Oh the People You've Met!

 Our steps have certainly led us to have friendships all over the country and the world.

Recently, God has used some of those connections in special ways.

Our church is currently ministering to a community of Hispanic children through the bus ministry.

While the children speak English,

the parents do not.

One of the boys asked God to save him last Sunday,

and immediately asked for materials to share with his parents.

Unfortunately, the church did not have any Spanish materials on hand.

But ...

God had introduced us to 3 different people in NC.

We had helped write a tract for one friend and had a fellow college student from Spain translate it for us.

We met a couple who ministered to Hispanics in South Carolina after years of service in Panama.

And we were friends with a family called to minister in Columbia.

So Sunday night,

I texted 2 contacts asking for materials.

Both contacts got material in the mail to me on Monday!

On Monday morning, I ordered the tracts that we had had a hand in creating.

How thankful we are for the places we have lived and the people we have met!

Order and Chaos

 The primary living area is getting some order.

There is no decoration, but it is easier and easier to function.

We are learning where the essentials of every day are.

There is order in most of our living space, 

but the guest rooms are still waiting for their closets so that they can be ordered.

And therein lies the chaos.

On Friday, I did the final cleanout for the apartment.

It was nice to finish and to be able to bring all of the cleaning supplies to the house.

Hubby cut wood to put up shelves and coat racks in the coat closet and two guest room closets this weekend.

We also spent some more time making some sense in the garage.

And I began staining wood for the above closets.

Today, I stained wood and did general cleaning which had not really been done since we move in.

And yesterday, I enjoyed playing the organ at church after many, many, many years.

Hubby and I also began learning a new song for a special.

We also "bothered" some new friends for part of the afternoon.

The minds still race a little with the desire to have everything finished ... just about NOW,

but things are settling into place.

The pictures aren't what I would like them to be,

but I know many of you are curious.

Slow Moving Progress

 We had a profitable holiday weekend.

On Friday night, we emptied our storage unit.

It took about 3 hours and it was HOT - but that part is done.

On Saturday, we used the moving truck to get lumber to do some building in the closets.

Hubby also stood outside in the heat most of the afternoon cutting said lumber to length.

I set boxes in rooms and emptied some kitchen boxes that hadn't been with us in the apartment.

We ate our first meal in the house - gourmet chicken tenders and french fries.

Today, we were back at the house and worked on the master walk-in closet and the garage.

Hubby built two shelving units and I got one of them stained.

They will sit on either side of the walk in closet.

The two sides will have hanging rods 

and then clothes will be folded and stacked or put in baskets up the middle.

Our church family in Oregon sent us away with a love gift that bought all the lumber for our closet upgrades.

Thank you, Mid Valley.

We also put together a shelving unit in the garage which I promptly filled up.

But I am trying to limit my "stuff" to the new unit.

It appears that we may have a little too much to do to move in this coming weekend,

but we'll see.

The heat really takes it out of us.

Who's idea was it to move in July?

I believe that this is the second time that we have done this.

A Breakfast of Champions

Here is a start to the pictures:

a view of the eat-in kitchen.

I think that I am most excited at the big pantry all the way to the right.

The decoration was a gift from our realtor - a barrel top with our name and initial on it.

The wall that you do not see is actually a large sliding door out to the patio.

I am contemplating where everything will go and where things will land.

I do know that I will need a step stool at the ready because the cabinets are very tall

and I wouldn't want to waste any space.

I also am going to use a gas stove for the first time since I was babysitting as a teenager.

Hubby says I will just love it ... and the internet agrees.

The dishwasher is actually going to be a glorified dish drainer.

The sink is one large, undivided basin and I don't really want a dish drainer on the counter,

so why not use the dishwasher - it even has unique spots to dry everything.

As to the breakfast of champions ...

How about some chia pudding?

I have discovered that I do a great job making meals for others in my home,

but I hate to cook for myself,

so meals already made are a blessing.

This makes a great breakfast or even an evening treat.

Periodically, I make up about 4 breakfasts and throw them in the fridge for hubby and me.

It's an easily adaptable recipe.

And as I type this,

I realize that I forgot the maple syrup in this morning's batch - 

better add that before tomorrow morning.

Chia Pudding

3 TBS chia seeds

5 oz milk

1 TBS maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

for variety:

add 1 TBSP cocoa powder and then a TBSP of peanut butter at breakfast

or

add 1 TBSP lemon juice and then a half cup of blueberries or strawberries at breakfast

or

use half milk and half orange juice for the liquid to create a creamsicle pudding

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in bowl.

Leave sit 5 minutes (or until you remember that you are making pudding)

Stir again and leave sit 5 minutes.

Stir again and put in fridge.

Stir again before eating.

Chia seeds are a complete plant-based protein

and while they are expensive

a little goes a long way and actually is cheaper (and more filling)

than a serving of Cheerios.

 The fabric for my curtains arrived today,

so I will be busy working on them tomorrow and through next week.

Done!

 The house passed its reinspection

and we have signed all the paperwork.

We are homeowners.

We could just stand outside, look at the home,

and thank God for His provision.

So many years of wandering through developments looking at similar houses.

We never thought it possible.

But here we are and it had nothing to do with us.

It is still probably not a "forever home,"

but it is now ours and we are thankful.

We hope to empty the storage unit this weekend

and fix some closets and an accent wall.

And then we will move in the following weekend.

I promise,

something better than a notebook and a key picture to follow soon.

Did I Mention Patience?

Can you tell by the title what did not happen today?

I visited my beautiful new home this morning.

I collected the keys to my beautiful new home this morning. 

I went to closing with money and pen in hand.

And I left closing needing to return my keys.

It appears that my builder approved the final appraiser,

but some carpet had been removed in order to replace it (I imagine a paint spill),

the gas hadn't been turned on,

some faucets still needed to be installed,

and my new house failed.

While these things were in tip-top shape this morning,

without another appraisal, the mortgage cannot go through.

So we are a little disappointed

and we are waiting for a new closing date,

but we will be homeowners soon enough.

Now off to Walmart for a little stock-up before the weekend.

*** Afternoon Edit ***

We received a nice call from the owner of the company that built our home.

He genuinely apologized and mentioned that he was actually at the house this morning (though unseen).

He saw that things were not done properly and even found some other small details that needed to be fixed.

Oh - and he said we could keep a key and spend all the time we wanted to there or move in

(though I am not really comfortable with that).

Reliance and Faith

 I often think that I have to go through this test so frequently.

Is waiting really necessary?

Haven't I practiced patience enough?

There has been a lot of waiting in my life:

Waiting for the "right one" until I was 26,

waiting for children,

waiting for the next move,

waiting for a house.

But it always comes back to God reminding me that

"We walk by faith and not by sight."

It is ok to not know the future.

It is ok to wait - because it always yields God's best.

It is ok if His ways are not my ways.

Right now it seems that we wait on the house.

The "new" government holiday prevented some things from being done,

so it looks like closing will be moved a little.

But even in the waiting ... I still have an apartment until the first week in August.

And I am paid up on storage through the end of July.

It is no surprise to God!

Just Overwhelmed

 No, I am not overwhelmed by activity.

I am not overwhelmed by stress.

I am not overwhelmed even by the chaos of the world (though the devil does tempt).

I am overwhelmed by how God is working.

(and I might be a little overwhelmed by the heat this week 😀)

Just 2 1/2 months since the cross-country move

and God continues to show himself strong

(as if He wouldn't).

I have mentioned in the blog from the very beginning nearly 14 years ago that there are seasons.

Seasons of feast,

seasons of wilderness,

seasons of joy,

seasons of discouragement.

Our days in Oregon were not the easiest of our lives for sure.

The Pacific Northwest is a dark place,

it was lonely because of Covid restrictions,

and it was a hard "temporary duty station."

God provided friends and "family" but it never became "home."

Of course, a move to KY cannot solve it all.

Really, the whole nation is dark.

The nation as a whole needs strong churches, strong leaders, and strong believers - 

it needs a strength that knows what it believes based on Bible truth and holds to it.

There have been days of discouragement in the past months as well,

but they have been hard days because it takes time to feel "at home."

It takes a while to feel a sense of "belonging."

But there have been far more days of encouragement.

Encouragement and challenge to grow.

Encouragement and challenge to serve better.

Encouragement and challenge to look around.

Encouragement and challenge to live a more holy life.

And those days of encouragement to grow are worth all the hard days.

And in the midst of the spiritual encouragement,

there is also the encouragement of God's provision.

We are getting close.

Thursday, we are supposed to see the finished product.

Our home is almost complete.

When we stopped last Thursday - there sure were a lot of little things left

(backsplash, counters, kitchen sink, appliances, finish outlets, driveway and patio)

Hubby saw concrete today and workers buzzing around - 

there is definitely excitement from this homemaker.

Mostly, I am overwhelmed by how God orchestrates.

Moves, places, jobs, homes, ...

I am overwhelmed at how He blesses and continues to bless when I don't deserve it.

I am overwhelmed at all that I continue to learn and be challenged by.

Little by Little

 The man who did the framing walk through with us last week said that insulation should happen this week.

Hubby and I popped over to the new house on Thursday,

And I am happy to report that they had indeed insulated throughout the house.

Next step ... Drywall.

Once the drywall is up, we were told that they might be able to give us a more definitive closing date.

Little by little.

A great exercise in patience.

Pray Specifically - Get Specific Answers

 2 Weeks To Go!

I know that prayer has paved our way in this season of our lives.

I have already documented so many ways that the Lord has directed us and answered YOUR prayers.

So, if you are still praying ...

* Pray that Penske would have the 22' truck for us instead of upgrading us up to the 26'.

* Pray that we will be storm-free for our early spring trek, especially through the plains.

* Pray that God would allow Chris to work for the last 2 weeks after he gives his notice

(this is a little atypical with his employer).

*Pray that we would accept graciously the gas prices before us.

And on a little aside:

I enjoyed a walk to town this morning.

Almost more than the walk,

I enjoyed being able to smile at others as I did my shopping.

The mask mandate ended today!

2-22-22 and Clear Direction

 From the start of our moving process,

we have prayed for clear direction - clear open doors and clear closed doors.

I have mentioned that this move was a bit more daunting.

America is a big country and we could move ANYWHERE!

We needed a good church to grow in.

We needed to have a job.

We wanted to be closer to family.

Neither of us wanted to be in a place with long winters,

but we wanted to be flexible on that as well.

When we began, we asked around for church suggestions.

We got some in IN, one in OH, and a couple in TN.

Originally we looked toward OH.

We were also systems go!

There was a John Deer dealer right near the church.

The pastor was preaching the Word.

The music was beautiful, well prepared, and conservative.

And we prayed.

We prayed for clear direction.

And God closed the door.

The church is a good church,

maybe even a great church.

But in 2 weeks' time,

He showed us what would be 3 red flags for us.

Back to the drawing board.

So we pursued TN.

Again, we loved the church.

The info on their site aligned with our own beliefs.

There were 3 different John Deere companies in the area around the church.

We felt no hesitation on the church, so we moved toward jobs.

Hubby had the jobs listed in order of his preference (or so he thought.)

I wanted one south of the church (closest to the church).

He leaned toward the big company east of the church.

But God led us to the one north of the church in KY that was mostly off our radar.

God directed the company to offer the "perfect" job

that hubby had not even applied for.

Then we began the home church.

I wanted a small town that would split the difference between work and church.

But again, God directed.

There were limited houses in that town,

and there were no apartments while we would wait.

So we returned to the town where hubby would work.

God led a future coworker to mention a new plan of homes just a mile from work.

And then we chose our home.

We thought we had.

We chose a small, but not the smallest home offered.

It offered more square footage, 

but I kept wrestling with the lack of cabinet and counter space.

So God helped again.

Right before we met with the builder,

they raised their prices so that the house was out of our price range.

The smaller house would have to suffice.

It is all we need (actually more than we need)

and offers a better kitchen (kind of important in my line of work).

Then we pursued housing while we wait for the new home.

I started with the idea of an efficiency, extended stay with a partial kitchen.

The rates were great.

But after I looked at reviews, I knew we couldn't stay there

(can you say roaches and bed bugs)

So I looked again,

and God directed the right google search.

And we found a beautiful 1 bedroom apartment within walking distance of EVERYTHING

that offered 3,4,5, and 6-month leases.

There were a few deposits, but not the normal mess.

And we can have our own bed, 

a full kitchen,

use our own masher and dryer,

and all-in-all better keep a routine.

All this to say,

God hears.

God answers,

And His ways are better than my ways and plans.

Something Big on a Rare Saturday Post

 So many things have to happen in a move ...

CHURCH - check

JOB - check

HOUSE - check

Today, the final piece of the puzzle was put in place.

We found our home.

It is now off the market.

Yes, it is not quite ready for us ...

but it will be this summer.

We would hope for June,

but at least by August - how's that for an anniversary present?

The plan will be to live in an extended stay while we wait.

While it will be a little difficult,

the prize at the end of the process will make it worth it.

Thank you for praying.

Here are the next prayer requests ...

nice weather for the drive across the country on the last week of March

and

for work to go quickly on our new home

20 years of Donuts

This is usually a very celebratory season for us.

We met and had our first date all around Valentine's Day!

While the days have not been forgotten,

they have been a little more muted.

We did an at-home Valentine's Escape Room at the end of last week.

We enjoyed the puzzles immensely.

Hubby bought me a Valentine's balloon.

We enjoyed an Italian meal on Monday.

I mailed out a lot of Valentine treats - which all made it on time - 

in spite of my being late in sending them.

I shared treats with my "kids" at church.

This weekend, I even talked with the nephew who joined us on our first date when he was only 9 days old.

And tonight, we may find a donut somewhere

or at least enjoy a hot drink together just like Bella Napolis so many years ago.

We struggled with whatever strain of Covid finally got us for a good 8-9 days.

We returned to normal work schedules Monday, 

but we still have some very early bedtimes.

And we are in the middle of tying things up ...

a little here,

a little there.

Hubby was supposed to have a survey trip last week.

CANCELLED!

But, his company of choice worked in a virtual interview.

And ... he got it.

On this Thankful Thursday,

we are thankful for a new job.

Hubby will be doing less wrench turning

and more of what he loves - 

helping others.

He is getting a raise,

while we are moving to a lower-cost area.

His job will be less physical - 

which gives him more of an opportunity to work when minor sicknesses come.

And the company has a more family feel to it which is exciting.

We are also thankful for the new church family waiting for us across the country.

We haven't met them yet, but we are excited to meet them soon.

And we are also thankful for the home that God has waiting for us.

There are many options on the table,

but until Saturday, we are pursuing a new home.

It is partially built with a finish date in May or June.

Would you pray that God would open or close this door clearly?

This option would require living in an extended stay for 2-3 months,

but we are excited that God may have a new place for us -

less than a mile from hubby's work!

Update:

We did find donuts.

It was a bit of a chore ...stores all out.

But Benny's came through.

Spiced Chai and Ciabatta Coldbrew

$2000

 The nighttime blogging has not been very effective,

so I will try a morning edition.

Hubby is off to work,

lunch made,

breakfast dishes washed,

a load of wash is started,

a batch of chocolate beet muffins is in the oven,

and I am in front of my computer with a coconut chai latte.

Does that sound like a good start to the day?

God is all we need, all the time.

I know that and truly try to practice that.

But self-reliance and pride often cause me to develop a "just in case God fails me" plan.

Now, don't act like you have never done that as well.

There are seasons when I can't even develop a plan B, when I can't rely on anyone or anything else.

I feel like every time we move, we are reminded that He is all we need.

We are reminded that vain is the help of man.

We are reminded that our strength is not in horses or chariots.

There is much to be thankful for this week.

First, if you have been praying about the cost of a move ...

Yesterday, the cost went down $2000 on all trucks!

(And those prices didn't go down 30 minutes north of us).

God is definitely answering specific prayers.

While we still don't have enough specifics to reserve it,

that is encouraging!

And we wanted to thank you for praying specifically for that.

You can keep praying if you'd like.😀

On Monday, when hubby came home a little early from work, 

he reached out to 3 companies that might provide possible employment.

And ... he received 3 positive responses.

I can't give specifics, 

but one company even brought up a different line of work which had hubby VERY excited.

While that was all very encouraging,

one company reached out to his current employer ...

... just a tad early (like 4 months!)

His current employer is known to cut people loose as soon as notice is given.

And we prayed ...

and yesterday, hubby was assured that he had a job as long as he needed it.

God took a burden off that we took on unnecessarily.

Two of the job locations got us looking at housing in a slightly different area

which was putting rents and/or purchase prices more in line with what we were comfortable with.

That was another help in continuing on the path that God had put us on.

And what path is that ...

why a church, of course.

A church that would put us within a reasonable drive of family.

We have tried to focus our decision this time on a church home.

There are so many churches in this country,

so we went on recommendations and what we could listen to online.

We trust we have found it and are praying that we are a fit for each other.

And it is about 4 hours from the nearest family - not too bad, I would say!

Stressors

 You can tell that this week did not yield much writing.

I think it is the stress of an upcoming move.

There are so many intricate parts,

there are so many questions,

there are so many uncertainties.

There is a peace in the midst of the storm.

We know that God will provide.

We know that God already knows the path He has for us,

but sometimes, my mind and emotions run ahead of what I know to be true.

I spent a lot of time walking this week.

Walking is one of the ways I think

and also a form of stress relief.

$10,000!

Remember that number.

There was a question of if I even owned that much stuff.

Maybe it would be better to just leave everything in Oregon!

But, we had to think of the mechanic's tools that make up hubby's livelihood.

And there are some things that are irreplaceable - like handmade furniture.

We did need a truck, but could we shrink that truck?

This week, we decided that we would cut the Penske bill nearly in half by opting for the 16' truck.

We know it is the right decision,

but there is stress in that too.

It is hard to leave stuff behind,

to sell belongings that you enjoy,

to take a loss in the sale.

We moved from WA to NC nearly 20 years ago in a 16' truck.

Can we do it again?

We decided that it would be wise to sell off all the large furniture - 

couch, recliner, two beds, dining furniture, tray tables, washer, dryer, fridge.

I added up their new value and it was $4000 - less than the amount that we will save on the smaller truck.

And I hope that we can at least get 1/2 of their value out of them in the sale.

Then I can start fresh in a new location.

Not only do we save money on the rental,

but the smaller truck is more comfortable to ride in (bucket seats rather than a bench)

The smaller truck is easier to get in and out of places along the way allowing for more convenient stopping.

The smaller truck will actually fit in the driveway of our small culdesac while packing.

The purging may help if we need to rent something small until we can find more permanent lodging.

So, if you are praying for moving prices to go down,

keep it up, please!

And could you also pray that when we are ready to sell things off,

that God would bring the right buyers with the right price.

The Gentle Rebuke

 This morning, I mentioned that yesterday had been a tough day.

We were flying high - very high - over the weekend.

We had planned a survey trip for hubby to our possible new location.

All systems go!

The church seems good (dare I say great), 

4 possible job locations within an hour of the church,

and the thoughts of finally purchasing a home.

This might even be our final move.

And then ...

I started researching moving truck prices!

Yes, that was the stinger - the derailer.

$10,000 to rent a truck between OR and TN?

Yet only $3,000 to take one from TN to OR?

Do you see the difficulty?

I actually went to a few sites thinking that the first one had a glitch in the online calculator.

It seems that we are not the only ones wanting to leave the liberal west coast.😀

The flesh immediately wanted to get mad,

to cry,

to ask why.

I am going through the Minor Prophets with my Sunday School Class.

I felt like the prophets.

Why was I being punished for moving to OR to do right?

I moved 3 years ago on Biblical principle

and truly believe that we are moving again in God's plan.

So why the hurdles?

(Should have just thought on Amos in which God promises not to forget works of any type - good or bad)

And then God, as He does, brought the gentle rebuke ... in the funniest ways.

We had bought 2 books that came recommended to us.

Neither one turned out to be what we expected, 

but we opened the book that we were reading together last night ...

This is the chapter title that greeted us ...

Trust God to Deliver in His Own Unique Way

And as we finished that chapter, the next chapter title screamed ...

View Your Current Crisis as a Faith Builder for the Future

And then, in the devotional book that I was reading,

I awoke this morning to this Proverb ...

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10

Yes, God, I get it.

Another reminder that Sandra is not in control.

Another reminder that I don't have to understand.

Another reminder to just rest.

Another reminder that His ways are not our ways.

And as I stand back,

I can see that maybe God wants me to hire a moving company for less than it would cost me to DIY

and thus give me a more comfortable drive across the country.

I can see that maybe God will keep asking me to trust and drop prices in the final hour.

I can see that He doesn't need my money or my wisdom.

I can see that I still have a long way to go in the area of trust and faith.

And one more gentle rebuke ...

Sandra, you are helping to plan a Praise Service for TONIGHT!

You are presenting Psalm 103 in song.

Bless the LORD, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He has always been faithful and will continue to be!

I don't know what may try to steal your joy today,

but listen to your gentle rebukes.

And if you can't hear yours ...

at least listen to the ones that God sent me.

Timing is Everything

 This post has been in my mind since Thanksgiving,
but I can finally sit, breathe, and actually write it ...
and give it a Christmas twist.

Timing is everything,
especially if it is God's timing.

But when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman,
made under the law,
Galatians 4:4

The birth of Jesus seems anything but perfect.
Poverty, stables, shepherds, death plots.
But God knew what He was doing.
He sent His Son at the perfect time.

A year and a half ago,

we uprooted and crossed the country 
knowing that it was what God would have us to do.
But just because we knew it was God's plan did not mean that it was without struggle.

It came with human struggle.
We missed friends in NC.
We were far from our family in the east.
We were "useful" for 6 months of the year
and seemed to wander for the other 6 months.
We were in a liberal state during riots and protests.

The struggle was human.
Because God had told us to go
we should have let His peace reign.
He provided a home,
in a pleasant neighborhood close to town,
with a job not 10 minutes from home,
with "flexible" hours,
and He had made it all happen.

But He, in His grace, chose to show us His perfect timing this fall.
He moved us at the perfect time.
In October, we found out that this was the time we were needed.
Our family in Oregon was now in need of care,
not just a little care, but possibly end of life care.
Cancer and heart disease had struck and hit hard.

God moved us before Covid.
He got us settled before we were thrust into a new world of medical appointments.
There were no months of warning,
there was no time to prepare for a move,
there was no time to quarantine when we were immediately needed.
God knew that.
God set it up.
He could see what we could not.

And now you know where I have been,
and you will excuse any long absence.
For a little while at least, the medical appointments have slowed down.
We are enjoying a simplified Christmas season - 
one that had to cut a lot of the pleasant, but "fluff," elements of the celebration
in favor of our most focused Christmas ever (I think.)
I have enjoyed writing 3 verses of the Christmas story or Christmas prophecy each morning and really dwelling on small pieces instead of the whole story.
I have been more thankful for God (and His timing)
and am, at least for now, remembering to trust His way as best.

Meet and Greet

This week, I am working on treats to give to our new neighbors in order to introduce ourselves.

We had 3 ideas.

One is popcorn with a tag that says

"Just poppin' in to say ... 'You have new neighbors!'"

Another was "Soda"lighted to have you for neighbors
obviously attached to some sort of soda.

The other is a small bag of candy, a tract, and an offer to help in any way that we can with a tag that says,

Hello!

We are your new neighbors!

Our address

Our names

Our phone

Our email

The Pacific North West is not known for its friendliness

(kind of the polar opposite of our southern experience),

but we sure do want to meet our neighbors

and have an opportunity to share our faith with them.

So about 1/2 of the 24 are complete.

The Rest of the Downstairs

You have seen the living room, dining room, and kitchen ...

but what about the rest of the downstairs.

Here is the half bath ...

freshly repainted.

Not quite the art I really want (because of size),
but I am trying to use what we have.

And here is the garage,

another first in our home rental and ownership.

the front has laundry,

one side has storage,

[You may notice 2 bicycles-

gifts from hubby's sister and brother-in-law as we passed through.

You may also notice the new mower - 

a battery powered toy which I am greatly enjoying.]

and the other side has the workout space

(this is the big perk).

And then the "compound"-

the reason I needed a mower.

It takes about 15 minutes to mow😃

While the "compound" wall is ugly,

it is privacy from a very major street.

When the Tables are Turned

What Fun!

We received Happy Mail today.

I have organized many packages to folks far from home,

but this time, we were on the receiving end.

Happy Mail / Housewarming fun from our church in NC.

Thank you to ALL involved ... and the proper written thanks will be on the way.

There were gluten-free treats,

cleaning products,

notes of love and encouragement,

gift cards,

a WOODWICK CANDLE (in my favorite apple scent),

and wall art (which is much appreciated since we have a lot of walls in the new place).

The encouragement is much appreciated!