Monday, Jan. 28 ~ Some Good News!

I hesitate to say too much here because I am sort of in a negative funk about this whole moving thing. I am OK with moving, don't get me wrong. I am sure that God is leading us out of California and into the Republic of Texas. It's just been such a long time since this whole thing started that it's wearing on me. I can only take chaos and uncertainty for so long before I start to unravel. By Feb. 7 it will have been five months from the time we knew we had to move. Way too long to live in boxes. Remember, we knew we had to move but we didn't know where or exactly when it would be.

I was seven months pregnant at the time we got the notice. At my age and "station" in life, that is too far long to do a move thing. But we started looking and found nothing. Zip. Zero. Nothing. The only house that was available to us was the one in Texas. I am NOW as sure as anything that we are supposed to be there. Back then, we didn't know anything. We just asked the Lord, simply, to "open doors He wanted us to walk through and close ones He didn't." He opened and closed doors.

I sort of wish I had started the blog back then, just to chronicle the ups and downs of this "journey."

We had our baby, Jordan Michael, and that has been the best part of this whole deal. What a complete and total blessing to have a baby at 43. I can't wait to have another one. Jordan needs a little sibling. Brother or sister, doesn't matter. We always come up with a new boy name right after the "new baby" is born and this is no different. Of course, we have been waiting for "Bethany" for many years now, and she may never come, but that is OK. God's will and all.

Little Baby Jordan doesn't lack for love, attention, or snuggles; that isn't why he needs a little sibling. Everyone else has one; why shouldn't he? Maybe by the time we stop having babies, grandchildren will start coming and no one will be without a little one to play with and love.

Some good things have happened, too. Paul and Mark finally got to perform in their band, Treaty, with their bandmates, Eric and Shane. They had several concerts, which blessed them and their parents, too. Some grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends also enjoyed the concerts. The last Homeschool Magic Mountain Day, Homeschool Skate Day, movies and meals out with friends, and other things, have been "good things" that have happened these past months.

Some "bad" things:

We have had our washer die, got a replacement, which leaked, then we got ours repaired, then it started being bad again! It is finally resolved, I think (Please, Lord!). Our fridge did a weird thing, which turned out to be nothing, but we were perplexed nonetheless. Our Suburban did a weird thing (a $400 weird thing... shop around and don't believe Pep Boys' $1000 estimate). The phones have done weird things. Fax machine did weird things, too. Just enough to keep us frustrated. We have had some parenting "glitches," too. Worst of all, we have had no money! Well, not much. Not enough, anyway. Not enough to move. That is mostly why we have taken so long to get out of here. No roofing business (or, so little as to qualify as none, due to the drought) for two years is the big reason we are moving out of state in the first place!

But, there has been rain lately! And, the rain has brought jobs! In the past two weeks, we have needed $7000 to move. As of yesterday, Sunday, we had $5000. That left $2000 to come up with THIS week because the U-Pack trailer will be here tomorrow and we are "supposed" to start driving out of town Monday, Feb. 4.

Michael has been very optimistic lately, which is good, because I have not. Not lacking faith, just not liking the circumstances of life and losing my ability to smile much about the whole thing. Just sort of enduring. I'm sure you can relate.

Well, things are really looking better. I have to admit it. Remember I said that we needed $2000 this week? Well, TODAY, Michael got two jobs. This may be all we need (I don't know the totals but it's at least 1/2 of what we need). All that to say, it looks like we are moving. In a week. To Texas. Which is 1500 miles away. God is with us. It has to be so.

But, guess what else? We have a small homechurch (30 people total, but 24 are children -- YES!!!) who want to come and help us move in. That is totally God loving and providing for us, no question about that. Also, my friend, a very purple lady, has a hubby who is a construction-type and HE knows a roofer-type in the town where we are moving. God God God, again.

Another lady has invited my daughter to her daughter's 16th. birthday party and retreat so my daughter can make nice godly Christian girlfriends. This nice lady has NO IDEA how this is a total God thing. I will be sure to tell her, though. :-)

Michael said I should go "blog" about it. Blog as a noun and as a verb.

So there you go.

Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.