Homes

Our company has gone home. While they were here, they worked to clear out the garage and make it livable. They took two pieces of furniture we needed to get rid of and would have had to find these pieces a home.

We loved having them here but are glad to be able to get back to the task of making the house comfortable.

The past few months has been the most stressful time in our married life. I've asked God many times if He accomplished anything in us during these months. At times I was sure we should have gone to Amarillo instead of staying here. When some health issues came up for both of us, we were thankful that we had medical professionals who know us to care for us. For that reason we thought maybe we had made the right decision.

The week we moved in we were overwhelmed with unpacked boxes. I sat and looked at the mess and knew there was no way we could ever do it all ourselves. That and some other stresses (a knee that is bone on bone and requires using a cane and pain pills to move around) caused a physical response that put me in the hospital over night. But Someone came to our rescue and although He came in the bodies of six women, I know our rescuer was divine. These women unpacked all our boxes, put things away and cleaned the furniture that had been gathering dust inside PODS.

Without all the boxes we were able to begin putting things in order. But the garage remained a mess.

California Son and his wife and son came to our rescue. (God comes in many disguises, doesn't he?) By the time they left this morning the garage was such that we could get our van in, a work table and tool bench had been put together for Husband, and empty boxes and trash removed. They drove away with their SUV filled to the top and pulling a full trailer--all items we wanted them to have.

Now we await our new living room furniture. This afternoon the window lady will come to help us with window coverings. We wanted her to come earlier but she had to leave town. When she comes today, the furniture will be in place, which is as it should be when we make our choices. Tomorrow, next Monday and Wednesday will probably be the last of the deliveries we will have until the window coverings come in.

When we needed help, the help came--at the exact right time. The move has cost us in many ways but we look forward to what we will do and finding out why we are here.

Have we learned to trust God more? I hope so because I have a feeling we will need that trust for whatever is coming. God doesn't put us into class just to have something to do.

Our family has gone home. The furniture they took now has a home and although this house doesn't quite feel like our home yet, we are ready to make it that.

Down the Toilet, Not the Rabbit Hole

Sometimes when life seems to be going down the toilet all you can do is laugh.

We have our house sold. We have a house we are moving into in about two weeks. Right?
Wrong!

We found out this morning that the appraisal of our house came in low--very low. The appraiser made several glaring errors. Even the buyer's agent agrees. Our agent is writing a letter to the mortgage company stating the errors and asking for a reevaluation of the appraisal. Husband is at his office signing the letter.

A few mintues after he left for the agent's office, we got a call about the house we are (were?) to move into. The title company discovered that the owners of that house filed bankruptcy a few months ago and their house doesn't belong to them. It belongs to the bank.

What do you do when sh#t happens? Laugh. Could it be more crazy?

Thank God He has spent the past few months (and most of my life) teaching me to trust in Him.

Just Trust

Life has been so full lately that I haven't had a chance to do any writing--not on my blog--not on either of my novels. I barely have a chance to read a little before going to sleep at night. Some people call the "thing" inside of a writer a muse. This muse helps the writer write. Well, my muse is frustrated. She has something to say--no, she has a lot to say--and wishes I'd give her the chance.

Last Wednesday I went to a critique meeting, and I have another one this coming Saturday. At the Wednesday one my writing partners made many suggestions about changes I need to make in novel #2. Before I go to the next meeting on Saturday I need to make those changes. I want to continue editing novel #1 and go forward in #2. I left my main character in #2 in a major crises, and I'm sure he's anxious for me to help him work it out. Little does he know, but his troubles are just beginning. I'm taking a class on Monday nights about getting published. The two teachers will read my synopsis and query letter and let me know if I have them right. I need time to get them ready to be read.

Reid's son, Andy, and his family came Friday to stay until in the morning. But they had major car trouble and can't leave until it's fixed. Our preacher will be here Thursday to stay over the week end. Hopefully they don't overlap or else somebody's going to be crowded in that king-sized bed!

Saturday we spent the entire day at an Irish dance competition. I started to write about it but decided there were more pressing issues. One of those issues is my busy life that's keeping me from doing what I think I need to be doing. Since I'm having trouble going to sleep tonight, I thought it a good time to write.

In the book I've been reading these sentences jumped out at me tonight. "It would seem to me that trusting God allows him to do whatever he desires. If I focus that trust on a specific outcome, then I am only trying to manipulate him." "Growing in trust allows us to walk with God through our concerns and disappointments, knowing he has something else in mind than we have thought."

In our class on Hebrews today, our teacher reminded us that we are souls living in bodies. In reality we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Worship is not the hour or two on Sunday morning we spend inside a building. Everything we do is worship.

Therefore, right now I am walking with God. If he wanted me to be somewhere else, that's where I'd be. If I was supposed to be writing, I'd be writing. What I'm doing is relationship and hospitality and worship. I believe with all my heart that's what's important to him. The synopsis and query and writing will happen when it happens. I believe that's what trust is all about.