Be careful what you pray or ask for. I've heard that before and I bet you have as well.
I have been given a new perspective on that statement over the last two months.
I changed one of my passwords as a plea to get me out of here - or at least show me the way to get the joy back in what I have been doing. The pace of life has become so fast and furious that I just hold on. That's all I can do sometimes. I have been trying to find time to search for my new "calling" but just can't seem to find any (time or calling!).
I came home on a Monday from one of those days - you know the kind - all I wanted to do was "veg" in front of the TV or go to bed. Barbara asks - "How soon are you ready to move to the hill country?" My response - "How about tomorrow!" So she shares an interesting vision and opportunity that has presented itself. God has been busy!
We print out the apps, fill them out and email them in, then call the next day to make sure they got them. Barbara sets up an interview for Thursday. So off we go. After visiting Texas Baptist Children's Home, I could feel the pull of the Spirit. It was gentle, but definitely there. We were very interested in the next step. So when we got home, after prayer and discussion, we asked TBCH what the next step would be. We also decided that we needed to prep the house and put it on the market regardless. That seemed to be the one big hold up in being ready for whatever God wanted us to do.
We got the email the next day with part 2 of the app so we filled it out and sent it off. They want us as relief parents.
We called our Real Estate Agent to get some guidance. We said to give us a week to get painting and downsizing done. She came over and said don't list til you are ready to move! We finished the painting and clean up and donation cycle. She had the photographer come out on a Thursday to take pictures. Sign and listing go up Monday morning and before the day is out we have 2 offers (the 2nd was full asking price cash offer). God, once again, says GO! We ask them to move closing from May 17 to June 5 - no problem. We pack and pack - donate and clean - amazing how much stuff you collect in 8 years.
I email all my clients with a couple of replacement IT companies that I have vetted and the process begins for shutting down my business of 20 years. All goes smoothly - great transitions for clients.
Inspection time comes around for the house and we expect the worst - new garage door - new fence - new AC. What we get is adjust the sprinklers so they don't hit the sidewalk and cover the post-tension rods at the end of the slab? God is sooooo good!
Meanwhile, Barbara is sweating about telling her Principal. She gets up the nerve and goes to the office. Just then her Principal asks the other special teacher and Barbara to come in her office. Barbara says, "May I talk to you first?" She shares the news and her Principal tears up. She had received news that day that she would only have funding for 1 of the specials. Now the other young teacher can keep her job. Another confirmation!
We get a call from TBCH asking if we would consider moving directly into Cottage 7 as the house parents. That couple is retiring and they need us ASAP. We pray and decide - no problem. We move the RV down to Round Rock over Memorial Day. We get a chance to visit the Cottage we are moving into. It's kind of depressing - dusty plastic plants everywhere - crowded - curtains all drawn. We see the potential, but not what we expected.
Back to Dallas to get a truck and load up the house (Thanks Josh for all your help on that!). First weekend in June and down we go - me in a 30' U-Haul truck and Barbara in the Tundra with a 9' trailer pulling the golf cart. Did I mention we seem to have collected a lot of stuff!? When we get there, we meet the Volunteer Coordinator to get a key to our apartment which is attached to the Cottage. We are amazed by the difference in the place. She said they had 42 volunteers over to clean and get the place ready for us. It is so bright and open and clean! Thanks to all who helped!
Our daughter and son-in-law and their 2 children and 3 children who are staying the weekend make quick work of the unload. What a blessing they were and are! We just dump boxes and furniture in the apartment and head back to Dallas.
We try air-mattresses the first night back - just too old for that! Barbara's sister invites us to stay with them. I drop Barbara off at school Monday and head to the house to get the last of it finished. Sure is hot in here! AC unit is not running. So - on the phone to AHS - need AC repair asap - closing on Wednesday! They send out a repairman who says all the wiring is wrong and things have been bypassed by the last repair. AHS has to send out the last company that repaired. After 3 calls and lots of hold time we get them out Tuesday. Oh, by the way, the buyer wants to do a walk through Tuesday before we close! Even as we work through that - with the buyer meeting the AC repair guy - God continues to grant us favor in man's eyes. They still don't want anything additional.
Wednesday - AC is fixed - closing goes off without a hitch - we get everything moved out by Thursday and we are done with that whole part of the saga. I head to Round Rock to start the set up there on Thursday and Barbara will come down once school is out.
Frantic and busy weekend unpacking and getting all set up. The apartment looks like home. We are getting all settled in and ready for our new adventure to begin.
Please continue to pray that God be glorified as we launch this new chapter in our lives.
Exhausted - but still soooo excited!
Blessings til next time.
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