A blogger friend of mine, Rebecca, recently wrote here:
(you'll have to highlight, copy, & paste the link until I learn how to do it right!)
http://zeahrenaissance.blogspot.com/2008/07/mourning.html
about her struggles with major life changes. Like us, she and her family are packing up their life and starting another one. She speaks more eloquently than I can about the heartache that accompanies such decisions. That even though there are good and promising things on the horizon, there is loss and disappointment in the present. Things to let go of, ties that will be broken, in many ways...the death of a dream.
I so understand her pain. Because over the years, I've experienced that death. Hopes dashed. Efforts thwarted. Desires for a certain kind of life that would never be.
But, now I can see the hand of God at work. Even our struggles are part of His plan for us, part of the intricate web of life that He has knitted together for us before the foundation of the Earth.
About 20 years ago, He brought a young couple into our lives whose friendship would become very dear to us. And although we lost contact for several years, our families' lives have followed similar paths. God then brought this couple (now a family expecting their 4th child - just like us!) back into our lives at precisely the right time - when we were struggling with the road we were on and looking for another one. We had no idea that the "G" family would make us an offer, "You guys should buy our land!," that would provide us with the opportunity we so earnestly desired...the birth of a dream.
But, like Rebecca, I am realizing that moving on is not "easy." As much as I'm looking forward to this new phase in our lives and the rich, family time it will bring, there is pain. Some dreams must die for others to take root and thrive. Through it all, we remain thankful.
We are grateful to our friends and family members who have become such an integral part of this move. We COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR without you...and I hope you know how appreciated you are! We still have a lot of work ahead of us (we're really just getting started), but we're looking forward with great anticipation to what God has for us. He is faithful.
Stay tuned!
Kris
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Imagination
The dreamer sees the finished thing before the start is made;
She sees the roses pink and red beyond the rusty spade,
And all that bleak and barren spot which is so bare to see
Is but a place where very soon the marigolds will be.
Imagination carries her across the dusty years,
And what is dull and commonplace in radiant charm appears.
The little home that she will build where willows bend and bow
Is but the dreamer's paper sketch, but she can see it now.
She sees the little winding walk that slowly finds her door,
The chimney in its ivy dress, the children on the floor;
The staircase where they'll race and romp, the windows where will gleam
The light of peace and happiness - the house that's still a dream.
You see the weeds and rubbish there, and ugliness and grime,
But she can show you where there'll be a swing in summertime.
And she can show you where there'll be a fireplace rich with cheer,
Although you stand and shake your head and think the dreamer queer.
Imagination! This it is the dreamer has today;
She sees the beauty that shall be when time has cleared the way.
She reads the blueprint of her years, and she can plainly see
Beyond life's care and ugliness - the joy that is to be.
- Edgar Albert Guest (1881 - 1959)
She sees the roses pink and red beyond the rusty spade,
And all that bleak and barren spot which is so bare to see
Is but a place where very soon the marigolds will be.
Imagination carries her across the dusty years,
And what is dull and commonplace in radiant charm appears.
The little home that she will build where willows bend and bow
Is but the dreamer's paper sketch, but she can see it now.
She sees the little winding walk that slowly finds her door,
The chimney in its ivy dress, the children on the floor;
The staircase where they'll race and romp, the windows where will gleam
The light of peace and happiness - the house that's still a dream.
You see the weeds and rubbish there, and ugliness and grime,
But she can show you where there'll be a swing in summertime.
And she can show you where there'll be a fireplace rich with cheer,
Although you stand and shake your head and think the dreamer queer.
Imagination! This it is the dreamer has today;
She sees the beauty that shall be when time has cleared the way.
She reads the blueprint of her years, and she can plainly see
Beyond life's care and ugliness - the joy that is to be.
- Edgar Albert Guest (1881 - 1959)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Where are we?
Current home status:
Sales Pending. Radon mitigation scheduled for July 15th. Closing scheduled for July 31st, pending successful radon mitigation. Belongings in storage: 75%.
Land purchase:
Closing also scheduled for July 31st.
Permits:
Minor road crossing permit application needs to be turned in soon! This could take 30 days for approval, and we cannot put the culvert in to cross the stream and begin excavation until we have this permit.
Building permit request also needs completed and remitted.
Purchased for the new home:
Flooring for great room, master bedroom, J-Bird's room, and Sissy's room
Pedestal sinks for all 3 bathrooms
Beadboard paneling for 2 bathrooms
Solid wood interior doors for entire house
Exterior door for dining room
Exterior lighting for wrap-around porch
Deposit on outdoor wood furnace
Large, pine armoire for dining room to house table linens (needs to be painted)
(Thank You, Craig's List!)
Large, solid wood buffet for great room to house art and school supplies (also to be painted)
(Thank You, Centre Peace!)
Three 4x4 pedestal tables for dining room (yes...I'll paint these, too!)
(Thank You, university salvage!)
Some decorative accessories for the main bath
There are probably a few other things I've "squirreled away"...will share as I remember them!
Stay tuned!
Kris
Sales Pending. Radon mitigation scheduled for July 15th. Closing scheduled for July 31st, pending successful radon mitigation. Belongings in storage: 75%.
Land purchase:
Closing also scheduled for July 31st.
Permits:
Minor road crossing permit application needs to be turned in soon! This could take 30 days for approval, and we cannot put the culvert in to cross the stream and begin excavation until we have this permit.
Building permit request also needs completed and remitted.
Purchased for the new home:
Flooring for great room, master bedroom, J-Bird's room, and Sissy's room
Pedestal sinks for all 3 bathrooms
Beadboard paneling for 2 bathrooms
Solid wood interior doors for entire house
Exterior door for dining room
Exterior lighting for wrap-around porch
Deposit on outdoor wood furnace
Large, pine armoire for dining room to house table linens (needs to be painted)
(Thank You, Craig's List!)
Large, solid wood buffet for great room to house art and school supplies (also to be painted)
(Thank You, Centre Peace!)
Three 4x4 pedestal tables for dining room (yes...I'll paint these, too!)
(Thank You, university salvage!)
Some decorative accessories for the main bath
There are probably a few other things I've "squirreled away"...will share as I remember them!
Stay tuned!
Kris
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