Sorry for the mass e-mail, but Ian and I just wanted to give you guys an update and share the story of our life for the past year. (Actually it's more than a year, but who's counting.) For those that don't remember, or perhaps never heard the story, I'll give you the short version from the beginning. (Yup, this really is the short version.)
Ian had graduated in May of 2007 with his Master's degree in business and found a job working with a structural engineering firm in downtown Chicago. By May 2008, he was laid off from that job. The economy up North around that time was starting to down turn, and no one was really hiring new employees in the field that Ian was working in. Chicago being as expensive as it is, left us feeling strained and with only two options: Find a new job in a month, or move. Since we only had a limited amount of time to look for new work before we were totally out of our savings, we began to pray a lot for God's guidance and direction and provision in our lives. We had no idea what we were going to do or where we we're going to go, but both Ian and I had been feeling for some time that our place wasn't in Chicago any more and that God was going to move us.
To make ends meet, Ian began working down in Peoria, Illinois. (A town about 3 hours South of our home in Chicago.) He had regularly made trips once a month to Peoria for his Guard Duty, but during that time he was working at the base 5 days a week and only coming home on the weekends. It was a hard time for us, but God was bigger than all of our problems. Those of you that know Ian, know that he's been in the Illinois Air National Guard for the past 14 years, serving once on a 10 month tour in Afghanistan, as well as a 6 month tour in Iraq right before our wedding. While Ian was working down in Peoria for the months of June and July in 2008, we got word that there was a possible trip that Ian could volunteer for to Germany. It was a temporary job basically for about 6 months. But Ian wasn't allowed to bring me with him unless I came as a civilians. God put His plans into motion and took care of everything. Our lease for our apartment was up at the end of July, the timing couldn't have been better if we had planned it ourselves. All of our friends helped us move our entire house into a storage unit in Chicago where it would be stored and waiting for us when we came back to the United States. With our entire house packed away and our lease over, Ian and I packed our bags and by the beginning of August 2008, Ian had left for Germany and I drove the long 16 hour drive down to Texas with our two small dogs. The time and process for me to be able to join Ian in Germany was a slow and painful one. My parents had graciously agreed to keep our dogs for us while we were gone. We'd struggled a lot over those past 3 months and I think Ian and I were both feeling that strain. Our faith was still there, but growing very weary. It took a little over a month before I was able to hop on a plane in September and fly to Frankfurt where Ian picked me up.
Once in Germany, we had the daunting proposition of finding a reliable and inexpensive car. If we couldn't find a car, or an apartment quickly, (like within two weeks) I'd be forced to go back to the United States while Ian finished his tour. God blessed us and took care of us with a car that was reliable and safe and even found us a beautiful little apartment just off the base to live. On top of God taking care of our most basic needs, He was blessing us beyond our wildest dreams. Our little apartment and living expenses in Germany were significantly cheaper than living in Chicago. On top of that, Ian being on active duty orders was paying him more than what he had been making in Chicago. By the time we returned home to the United States in February 2009, Ian and I had a chance to pay down some debt and build back up our savings again. God even blessed us with having family and friends visit us while we were there. On top of all that, we traveled quite a bit and got to see many different countries and experience a lot of the culture in Europe. We went as far as France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany (of course) and the Czech Republic. But even more important than all the fun we were having traveling and with family that came to visit, God gave Ian and I a place to serve together. We supported the 2nd ASOS in Vilseck, Germany with much more than just our time and efforts. The unit there quickly opened their arms to us in support and love and we quickly embraced them. In a time where Ian and I very much needed to be supported by our community, the families at the 2nd ASOS stepped up and helped us just as much as we helped them. The friendships we made there, we hope we can keep for a life time.
Our time in Germany was precious to us. But all good things in time must come to an end. We left Germany with our hope and faith in God, knowing He would be continuing to lead us and provide for us. But I'll admit, coming home the United States with all our belongings in a storage unit in Chicago, with no place to live, no permanent job to speak of, and in one of the worst economic times that the US has seen since the Great Depression, (Or so they said at that time.) was a bit stressful in and of itself. But again, God took care of us and blessed us beyond our wildest dreams once more. Most of you know, that Ian had applied while we were still in Germany for a position with the Air Force in Oklahoma. When we made it back to the US in February 2009, we had a two week interview for that position. Ian and I both fell in love with the area, and again felt like God was leading us. So with that in mind, we decided to take a look at the local housing market and just get an idea of what was here. I'd been looking on line at houses and things for probably a month or two in advanced. Ever since Ian applied for the position here pretty much. We both felt we had a good idea of where the housing market was, but while visiting Oklahoma, Ian and I found and fell in love with the perfect house for us. It was a bank owned house that was only a few years old and in a very nice neighborhood with a very nice price tag. So with God's guidance, Ian and I put an offer on the house and it was accepted. But at that point in time, we still didn't know if we had the job here in Oklahoma. Feeling a bit stressed about the options of having a house and no job made us want to question where we both felt like God has directed us to. But in the end, God gave us His peace, and we waited as patiently as we possibly could. The days leading up to our closing on our new home were stressful ones and quite literally a week before we closed on our house, God blessed us yet again and we got the phone call we'd been waiting for. Ian had been selected for the job in Oklahoma. (That was a big sigh of relief!) There were still a few hoops to jump through and things could always fall through. But Ian and I both knew that God had lead us to this place, and we were going to continue following His direction, no matter what any one else said or thought. We had prepared and made arrangements to buy the house, whether we got the job in Oklahoma or not. (Which was a very tricky feat getting the banks to let us have a loan for a house when we had no job and didn't even know if we would get the job!)
Shortly after closing on the house, Ian and I moved the few things that we had with us into the house and we have been living here (yes, living in our unfurnished empty house) now for the past 2 almost 2 1/2 months. God is funny, in that Ian and I just happened to not have room in our storage unit in Chicago for our full sized futon mattress, so we stuffed it into Ian's SUV and it had been sitting there for 6 months. Without it, we would have had to go and buy a bed. God not only had taken care of the "big things" for us, but He's taken care of all the little things too. He's blessed us financially, He's blessed us spiritually, He's blessed us with wonderful opportunities that we have taken humbly and gratefully and enjoyed to the fullest.
For those that know anything about the military and how the government works, you know that they generally move pretty slow with their paper work. It's taken over 2 months for Ian to officially become a part of the Oklahoma Active Duty Guard, but as of last week, he was sworn in. (Which means that Ian is now in the military on Active Duty orders.) Our official orders have us staying in Oklahoma for the next three years, with the option to stay for six should we want to. Currently, we are hoping, and tentatively planning that come this Saturday (June 13th) we'll be driving up to Chicago, Illinois to finally move out possessions in storage down to our new house in Lawton, Oklahoma. (We've been waiting for our PCSing -Permanent Change of Station- orders for a long time now!) Our year long wait for a permanent home and address is finally here. Thank you God! So far we are loving being down south and Oklahoma is even better than we had imagined it would be. We love the Wild Life Refuge that's here and the Wichita Mountains provide great hiking and out door fun.
It's not quite as hot here as it is in east Texas (where I'm from) and Ian and I both appreciate that. All we need is a little snow in the winter time, and we'll be happy campers. I've included some new pictures of our home for every one to see as well as a picture of our Oklahoma mountains. We thank you all for your love, support and prayers through out this past year. God has answered them and more I'm sure and blessed us tremendously. We just want to make sure that He gets all the glory and credit. Thanks for listening, we love you all!
Sincerely,
Ian and Ashley Stegherr
