Life

Each step of life is a journey that you choose to walk.

Each moment of life is another line, sentence, paragraph and chapter of the book called your life.

Enjoy all that life has to offer, good friends, good food, good coffee and as always wisdom and a good laugh.

~Jen





31 July 2012

19 July 2012

What's around the corner...



in this fantastic journey of our summer is still yet to be determined. Tomorrow we sign a contract for a 1 year lease, and then we begin the process of moving from one house to another.

I know that it's just a house, but still...I'm moving again. About two years ago I had settled with the fact that I would be living in our now previous home at least until the kids graduate high school. Now we are looking at a whole new world of possibilities.


I am so thankful for so many of my friends who have been encouraging. I did not realize how people I know have gone through a similar situation such as the one that my family and I are going through.


 
The closer I get to moving day the more anxious I am becoming. It's like someone hit my "Hurry Up" button. I don't want miss anything that God is doing in my life and in my family's life, but I am ready for this chapter to be done.  I just have to keep telling myself to live in THIS moment and not do the mental "What If" that tends to tax my brain.




The only thing that really has me sad is that fact that I am going to be missing my best friends wedding. I still have half a mind to just drive up early Saturday morning and surprise her, but the reality is...yeah...not gonna happen. The only comfort I have is knowing that as soon as I am moved in...I'm heading up to see her, even if it's only for 2 days. Still breaks my heart.
Tina & Me 1990

Well that's the quick update. I'm sure to have more next week.

~Peace & Blessings~
Jen

13 July 2012

The Road has...



lead us to a new direction in our lives. I had to go back and read my posts from a couple of weeks ago. I could not remember where I left off, and I needed to make sure that I didn't repeat myself. First let me say that I apologize for not posting last week. I did keep a running status via Facebook, but I also know that is not the same thing.

So where I left off...

We stayed at the hotel until July 9th, and then we had to say good-bye to our new friends at the Comfort Suites. I will tell you, that I enjoyed our stay there. Everyone was so gracious.
I am just so overwhelmed with gratefulness by people that I know and didn't know well who helped us out every night. Our family enjoyed many home cooked meals while we were at the hotel. I don't know if I'll ever be able to express how I feel. Loved. That is a good word to start with. Loved. We've decided that as soon as we get moved into the new home, that we are invited each person that took the time to bring us dinner to our home for a meal. We love to do this anyway, but I have a little more in mind than just a meal.

On July 4th, we took the kids to a friends for a cook out and then we went and watched the fireworks. Where we were at, we were able to see 4 different firework displays! It was really a nice break from all that was going on.







  So on the  9th we went to talk with our lawyer and try to figure out what was the best direction to go. After much counsel from friends who have been where we are, realtors, and now our lawyer, we surrendered the house. I want to say that it broke my heart, but a house is a house. My home is where my family is. I am sad that I have to walk away from the house that we've called home for almost 7 years, but we know that we cannot fix such a huge problem. I find it quite absurd to fork out $40,000 for a fix that should not exist on  a home that is less than 10 years old.

After the decision was made, I felt at peace. The hardest thing for me is having so many options and not sure which way to go (Maybe that is why I don't care to shop). Now that I have a direction, I can now focus on the task at hand and take the next step. So the next, Mike and I went house hunting. I have to say that even that was a "which way do we go" type of feeling. We knew what we were looking for, but we weren't sure if it was out there. I'm so glad that God is in control....



We found the right house to rent!! I'm so super excited! Can you tell!!!!!! Yes it was everything that I was praying about. There are many prayers and praises over this whole entire situation that I don't think that I can express them all. Anyways, the house...it's one tenth of a mile from our old house, so same neighborhood! I don't have to change school zones!!! The kids already know the other kids!!! The rent is less than what our mortgage was!!!! That is instant savings (Woo0H00 & can I get an Amen!!), and we are able to keep our personal belongings, so  I don't have to worry about buying a bunch of new things (I'm so glad about that!). And it's rent buy owner, because the owner just remarried and is not ready to sell just yet. We will be signing a one year lease, and she said that we could fence the backyard! BONUS, because we have fence already to use!!! I'm so super excited!

So, we have flooring to replace what we need to in the old house. We are slowly packing up the rooms. That is fun, because we are able to clean and find things we forgot about. All in all, we (well I) am just once again Totally Amazed at God's mercy, love and provision!




~Peace & Blessings~
Jen

01 July 2012

Progress report

Very quickly on the past 10 days (I promise a better blog later in the week)



I am now 40! Yeah, that's right the BIG 4-0! I am so thankful to have made it this far! God is good.

I celebrated my 40th with a "psudo" surprise party. It was so wonderful to just have a "normal" day with all of the uncertainty that is currently our normal life.




As of today, we are still in a hotel. When Tropical Storm Debbie decided to hit us, she decided to flood (only a little, but enough) my den. Our carpet was soaked 2 feet in. So, now we not only have a homeowners claim in, but also a flood claim in.



We only have 1 bid in for the septic. It does not ease my mind when I saw the dollar amount. All I do know is that God has a MUCH bigger plan than what I can see.

So one day at a time it is. We have been so blessed by friends and family who have brought us dinner or have had us over for dinner. It has been overwhelming the neighborly love that we have been shown.



Most of all, we have become "family" to the staff of Comfort Suites. Everyone here has been just so friendly and kind and have really just gone over and above what they needed just to make us feel comfortable.

I'm sorry that this is not more detailed, but really, who needs details, when you have God on your side and you know that He has it all planned out already. He has the details, so I don't really need them. I will keep you up to date though.



~Peace & Blessings~
Jen