Appliance Bliss

So this weekend, God did another one of His "Exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or imagine" things (Eph. 3:20) in my life.  For those of you who don't know - that is our life verse.  We claim it often and we see God honor it left and right in our lives.  And I always LOVE to tell about each situation that comes about.  Sometimes they are incredibly spiritual things and other times, although there are lessons to be learned, I know it's just simply because He loves me.

This story starts about 3 years ago.  I had been wrestling with God for over a year about my house.  God gave us our house in a series of miraculous Eph. 3:20 things that only he could do.  Russ was teaching school, we were in between ministry and had returned from our trip to Oregon.  Russ was putting resumes out ALL OVER the country.  I dug my heals in hard.  I DID. NOT. WANT. TO. MOVE.     ANYWHERE!!!!!

Russ and I once had a conversation that went something like this:

Russ:  I'm ready to move to Zimbabwe and live in a hut if that's what God wants us to do, I don't understand why you are fighting this.

Me:  WELL WE ALL CAN'T BE AS SPIRITUAL AS YOU!!!!!!

As I storm off to take a shower.  I will tell you that God convicted me in the shower for speaking to my husband that way and when I came out, I apologized and we talked further - but I still was NOT convinced that I wanted to move anywhere.

The big hang up - my house.  God had given it to me - it was my first one ever.  I had waited years for our own house.  I had decorated, painted, remodeled and I was not about to just walk away and let someone else have it.

Boy - writing all of this brings back all the yuck.  It took me an entire year. (I'm slow like that) but eventually I understood that my house - God's sweet gift to me - had become my idol.  I cared far more about it than I did His calling on my life.  I had become complacent.  Comfortable. 

So about 3 years ago, it all hit me.  I got on my knees, asked for forgiveness and gave my house back to God.  I let go.  Such a peace and joy came over me and I can honestly say that Russ and I were on the same page again and I was ready to go to Zimbabwe and live in a hut if that's what God wanted us to do.

I laugh now, because shortly after that, Russ was called to Ocean Park out at the beaches and I literally had to put a For Rent sign in my yard.  But it was okay - I was ready!  And I wasn't moving to Zimbabwe - I was only going across town.  To the beach no less - how cool is that?

So - I was all spiritual and ready to do whatever.  I had given it to the Lord and I was good.  Then my oven broke.  Now I know to most of you, this seems really minor. But not me!  It sent me into a tizzy!  Like a call Russell - and when he stopped listening to my ramblings - call Emily kind of tizzy!

I could NOT believe my oven broke!  We don't typically purchase things just to upgrade - not until they are broken and need replaced.  I had been waiting for my oven to go (although there were no signs of it) so I could buy a glass top.  Oh how I wanted a glass top.  It was going to be the next upgrade in my kitchen.  Now I was moving!  I rambled on and on being so angry.  Emily (having spent many years as a property manager before all her rambunctious boys) advised me NOT to put a glass top in a rental.  Great.  Now I had to go out and buy another cheap, ugly oven and I would never get my glass top.

I was so pouty and yucky - I couldn't even think ahead that God might give me a glass top in my new house.  No  -  I was too busy being mad again about having to move.  That's what it boiled down to.  It's always a process for me.  The pendulum has to swing hard in both directions for a while before I finally find the balance in the middle.  It was swinging hard on this day.

Another great friend of ours, Chuck, called me that day.  He was looking for Russ but got me instead.  He got to listen to me whine.  But - being the kind of guy that he is, he asked me what the problem was with my oven and I told him that the heating element had burned up and broke in half.  He told me that was an easy fix and that I could easily get a replacement part.

Wow! What a concept.  I wouldn't have to buy a new one for strangers moving into my house.  I got on the phone and investigated.  I drug the kids all over town as we searched for the part.  Russ was working and so was my brother so Jarod and I worked together and I replaced it myself!  I was so happy!  (there goes that pendulum swing again!)


For the past 3 years, my oven has worked just fine and I have been very content.  Obviously we did not move at all.  The Lord never moved us to the beach and now that we are serving a church in our community, we understand why.  I now know in my heart that the Lord wanted my willingness to move.  My willingness to do what ever He called me to do - and to let go of all the STUFF!  It's been a long, up and down process full of broken heating elements and I even believe my trip to Haiti had a lot to do with that as well.  Seeing employed Haitians being content with so much less will easily put life into perspective. Amazing the things God uses to bring us closer to him.

Okay - so the icing on the cake in all of this came about this weekend.  God just shakes his head at crazy me, I am sure.  I have fought and kicked and screamed and finally complied and have become content.  I'm learning that it's in that contentment that He is able to REALLY bless.

My brother, Marc, is a painter, home repair, renovation kind of guy.  Property Services.  He had a client hire him recently to paint and do some minor repairs on a condo that they had just purchased.  They were closing on it at the end of March and they decided to gut the appliances.  Since they just get taken away by Lowe's or Home Depot - they offered them to Marc.  Marc and Sam replaced all of their appliances a few years back and knowing I had had an issue with my oven, he called me.

And guess what?

Not only was it a Glass Top Oven, but it was a microwave that gets mounted over the oven (hello --- more counter space!) AND a dishwasher!  The seal on ours was going bad and my microwave had just died.

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!  Could you just squeal!!?????  Marc came over on Saturday and installed all of them for me.  The dates on them are from 2006 - the year we moved into our house.  Everything is Whirlpool - just like the fridge we bought in 2006 and it all matches! 

Isn't God good?  The amazing thing is - He had this planned all along.  He desires to bless us and take care of us even with things like appliances.

He doesn't care about my house - where I live - what I live in.  He cares about my heart.  He wants my willingness to go wherever and do whatever.  To do those things that He has made me to do.  When we seek Him first - all the other things will be added.  They are bonuses.  He gives them to us because He loves us - we are His children.  He makes sure our needs are met - "exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine."  We just have to be patient and TRUST.

Isn't it pretty????

I think I need to go cook something......

Until next time.......

As Summer Comes to a Close

Whew!  Up early this morning - MUCH earlier than I like.  Fixed the kids a good breakfast, packed them up and sent them out the door with Daddy for their first day of school.  Jarod is in the 6th grade this year and my Anne Girl is in 1st.  Goodness, where does time go?

Just so you know - Jarod was not real excited this morning and Anne was a bit nervous.  Praying they have an AWESOME first day.

So with the kids off to school and Russ to the office - the house is so quiet!  I had almost forgot what that sounds like.  I should be doing important things around the house but I have decided to blog first.  Besides - I have lots of fun photos to share with you from our vacation.

Besides our summer in Oregon, I think this may have been the busiest summer yet.  Before it began, I had every intention of taking the kids to the beach - A LOT!  We didn't go once!  Not one time!  And I can see the ocean from our church parking lot.  Between Scout Camp, Youth Camp, Dance Camp, VBS, my best friend moving away and my busier than usual Calligraphy for the summer - we barely had time to think.  The four of us went in different directions all summer so Russ finally said, "ENOUGH - plan something for the family.  We have to get away."

Usually, we love to go to the mountains in the summer.  But, having waited too long to book anything, we went south.  To our other home - Orlando.  We quickly remembered why we don't go that direction in the summer.  Very busy!!!  But - we didn't go to any of our beloved theme parks - we just hung around the condo and relaxed.  Did a few things we have always wanted to try but have been to busy doing the parks.

All in all it was a great week.  We shut off our brains, stayed up late, slept even later, watched really crazy shows on T.V. - Russ is totally addicted to Billy the Exterminator!  And I think Storage Wars is pretty neat.  Wow - did I just admit that publicly!?  You can tell we do not have cable television in our home.  Anyway - we spent lots of time by the pool, when it wasn't raining and sat on our balcony and watched the Epcot Fireworks.

Here is our week in photos:

 We started our week off with a trip to Ikea.  I had never been and was dying to check it out.  Russ settled right into relaxation!

 Arriving at our Condo

Our view from the balcony

They each had their own bed, but I walked in to this one morning.  Just chillin out, watching TV - waiting for the rain to stop.

 We went to the Pirate Dinner Adventure one night!  Sooooo much fun!!!!

ARRRGH!!!!

Very cool show!

We took the kids to Disney Quest

5 stories of virtual, gaming fun!

Our first Virtual Game Experience - Riding the Comix!  We went inside the comic books to help fight.....ummmm.....the bad guys.  Ya - that sounds right!

 Russell and Jarod became human pin balls - that was crazy to watch!

 This was the BEST!  We all had to work together to fight the pirates!  I drove the ship and Russ and the kids shot the cannons.  All while standing on a moving boat, wearing 3-D glasses with water, pirate ships and islands all around us.  Totally fun!

Anne getting set up for another virtual game - this time we were on Aladdin's Magic Carpets.

Now let me take a moment and tell you that we are NOT gamers!  This whole thing was a totally new experience for us.  We bought our first Wii console a year and a half ago and it's not a major distraction in our house.  While this was a great learning experience - Disney Quest will not be added to our Seasonal Passes.  Once was enough.  This was a great thing to do on a rainy day in Orlando - but we prefer the REAL rides at Disney.

We finished our fun day off with Ice Cream!  Can't beat that!

Carrying his sister back to room after a long day of video games.

I'm seeing a theme for the week - something about our family and Pirates.  Hmmmmm........

 Waiting to go on the slide!

Even Daddy had a turn!  I did too - but whacked my elbow coming through.  Nice bruise on my funny bone - once was enough for me!

 This was more my speed for the week!

 

And this was Russell's

Of course, we had to stop by our favorite pizza place!  Giordanos!  Because if you are going to have pizza - have PIZZA!!!!  Yummmmmm!

We finished every night, sitting on our balcony - watching this!  How cool!

We were very thankful for the opportunity to go and let our brains be mush for a week.  You just have to do that occasionally.  We came back relaxed and ready to face the world again - well..... maybe.  It's easy to say that sitting in an empty house while everyone else is at work and school!

I did come home to this!

 

Marc laid tile in my kitchen!  I'm so excited!  I was so tired of the linoleum - just could not keep it clean.  The tiles were given to us and because we did not have enough of each - Marc did a great pattern in the middle of the floor.  I'm so happy with it.

Each time a turn a corner and get a glimpse of the new floor, I smile!  First time I've had tile in my kitchen ever!  I feel so grown up!  Ha!!!!  It really does add a nice touch to our home.  

Thanks Marc for doing such a great job!!!!  

(He's for hire - if anyone is interested. Let me know and I'll give you his info)

Now, I'm off to finish putting my kitchen back together......

Until next time........

Home Repairs - Painful Yet Necesary

A good foundation is very important.  It's crucial.  Ask any builder.  If your foundation is bad, everything becomes unsafe and eventually falls apart.  So often, we get in a hurry with things and don't think about the foundation it is built upon.  We want instant results.  Get in, get out, get it over with and move on.  And what may seem like a good thing, is slowly eroding underneath. We had a personal reminder in our lives this past week as we began to work on our shed.

When we bought our house, the garage had been converted into a Home School Classroom for the previous owners Autistic son.  Because they lost the garage for storage, they put a shed on the side of the house.  We live in a flood zone, so our house is built on a fairly steep hill and the shed had to be built on a platform and leveled off.  Unfortunately, they did not take the time to build a proper foundation.  We discovered this last summer when Jarod was in the shed getting out his bike.  His foot went right through the floor and his leg was all scratched up! Water had been getting into the shed and settling on the wood floor, which eventually caused the floor to give way.

Easter weekend, Marc and Russ began to take things apart.  Only to find more wood rot and damage. They had not used pressure treated wood so everything underneath was weak.  When you come around the corner and see the shed, at first glance it looked fine!  But as they got inside and started moving things - boy!  Did they find a mess!  And a few critters who had gotten in and decided to take up residence!  UGH!!!

 As you can see from this photo - the shed itself was in good condition.  As a matter a fact - we discovered that it hadn't even been attached to the foundation!  It was just sitting there!  Marc and Russ were able to just pick it up and move it off.  We are lucky that a big wind didn't blow it away!

Funny thing about foundations - they don't always just affect the building that's on them - but they affect others around them as well.  Because this foundation was build poorly, the water eroded the ground underneath.  Which began to take the dirt from around our house with it.  We discovered that we only had about 6 inches of dirt next to the foundation of our house.  The water was creating a big hole that would eventually have taken the dirt from under our home.

Filling in the hole

The guys were able to rebuild the foundation and use the original shed.  But not without taking everything apart and starting over.  What a pain!  If it had been done properly the first time, this would not have happened.  It really caused me to stop and think about life.

How many times do we get in a hurry and do things half way, just to get by and get it done?  We think that it won't hurt anyone, but it does.  Maybe not until years later but it hurts the people that come behind us, it hurts the people around us.  It affects lots of people.  Buildings that are not built on a proper foundation collapse - they can no longer serve their purpose. They are more of a hindrance than a help.  And what an eye sore!  Marriages that are not built on a proper foundation struggle and can eventually fall apart as well, taking children and others down with them.  Businesses, friendships, churches - so many things can fall into this category. 

 The new foundation

Putting the shed back on

Sealing it to keep the water out

The finished product all high and dry!

What does your foundation look like?  Maybe it's being hidden by an okay looking building on the outside - but what is really happening on the inside?  What in you life do you need to tear down in order to build it back up properly?  Your faith, your marriage, a relationship?  It will be a painful and possibly an expensive process but it will be worth it.  For everyone! When there is a solid foundation - it will hold anything that comes it's way.  I challenge you today to begin making repairs.

The ultimate foundation of course, is Jesus Christ.  If our lives, our marriages, our relationships are built with Him being the foundation - nothing can shake it.  He doesn't crumble under the weight of life.  So many things hit us in life - good and bad.  Life and death.  Health and sickness.  But He is there to hold the weight, bring us comfort and get us through those times.  Not only surviving but shining on the other side!