As Time Goes By...

"Tick-Tock; Tick-Tock. Where did the time go on the clock?"

Do you remember that rhyme from school? Maybe it was just a thing from the elementary school I attended. I do find myself asking, "Where did all this time go?"

It seems like it was just yesterday that we were in our Pennsylvania home listening to Christmas music and decorating our tree. That was Thanksgiving night. Somewhere in the middle of that night, someone clicked the fast-forward button and now, here we are...less than 2 weeks from Memorial Day!

After posting THIS BLOG POST in January, life just got so busy so fast. My world became surrounded by cardboard boxes to which I had to surrender. They are still holding much of our belongings hostage, but I believe they will eventually agree to releasing them. I would truly appreciate it if the box that is holding my iron hostage would kindly set it free. I'm happy to exchange one of the many cake pans I've discovered for the iron. I'd like to have some wrinkle-free clothes.

Life here in IL is very different from life back in PA. We are in a town that actually has a Wal-Mart, too many fast food places, too many pizza joints, an Amtrak station, and lots of people. Yet, it's a much simpler place. The kids here aren't all attached to the end of the newest electronic gizmo beginning with a lowercase "i". Their parents expect them to (GASP!) get their driver's licenses and jobs and pay for those gizmos themselves if they want them! People in this town are "lifers" -- what they call themselves since they were born here and intend to stay her until they die.

We got here and were met by a band of people from our new church home. They had the moving truck unpacked quicker than my brain could comprehend. I thought maybe 2-3 guys would turn up to help. NOPE. There were men, women, teens, & children -- whole families who gave up their Saturday to help us get unloaded. The women immediately jumped in and began to help me unpack the kitchen stuff. It was amazing how quickly they worked! They were just so happy we were here. It made me feel really good... and humbled. It doesn't matter to me that I still can't find some things and that they have a very different idea of where things should go in a kitchen. They are just such kind, loving people!

I remember thinking, "Well, this ain't gonna last long!" We'd been hurt before, so I have a tendency to expect it. These people are the real deal, though. I'm enjoying getting to know them all more and more.

Life has been crazy busy! We have been running full steam ahead and I'm getting tired. I love it, though. It's pretty sad when you are looking forward to taking a trip out to MN for a memorial service in June because you are expecting to get a little rest. (Pathetic... I know.)

I love our house! We hadn't seen it except for an outside shot before we got here. I got to walk through it for maybe 2 minutes before the church folks got here to unload us, so it was just too much to take in all at once. We have a garage attached to the house! It's so cool! I don't get wet now when it's raining and I need to get in and out of our Jeep! And, there's another garage that sits behind the house. Right now it's holding all those boxes that need unpacked, but my husband is looking forward to turning it into...something. His man cave I suppose.

I have a basement. That's where the laundry room is. My physical therapy so far has been doing those steps a few times each day. Do you know how AMAZING it feels to be able to do steps after being in a wheelchair for so long??? God is so AWESOME! Sure, I have my own quirky way of doing them, but the point is that I do them! :) Oh, and there is a laundry chute in the bathroom. That's really convenient!

I'll post pictures when I have more time. I guess I'm just still in awe of things. You see, I've never lived in a house that had a garage or a basement. I really feel truly blessed. I was terrified at the thought of leasing a house for 2 years that I hadn't even seen. But, we had to have a place to live and this is what God provided in our price range. Our landlord is considering doing a lease-to-own deal with us. That would be nice. This was a "blind move" for us, but God saw it and knew this was just what we needed. It's not a big house, but it's big enough. It's not a new house, but it has all we need. I think it's perfect. Do I like all the decor? No. I'm not really into all the granny-ish prints. I don't like the drape choices, and the landlord's wife wants them to stay put while we are leasing in case we decide to move...but that's just something that provides privacy. No sense in letting my particular taste get in the way of enjoying a true blessing from the Lord! In all honesty, it would take me the 2 years on our lease to figure out what drapes and wall paper and such that I'd want...let alone the time it would take to get it all put up! We moved in and it's all in place. YAY!

I have to laugh because a lifetime ago I dated an older man. I was 22. He was 38. Nice guy, just not the man God wanted me to marry. The laughter comes in when I think back to the way he had his kitchen decorated. It was all done in fruit, and I just wasn't the fruit decor kind of gal. I'd tease him about it. Guess what my kitchen boarder is??? LOL. Yep! Fruit. Mostly clusters of grapes.

Anyway, I should get to bed. No, I still don't sleep much. I did go for a week or so sleeping. Now my mind is too busy to let me sleep. UGH. Some things never change.

My husband is so happy to be serving full time in the ministry. It's not as lucrative as his former job, but his retirement plan is out of this world! :) He loves serving God, and I love that he is so happy. I'd rather be dirt poor and happy because we are in God's will than be rich and out of His will. God is meeting every need. He's even providing some wants. What a MIGHTY GOD we serve!

Yes, that fast-forward button got pressed Thanksgiving night... but it's nice to be moving forward for a change. :)

Sorry this is so discombobulated...but it is 4:42 a.m. here in IL and I haven't been to sleep yet. I'm going to try to keep this blog more updated. I need to do it. I love blogging. Time just slipped away...

"Tick-Tock; Tick-Tock. Where did the time go on the clock?"

Coming Soon...

...an actual blog post! But first I think I should do our taxes...don't want to do them, but I must. I just thought I'd put myself back into the cyber world to say "hello" and "thanks" to those who have been praying for me and my family! I so appreciate it and have a lot to tell... But first, I really should do my taxes...

Reconnecting

It's funny how as soon as people hear through the grapevine of your imminent move, all of the sudden they contact you and feel the need to get together. Some of these people I haven't even heard from in 20+ years!

However, there's one friend I've been trying to make plans with for several years... only something ALWAYS happened and the plans got postponed. When she found out we were moving, she sent me a very sweet message that simply said, "I would love to see you before you leave, but I know you will be way too busy. Just know that I'm very happy for you and will be praying for you."

So I sent her a message back, "Linda, you're right. I am way too busy. That's why I'm going to do whatever I can to get us together before I move and become way to busy somewhere else."

We went back and forth trying to find a time that worked for both of us. I finally said let's just shoot for Friday night and meet for a cup of coffee somewhere in between our homes. So, that's what we did. We met at Starbucks at 7:15 and talked until after 10 p.m. It was WONDERFUL!

Linda and I taught Sunday School together for years. I first met her when I was 19. She was married with 2 daughters. We became instant friends. I always wanted to be the kind of mom she was/is. I taught her youngest daughter piano, and had both her daughters in my children's choir/drama club. They are both married now. I remember them walking down the aisle at my wedding as Junior Bridesmaids! Time flies! Linda was one of my bridesmaids, too. She was so supportive of me and always helped me with anything I needed help with.

So, tonight we chatted about her girls and her husband and my girl and my husband. We talked about our moms who both became widows at about the same time. We laughed and cried... and kept getting free packets of ground coffee from the workers who were obviously wanting us to leave so they could close up early. lol.

Reconnecting with old acquaintances is nice. I've done a lot of that on FaceBook. But reconnecting with a true friend... there's just nothing like it!

And, yes, I had DECAF and still cannot sleep! UGH! lol.

Take time and reconnect with someone who at one time was a special part of your life. You may be surprised to find that you just pick right up where you last left off.

Well...

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited to now have an address! Thank you so much to those who were praying along with us!

I have to be honest here and tell you that it's very weird having other people find a house for you... and then getting excited about it even though you've never seen it! It sounds really great and I can't wait for someone to email me pictures of it! I'll have to post some when I get some.

It has a full basement. I've never had a basement before! It has not 1, not 2, but 3 garages (or so I've been told)!! I've never had a garage before! I'm not sure what to do with 3 of them! We only have one vehicle! It's funny because it isn't what they (the people who have seen it) consider a big house, but it sounds pretty big to me! It has 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, 2 bathrooms upstairs & 1 downstairs, a living room... sounds perfect to me! It even has a laundry chute! That means the washer/dryer hookup is in the basement. That's okay, though. Maybe I'll fit down the chute. ;) If not, I'll be able to perfect the "sit & scoot" stair method. It should be good exercise.

I do have to say that I'm still in awe of the way God is doing things! He's just going right down the list & checking things off! All these mountains to us are nothing to Him! Thank You, God, for being so AWESOME!!!!!

There is so much packing to do. I just keep trying to force myself to start. lol. Once I start then I'm fine. It's just getting started... Okay. I'm going to start now. Really. I'm going right now to fill a box. Right now... just as soon as I check my email I'm going to start! Really! I am!

Looking for an Address...

...for my family! LOL.

Seriously, PLEASE keep this in your prayers. God has answered so many prayers in such amazing ways! I know that nothing is too big for Him.

I also know that He knows which house would be the best for my family. We kind of have our hopes up for this one in particular. The landlord has narrowed the applicants down to 2 families. We are one of them. We will be given an answer by Saturday.

PLEASE, PLEASE pray! I know God's got this under control. I lay this need at His feet and then go and pick it up again. How pathetic am I??? If it's a "no" then I must trust that God has a very good reason for it!

On another note, we are only about 1/3 of the way packed. All of the snow has slowed things down substantially. Don't get me wrong -- I absolutely LOVE snow! However, when you are supposed to be moving in only 2-1/2 weeks...you kind of need to be able to get everything out of storage so that you can determine what goes, what gets trashed, and what gets donated. With about 2 feet of heavy, wet snow between you and the storage shed... well, you can see how this makes things difficult. Again, God knows what He's doing when He sends the snow. It sure is pretty to look at.

I'm finally feeling better -- PTL!!! Gidget got an antibiotic yesterday and is beginning to feel better -- PTL!!! Now let's just pray we all stay healthy!

My Mom is NOT handling this move very well at all. She's trying to put on a happy face and be supportive, but she's hurting inside. Please keep her in your prayers. I truly wish she'd come with us, but she feels her ministry is here.

I should head back to bed. So much is running through my mind. I need to follow my own advice from a while back and just "Be Still" and know that He is God!!!! What an awesome, mighty God He is!

Until my next moment of insane rambling...

I Stand in Awe of You!

Do you remember that song from, oh, 2 decades ago or so? Well, that sums up how I feel right now! I truly am just in complete and total awe of God! I don't know why I get so amazed when He does awesome things... I've seen Him do awesome things before. But each time I just get this feeling of, well, awe!

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." (Prov. 13:12)

Have you ever prayed for something for so long (or at least what seems like a long time to you), and then when He answers the prayer get so humbly amazed that you are speechless? This is why I haven't blogged this until now. I needed to wait for God to give me the words!

My hubby is a sweetheart of a man. He truly is. I know none of you know him, but he's as good as they come. He loves me... not the ordinary, "I love you" kind of love, but he truly, deeply loves me and shows me that in a different way every day. I never realized how much until I had this last MS attack that left me completely helpless and at his mercy. He never once complained. He picked me up when I collapsed and realized I couldn't move anything from the waist down. He dried my tears. He made me laugh when there was nothing to laugh about. He cooked horrible meals and shrunk all my clothes, but he did it all out of love because he knew I couldn't do those things. He truly loves me, and I truly love him.

He is a caring man. He loves people. God has given him a compassionate heart -- a true pastor's heart. That's why it's been so hard to watch him these past 2 years get up each day and go to sell jewelry. He did it to take care of his family, but his heart stayed fixed on searching for where God wanted him to serve. Each time a door would open and we'd get excited, it would suddenly shut and we'd have to start the whole candidate process over again. He got narrowed down to the final 2 candidates out of over 200-300 I don't know how many times at this point only to find out they had gone with the other guy. But, after being disappointed we would remember that we only wanted to be where God wanted us. So, we'd begin again.

This time was different. It's a church that we'd never have really given a second glance had the door not been opened and closed so many times over the past almost 2 years. It's several states away from our home. But we'd told God, "Anywhere you want us, that's where we want to be."

Well, Illinois is where He wants us. He made it abundantly clear! He answered so many specific prayers that it is undeniably His will! In fact, when we got there on Jan. 8th, He began answering those prayers almost immediately! The church was having their annual beginning of the year fellowship and we immediately began getting to know the people. It was easy to see from the very start that these were people who were real. They are mostly hard working, blue collar types who work hard, play hard, and love God. They have a desire to serve Him and learn more of Him. It was so refreshing to see this in a group of people!

One of our specific prayers was for our daughter. She needs a friend. A good friend who will encourage her when she needs it and whom she can encourage as well. I have a friend like this. We've been friends since I was 12 and we are still very close. I could see that Gidget needed this. She's been so lonely... especially since her cousins moved. She hasn't really connected with anyone in the church we have been attending here. Every night we would pray together that God would send her a special friend. That night at the fellowship she just clicked with the kids who were there. It was so good to see her playing and laughing! But the true "WOW" moment came the next morning in church. After Sunday School, she sat down beside me in the pew. Then, this bubbly little blonde... cute as button... just came and squished herself in between Gidget & me. She had this beautiful smile and my daughter was just glowing. They both said at the same time, "GUESS WHAT???" I knew something good was coming. They proceeded to tell me that they shared the same birthday. Not just the same date, but the same year! What are the odds of that? I just was speechless. I felt in my heart like that was a real God thing! I just had a peace that God was answering that prayer.

We were praying that the church would be disability friendly. They have a chair lift to get you to the downstairs classrooms and fellowship area and an elevator to get you to the auditorium! The elevator was pretty cool. My husband was meeting with the pastor and I was waiting for him to help me upstairs. A very nice gentleman came over and offered his help. I was nervous, but accepted his offer because I didn't want to be late for the morning service. He pushed my wheelchair into a corner facing a wall. I thought, "Okay. This is odd." Then, he closed a gate behind me and pressed a button and the floor lifted! I'd never seen an elevator like that before! It was way cool! He said, "Just make sure that the elevator is at the top before you take your wheelchair off the edge here." lol. Yeah, I see the importance in that.

My husband had taught one of the adult Sunday School classes and then preached the morning service. After that, we went out to lunch with the Senior Pastor and his wife. Then, we went to the local nursing home and spent some time with the people there. I have to admit, after the long drive there (over 400 miles of it was in snow/sleet) and the Saturday night fellowship after we'd only been there for an hour... then the full Sunday we'd had so far, I was wiped out! I went over to the parsonage and laid down for about an hour while my husband met with the pulpit committee and Senior Pastor. He came back to the parsonage and we spoke for a while. We both had peace that this was where God wanted us. There was just this little issue of whether or not the church would vote us in. He had to have 75% majority vote. So, we headed over for the evening service.

That night the Senior Pastor did a short devotion and then they had their annual business meeting. After the other business was taken care of, they brought us up front and allowed the church members to ask us questions. Talk about being nervous! They asked good questions, too! After all the questioning was over, we were sent into one of the offices to wait for the church to discuss and vote. When the lady came and got us we couldn't tell anything from her expression. When we entered the back of the church, everyone was standing and the Senior Pastor had us come forward. He told us that the church had voted to extend a pastoral position offer to my husband and asked if he'd accept their call. He looked at me and we didn't have to say a word to each other. We knew God wanted us there. He accepted the position of Pastor of Outreach and Family. Then the Senior Pastor said, "I'm not sure how to feel about this, but you got a higher % vote than I did! You got 96%!" We were so excited to know that that many people voted for him!

That was such a HUGE BLESSING! We are still so thankful to God for putting us back to work!

You know, I've served in a church since I was a teenager. I served because I was a good girl and I knew it would please my parents and I knew it would please my pastor. I did the right things, but for the wrong reasons. Pleasing your parents and a godly pastor are certainly not bad things, but pleasing God is so much more important. That's what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to serve Him however He lets me, and I want to do it to please Him. I don't want to get to Heaven and realize I haven't earned any rewards to lay at His feet! He has been so faithful to me and shown me such grace and mercy... I can't even begin to tell you and I'd be so ashamed to tell you of many things. I just know that I don't want to mess up this time. I want so desperately to get to Heaven and hear Him say, "Well done!" This is my desire and my prayer.

I know this is a LONG post, but I have more to tell.

So, where are we going to live? That was the question on our minds on the long drive back to PA. It's hard to search for a home when you are several states away! The day after we got home the Senior Pastor called and had already found a house for us! Then, two days later he said to hold off on that one because he'd found a better one! This is where I'm asking for you to specifically pray. We have 2 cats and a dog. They are well trained. The cats are old, declawed, and fixed. They are more like floor rugs than anything else. None of the animals are destructive in any way. The owners of this house are just finishing fixing it up because the tenants had animals that destroyed things. The husband is fine with pets. The wife isn't. Please pray that God would either change her mind and let us get this house OR that He'd show us where He wants us to live. This particular house is exactly what we'd been praying for... big enough for the wheelchair, a rancher with a basement & a garage. We're not looking for fancy, just practical and in our budget.

Then there was the issue of how to afford to move? Guess what? One of the deacons owns a trucking company and said just to let him know the day we'll be ready and he'll have a tractor trailer here to pick up our stuff and have it waiting for us when we got there! It was like God was saying, "Okay, what's next on your list?"

Well, that would be a real estate investment that we've been trying to sell for about a year. This week, it sold! No, not the way we expected it to sell... we're basically walking away without any profit... but it sold! Sure, we've got to get the paperwork all done, but it sold! I'm telling you, God was going down our check list that we'd been praying over!

What to do with our house? That's the next thing. I'm not worrying about it. I know He's going to take care of that as well!

I really shouldn't type all this at 3 a.m. I'm just wide awake and I'm excited and nervous. I hope you (if anyone still reads this blog) will pray for us as we head out on this new adventure!

The verse I shared above is one that has been on my heart for almost 2 years. It's SO TRUE! Our hearts were sick from our hope being deferred, but now -- WOW! That tree of life is an AWESOME feeling!

This is a great responsibility. We aren't taking it lightly. It's also going to be tough financially, but I know that God is going to take care of us. He always has. He is AMAZING!

"You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful of comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp you infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depth of your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of you
I stand, I stand in awe of you
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of you."by Mark Altrogge

Abandoned

I have seemingly abandoned this blog. The truth is I have had things to say but by the time I get a chance to blog, I'm TOO tired! I do miss blogging, though. Hopefully I can do more of it soon. I doubt anyone reads this anymore, but I'd still like to get back to it because I enjoy doing it.

For now, I'm getting ready for a trip. I'm not going to go into the details, but this could end up being a HUGE answer to prayer! Please pray for safety for us as we travel, and that God would give us wisdom. For things to work out God is going to have to move some major mountains. I've seen Him do that before, though, and I know He will if this is His will for us.

Also, my hubby has a sinus infection. Please pray he gets better quickly & that Gidget & I don't get sick!

So, this is short... but, guess what??? I'm TOO tired to make it longer!

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)