It's Happening!

To those who know, our next exciting step began on July 21!

We are rolling along and can't wait to get back to work!

At the beginning of our marriage, we observed my parents and hoped God would allow us to do this. 

We didn't think it was time yet, but God dropped it into our laps! Debt free! 

We hope to continue to grow!

God has been so very good to us!

My Outdoor Cooktop

This is a bit messy, but I was in a hurry to heat water to do some cleaning. I heated the water because it was COLD and WINDY that day.

There was no power or running water the first several nights we stayed, so I heated water for cleaning and bathing on top of a cast iron wood stove we removed from the house. This was a very effective little "stove top," and I kept the gang filled with hearty meals with it. I cleaned up quite a bit of the yard as I used the twigs, pine cones, and magnolia cones too. I shifted the top bricks to fit the size of the pan or pot I was using.

The Man Amazes Me

You can't see it in the picture, but this remaining tree section was damaged when the others fell. It had a strong lean towards the house. Clint wanted to take it down ahead of another storm with 40+ mph wind gusts.

Clint used strong tow straps tied off to another tree. This isn't to hold the tree up. It's to give enough resistance to help create a turn in the tree's descent which is exactly what it did.

He told me it would fall between the house and the other cedar tree. That's exactly where it fell. He has done this time and time again! It always amazes me!

We prayed before he started cutting and gave thanks afterwards.

Not too fond of cedar trees at the moment...

I had already pointed out these trees to Clint as dangerous and needing to be cut down, but I did not expect them fall within less than 48 hours! Caleb, Bethany, Emily, Hannah, and I were staying in a house with no power or running water. Joshua had an interview and Clint had to work so they did not stay. Clint ended up coming back around 4:30 a.m. after I told him straight line winds at the tail end of a thunderstorm dropped the trees in the front yard. This was not a fun experience. I'd rather see another black snake coming out of the cedars. We are cutting down the remaining trees that threaten the house. Cedars are beautiful trees with a lot of usefulness, but they are dangerous when too close to a house.

The Best is Yet to Come

Have you ever been on the edge of something really good happening, and then it gets delayed? The extra wait is excruciating!

My family has a very good thing about to happen. We were told March 9 was our day! Then, things fell into place sooner, and we were told March 2 could be our day!! Yay!! Then, some paperwork was lost, and we were told we'd have to wait at least through the weekend. Bummer!

Through all of the excitement and ups and downs, we have enjoyed the ride knowing that in the end, it will be worth the present hassle.

That has made me think about life and eternity. 

This life can throw sudden throat punches that leave us working hard to resume breathing. People judging you harshly and unfairly for situations they don't understand, pain, disappointment, sorrow, betrayal, rejection, abandonment, deep grief, and failure aren't things we wish for, but they are all part of the journey. Thank God the story does not end there! We will one day trade all of those in for rejoicing and reward!

May we embrace this ride and remember that in the end, it will be so very worth it! May we have excitement and anticipation for the day we stand before the One who no longer remembers our sins and loves us perfectly! May we love and encourage each other in this journey!

Colossians 3:1-7  You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.  Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth.  Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God.  Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory. So put everything evil out of your life: sexual sin, doing anything immoral, letting sinful thoughts control you, and wanting things that are wrong. And don’t keep wanting more and more for yourself, which is the same as worshiping a false god. God will show his anger against those who don’t obey him, because they do these evil things. You also did these things in the past, when you lived like them.