Rebuilding in A.B.U.N.D.A.N.C.E.
Our Move from Eden Prairie to St. Paul
Moving from Eden Prairie to St. Paul wasn’t just a relocation—it was a revelation.
After listening to my husband speak over and over again about his testimony and rebuilding - I have been reflecting a lot with reading and re-reading the books of Ezra and Nehemiah!
Just like the Israelites returning from exile in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, my journey was about restoration, rebuilding, and rediscovering purpose. It was less about leaving a place, and more about walking into a promise—one that called for obedience, vision, and a new foundation laid with intention.
I carried with me not just boxes and memories, but a divine word: A.B.U.N.D.A.N.C.E.
Each letter became a guiding principle as I stepped into this new season.
A — Assignment: Like Ezra, I knew I was called. Not just to a new zip code, but to an assignment rooted in service, legacy, and leadership. God doesn’t move us without purpose. St. Paul became the new ground for my family and my mission—to build what others only dreamed of.
B — Boldness: Nehemiah stood boldly before a king to rebuild a broken city. I too had to rise in boldness—as a mother, a visionary, a community leader—leaving the comfort of Eden Prairie and stepping into a place where the needs were louder, the walls higher, and the stakes greater.
U — Unity: In Ezra, it was the unity of the people that allowed them to rebuild the temple. In Nehemiah, the walls were restored because families worked side by side. Moving to St. Paul meant bringing my family closer to the heart of the work. Here, unity isn't optional—it's survival. And it's strength.
N — New Beginnings: This move wasn’t an end; it was a new beginning. Just like the Israelites who wept at the laying of the foundation of the new temple, there were tears in the transition. But they were mixed with joy. Sometimes, God takes you from what’s “established” to what’s essential.
D — Devotion: Ezra was devoted to the law of the Lord. Nehemiah was devoted to prayer and planning. My devotion had to deepen. To my children. To my faith. To my community. And to the vision that I carry for generational transformation.
A — Access: St. Paul has given me access—to stories, to struggles, and to systems that need disrupting. It’s also given me access to people hungry for change and platforms that amplify purpose. Abundance means nothing without access. Now I walk in doors I used to knock on.
N — Nehemiah Moments: Sometimes, the work has felt like rebuilding walls with one hand while holding a weapon in the other (Nehemiah 4:17). But God has sent laborers, supporters, and divine reinforcements. Every opposition only confirmed that we are building something that matters.
C — Courage to Continue: There are days I’ve felt the weight. But I remember Ezra’s long journey and Nehemiah’s perseverance. Their courage wasn't optional—it was spiritual warfare. I’ve had to keep going, even when it meant rebuilding from rubble.
E — Establishment: Now, we plant. Now, we build. What started as a move became a movement. I’m no longer in Eden Prairie. I’m in St. Paul. And I’m established—in calling, in identity, and in the overflow of God’s ABUNDANCE.
Ezra rebuilt the temple. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall. I’m here to rebuild community, purpose, and hope.
St. Paul is our city of A.B.U.N.D.A.N.C.E.
And this is only the beginning.
