11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God changed my plans! I didn't plan to leave River Falls, but God knew it was time. I was driving to Charleston anxious and nervous--Emersyn had just had her MRI and we were getting the results the next morning. I was meeting Erica and her mom as I had to work that day and missed the MRI. I received a phone call that changed the path I was on. The phone call set things in motion to the job offer that I accepted. It was a hard decision as ultimately I had to chose between 3 jobs--River Falls and two other sales jobs. Did I want to join the sales side, because I love being on a golf course, was the question running through my mind. In the end, it boiled down to my leaving, to one simple fact--this is to better my family. God is great. When you remain faithful to Him, even when at times you may not understand why he puts a test in front of you, you need to stay the course and work for the Lord. I believe whole heartedly that if you work for the Lord and seek Him and His plans, he will guide your life in a way we as humans can't imagine. It is hard to try not to control things as it is just human nature to try to be in control and rely on self; especially when things are going great! So I was on vacation the whole next week after the phone call (luckily the MRI and reading got scheduled to fall the days before my family's beach trip in Garden City so we didn't have to drive far from Charleston) and all week I discussed it with Erica and my family and ultimately there were more pros, than cons, so we began to get really excited. I had everything in my mind ready to go to work in a very similar field, but one that was going to be an adjustment, as I would have to familiarize myself with athletic field products. So, I get back and I am talking to Alan Corbin (my sales rep at Corbin Turf who is part owner of the family business) about sales because Erica and I decided it was wise to talk to someone I could trust and make sure this was the right move for our family. Well, he told me to wait to take the job, that he may have a position that I could come in and take some of his clients off of him so that he could better serve those clients for the company and so that he could focus more on running the business with his brother-in-law. I was shocked! I called Erica and said there may be a wrinkle in the plans. All we knew was that God was opening doors of opportunity. He was providing a path. A path that I never dreamed would be in front of me. I will be working for a company that shares the same Christian values that my wife and I share. So, Alan calls and says okay, can you come in for an interview tomorrow. This was set for Wednesday afternoon and well I was excited for this, but still had plans to go work for the other company, as I wasn't even sure if they were even going to open up this position for me. After waiting a week, they decided Wednesday afternoon that we would have another interview and this was going to be a mock sales pitch of a product I create. I was on my way to help build bunk beds for an outreach ministry with a small group of guys from our Wednesday night Bible study and didn't get home until 9:30, yet I had to get ready for this big opportunity in front of me that was going to be tough! Okay, wow, that was one of the toughest "interviews" I have ever had, but God provided the strength for me to get through it. I'll always say Emersyn got me the job because I named my product I "created" after her. So the next day, Friday, I was offered the job. Erica and I had some decisions to make and we decided after praying and talking it through that Corbin Turf and Ornamental was the right job for me and our family. It wasn't easy choosing between the two as both jobs would have been a great job to have. God though, gave me peace that we made the right decision.
So, after all that I write to say my last day at River Falls will be August 13. The past 3 years have been wonderful. I am going to miss everyone: members, co-workers, guests, and especially my crew. I can't say enough how hard they work for not much reward. I want to say thank you to my owners for giving me my chance as a young turf professional when I was a raw, young assistant superintendent at the Cliffs at Glassy. They took a chance on me, and for that I am forever grateful. Also, Travis Sloan and Todd Roberson, were both instrumental to me even being at River Falls, and I will always be thankful that they went to bat for me and helped get me the job at River Falls. I gained two life long friends that I know are a phone call away, if it's to talk work or just to give each other a hard time or a group text that at the end of the conversation you have laughed so much at some of the dumbest things and your wife thinks you are retarded! I am proud of the accomplishments we made at River Falls to re-vamp and to improve the playing conditions, but there was so much more I had hoped to accomplish. I am so proud of how hard each person that worked for me, bought into what I wanted to do at River Falls and we made the most of our situation. There of course were disagreements and more than a few times "extra-motivation" was needed, but overall I'd put my crew up against anybody's. They all will hold a special place in my heart. I hope that I leave and each of them know how much I appreciate them. I will miss our lunchtime "church" that would happen--especially in the slower months when questions were asked, or when there were controversial things happening around us or within us that I felt only the Bible would be able to answer. I hope to be no stranger as I'm not leaving the area and there is a good chance I will be calling on River Falls. I hope to help the new Superintendent if he wants me to, and want to be just a phone call away for him. I close this with a few last thoughts. God will always be with you, walk close to Him and his Word. Work as if you are working for the Lord. River Falls has become a top course in the upstate, so please continue to support them, and I can only hope it improves each day after I am gone. I wanted to leave my mark on River Falls, just as Jim Gerber, so I hope the next guy leaves his mark and that each of us left it better than we found it. I thank all of those who have supported me, welcomed me, helped me, and those that worked for and with me. God has plans for you, just as he has a new plan for my family and myself. God bless all of you and no matter your circumstances in life, seek the Lord earnestly, live for Him, share His love, grace, and forgiveness, and if it is not rewarded in this life, your rewards for will be waiting for you in heaven. Please, before I go on August 13 come speak to me and keep playing golf!
God bless,
Daniel
