FROM CONSUMER TO CONTRIBUTOR LIMITLESS LIFE BLOG HOP

We are in week 4 of  the Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study of "Limitless Life" by Derwin Gray.  In the book he talks about going from consumer to contributor.  We are a military family.  Six years ago, we moved from eastern NC to western PA courtesy of the military.  We knew no one in our new community, which meant we had to find a new church.

We started our search at the church that was directly beside our new home.  My husband immediately became a contributor by helping with shoveling snow from the sidewalks.  Then he started preaching when necessary - he is an ordained minister.  The people were fantastic and we loved the church, but there were no other children for ours to interact with.  At the time, my sons had activities they were involved in, but my daughter did not really have any.

So I started investigating programs for her and found out about Missionettes.  So we visited our local Assembly of God church so she could see if she liked the program.  At first just our daughter, my husband and I went, but we were told they had activities the same night for our sons, while my husband and I attended their Bible study.  Soon we were attending the church and consuming the things they had to offer.  But we are not ones who like to sit on the sidelines at church, so we began to find ways to help out.  Dennis, my husband, helped with ushering and doing things he could.  I began to help where I could as well.  Before we knew what was happening, we were teaching a Sunday School class for the teens.  All of my sons and husband were helping with ushering.  Our family that sings a capella sang songs at various times.  We also assisted with Vacation Bible School and various other festivals.  I eventually became a Sunday School officer for a short time.  On occasion, my husband filled in for the preacher.  I became the leader for the Missionettes.  We also assisted with services at Weatherwood Manor - a place for Seniors to reside.  At this church, I saw my husband baptize our two oldest sons with our pastor's blessing.  The church became our family and we were meaningful participants.  We went from consuming what the church had to offer to contributors.  It feels right to use the gifts and talents God has given us for His glory and honor.

Packing Still

So we are still packing.  Yesterday Joseph and a friend mopped and scrubbed my kitchen floor (yes hands and knees kind of scrubbing).  Plus they cleaned up a lot of the rest of the room.  I worked on shredding excess paper plus starting to clean the stairwell.  Nathan began packing the books from his father's bookcase.

This morning, I am working on laundry and trying to proofread our Sunday School lesson for the week.  I plan on continuing the work in our living room, stairwell, shredding, and our computer room plus starting on our bedroom.  My oldest packed up his father's stereo.  My second son has been working on his bedroom and is now getting ready to pack up my cookbooks.  Living in Boxville is getting quite interesting.  We hope to be able to see the house one more time before we actually start moving in.

So that's where we are.  What's up in your world today?  I'd love for you to share.

Moving Day Approaches

Well, if all went according to plan, our new tenants should have moved in yesterday.  I am really glad to have found people who seem like they will take care of the home and stay in touch with us.  It certainly is a blessing.   We are planning a trip at the end of the month to take care of few odds and ends that we need to take care of - like moving a fence and such.

At the same time, we are packing up our own belongings to prepare for a move to another house.  We are moving less than 10 miles away from our current home.  As we are packing, I am working to declutter and organize things better.  In about a week's time, we have made tremendous progress.  But we only have about a week to go before moving day.  Add in Dennis having drills next weekend and it adds to the excitement.  Fortunately (or not depending if you are Jacob), our oldest son's MRI of his back came back clear - so in moving he will help.

Everyone else is being expected to assist with the moving.  God has certainly provided blessings to us in finding this new house that we will make a home.  It is amazing to see how His hand has been on every little detail.

So packing has moved into high gear.  Yesterday, we got our sunroom, which functions as our schoolroom almost completely packed.  Plus it is well on its way to be cleaned as well.  I worked primarily on our living room, and it is on its way to being cleaned and packed as well.  My younger two worked on the second living room, getting more school books and items packed as well.  My mother worked on the dining room on her side getting books and things packed.  

Last night, Dennis worked on getting things in the sunroom organized so we can stack additional boxes there.  Our plan is to basically have over half of the house packed by the end of this weekend - if not more.  That way next week, we won't have as much to do.  My goal is to deep clean as we pack so once we get our stuff out, all we will need to do is minor cleaning and such.  I am ready to move on to our next home.

On the new home front, I got a text message yesterday saying that the new shower is well on its way to being done in my mom's bathroom.  Plus they are putting in a closet and a shelf.  So I can't wait to see it.  The next time we see the house, the current tenant should be moved out and just working on getting the house clean for us.

I imagine I will be posting more as we move in, get settled and work on getting schedules, routines and other organizational things set to keep the new home functioning well.

A Packing We Will Go

So I thought I would give a quick update.  You know I have said that God is at work in this whole move and I repeat that.  Monday morning we found out we can actually move in the new home this month.  We are so excited.  Packing is going to have to go into overdrive.  This means we need boxes upon boxes upon boxes.

Last night Dennis and I went out in search of boxes.  Buying them from U-Haul was going to be too expensive.  We went to Wal-Mart - they had a small supply and they were priced more than I really wanted to pay.  So we bought a few.  I sent Dennis to talk to Customer Service to ask about getting free discarded boxes from the store.  He gave them how many we wanted and our contact information.  

In the meantime, we got in line to check out.  Well there was an older lady in front of me.  When she finished checking out, she came back and asked if we were moving.  I, of course, said yes.  She then proceeded to tell me that she had just moved here and had lots of empty boxes she needed to get rid of.  So later this morning, we will be going to get said boxes for free.  Divine intervention is wonderful.

FROM ORPHAN TO ADOPTED - PROVERBS 31 OBS MINISTRIES BLOG HOP LIMITLESS LIFE WEEK 2

Well we are in week 2 of our Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study for Derwin L. Gray's book Limitless Life.  This book is so powerful and has so much to say.  This week I want to discuss going from orphan to adopted.  Oh I am not literally an orphan.  I have a wonderful mother who lives with me and has been one of my best friends for quite a few years.  Over 23 years ago, my parents separated and eventually divorced.  My father choose to basically drop out of my life.  He completely missed my wedding.   He has only seen my oldest son several times (probably 3 or 4 at the most).  He has seen my second son probably a total of 3 times at the most.  He has seen our youngest son only about once.  While he has never in his life set eyes on my beautiful, wonderful daughter.  

As I look back on my life, at the time I thought my parents had a good marriage, although my father tended to raise his voice and could cause fear to come into my heart.  Now I would call what he displayed as verbal abuse.  But I still had a fairly good relationship with him (or so I thought).  I was the good child - the one who did what was she was told and got good grades in school.  I went to college and was in my senior year of college when my parents separated.  I was torn between my mother and my father.  At the same time,  I met my future husband.  He is a wonderful man who has a wonderful father and grandfathers.  For the first few months, my father and I seemed to continue as we had been in the past.  He had left my mother for another woman and that really hurt.  He took a job out of state and my future husband and I saw him one time.

Over the next year or so, my father got angry at me over something and basically cut off all communication.  I invited him to our wedding, but he did not come.  He claimed he got lost, but I don't necessarily believe that.  We really did not see or talk with one another.  When we had our first son, my father and my sister came to to his dedication.  It was one of very few times he ever saw any of my children.  Then he saw my oldest two one time.  The next time he saw any of my children was at my grandmother's funeral.  He saw my middle two sons.  Since then, he really has not seen any of my children or spoken to me.  We invited him to come to see my oldest two get baptized approximately 3 years ago.  Then two years ago, my oldest two sons achieved the level of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.  We planned a huge party and my mother called to invite him to the party.  He told her not to contact him again and he wanted nothing to do with any of us.  It broke my heart. 

But I AM NOT AN ORPHAN!  I have a heavenly Father who loves me and was willing for His Only Begotten Son to die for my sins.  I redeemed by the blood of the Lamb called Jesus Christ.  I am a beloved daughter of the most high God.  Until I get to heaven, God has provided a wonderful earthly husband for me along with a wonderful father in law along with countless other men who have served as Godly examples of what a father should be and how he should act.  Granddaddy Pierce, Pastor Koss, Elder JM Horne are among some of these men.  My own sons and one daughter have a wonderful group of men to look up to and they know they are loved.    Sorry this is so long.  But I needed to get this out.

I choose today to forgive my earthly father.  I refuse to be held captive any more.  I have no way of knowing if he is still alive or not, but I plan on writing a letter saying so and sending to the last known address.  Even if he never receives the letter on Earth, I know my Heavenly daddy will know what I have done and for me right now that is enough.

Wow What a Week!

Boy have we had a week!  Back at the end of April we found out the people who were renting and supposed to be buying our prior home were moving out.   So two weekends ago, we went back to see the home and attempt to rent it out to some people we knew.   

We entertained the idea of moving the children, my mom and me back into that home; while my husband rented a small place where his work is.  But neither my husband nor I really wanted that.  So last Wednesday we thought we would try to find a different place to move into.  Thursday I inquired about one, which we were able to see on Thursday evening.  Talk about a God thing, this is the only home they offer that is this size.  Plus they were supposed to be showing to another person prior to us.  However, that person ended up having to reschedule.

So we loaded up the whole family, yep all 7 of us in my 12 passenger van and off we went.  We met the owner at the home and she began showing it to us.  This home has a beautiful large front porch.  You enter a  foyer that is part of a large living room.  From there you enter a dining room which has a walk in closet that we will probably actually use as a pantry/storage area for kitchen/dining items.  Then there is a large kitchen complete with a gas stove - I can't wait to get back to a gas stove.  It has been 10 years since I last had one and I still miss the convenience.  Also on the first floor is a room that could be a study, but we will use as a bedroom for my mom.  This has its own 1/2 bathroom.  But they are going to put a shower in there for us.  Also on the first floor is a utility room.

Then on the second floor, there is one bedroom that is normal size which our youngest son will use.  Beside that room is another room, which has a walk-in closet that is the size of a small room.  This will be our daughter's room.  Across the hall is another large room with its own sink plus another huge walk in closet.  This will be the room my oldest two share.  From that room or the hall you can enter the main bathroom.  The laundry room is another room captured in this bathroom.  I think I am going to love having my laundry room on the same floor as most of my bedrooms.  Then there is a separate living quarters (still part of the main house, just has a door from the hallway) that has  a huge bedroom, gigantic wall closet - think Princess Diaries 2 when Mia says she has her own mall - only slightly less extravagant and no jewels).  There is a separate dressing area complete with a sink that leads into the bathroom - which has a sink, toilet, shower and separate jacuzzi tub.  This room has its own staircase that leads down to the first floor.  

Out the back door is a deck, patio and storage room/garage.  There is also a fire pit that we can use.  While there is not a lot of grass, we are right down the road from a state park complete with its own lake.  So I think the benefits of the home are going to be fantastic!

So now it is time to get back to packing/cleaning/organizing!