And the questions. So many questions! One of the most frequently asked questions, at least asked of us, is "are you packed yet?" The short answer to that question is no, we're not packed yet. Followed by we're working on it!
It seems like a good time for a progress report. To answer some of the questions we are being asked these days. And to remind ourselves of just how wonderfully well this process has gone - and is going - and just how amazing our God is!
Just over a month ago we accepted an offer on our house here in the mountains. And since then, life has been a whirlwind. It seemed to us that we had been waiting forever for that offer. In fact, the house had been on the market just a few days short of one year. This time. We had been wanting to sell it for several years, and had listed it in prior years with no success.
But God's timing is always perfect, and we got our offer. And we learned a lot about waiting.
"Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7 NASB)
Just five days after we accepted the offer on this house, we made an offer to purchase a house in Spartanburg. That offer was accepted a few days later. Since then, life has been a whirlwind of inspections, carpet and appliance selections, decisions, and packing. Boxes, boxes, and more boxes! Taking stuff to Goodwill. Hauling off garbage.
We are now living out of suitcases. Literally. We gave our bedroom furniture to our son and DIL, so all the drawers had to be emptied out before it went to live at their house.
We're surrounded by boxes. The hardest part of the packing - the kitchen - is about halfway done.
Yesterday we rented a U-Haul and took a lot of "stuff" to the storage unit we have rented in Spartanburg. As had been the case a couple of weeks ago when Brandon came over to get the bedroom furniture, there was an "issue" with the U-Haul rental. This time, when we went to pick up the truck, the sign on the door said "open" but no one was there, and the woman who runs that particular facility doesn't answer her phone and doesn't return calls. That added frustration to a day that was already pretty frustrating, since loading and unloading in the kind of downpour we had yesterday is not an easy thing. In any event, we drove over to Micaville, and once again got a truck there. (Thank you, Johnny Riddle!) It was a bigger truck than the one we had reserved, but he let us have it for the price of the smaller truck, so we were able to take more stuff to Spartanburg. Of course, that meant all the stuff wouldn't fit into the unit we had already rented, so we rented a second, smaller, unit for a month to hold the overflow. What a day!
When we got to Spartanburg, it was still pouring rain. Even so, with many thanks to our good friend Cathy, we got everything unloaded. We were soaked and looked like drowned rats by the time we were done! The truck was emptied and returned, we had a good supper at a local fish camp, we purchased a rug for the new house, purchased a new (dry!) shirt for Al, and headed home, exhausted, but satisfied with the progress we had made.
There are more forms to sign. More boxes to be packed. But in less than two weeks it will all be done! Then we can begin the process of settling in to our new home.
As I have been reflecting on all this today, I'm amazed at how much has been accomplished in such a short time. We had waited a long time for the house to sell, but once it did, things have been moving at quite a pace!
It's awesome, really. I know that is an overused word, but it seems appropriate here. When I think that just over a month ago, we were so discouraged because the house hadn't sold, and then I think of how quickly everything has happened since then, I am overwhelmed. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe it! This whole process has been awesome because God is awesome! And He is in control. His plan is perfect. His timing is perfect. And His mercies are new every morning.
I stand amazed!
"The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB)
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,
As Thou has been, Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars, in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
CHORUS
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,
As Thou has been, Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars, in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
CHORUS
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
(Thomas O. Chisolm)
Listen to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNZS5H9aNlY
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