3 Years In

So I am still at Conference but when I looked at today's date, I realized that, as of today,

it has been exactly 3 years since we moved out of a parsonage

for the very last time.

Talking with all of our friends about moving from appointment to appointment

has brought all of the memories of moving back - 

the good ones

and

the very last one.

So I went back to read these posts.

Like I've said before, it helps me,

as I'm living into my future,

to remember where I've been.

It helps me to see the proof

in my own writing 

of God's faithfulness.

And He has been faithful!

My kids and I are living proof of that.

Here is what I wrote about my house

and about that very last parsonage move.

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Originally posted on Sunday, February 26, 2012

The House

...THE HOUSE (written January 8th, 2012) 

Long ago, my paternal grandparents had a dream.  I wasn’t around for that dream but I am now reaping the benefit of their desire.

Long ago, my Heavenly Father had a dream.  I wasn’t around for that dream but I am now reaping the benefit of His planning.

Long ago, my paternal grandparents wanted a house of their very own.

Long ago, my Heavenly Father knew I would need a house of my very own.

Long ago, my paternal grandparents made a way to build their very own house and I’m sure they delighted in moving into that house - with their very own dreams for the future and what all that the house would hold and foster for what they wanted for their family – and they lived out their lives and their family dreams in their house.

Long ago, my Heavenly Father made a way to plant dreams in my mind and desires in my heart that would start my very own plans for the future and what all those dreams would hold and foster for what I wanted for my family – 

but my family dreams would start and end in parsonages.

Not too long ago, when my paternal grandparents’ house was transferred from one grandchild to another and the house was moved across the street, 

none of us knew what the future would hold...

...BUT GOD DID.

(the 2005 notebook that held all of the papers, permits, etc. for the move of the house - notice the Scripture I held onto during that process - Psalm 42:11 - same as now)

Long ago, the Lord knew it had to be done somehow.  Long ago, the Lord saw His provision.  In different ways, the homestead place became a way to provide for one of my paternal grandparents’ sons and two of their grandchildren – one through the original land with a new house and the others through the original house with old family land that was new to them.

It so humbles me to feel and think and know that way back then – when my paternal grandparents dreamed of their very own house that God not only saw their dreams realized of raising their six children in the home and having the house being the provision for them – but that EVEN THEN my God also saw this house as His provision for me when I would need it most – when I was left widowed in a parsonage with young children still at home to finish raising to adulthood.  He saw it as His provision that my children would live in the rooms and walk the halls and run up and down the same stairs that their grandfather, great-aunts, and great-uncles did.  He saw it as His provision for them and for me – EVEN THEN.

I will admit and I can certainly say that I am not delighted to be moving into the house because of my widowhood.  I wish that I could be moving into the house with my husband in our retirement years as we had planned.  But I can still certainly say that knowing I have that house has been a hope and a comfort -  knowing that I have a “homeplace,” and knowing that even long ago God had and now He still does have a plan for my children and for me.  And I know that I, just as my paternal grandparents did, will move into that house with my very own hopes for the future and hopes for all that the house will hold and foster for what I want for my family --- and maybe, just maybe, that will be the beginning of some new dreams that I have yet, 

in the present, 

to even muster the strength to imagine.

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Written on Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Out and In

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

We are OUT of the parsonage 

(pulled out of the driveway at 2:34 a.m. last night/this morning)

And we are IN our house 

(pulled in the driveway at 3:08 a.m. last night/this morning)

God was with us in the transition

And I am SO THANKFUL for God's providence that Rob and I had this house for 6 years before his death

But it was so very hard to leave the parsonage

Even when we were FINALLY ready to leave 

The kids did not want to leave

So we walked around the house 

Talking about the empty rooms - when they were not empty - 

About when one family member was not missing

And me reminding them that the empty rooms aren't what holds our memories

After an hour of walking around empty rooms, taking pictures of each other in those rooms, Luke taking videos with the iPad, and some crying, we finally left

The kids asked to stay and watch as the garage door closed one last time - so we did

It's always hard to move.

But it's so much harder to disassemble a family life together knowing that, this time, when we get to the new place we will be starting a different family life without one of its members. 

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