Life Is Getting Crazy

Well, just like that, our life is getting a bit turned upside down, but we are encouraged and excited because we know that this "season" of life will always mark a turning point for us.  We have been praying to get out of debt, build savings, and give, give, give, and we think God is answering those prayers, just not how we would have done it ;) 

Since there is no immediate job on the horizon (though, praise-the-Lord, many potential things in the works), we have talked to the mortgage company, and we are putting our house on the market.

In the mean time, we have found a tiny little rental house near our town's square.  Think character ;)  It is an old home, but very livable and clean.  In fact, as we speak the carpets are being cleaned and the walls are being painted.  We love the location, we love the yard, and best of all, we can afford the rent and still manage to get food on the table and utilities paid.  God is providing in bits and pieces; he truly is.

While Scott continues to work full time at our friend's furniture store, I will be doing lots of little things in the fall to help pad the income--watching a friend's little boy twice a week, tutoring through our home school group, tutoring on my own, and I'm probably leaving something out.  Really, we laugh at all of the little odd jobs I have going, but we are so very thankful as we have clearly seen God work out the details with each of them.  And, most important to me, all of the above jobs allow for me to be at home with my children.  I do have two different friends who are going to watch Ada and John while I tutor twice a week (two hours at a time), so the trend continues--friends are truly helping to carry our burdens. 

We have a peace about all that God is doing, and even, believe it or not, an excitement.  It all screams of God's hand at work.

The house is small--2 bedroom, 1 bath, so we are purging the current house of stuff.  Big time.  There is enough room though that we will be able to have a play room/school room, which I am super thankful for.  And there is a roomy screened in front porch, which I hope to use quite a bit, increasing the living space.  The screen door locks, so I am hoping that in the fall, I can leave the front door open, and let the kids run around out on the front porch.  The main adjustment will be that Ada and John will have to share a room, but I am prepared for a few nights of craziness and trusting that eventually it will work itself out.  (But I am open to tips from other moms who have toddlers and preschoolers sharing a room). 

We signed the lease this morning, so it's done.  And life feels a bit like a whirlwind.  I am hoping to move into the house the week of August 14th because school starts the 24th, and along with school starting all of my "little jobs."  I want some sense of being settled before all of that begins.  The good thing is that most of the craziness will occur on Mon-Wed, and then it will just be the normal routine the rest of the week.  It will hopefully give me a chance to catch my breath each week.  Again, we are so thankful that God is allowing all of these details to fall in place, and in the process, giving us such a peace about it. 

At the end of the day what matters is that my family will be together under one roof, and life will go on much as it always has.  Yes, the quarters will be closer, but we will be comfortable, and we honestly like the location of our tiny house better than where we are right now.  Plus, we feel excited at the possibility of attacking our debt with intensity once Scott gets his next "real" job.  And we trust that he will ;)

If you think about it, will you pray that God will give me energy and patience as we make this transition?  It's a lot, and I know that it won't all be smooth sailing.  Of course Ada has questions and is expressing her desire not to move.  But I have to trust that God is using this past year's events to shape little Ada as much as he is using it to shape Scott and me.  I know that her world is safe, and I have to be okay with her feeling a bit uncomfortable at times.  It's part of life, right?