Our Story
Hi, we are Jim and Misty.
During the very trying year of 2020, a concept, shared by our very good friends, sparked a calling now known as The Salt and Light Journeys. This blog starts there but our journey started long before that.
It was Mother’s Day, 2013. As typical, our morning was spent at our beloved Cross Creek Church. Unbeknownst to either of us, our story began that morning.
As we were singing, out of nowhere the music went silent and I heard a whisper say, “that’s him” as I noticed a man closer to the front of the church. The music didn’t really go silent, but in my ears, it did, long enough for a very important message to be shared with me. I didn’t know the man and only could see him from the back but knew at that moment, God had told me this man would be my husband. It wasn’t a surprise to me; I had heard a familiar whisper years earlier telling me “it’s time” to move home from seven years of living in the south. Those two moments in my life were an unmistakable calling. I’m so blessed to have experienced them and thankful I listened instead of disregarding them.
For the next several months I tried exhaustively to meet this mystery man. Fortunately, a mutual friend introduced us. However, the spark that ignited in me didn’t seem to have done the same for him. I began to question was God really speaking to me? Why did He tell me that was him but didn’t seem to tell that man? Shouldn’t he know too? I was tired of years of being lonely. If God told me this was the guy, why wasn’t He allowing a relationship to develop?
What I didn’t realize at the time was I was trying to control the outcome instead of waiting patiently for God’s timing. My excitement started to fade, and hopelessness set in.
Meanwhile initially oblivious to the plan, Jim had concluded that perhaps he wasn’t meant to find the woman he had long hoped for. He accepted the idea that if it was God’s will for him to remain single, it would be okay. In doing so, he placed the desire to meet the girl of his dreams into the hands of God finally giving up control.
Then a chance encounter.
One day I decided to try a small group at our church. My sister lovingly offered to go with me and without too much research or a phone call to get the details, we just showed up for a group called First Place 4 Health. Little did we know that group was celebrating their final night together for the season. The facilitator of the group was caught by surprise at our arrival, but so lovingly welcomed us, and even let us have some food. The members of that group were equally welcoming, including, you guessed it, the mystery man. That night I began long-lasting friendships that paved the way to finally bringing the mystery man, Jim, and I together. On August 15, 2015, we were married and in attendance were our First Place 4 Health friends, thrilled to have been part of our love story.
Fast forward six years we felt called to sell all our belongings, purchase an RV, and travel the country with a mission to learn, grow, share, and serve. Although an audible voice didn’t speak this calling, we are confident we are following a path led by God. We don’t know where this stage in our life will take us, but our commitment to you is to be transparent in the journey, good or bad, in hopes we provide salt and light in your life.
So come along! Experience the adventure with us and hopefully along the way that adventure sparks something in you.
