September 28, 2010

  • No house news yet. Waiting.

    I realized yesterday that we've only been here 7 weeks. It does feel longer. Moreover, I suppose our previous life feels so distant. But 7 weeks is a pretty short time in light of such a huge transition. Perspective helps one to find needed grace.

    Moreover, I have even an even better source to which to turn.

    "O God of grace...
    The worth of Jesus perfumes my feeble breathings....
    May I walk lovingly with my great Redeemer."
    ~ The Valley of Vision

    Sometimes my heart does feel rather feeble and fragile amidst this adventure we have embraced. I'm so grateful that there is Provision apart from me.

    "We are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us.....[But] He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be." Rom 3:24

    He will help us to live and do what He's asked us to live and do. Yes, so grateful.

    ************
    You guessed it, I'm still on Day 4: Greeley, CO, through Wyoming, to Stockton, UT,
    520 miles, 9 & 1/4 hours.

    I love how large the Utah skies are.



    How did folks ever survive before wide-spread irrigation methods?




    Varied and fascinating rock formations.








    There's so much wind to harness out west.


September 24, 2010

  • I'm still stuck on  Day 4: Greeley, CO, through Wyoming, to Stockton, UT,
    520 miles, 9 & 1/4 hours. I took a lot of photos that day....

    Stormy skies...



    Mountain peaks and snow fences. I bet the winters out there are fearsome.



    Cool rock formations.



    I never tired of watching the sky.



    **********


    We're in a waiting zone. Once again. Freddie Mac is trying to decide if we qualify to buy the house, or any house for that matter...not if we agree on a particular price or anything specific like that - just if we are "purchase-worthy". We know we are. We'll see what they decide, however. It seems like a "no-brainer", but in this journey we are on, we've learned that nothing is guaranteed. So, we're still praying.

    I must confess I've had to battle some discouragement of late. We're reading Homer's The Odyssey for school, and there is mention in there of one guy, whose judgment was to roll a heavy stone up a hill, only to have it roll back on him, perpetually. Some days just seem like that - both in regards to the house, and to parenting, and to homeschooling, and to other things that try to weigh the heart down....you get the idea. It's at these times when I find I have to hunker down and hold on tightly.

    "It is possible for us to mount into a state in which a doubt or a fear shall be but as a bird of passage flitting across the soul, but never lingering there." ~ C. Spurgeon

    "Anything is possible if a person believes." Mk 9:23

    "...nothing can ever separate us from His love." Rom 8:38


    Holding on to what is true, no matter how I feel at the moment.  May I become immovable, like the mountains.


    (Sorry for the screwy format! Can't figure out what happened... and it won't undo!)


September 21, 2010

  • Nothing new to report, but we are trying to choose patience!

    **********
    "Without your heart you cannot hope to find God, for the heart is His dwelling place. If you ignore your heart, it's like looking for Him everywhere but at home....He brings His comfort and mercy to those times and places where we suffered the shattering blow...
    the work of Christ in healing the soul is a deep mystery." ~ J. Eldredge

    "Just say the word, and [Thy] servant will be healed." Lk 7:7

    I'm so grateful He knows what our hearts need and He gladly speaks into them.

    **********
    More of:

    Oregon Trail: Day 4: Greeley, CO through Wyoming to Stockton, UT: 

    520 miles, 9 & 1/4 hours

    The open road!





    At a rest stop in Wyoming:



    All of our possessions under the western skies.



    I love the clouds, I love the colors of the west.


September 20, 2010

  • Well, we shall see what unfolds this week. Minimally, Freddie Mac should contact us as our landlord and set up that arrangement. Hopefully, we'll inch forward toward a sale!

    "Sinking times are praying times....In our hours of...pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves...Short prayers are long enough...Not length but strength is desirable...
    Our extremities are the Lord's opportunities...
    When we can do nothing, Jesus can do all things..." ~ C. Spurgeon

    Well we are, thankfully, not sinking, nor are we in anguish, nor are we a wreck - at least not yet! But, we are driven to pray. I'm so grateful that it makes a huge difference in how things turn out, when we pour out our hearts to Him.

    "As he began to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' " Matt 14:30

    We don't have to wait until we are on the quicksand or in the tumultuous waves.
    He's always ready to listen and extend grace.

    ************

    Oregon Trail: Day 4: Greeley, CO through Wyoming to Stockton, UT: 

    520 miles, 9 & 1/4 hours

    Loving the early morning mountains:

    Northern Colorado:

    Snow fences + horses. So, so lovely.



    Ranch land.



    What amazing country. I'm so grateful we were able to take this trip.

September 18, 2010

  • I've been wanting to update here for a while...I've become such a poor Xangan friend. I'm sorry. Sigh.

    On Wednesday, the house foreclosed. It was a very strange happening. We found out about the proceedings an hour before the event. We rushed over to the county courthouse, where the owner also appeared, but only because he heard about it after we told our realtor what was up. Crazy. It all happened on the courthouse steps. Literally. Very unprofessional. A young kid, in shorts and a t-shirt came with a fistful of papers, which he then proceeded to read to the air. No one was there to witness any of these transactions, but the three of us. It was surreal. In regards to our house, after he read the letter overflowing with legalese he asked us if any of us were prepared to offer cash for the property, at an inflated, required  minimum, btw. We said no, and he said, "Going once, going twice, gone." And that was it - the poor man who had once owned the house lost it all right there on the spot. It was totally weird and bizarre. One of the strangest things we've ever witnessed.

    So, the house reverted to the bank, who in turn handed it over to Freddie Mac, the federal agency that insures mortgages. They are now our new landlords. Yesterday we had our first contact with them via a local realtor assigned to the case. She came out to see if the property is occupied. (You had better believe it!) The good news is that I really liked her. She seems reasonable, compassionate and is very aware of the economic climate in the area. The next step is that a paralegal will call us to set up a new lease agreement. The realtor is going to do all she can to help us nail the deal and actually buy this house, but she's only one voice in a potentially lengthy process. Freddie Mac will have the final say on both asking price and the sale. So....this all may lead, at last, to a closed deal - please, Lord! - or it may lead to a hassle culminating in our need to move. We're really not holding out to "steal" the property, but we feel it is important that we not pay more than its true current market value. We need God to soften the heart of someone at Freddy Mac, and receive our offer with favor.

    We so, so appreciate all your encouragement and prayers. I'd say, on the whole, that we are doing well with all this, though we fall into discouragement from time to time. No panic yet, thankfully! We are trusting Jesus that He knows just what we need and will move on our behalf whether it be here or elsewhere. We're leaning on His love, that's for sure.

    I am very eager to fully unpack, though. Lord, give me Your patience!


    *********

    "Gracious God,
     My heart prizes Thee for the wonder of the love in Jesus...
     In Him Thy grace has almost outgraced itself...
     Bring me...to rest in Him and Him only...
     I am not ashamed of my hope...
     I trusted in Thee in an hour of distress,
          and Thou didst not fail me, though faith trembled."
                                                                     ~ The Valley of Vision


    "His grace is out of all proportion." Rom 5:15
    "Our Lord Jesus...and God our Father...loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through His grace." 2 Thess 2:16
    "Grace....flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me." 1 Tim 1:14

    Trusting in His grace. That's where we stand, though sometimes trembling.

    *********
    Still on Day 3, from Council Bluffs, IA,  through Nebraska, and landing in Greeley, CO:
    504 miles, 9 & 1/2 hours:

    It always amazes me how much of the country is rural.





    Don't you wonder what they contain?




    Serious cattle collection here, part of a meat packaging operation. It reminded me of
    The Jungle, only in northern CO, not Chicago.




    I wonder what stories this ol' place could tell?




    I love the clouds, I love the mountains.

     


September 10, 2010

  • We began school this week....in 5 more years I won't be able to say that anymore! But for now, I've been trying to be diligent and have plunged into yet another year with relative discipline and enthusiasm. The girls have great attitudes, so that is making it easy. Heidie is taking 2 classes at the public high school, which I think is pretty amazing considering she's never been to school before. She's taking Advanced Theatre and Accelerated Biology, both of which meet every day. That certainly gives us a new schedule this year. Jenny decided to forgo the middle school experience, and instead signed up for Drama and Theatre Dance at a local performing arts center. Her classes won't start for another 2 weeks.

    We're still eagerly waiting to see what's going to happen with our house. Right now it's scheduled to foreclose in 6 days. We're hoping for a last minute save. It'll either be that or a crazy scramble over the next month. I guess we're doing well with it,
    just waiting and hoping. Oh, and praying. But, we aren't fretting too badly.

    "Let us not live uncertain of what we are, and of where we are going."
    ~ The Valley of Vision

    Well, we know Whose we are....

    "I know perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with Him Whom I have believed, adhered to and trusted in and relied on, and I am positively persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed to Him until that day." 2 Tim 1:12

    And we know where we are going, generally-speaking....

    "He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me." Ps 18:19

    We don't know the specifics, or how God is going to provide, but He will, for we are His.
    And, it'll be good, no matter what.

    ****************
    Here's a bit of Day 3 of our Western Trek. We departed from Council Bluffs, IA,
    rolled through Nebraska, and landed in Greeley, CO: 504 miles, 9 & 1/2 hours.

    An early morning start, looking half asleep, I'd say:



    A little ol' church in Nebraska:


     
    I got this info from a friend back in PA: " This was a church building that was moved onto this site by the family who owned that corner of the exit.
    No one ever met there."
    Interesting!

    Windmills + cattle = Nebraska.



    They really know how to bale hay there:



    A small portion of a quaint ranch:



    And, the ever-present need for H2O:



     I am so grateful for all the country we were able to see on this trip. 
    More to follow!
    Promise!

September 5, 2010

  • Okay, so I've done an abysmal job of keeping up on here. I won't even waste your time or my breath explaining. It's just life. But, I would appreciate extra prayers on our behalf. Our house deal has a major glitch and may unravel completely this week. It appears that there's not much we can do about it. (i.e., We are not the problem.) Currently, the bank is scheduled to foreclose on the 15th, unless it can be resolved before then. So, either the Lord will move in a wondrous way and enable us to stay, or He'll move in a wondrous way providing something else. Needless to say, we are a bit daunted by the prospect of another move, but we are not going down the road of that possibility too far yet - no need to borrow tomorrow's worries. Hmm. Seems like I've run across that idea before....

    Meanwhile, we've continued to settle in, meet people, prep for school and find our way around. Yesterday we joined a group who went in to Salem and fed homeless folks who were camped out under a bridge. That was terrific. And a privilege. No one should go hungry.

    *********


    "Patience is the fair handmaiden and daughter of faith; we cheerfully wait when we are certain that we shall not wait in vain...Our faith will be tried faith...We shall not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously He once waited for us."

    ~ C. Spurgeon


    "For You and You only and altogether do I wait expectantly, all the day long." Ps 25:5

    It's not something for a season, but they are operating instructions for a life time. We are waiting on God. We are choosing patience. We are trying to stay in a place of faith.

    *********

    Here's Day 2 of our trip west - well, a peek at it. 
    Marion, Indiana to Council Bluffs, Iowa. A long day, across a beautiful, rolling state.

    Where farming reigns:



    More specifically, corn:



    And, energy is garnered by the wind:



    And the sky is large and beautiful.



    To see more, click here:
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=265672&id=696864571&l=e30a669a08

    I'll try to post again, soon....but I know that I'm not going to be able to keep up with you - especially now that we have to start school....and maybe commence packing once more.
    But,     again, I'd love it if you sent me a message telling me your news.

August 29, 2010

  • Well, I certainly haven't done too well at easing back into Xanga, now, have I? We're still pretty busy settling in, finding our way around, restocking our shelves, (I gave away almost all our food), trying to figure out how to do school here, and trying to begin new relationships. Oh, and of course, following the ups and downs of our house deal, which continues to need prayer! Yes, we are immersed in all those things
    you might expect after such a large change. It's all so different, but it's good.
    New adventure in your 50's - yes, it helps keep you young!

    I thought I'd start to share a little of the tale of our trip west.
    In many ways, there's not much to tell - for it was delightfully uneventful.
     No break-downs, no mishaps -
    just what you'd want.
    Lots of oggling at the beautiful scenery, though.

    So, we packed up our world on July 31st and on August 1st we pulled out of town in two 26 foot trucks. We traversed Pennsylvania and made our first state crossing:

    We were only in West Virginia for a short time, so before too long
    it was time for the next border crossing:

    Neither WV nor OH looked all that different than PA....and to be honest,
    I think I slept through much of it! After all that work, I was tired!

    We saw plenty of farm land....

    And before we fell into bed that night, we crossed the border into Indiana,
    where we stayed at the home of some college friends.
     (Ironically, they were up in NY at a family reunion.) 

    An Indiana sunset:

    We pulled in that night, near midnight - and couldn't be happier to see our pillows.

    If you want to see more of that day, check out:
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=265403&id=696864571&l=3d3ee7b38b

    I think I took the fewest amount of pictures that first day....
    and increased my number every day!

    ************


    "Divine omniscience.....to the child of God overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside His mind from us, has us always before His eyes....His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits...In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us - we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows He observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes Him; in our toils He marks all our weariness, and writes in His book all the struggles of His faithful ones....All the "littles" of our little world are thought upon by the Great God...If the Lord thinketh upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore." ~ C. Spurgeon

    "In Your book all the days of my life were written before ever they took shape." ~ Ps 139

    When things are uncertain and changing, isn't it wonderful, to know that none of it is beyond God's purview or care?

August 26, 2010

  • I'm going to try to ease into my beloved Xanga world, once again....we'll see if desire matches reality! I do miss following all of your doings and hearing what is on your hearts.

    We are slowly settling in here. Just this week, my oldest daughter, Katie, left en route to her final destination of Houtson, TX, via a short vacation in California. Last week, we dropped off our youngest son, Jesse, up in Portland, at art school. So, now it's just the 4 of us - what we will be on most days in the future.

    I sense, very much so, that we are still in the transition stage. Sometimes it's tempting to think this is just an elongated vacation - but the reality is that it's now a home that doesn't feel like home yet. I've been thinking about the concept of "home" and what elements create it. Little touches help - things like custom curtains, artwork, decorations here and there, favorite books on shelves, antiques handed down from generation to generation. Those are all the items that we still have packed up. We are waiting until it is more sure that the house we are in will really be ours, before we unpack those boxes.
    So, though we do like the house, it's not homey yet.

    But, let's face it, what really makes home "home" is the people. That's what we most miss at this point. It was an inevitable missing, but knowing that doesn't diminish the reality at all. Here's an example of what truly places you "at home":

    We've known and loved these folks since we first moved to PA.
    We had our babies together.

    These two are truly His servants and we've shared years of serving one another,
    and others, as well as sharing our hearts.

    These two have been such a gift to us - so supportive and encouraging.
    We truly are kindred spirits.

    And what can I say, these two are family, who just happen to have different surnames. 

    (And I'm not even considering our far-away children or extended family now!
    We know how key they are to "at home-ness.")

    For now we are all learning to love and support one another across a distance, which we will continue to do while anticipating a time that God will give us together, in person, someday in the future. I could have easily posted many more photos of other precious people, as well, who created our sense of belonging.

    But, for now, we know we are where God wants us to be and we are waiting on Him to forge the new relationships that He has for us. I imagine that until that happens it won't quite feel like "home" here. Securing the house and unpacking the boxes will help, but it'll be people who will ultimately help us make this transition. Right now the relational slate is pretty clear.  We had 20+ years of "homemaking" in PA -
     I'm sure the Lord will do a marvelous, though different, work here too.
    I know it's going to take time, and work.

    In the meantime, my heart is in two places, and it'll just have to stay that way -
    maybe forever.

    >> What creates "home" for you? <<

August 22, 2010

  • I must say, I miss all of you. I think of you often. I'd love it if you left me a comment summarizing your news. I haven't forgotten you.

    We are still settling in. It's going to take time.
    That's the number one lesson so far.
    It's going to take time.

    This was taken after we packed up our trucks, before we began the trip out west.

    I hope to be back before too long. Much love to you, my friends!