Monday, December 21, 2015

God's Unfolding

"My plan for your life is unfolding before you. 
Sometimes the road you are traveling seems blocked, 
or it opens up so painfully slowly that you 
must hold yourself back. 
Then when the time is right, 
the way before you suddenly clears
 - through no effort of your own."

Jesus Calling (Dec.21) by Sarah Young

Life is unfolding for me (and of course for you as well)...and each fold carefully and slowly undone has revealed to me Someone else is in charge.

These past three weeks have not been absent of tears both sad and happy ones. They've been filled with both the tears of laughter and of heartache. Days started out with consuming fear yet halfway through the day claiming victory for God's miraculous defeat over it. 

God gave me three weeks in Georgia to wrap things up, and while I was doing just that (wrapping), God was unfolding His plan in all the details.  I wish I could sit down with each of y'all and share how God answered this simple prayer for me,

"Dear God, allow me to cross paths with anyone you want me to encounter in these last few weeks here in Georgia."

I had no idea how God would answer this request, but He did in his usual amazing and crazy fashion.  Each encounter showing that God is still in the business of healing and reconciliation and the transformation of lives.

Over these three weeks friends have loved us up, hosted us, prayed over us, encouraged us, housed us, fed us, helped us, believed in us, and celebrated with us. Pouring into our lives abundantly, and we are forever grateful.

I picked up Ava from school on her last day, and she was telling me in the car about all the nice gifts and cards she had been given.  Then she began to cry.  I looked back at her in the car, and she said to me, "Everyone was just so loving to me today." 

Yes! We have been loved so well, and that's why it's been a hard but beautiful three weeks as we leave the South and head for the Northwest again.  God has crossed our path with precious people, and I want to say THANK YOU to each of you over and over again.  Your lives are forever a part of our lives.

We now wait to see what unfolds for us in our new life in Idaho, still with much uncertainty and unknown, but we trust that our five years in Georgia is a vital part of what unfolds here in Idaho.

Today is December 21, and it reminds me of new life.  The day is a symbol of rebirth. It is a special day for me because 36 years ago on this day at the age of six, I met Jesus in a very personal way. 

Our paths crossed, and it changed my life...and I'm forever changed by Him. I'm thankful it wasn't for a short time, but a lifelong friendship that has been on life's path with me all these years.  Sometimes He is walking beside holding my right hand. At other times He runs ahead to prepare the way. Sometimes He has to even carry me because I don't want to go on. Whatever I'm going through on this path - moving, saying goodbye, taking a leap of faith into unknown -God is there unfolding a greater plan than I can see at this moment in time.

As God prepared a way for all of us through His Son Jesus, unfolding His perfect and loving plan to reconcile us to Himself, may we see clearly during this holiday season that God is still in the business of healing and mending relationships and transforming lives. 

May we CELEBRATE the real meaning of Christmas with gratitude in our hearts that God is alive...and carefully and lovingly unfolding our life stories.  

Then when the time is right, we will see clearly...


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

New Providence

Closing Day!

Final touch-ups and good-byes to our New Providence home - the loved on and fixed up foreclosure.  We met three years ago, overgrown with brush and tall weeds, it's beauty hidden within.

Yet my husband once again saw something I didn't - or didn't want to see - POTENTIAL!!! He could envision what wasn't but could be. I focused on the defects. It was Brent's enthusiasm verses my reluctance. Each time we visited this quiet two acres, it grew on me despite the floral wallpaper and royal blue countertops. It was wrongly dressed at the time, but it's structure was perfectly built for our family's liking.

I slowly saw potential and then allowed myself to dream a bit. Explore possibilities. But just as my excitement grew, the door closed. The bank said "no", and I figured that was our answer to give up the hunt.

Brent wasn't taking "no" for an answer and kept a close eye on it.  I didn't understand why. 

However, the door that had been closed shut in our faces began to slowly creep open.  We waited and watched until it looked like a green light - we made a second offer and the left-behind house became ours.


With some face lifts here and there, this 70's style home became the nicest home we've ever lived in.


Today cleaning the kitchen sink, I remembered Austyn saying as she washed her hands under the new faucet for the first time, "I feel so rich!"  We never had a new faucet and sink before.

I get attached to houses. It must be because we keep buying older houses and putting so much work and love into it that it makes it hard to part ways. I guess I need to buy a newer home next time!

As I completed the last tasks of cleaning, I let myself cry, letting feelings do what God created them to do - FEEL.  No shame in that.  Just gratitude, tears turned into praise to God and prayers for the next family who will walk these halls and live behind these doors and create new family memories together. 

It was a time of closure I needed; saying good-bye to a friend. 

This home is where our family bonded like never before. (sorry for all the ever's and never's) We were on our own.  New terrain.  I will cherish the memories this house has created for us - laughter, safety, fellowship, adventure, milestones...a home away from home. We leave fingerprints behind, all the sweat and painting and staining and trimming and cleaning and fixing to pass on to a new family to enjoy.

I know home is where your heart is or where your "people" are, but I've been gifted with yet another house that has become a dear companion. This one for this specific travel and season of life. 

I will miss the trees I've looked up to as I waited to hear from God. 


The window that gave me a glimpse of God's perfect splendor each morning.  The barn that spurred on creativity and play in my girls. The campfire that brought friends together.  


The kitchen that welcomed teens for a meal before Bible study.  The stove that warmed our home and hearts.  And the screened porch that invited us to stop and sit and enjoy sights and sounds.


Sights and sounds such as: the beauty of deer grazing in our backyard. The sighting of a little raccoon. The sound of a screaming fox in the middle of the night (now that is a story to tell- someone call 911!!!) A coyote walking by in broad daylight.  A confident fox sitting on a stump watching Cooper bark at him ten feet away. (I think the fox was sizing him up for dinner) And lastly, I swear I saw a wolf on our property. Brent doesn't believe me, and others claim there are no wolves in Georgia but I beg to differ.

I'm thankful because this house is another example of God's provision in our lives.

I never really thought about our home's address and the meaning of the word - Providence

"The protective and spiritual care of God"

In fact, the road was named New Providence.  It was God's NEW way of caring for us, protecting us, and watching over our family.  I wonder...how many times did I say, "We live on New Providence"?  A description that we live in and under God's care! 

This house had been orphaned and left empty. We needed a home. Even though at first the bank turned us down, God had a plan of new providence for us.

All I can say is....I'm thankful as I let go.