Moving Day Has Arrived

Praise the Lord, He provided renters for our home. The first people to inquire about our house saw it and called within a few hours to say they wanted to rent. That was last Monday (9 days ago). This past Monday we got confirmation that movers would be coming on Tuesday, the next day! So needless to say, my world (my home) has been turned upside down and inside out in less than 48 hours. I would compare this move to ripping a bandaid off. If it is going to happen, just do it fast.

So where are we going to live now, you ask? Mike's parents have graciously opened thier home to us. We will be with them for about three weeks, two of which Mike will be in training. We'll stay in Del Rio through Christmas, then head up to Arkansas by the New Year where we will live in a full furnished three-bedroom TLF (temporary living facility-small house) on base. They even said I could bring my cat. ; ) And the school will be walking distance for the girls. Isn't God good? And to think I was sweating the details.

Thanks for praying for us through this move. We still have 7 more months to go before we finish and appreciate any continued prayers. We are greatful for those who are "living" this with us. Enjoy the before and after pics of the move. ; )
Me stressed! Me relaxed!

The boys room before... and after.

The dining room before... and after.

The living room before... and after.

Good buy stuff. See you in 7 months, God willing.

Officially move in December

Mike and I were able to make some definitive decisions this week regarding our upcoming move. The first major thing will be movers coming to pack up our home the first week of December. Then Mike will leave on the 7th for Little Rock, Arkasas to start his training while I stay with the kids and finish out school 'til the holiday break. He'll come back here for Christmas with his parents and then the whole family will move to Little Rock the last week of December. We put our name on the base TLF waiting list which is a fully furnished three bedroom house. We won't have to set up or close any utility accounts, we'll be walking distance to the school on base, and they will let me bring our cat. God is slowly showing us He is providing our every need. And now we are waiting to see what He will do with our house... still looking for renters or buyers.

So that is the most current update on our end. In the meantime, I am relishing every last moment of our time here. I am really going to miss the people here - my church family, my women's Biblestudy, my neighbors, and my friends. God has really blessed us here. Thank you, LORD!

Cardboard Box Maze

Last night, for Halloween, our church sponsored a Fun Fall Festival. Mike came up with the idea of creating a "Cardboard Box Maze" three years ago. This is this year's edition! We all had a blast putting it together over several hours.

The Fun Fall Festival turned out to be a great outreach to our community. It provided a safe and fun place for lots of children to play in activities, get free candy, and earn prizes. This is one of the many things I will miss about our church when I leave. Maybe I can convince our next church to do something similar... God willing. ; ) Happy late Holloween and welcome to November!

Goodbye to Cali!

Within the last few weeks, Mike and I noticed that our cat, Cali, had isolated herself from us. We first became aware that she was getting sick. However, when she began refusing her favorite soft cat food, we knew something was wrong. I started to keep an eye on her realizing she was not playing with us, keeping us company, or greeting us anymore. We finally decided this morning to take her to the vet.
I went in with her thinking that I would walk out with some meds that would make her feel better in a few days. What I got instead was the notification that her liver had failed and she was close to dying. My heart just cried out in disbelief. This is my cat that is only four years old, was with me when we brought our girls home from Ukraine, gave us Sumy (our other cat which is her daughter) by giving birth on my bed, sat on the porch with me, sat near me in the morning while I drank coffee and had my quiet times... Now I was being told that she was fatally ill.
I have never had to put an animal to sleep. I couldn't understand how the vet knew she was sick when she was still walking around - not eating, sleeping, drinking, or using the litterbox though. Mike and I had to put her first and think of her best interests. He asked me, "Can you sleep tonight now that you know how much pain she is going through?" No, I could not! But then, how do I tell the children? We decided to wait until they got home from school and let them say goodbye. Of course, our two oldest daughters took it very hard. It is one thing to grieve for yourself and another to watch your children grieve. There is so little that can be done to console them over a lost "family member" like her. We let them talk to her by themselves, take pictures, and say goodbye. Then we took her back to the vet for the hardest part.
Since we are selling our house, a dear friend of mine allowed us to bury Cali on her property near some water where some other animals are buried. Only God knows why he took her so soon. Only God knows where pets go after they die here. That is a question my daughters are still pondering. But I go to the words that comforted and are still comforting me... "Not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of the father" (Matt. 10:29). God knew Cali was leaving our home today. And He is comforting all of us through it. "Surely I am with you always..." (Matt. 28:20).

Trip to Big Bend

Mike and I took all the kids on a camping trip to Big Bend this weekend. We had a blast while physically exerting ourselves and seeing God's beautiful creation. There are some pics attached that show the breathtaking scenery as well as one of God's very friendly creatures.

The scenic view is from the top of Emory Peak which is a 9 mile roundtrip hike. It is well worth it, but not for little ones. Luckily, one of our frinds stayed behind with our three little ones so both Mike and I could go up with Stasia and Dasha.

Here is our friendly skunk. She decided to join the adult converstation after we got all the kids down.

I would have pet her, if I didn't think she would

spray me. ; )

Stasia slightly sprained her ankle and Dasha hurt her knee,

so Bryan, Eli, and Alaizha did

a smaller hike with me right before we left.

Thanks also for praying about our move stuff. We are still progressing with Mike's plans to leave for Arkansas on 7 Dec. We are leaving our house situation to God to see which one comes first, a buyer or a renter. We are open either way. God has not left us yet, nor will He leave us now. I am confident of that!

Melissa

To sell or not to sell? That is the question!

Considering how the economy has been going the last few weeks in light of the bailouts, houses are not moving. So in the midst of all the other decisions we need to make in regards to moving, our question comes back to us in need of another answer. Do we still try to sell our home or now should we look into renting?
Control is area of weakness for me, especially passing it over to my husband. I am a true military wife in that I have trained myself how to handle it all... at least that is what I tell myself. Then God comes along to shatter my overly confident self perception and show me I am still under His wings even if I can't see the next step in front of me. Why is this so scary-not knowing what tomorrow holds? I don't know if I will ever truly know the answer. However, at the same time, I am learning to relax and stand firm that God already knows how I am going to get to our next assignment, where our kids will go to school, where we will live, whether we will rent or sell this house, whether we will rent or buy the next... The details are endless and yet God knows and cares about each and every single one.
So as I struggle with giving over control, I pray that each of you will realize God's sovereignty in your life and that He has ordained the days of your life. There is no need to worry about tomorrow. He is already taking care of that too.
Thanks Lord for your provisions!
Melissa

October is here!

Well, October is finally here bringing with it some cooler weather. I look forward to the days when we can wear long sleeves and sweatshirts all day, not just in the morning before 9am.

There isn't much to update over the last two weeks. Though I have maintained a certain level of busyness. Between appointments for school, dentist, and physical forms being filled out for our orders to Germany, I have a child with eight cavities (yes, I said eight!) that will undergo anesthesia next Tuesday.

In the meantime, I am trying to work on getting my quiet time done earlier and to pray more. I don't know why this is so hard for me. But please pray that I will pray! ; ) I have been convicted to pray about specific things as well as outside my little circle. I need to pray for our leaders, our country, our city, my/our pastors, my husband, my children specifically, not just in general. Thanks in advance for any prayers and/or encouragement.

Melissa