I met my tribe at an After the Boxes Are Unpacked study

by Melanie

I have had too many moves over the last few years and this last one nearly destroyed my marriage and family. It did destroy my career.

We relocated for my husband and it has taken me a while to find myself in everything. I used to be the breadwinner, but now I’m getting the honor of being wife and mother – which truly is my happiness.

I found an announcement in our son’s daycare newsletter about [the After the Boxes Are Unpacked] class and had no idea what to expect. I live about 40 minutes away from the church, and I suffered a miscarriage during the first week of study (emergency ectopic pregnancy loss). I had no one to call to help me, no one to help with my son and, in that moment of fear, pain, and panic, I realized I was at my lowest – truly defeated.

The next week of class I was four days post-surgery and I was determined to put on the dog and get myself out—sadly I over did it and, while I was dressed and ready, I broke into a fever in the car driving out of my neighborhood and had to return home.

Two weeks out, I thought I’d never get there and yet, somehow in my soul I knew I had to keep trying.

Week three I did it!

It was a significant victory—and I met my tribe. The love and prayer and support I have, . . . brings me to tears weekly (and I’m not a crying type). I feel like [Susan Miller] is that neighbor who welcomes you home to a new home and more. She saw me and understood what I needed to hear and learn.

Fourteen weeks later (we had a two-week time out mid-book), my nightstand has a return of my Bible and two new daily devotional books that relax and focus me.

I attend church now where the class was offered. I wish I lived closer, but I am truly thankful the class and book opened this door for me. I wish I had discovered this three moves ago, but I’m learning God whispers to us at times and I suspect there is a reason I’ve discovered this all now.

I confess I’m a bit sad—I don’t know what I’ll do now on Tuesday mornings. I’m searching actively for the next class or bible study I can join. Susan Miller is amazing and I am truly thankful you are now a part of my life.

I’m passing your book to my husband to read next 😉 Keep up this amazing work, and THANK YOU, [the book and study] helped me heal in so many ways.