Fall 2013-dark leaves

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

House news

Just a fair warning--I so believe in prayer.  I know what God has done for me and my family in the past because the saints lifted us up in prayer, and so I have no qualms about asking for it again.  So get ready, if you're annoyed by prayer updates and requests, you might want to take a break from reading this blog.

I'm not going to post play-by-play updates on FB or email blasts.  Because while I believe in prayer, I understand it can be annoying too because circumstances change so often, esp. in real estate.  My thinking is that you don't get to this blog by accident; it's your choice, so I won't feel bad about giving you quick updates as they happen.

So today we got an email from a woman interested in a lease to purchase with $20k down of our house in Bham.  I admit I don't know the details of how that works, but I do see in it the word "purchase" and understand enough to know if she decides our is the house for her, we wouldn't miss making any of our mortgage payments.  We have some calls out to realty friends who can help us.  My prayer is that God--for his amazing glory--would provide a buyer for our house through this woman who found it online available for rent.  That could ONLY happen by God's provision and not of our own doing, and would be yet another miracle in the story of our housing-through-seminary.

Please pray with us that God would have this work out.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Believe what I believe

I'm trying to believe what I believe.  I'm trying to rest and trust.  I'm trying to wait patiently on God's timing.  I am excited to see what God's going to do with our circumstances to further his kingdom and bring himself glory.  But I still have to live through it.

Our renters are leaving.  Yes, the ones who said they wanted the house all 4 years that we are in seminary.  They still do, but the husband has lost his job.  And so goes my security that we won't lose the house or have to file bankruptcy.  Silly me, placing my security in mortal circumstances.

So now we have a house for sale or rent.  Seriously, just make us an offer.  And pray for me to rest. 

We've put it on Craigslist.  And we have a call in to a realtor to list it, asap, which is apparently not as quickly as I originally expected.  Brian says it's a holiday week, but it's been over a week since we called her about listing it.  And here comes my control-freakishness bearing its ugly fangs. 

Hey, at least we've done this "gotta dump a house or we lose everything" before.  I do wish we could get out of this with a little something to show for it.  Of course the cash would be nice, but I mean more about what that cash would represent--that my husband didn't work for 10 years in his first career for naught.  That he'd have something to show for the long hours of hard work he put in at BCBS and FPC. 

I guess we'll see.  I do believe in God's perfect soverignty.  This is not a surprise to him.  It's actually his plan--yes, I believe that too, easily and wholeheartedly.  He is entirely trustworthy too.  It's just that I have to do more than believe it; I have to live it out.  I'd just as soon skip to the resolution part of this story, and I know there is good for me and glory for him that will come from this, but I have to fight daily--no, momently--to rest in what the Bible tells me is true.  (see above)

I compare it to my delivering a baby.  I have duper-duper easy deliveries.  Don't ask, you really don't want to know how easy.  Lillian pretty much fell out.  But when it came time to deliver #3, I had done no mental prep for it.  I expected it to be simple.  And it was simple.  But no matter how easily it happens, it still has to happen.  I have to push a 7+ pound baby...well, you get the idea.  And that, not to mention 9 months of growing an entire human being in my body, is a traumatic event no matter how easily it happens.  So I had a freak-out moment in the delivery room.

Back to today...So maybe I've done this before.  And maybe my faith brings me peace, whenever I remember to believe what I believe.  But I still have to go through this.  And right now I'm having my freak-out moment.  So pray, and please remind me of what I know to be true.  It's all going to be OK.  It's all going to be OK.  It's all going to be OK.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Dinner Out

Tonight we were invited over to the Luthin's house.  I mentioned them last week--no, 2 weeks ago.  Bill, the husband, is currently deployed with the Air Force, and Regan asked if there were a night we girls and the kids (they have the 2 boys P's age) could get together at their house for dinner.  Brian had already told me he had some heavy-duty studying to do early this week, so tonight worked out well for us to head out without him. 

It felt so good to be in her home.  It's clean.  And straight. (Remember they're military.)  And she served brie for an appetizer with a nice glass of wine.  It's so tastefully decorated, like a real grown-up house.  But it's also very much a home.  I was comfortable letting the kids just go, and they all played well together.  She let my older girls help make pumpkin waffles, bacon, and scrambled eggs.  And when one of us mothers were busy with a child or 2, the other stepped in and kept dinner going.  She let me help clean up the dishes and the basement before we left.  Not once did she decline help, but neither did I feel obligated.  I wanted to help.  And inbetween there was time to discuss parenting, books, and even share some heart issues, even if we never actually finished any particular part of the conversation.

How refreshing!  What a treat to be invited into another's home.  What a blessing to feel so welcome and at ease (no pun intended).  It is truly a gift from the Lord to have relationships like this.  Honestly, this is the 5th conversation we've had, including 3 just in-passing at the church.  Like I said before, I hope we get to spend more time together.

I have been so blessed to consistently have a girl friend or two in my life, especially since soph. year in college, who loves me well, encourages me, speaks truth to me and lovingly holds my feet to the fire.  Even when we moved here, within a week or two, I had a close and dear friend.  Now, I may not see you all often, but these are the girls I can pick back up with at the drop of a hat.  I have a feeling Regan will be one of them as well. 

Hey, guess what?  Relationships in heaven will be even easier than this with EVERYONE there.  Can you imagine not having trouble relating with anyone?  There will be no one there who is difficult to love.  We will live in perfect harmony and be at peace with each and every person there.  Wow.  That's fun!