She is not afraid to take radical kingdom risks.
When we were still dating, myself and my roommate Matt Reisetter organized a fundraising campaign to take 40 college guys out to Washington D.C. for the Promise Keepers "Stand in the Gap" event. As a first year medical student, Kim gave more sacrificially than almost anyone else.
When we were engaged Kim felt that God was calling her to drop out of medical school. I supported this as well. Her parents thought she was nuts. (They don't anymore.) It has proven over and over again to have been the right decision for our family.
About six years into our marriage I felt that we needed to make a change in our lives. I was ready to attempt to break into the Christian music industry in Nashville. This probably would mean that we would have to live some version of the starving artist lifestyle while having an 18 month old and one on the way. My wife believed God was in this and was joyfully willing to take this leap of faith with me. We were hardly starving, but it was very hard, yet we wouldn't trade those two years of our lives for anything.
After two years in Nashville we knew it was time to be done with our experience there. I got an email from a pastor in Albuquerque, wondering if I would be interested in talking to him about their church's worship leader position. I think I had forgotten that New Mexico was still a state, but I said "Sure, I'll talk to you about that job". We talked quite a bit and it was clear we were supposed to move to ABQ. Again, she joyfully and fully trusted that I knew this was best for our family and jumped head first into this new southwestern adventure with me.
Today we are having our fourth child. A beautiful black baby girl named Mya Josephine Nielsen. As I type this I am trying to hold myself together (sitting in a hotel lobby eating breakfast with a high school football team from Alabama is not the best place to break down) as I am so thankful for a wife who is willing to lay down her life for those among us who are "the least of these".
Kim, I love you. Thanks for being such an inspiration of faith for me.
6 comments:
Oh gosh, Oh gosh...I'm trying to hold it together too! I love you guys!!!!
Wonderful. Seeing the picture of your girl nearly brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for adopting.
That's great. Can't wait to see your "gotcha" pics. Congratulations!
OK, I held up great at the adoption agency. But then I get home to read the blog and see what you have written about Kim. I just can't stop boo-hooing. That is the sweetest. I think Mya is so blessed to have wonderful parents like you and Kim. I am praying for a smooth transition and if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call. Love you all!
You and Kim are an inspiration to myself and Eric as we make our way through the early years of marriage! We are so blessed to know you, and we can't wait to meet Mya!
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