Doug and I decided on our drive that if the children woke up on time, we would go ahead & visit our new church. No time like the present, eh? Well, despite their exhaustion, the first 2 were up a little before 7, so we all dressed, ate breakfast, and went to visit our new church. When we arrived, people were so friendly, and some had even heard we were coming!! A nice lady took us to find baby H's class and we saw our one friend, A, when we were seated. During the service, my favorite hymn, "From the Depths of Woe" was sung!! What a sweet comfort.
Then, I read:
From Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 28
Q: How does the knowledge of God's creation and providence help us?
A: We can be patient when things go against us,
thankful when things go well,
and for the future we can have
good confidence in our faithful God and Father
that nothing will separate us from His love.
All creatures are so completely in his hand
that without his will
they can neither move nor be moved.
I Corinthians 1:18-31
After church, everyone was very friendly. DH and I enjoyed meeting so many sweet people!! We felt very welcomed and loved and even excited! We went to lunch and then took the children back to our new home. Our painter did a fabulous job and was there finishing his work. He said his wife babysits!!! The children jubilantly jumped into the pool and made a big splash! It was precious to hear them so excited to have a pool. DH & I, however, did not get in!! It was warm outside, but the water was COLD. We are all excited to move in our new home and make it ours. I am excited to visit IKEA in Orlando for some exciting and creative storage ideas!
At church, the little girls wore smocked dresses and had double names, just a little comfort that made us feel like home!
We need school lunches and snacks for tomorrow, especially since our school does not have a cafeteria. While in Publix, I ran into a cute girl who was a nurse at Camp Greystone while I taught Cooking at Jr. Camp! It was wild to actually run into someone I know in Tampa!! We are constantly amazed at how the Lord has ordained this move... His little reminders are everywhere! M said her babysitter lives on our street, which is especially incredible since we only have about 8 houses on our street!!! We will try not to steal her sitter, but it's nice to know a sitter lives near us!
Our new church felt like home. Our house is beautiful, and our children are adjusting. That's not to say we haven't had some challenges... when we sat down, Doug and I both wondered who around us needed to use the bathroom. We then discovered that either we stepped in dog poo poo or someone around us had. We were reminded that we are all dirty and sinful, yet saved by grace. It was funny to be stinky visitors!! After the service, our son, A, vomited in the church parking lot and then fell asleep in the car while waiting for us. We were excited to make new friends, and lingered while he rested. The same thing happened again in the car, but thanks to my smart Mama, we had a garbage bag handy!
The Lord has truly blessed us with an amazing place to stay this week. We have flat screen tvs in every bedroom, a brand new front loader washer/dryer, a dishwasher, a living room, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a beautiful kitchen, etc. I have already made lunches for tomorrow and will have everyone in bed by 7 since their day starts an hour earlier than it did in Raleigh!
Mimi has arrived to help with H & K, and my parents arrive tomorrow afternoon! Tomorrow will be exhausting as boxes and furniture are unloaded once the movers arrive at 8am, but it is so exciting to see our home begin to take shape as OURS!
Showing posts with label a move. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a move. Show all posts
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sunday, November 9, 2008
God's Providence
I believe in God's providence... that all things in life happen for a reason and were predestined before I was ever even formed in my mother's womb! I believe that as the Lord knit me together, counted the hairs on my head, and planned my life, that He knew that in late 2008 or early 2009 I would move to South Tampa, Florida. I can tell you that in my 37 years, I never planned this move! :) However, it is neat to take a step back and see God's goodness and mercy and grace in all of the details.
-DH (Dear Hubby) received a PROMOTION when most companies are not hiring and may even be cutting back
-We met a Christian realtor and his family a year ago, and they have taken in DH and fed him numerous time while I am at home
-The realtor is a true believer, one who practices what he preaches. He & his family have an amazing testimony.
-We are moving to an area where home values have drastically dropped. It is a great buyer's market!
-My friend, MH, who is more like a sister than a friend, was able to take off more than FOUR DAYS of being a labor & delivery nurse to stay with our children. She even showed the house several times while we were gone!!
-Our corporate appraisals for the relocation were very good, despite falling house prices
-We've had more showings and activity than other houses on the market
-We had a busy Open House today
-Our children are peacefully sleeping at 8:10pm!
-Our choices are very different in Florida, but I have adjusted to them (most of the time... I still throw some fits or cry every now & then or every then & then!)
-Playdates have happened and meals have appeared on the days we most need them
-We've had such encouraging phone calls & emails that I have saved most of them so I can listen to them again!
-I enjoyed meeting DH's boss and his wife
-We are moving to a place that is friendly and beautiful
-One of my college sorority sisters & her husband and 4 children are moving to S Tampa AT THE SAME TIME and they have bought a house right near where we hope to buy!!!! We were even roommates one summer! This is nothing short of God's providence!
-A general feeling of peace, even in the midst of emotional turmoil over having to leave
-A special day as a family today!!! We are reminded of what is most important
-A welcoming PCA church family in S Tampa!
-Our friend and former babysitter grew up in S Tampa & has told us all of the good places to go! B, DH is going to buy a casserole at Wright's!
-DH (Dear Hubby) received a PROMOTION when most companies are not hiring and may even be cutting back
-We met a Christian realtor and his family a year ago, and they have taken in DH and fed him numerous time while I am at home
-The realtor is a true believer, one who practices what he preaches. He & his family have an amazing testimony.
-We are moving to an area where home values have drastically dropped. It is a great buyer's market!
-My friend, MH, who is more like a sister than a friend, was able to take off more than FOUR DAYS of being a labor & delivery nurse to stay with our children. She even showed the house several times while we were gone!!
-Our corporate appraisals for the relocation were very good, despite falling house prices
-We've had more showings and activity than other houses on the market
-We had a busy Open House today
-Our children are peacefully sleeping at 8:10pm!
-Our choices are very different in Florida, but I have adjusted to them (most of the time... I still throw some fits or cry every now & then or every then & then!)
-Playdates have happened and meals have appeared on the days we most need them
-We've had such encouraging phone calls & emails that I have saved most of them so I can listen to them again!
-I enjoyed meeting DH's boss and his wife
-We are moving to a place that is friendly and beautiful
-One of my college sorority sisters & her husband and 4 children are moving to S Tampa AT THE SAME TIME and they have bought a house right near where we hope to buy!!!! We were even roommates one summer! This is nothing short of God's providence!
-A general feeling of peace, even in the midst of emotional turmoil over having to leave
-A special day as a family today!!! We are reminded of what is most important
-A welcoming PCA church family in S Tampa!
-Our friend and former babysitter grew up in S Tampa & has told us all of the good places to go! B, DH is going to buy a casserole at Wright's!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A move!
Anyone who knows me knows that I would not choose to leave my entire family and move to Florida. It is just not in me. I love being close to my siblings, my parents, and cousins. We live in the city that is my home. I grew up here, and I love knowing everyone from our mail lady to the people at the camera store to the lady who helps me print cookbooks at Staples to Miss Aggie at our dry cleaners. I love being near so many friends... some who I have known since childhood, some that I have met because of my own children, and others who I have met along the way. I love that our city has 4 distinct seasons that are all beautiful. We live 5 minutes from our church, our school, my family, Target, our grocery store, Costco, Borders, and a high-end shopping center. I have everything I need, including a home we have renovated and loved and enjoyed. All 5 of our babies have come home to this house!! It is not the biggest house in town, but it may well be the most loved and enjoyed!!
Despite the economy, the presidential election, and the general uncertainty in the world at this time, my sweet husband received a promotion. This shows you God's grace and mercy and His perfect plan, and it is also a HUGE compliment to DH (dear hubby)!!! We are so thankful for a promotion at a time when so many are without jobs. Thank you, Lord! However, this promotion involves a cross-country move to a state I never envisioned inhabiting. After all, DH will tell you that when we moved to our city, it was to stay. So, when DH came home with this exciting news, I had 2 choices... to obey the Lord's calling for our family, or to disobey, throw a fit, and threaten to leave my husband. There are days that throwing a fit seemed like the easier thing to do! Thankfully, God has given me the grace and peace to go. I don't want to move. Nothing in me wants to pack up our home where all of our children were born and haul our earthly belongings across several states. This is just not my idea of a good time!! I am extremely sentimental (to a fault according to many of my friends), and it KILLS me to leave the elementary school my children attend because I walked through the very same halls!!! So much of this move is a very emotional move for me.
However, God is bigger than all of this. He is bigger than me and my fears. He is bigger than a market where home values have fallen. He is bigger than my worries about finding 4 more wonderful teachers for our oldest children. He is bigger than my worries that I won't have a single friend and I will be found cowering in a closet clutching our 2 year old! He is bigger than all of that!! I can honestly say that I have a peace that truly passes all understanding because I have been able to embrace this move and follow DH. It doesn't mean I want to leave, but I have peace that this is what I'm supposed to do to be in God's will. And if we're in God's will, there is no place any of us should rather be.
Now, pack your bags and plan a visit to the sunshine state!!! I'll be waiting for you!
Despite the economy, the presidential election, and the general uncertainty in the world at this time, my sweet husband received a promotion. This shows you God's grace and mercy and His perfect plan, and it is also a HUGE compliment to DH (dear hubby)!!! We are so thankful for a promotion at a time when so many are without jobs. Thank you, Lord! However, this promotion involves a cross-country move to a state I never envisioned inhabiting. After all, DH will tell you that when we moved to our city, it was to stay. So, when DH came home with this exciting news, I had 2 choices... to obey the Lord's calling for our family, or to disobey, throw a fit, and threaten to leave my husband. There are days that throwing a fit seemed like the easier thing to do! Thankfully, God has given me the grace and peace to go. I don't want to move. Nothing in me wants to pack up our home where all of our children were born and haul our earthly belongings across several states. This is just not my idea of a good time!! I am extremely sentimental (to a fault according to many of my friends), and it KILLS me to leave the elementary school my children attend because I walked through the very same halls!!! So much of this move is a very emotional move for me.
However, God is bigger than all of this. He is bigger than me and my fears. He is bigger than a market where home values have fallen. He is bigger than my worries about finding 4 more wonderful teachers for our oldest children. He is bigger than my worries that I won't have a single friend and I will be found cowering in a closet clutching our 2 year old! He is bigger than all of that!! I can honestly say that I have a peace that truly passes all understanding because I have been able to embrace this move and follow DH. It doesn't mean I want to leave, but I have peace that this is what I'm supposed to do to be in God's will. And if we're in God's will, there is no place any of us should rather be.
Now, pack your bags and plan a visit to the sunshine state!!! I'll be waiting for you!
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