News Update!

I'm still packing and moving boxes!! Will it never end? Of course, it will!!

I've enlisted my daughter Cara's help for tomorrow and Wednesday night. She is a very strong young lady, and I'm sure she'll be of a great help to me!!

So far, I have my bedroom completely moved (with the exception of the furniture!), the kitchen packed leaving only behind what we will absolutely need for the next several days, and even some of my clothes have been moved!! I've moved the extra sheets and towels. I guess Andrew will just have to get used to the fact that you DO NOT NEED a clean towel every time you take a shower!! After all, you are drying your clean self off with a clean towel, so why do you need another one for each shower?

Can you tell I'm excited??

I promise to post more pictures as soon as everything is settled--I PROMISE!!

Tonight we're having a gathering of my Small Group--a different meeting from our usual. We're having a missionary who is going to Asia for a long term mission come to speak to us about what she is going to be doing there.

So, we decided to have a social gathering with an Asian theme. Everyone is bringing something to share, and we'll be having dinner together.

I have two pork tenderloins marinating in the refrigerator to make Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin. I've never made this before, so I hope it tastes good!! I'll let you know tomorrow.

I'm also over at The Power of Your Love today for our Weekly Memory Verse. Stop by and check it out!! Maybe you'd like to join in!! I've just started this three weeks ago using a deck of cards I was gifted with called "Embracing the Word". We're doing the ace of diamonds for next week.

My New Home (SOON!)

I came home from work yesterday thinking that I was going to just sit and be for a few minutes, look over some last minute things for our Small Group. Those plans fell away as soon as Andrew walked in the door and announced, "Josh is on his way over, and we're going to look at the house!"

I told him that I thought we were doing this on Tuesday, and he says, "No, Josh settled this morning and he wants you to see it."

So, off we go!!

I had never seen this house, just knew of the road it was on, and that was it! But, the way all the pieces are falling into place, I felt in my heart that God has planned this for me in answer to my prayers to Him. I KNEW that this house was the one HE chose for me!

This is the front of my house, taken from the driveway that runs along the side. There's a little shed on the other side of the driveway (with a lawn mower already inside!). The sidewalk is inlaid brick and still ice covered. I can see that there needs to be some digging in the dirt--some flowers and new bushes--just picturing this is my mind!

This is the side view with the door that leads into the mud room where the washer and dryer are also located. You can see the fencing in the background. There is a gate there that leads to the deck on the back of the house. Hmmm...that area under that window needs some perking up, too!!


Here's the deck taken with the doors that lead into the living room. Josh is going to power wash and restain the deck in the spring and fix the doors this week (He is very handy, like that!)

This is the first thing I saw when I walked into the living room!


Yes, a fireplace!!! Josh forgot to mention that little piece of information!! When I saw this I just jumped up and down and hugged him!! I told him how happy he has made me--that he just doesn't know how wonderful this is to me!! There is a mantle (I'll always wanted a mantle!) above the fireplace. I think I only have the bottom of this in the picture, but it's hard to take pictures when you're jumping up and down!!

This can be used as an electric fire place or as a wood burner!! YEAH!!!



Here's Josh in the kitchen!! What a beautiful kitchen!! I've never had so many cabinets and drawers in my life!! I don't think I have enough things to fill all of these!! The doorway next to Josh leads to the mud room and the side door. The washer and dryer are located there. I didn't take a picture of those. We all know what washers and dryers look like!


This is the front entrance area. You can see the steps lowered in the background because Andrew just HAD to go up into the attic!! Again, YEAH--STORAGE SPACE (along with that shed!)



This is actually the main wall that is in the dining room. Josh told me that he can "get rid of this" if I don't want it. I think we'll keep it there for a while. What do you think?


And here is the view of the Conodoquinet Creek taken from the deck. Can you just see me sitting out there--knitting, reading, just soaking in God's presence?

I CAN!!

There are three houses below which are closer to the creek, and a path that leads to the creek so you can walk down in between these houses--sit next to the water, fish (yes, there are a few people I know who will make use of that opportunity!).

There are three bedrooms and of course, a bathroom! I have pictures of them, but you can't tell much from them.

My bedroom faces the creek, Andrew's is in the middle of the house, and the one that will be used as my craft room and office is in the front of the house. Josh said there aren't enough electrical outlets in there for me, so he's going to add some. He can do it, too!! He is an electrician!

While we were there, a neighbor from one of the houses below came up and introduced himself. He pointed out which house he lives in and told me that if I ever need anything to not even hesitate to let him know. He said that everyone watches out for everyone else and help each other!! He knew the people that lived here before, and he walked around outside with Josh and Andrew--pointing out different things to them about the oil tanks, the air conditioning unit, the fencing on the one side (which Josh is taking down and this neighbor said that he would help him!). WHAT!!! My neighbors here act like we are invisible to each other!! I say "Hello, how are you?" "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" and there is absolutely no answer, not even a nod.

Josh is there today steam cleaning the carpets, and his father is fixing a spot on the roof near the chimney. He already gave me a key!!

I asked him when we can move in, and he said, "Whenever you're ready, just move on in!"

My plan is to pack things and take them over bit by bit, unpack them and organize them. Then, when the actual "moving" day occurs, the only things left are the furniture and necessities that we needed for the last few days.

Someone in my Small Group has access to trucks from their work, and said we can use them instead of renting a truck. And I'll have a lot of help, too!!

Now, as if things couldn't get any better--Josh actually put in a bid $20,000 lower than the person's selling price. $20,000 lower!! And, he accepted it!!

This means that my monthly rent will be $200 less than what I am paying now for this small apartment!! And I still have the comfort of knowing that if something needs repaired that it is not my responsibility to pay to have it fixed.

All in God's plans, God's perfect timing, and I give God all the glory and praise for this new home in my life!! A prayer of many years answered--but not until everything was just the way it was supposed to be.

THANK YOU, GOD!!!

God is restoring to me what I have lost--my home, my car, everything. Slowly, but surely, my prayers are being answered, and answered in a BIG way!! My rent for this house (which I loved sight unseen because I knew God prepared this home for me) is actually lower than my mortgage payment of the house that I lost, less than any apartment rent that I have paid since that time!

Wow!! When God showed up with the answer to my persistent prayer, He showed up BIG TIME!! He knew exactly what I needed, knows that I love being near the water, knows that I love working outside and gardening and have missed this so much, even the fact that I love fireplaces and have always longed for a mantle above one, and there are no steps such as those I have now--something that Josh pointed out to me several times. Hmmm...I wonder if Josh is telling me that I'm getting older and need to live on one floor without steps leading to this one floor?

I want to thank all of you who have left me comments about this new venture! I am so excited, and I can feel your excitement for me. I cried reading everyone of them!!

And, Tea--you can see that I'm going to need some of those lilies you mentioned!! There is a lot of bare space that needs to be filled--outside and inside!!

Oh, and it was too dark by the time we left, but there is already a barrel by the mailbox just waiting to be filled with flowers!! YIPPEE!!

This will be a slow process. I don't even own enough furniture for the living room or the entranceway. But, again--time, patience, prayer, and God will see me through--just as He always does!!

Beth