Pastor Joel and Linda...

Over the past 13+ years, you have been our neighbors, our Pastor, our American Idol watchers, our 24 fanatics, and our dear friends.  We watched the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 in your living room.  Gibson (then only 6 months old) was asleep in my arms when the shouts of jubilation erupted.  We watched your kids grow up and move out... most of them.  We attended the marriages of both your married kids.  You came to the Hospital when all 4 of our kids were born.  We have grown so close.  Not sure I can put into words how much we will miss the Knudsen's.  I will miss our Wednesday morning Cosi gatherings.  I will miss your friendship.  I will miss the support you have given to the Youth Group and the encouragement you have given me as a friend and co-laborer in Christ.  You are an amazing Pastor, Joel and I have been blessed to serve with you for the last many years.  We will be praying for Church in the Pines and all our friends, but you will leave a huge hole in our hearts when we go.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!!!

Proverbs...

For the last 3 years or so, the college and career class at CIP has been studying the book of Proverbs verse by verse.  We've taken breaks to do mini-series studies, but we keep coming back to Proverbs.  Today, we got up to Proverbs 30: 17.  If everything goes well, in 2 weeks, we will complete our journey through Proverbs.  I will miss our study.  I will miss you guys!

Yellow house...

For the last 5+ years, we have been blessed to call ourselves Rochester residents.  Rochester is a wonderful small town with amazing friends and great stories.  We will miss Rochester.  We will miss our neighbors and dear friends, the Noyce's and everyone else we've grown so close to in Rochester through Cub Scouts, Baseball, soccer, Lacrosse, Track Club, RMS, etc.

Thursday late night hang out after Youth group...

I don't have a picture for this one. But I will miss our Thursday night after youth group into the morning hangouts with Georgia Sparling, Kyle Nelson, Christopher Homles, etc. Which nearly always ends up in one of us or both of us falling asleep...  Those times have been AWESOME!!!

For Gibby...and all of us!

I know that Gibson will miss the sweet friendship he has made with Jemberu!  We all will miss Jemby and his brother, Mikias!

JO, Jill and the girls...

I will miss my brother John and his family- Jill, Maggie, and Tessa...
Hope you don't mind I borrowed this pictuer from your facebook profile... I know the girls are a lot older, now, but it was too cute not to use.
I love you guys!  It's so wonderful to see how you all have grown.  How you are following the Lord and listening to his lead.  Good luck, JO on your Mission Trip and your work at the school!  Blessings on all of you!  We will miss you all so much!

Uncle Shawn and Aunt Heather...

I will miss Uncle Shawn and Aunt Heather.
Shawn, you will always be my older brother... Funny how that works.  We grew up sharing a room in that old house in Carver.  I'm proud of how God is leading you and proud to be your brother.  Thanks Heather for joining our family and being so sweet with my kids.  Blessings on you both!
Love you guys!

Church in the Pines Youth...

You guys are some of the most amazing kids I've ever know-ed.  It's been so exciting to be a part of your growth through the years.  We've been a part of CIP for the last 12 years.  We've celebrated Graduations and Weddings and births.  God is so good and it has been so fun to be a part of all your lives. 

Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of your Families!  We will miss you ALL!!!



Uncle Mike, Jill, Anna, James, etc...

I will miss my brother Mike and his family...
It has been awesoem to see you and your family grow.  You have grown into an incredible Man of God, Father, and Husband.  I have been blessed to call you my brother!  I have loved watching your kids grow up.  Keep up the good work, Mike and Jill... you have a couple of GEMS there in James and Anna.  Excited to meet the next one!

Newport, RI

Newport, RI... For the last 10 years you have been my home away from home.  I have spent 8 hrs+ per day 5 days a week  less that 2.5 miles from your shores.  

Both my younger brothers have had ties to Newport in one way or another over the years.  Mike lived a few blocks from Easton's Beach and John lived in Bristol, but his church was in Newport. 

Thanks Embrace Home Loans for helping me provide for my family and letting me be a part of your family. I have been blessed to be a part of such an incredible company located in one of the most beautiful places in New England.

My son, Gibson just started playing Lacrosse for Old Rochester Youth Lax.  He's number 17 and he's really fun to watch.  He has 2 goals this season and 1 "hit goalie", which he says is just as good.
Lacrosse isn't among the sports played in Amarillo, TX, so I will miss watching my little #17 run up and down the field cradling the ball and firing on goal.

Doing a great job, Gibson!  Keep up the good work! 

Our tickets are purchased...

It's more and more official!  Our plane tickets are purchased and our family is officially moving to Amarillo, TX on July 13th to serve at City Church in Amarillo.  Emotions are high.  We are excited looking forward to our new adventure serving at City Church in Amarillo.  We are also emotional thinking of friendships we have made while here in New England.  I have lived here my entire life, except for the year I spent at Grace Church of Cypress in Southern CA.  Dawn and I have lived here our entire married life and we have heard the first cries of our 4 kids at Tobey Hospital in Wareham, Massachusetts.  We have been serving in our little Church in West Wareham for the last decade plus and have grown so close to so many families.  So, emotions are high as we consider all we will be leaving behind.  We have been throwing around our "last times."  This will be the last time we... insert ordinary life experience here... here in New England.  Excitement and anticipation tempered by sorrow at leaving behind the life we have known so far.

This blog will be an opportunity for me to post memories and thoughts as we wrap up and head out west.  They are in no particular order of importance.  Merely as the thoughts come to me and I have a picture available to post.

So here goes... Grandma and Grampa... We will miss you and our times together at the house on Popes Point Road.  The home I grew up in and the home that we can still come to and enjoy.  We love you!

More to come!!!