the Lord for the opportunity to work at Desiring God so such friendships can be made.

These three men have been a huge encouragement to me and my faith.  I have loved getting to know them and assisting them in their roles at DG…

Not everyone likes who they work for, and it is rare that people are good friends with their bosses, but these three men (and their wives) have become dear friends.

There is so much about working at DG on a daily basis that I will miss-even the simple things- like my cubicle…

And my computer…

And the mounds of free Piper resources…(although I did strike a deal with the Executive Director today concerning my employee discount…as long as he works there, I am eligible!)

I think I might even miss this 1980’s-looking DG Vision sign (I would actually make fun of this sign in my mind everyday when walking to my cubicle). I love what is says…just not how it looks!

But hands down, the thing I will miss the most about working here is the staff…we took this picture today at my going-away party.

Other than my bosses, Kate Martin (Supply Chain Coordinator) and Mike Tong (Customer Service Manager) are the two people I worked with the closest…

Larry Agnew is a sage.  He is our Volunteer Coordinator and a good friend.  I will definitely miss hearing him pray during the morning prayer meetings…

And then there’s Peter Melling.  Peter is our IT guy at DG.  I call him my “Genius Bar”.  I don’t think I could have survived an office job for three years without his help!

Kate, Katie and Sarah…three of my girlfriends that help bring the female employment total at DG to six! We have been a tad outnumbered…

Seth Magnuson, our Manager for International Outreach, made working at DG a lot of fun.  Seth looks innocent, but he isn’t.  Seth finds enjoyment in playing pranks DG employees.  I tried to get him fired, but it didn’t work!

I know I am leaving out so many people, but to spare this post from being any longer than it already is…I will refrain from posting more pictures!

So, all of this to say…leaving Desiring God is truly bittersweet for me.

My husband put it perfectly in his blog post today about my last day at DG, “Through all of this service, she was not doing what she felt she was called to do deep in her heart. My wife loves the home and feels called to it. Vocational ministry and service is wonderful, but her heart has always called her homeward.”

To be honest, I am thrilled about the next chapter in my life!  I am entering what may possibly be my life’s vocation for the next 20+ years- full-time motherhood.  I don’t begrudge the call to pour my life into our home and family, I feel privileged and honored to assume this role.

God has been gracious to me beyond measure by giving me my job at Desiring God, and when I think back upon my years of serving there, I will rejoice in God’s goodness to me.  I am deeply thankful for the undeserved gift it has been to work at a place that loves Christ and his kingdom more than anything else.

So what now?

I leave tomorrow for Orlando, Florida to visit my brother and his family.  I will spend a week in Florida and then fly to Texas to be with my parents for an additional week.  I wanted to take advantage of the time that I can still fly during my pregnancy!  I can’t wait to see my family!

When I return, I will begin rearranging our home and bedrooms to prepare for our little one!  This will involve switching bedrooms around and paiting the nursery.  I will also be preparing for a birthday visit from my mom in April and a visit from Marian in May for the Children Desiring God Conference.

Please pray for Joe and I as we make this transition from me working full-time to staying at home.  We are both so excited about this season and pray that God’s goodness and mercy would follow us…all the days of our lives.