What a whirlwind 2011 has turned out to be! It has been a journey both physically and emotionally for me. One that has triggered many profound thoughts in the recesses of my brain that are brewing and steeping down deep enough for me to write about someday. But this is not the time. Instead, I'm keeping it a little lighter to give a little update.
We left Oklahoma mid-May and drove our home on wheels to Ohio where we parked at the Family Camp on base for two weeks while waiting for a rental home to come available. While we were waiting, I was blessed by meeting a young family living in the smallest little pop up camper with all their belongings in a pick-up truck, a mini-van and a small trailer. They had just come from Alaska and had been in their little home for a month already with two very small, very active children. They came over one evening to look at our RV---rejoicing in the fact that they finally spotted a couple under the age of 65 that owned one. Up until that point, they thought they were foolish to have the idea of purchasing one for themselves. I hope that they left encouraged in some small way. I doubt very much that they will ever know the impact they had on me in that small exchange. Their awe at our vehicle and appreciation for the space to live, gave me better eyes to see how blessed I had been the past two months. It humbled me. It humbles me still to think on it.
A week and a half after arriving in Ohio, our rental home opened up. We are now living in a 1500 square foot house in Kettering with a giant backyard full of beautiful, mature trees and beds of flowers that the owner put her heart into cultivating. (I will do my best not to kill them all! A green-thumb I am not!) On a side note, this house also came with a remarkable feature! We have flatulating carpets. Really. There are air bubbles that are trapped underneath the carpet and when walked on, they make a noise that tickles the funny bone. It is hard to be angry for long or feel sad for long when you walk down the hall and with every step it sounds like too many cans of beans have been eaten. (I'm sure you are shocked that such a dignified woman would find humor in it! Or that I would use it as my new excuse--"It wasn't me, it was the carpet") You can not tell me that our God doesn't have a sense of humor! The house He provided for us comes equipped with an immediate tension breaker. That's just priceless.
At any rate, the movers came with their giant trailers filled to the brim with all our worldly possessions--and these same beefy, moving men tried hard not to laugh as they unloaded a 2300 square foot house into a 1500 square foot house. And I tried hard not to cry in my panic of where it all was going to go. No attic, no basement and a one car garage (might be a half car garage even) and boxes upon boxes of stuff. Let me pause here and tell you that I am a purger---I throw things out, give away and get rid of all I can. I purged while packing up the house, I purged from the RV and I have purged while unpacking...yet I still have TOO MUCH STUFF! I could excuse myself and say that it's because I homeschool and I have to have art supplies and a library filled with good reads for my kids. I could excuse myself and say that it is my duty as a homemaker to make the home beautiful for my family and so I have to have a giant boxes filled with silk greenery and pictures for the walls---but really? The thought of all I have accumulated makes me throw up a little. It causes me to think of verses in the Good Book of treasures found in fields and storing things up in heaven and where my heart is. It humbles me. But if I'm honest, not enough to cause me to give it all away. Once again, I'm reminded of how much the Lord has to do within my heart to transform me and teach me the greater joy.
One week after the boxes arrived, I had sorted through them, stored a lot of them and given away a little. The pictures were on the walls and home was established. I then packed up some suitcases and jumped into the car to travel to Minnesota for two weeks in order to be in my youngest sister's wedding and spend time with family. What a wild time we had. So much fun. Maybe a little too much fun.
After two weeks, I finally had to turn and face reality that I was heading back to Ohio. Having worked frantically to get the house ready before leaving for Minnesota, then being in Minnesota for that time, I hadn't had much time to stop and think about the fact that my life now was truly relocated to Ohio.
Heart-work is hard work. I am striving to embrace this life that God's good hand has given me. It isn't easy---I trip on discontent and fall flat on my face. But I know that God isn't finished with me yet and that it is Him who does this Heart-work in me. I'm praying that I will have a teachable heart and that He will give me eyes to see the blessings around me and the way I can serve other people while I'm here. It humbles me to know that despite all my groanings and complainings He loves me fiercely with a love that never disappoints and always comforts. That truth alone is enough to cause my heart to swell with joy.
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