Does anything compare to taking your 2 1/2 year old to Disney world for the first time? Only if you've had a house on the market for six years and get the call that there's a legitimate offer on it! We were already having a wonderful day despite the 93 degree temp. watching Ruby ride her first rides, meet Disney characters with no fear, and just basically get anything she wanted! It does make you feel like a kid all over again, what could be better? God's timing amazes me- the last thing I was thinking about that day was the burden of the house, for once. However, for the few weeks since school started (this was mid-September) I had carried this hopeless feeling- I had told myself that after the remodeling of the house, if the house didn't sell by the time school started in the fall, we had to realistically look at life with this until we paid it off. Once again, I'm ashamed of my weak faith, I called it "being realistic." And add on to that the "reality" of the bad housing market, and for anyone looking at it they may agree with me. But then God...(doesn't the Bible often change directions in a story with that phrase a lot! I love it). As of yesterday we mailed off the money, the paperwork, everything so that the deal on the house will close Monday morning. That same morning I will also start a new job that God provided for me as well, but we'll save that amazing blessing for another post. Last night we celebrated and as odd as this may sound while I am thankful beyond what I can express I do fight the urge to wallow in the guilt of not having believed. I knew God could sell the house, but for six years He chose not to. And while He did use this to teach me valuable lessons, Satan, the accuser, wants me to believe that I did something to stand in the way of God doing this for me, if I this then God that. And so he also wants to take away the joy of experiencing God's great blessing at this time- all of which takes my eyes off "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.. to HIM be the glory" (Eph. 3:20). It's not about me, it's about Him, and I want to be sure He gets the glory, for the sale of the house, for His faithfulness over the past six years, and for His mercy, patience, compassion, and boundless love!
So this is what it takes to get me blogging the day an event actually happens- snow flurries! I can't believe that both last night and this morning I could look out my window and see big gorgeous white flakes falling, actually quite a lot of them, though none of them stuck around very long. I do love snow, however mid-November is a little early for 30 degree weather, cabin fever, and snow reports! What happened to fall- it's as if the weather took its ques from retail and jumped right into Christmas and winter full force. Once again, love Christmas and the holidays, but where is the wonderful fall thanksgiving anticipation! Ruby's little face makes those transient questions fall by the wayside as she informs me at 8 am- "I need to put on my hate and mikkens (she's got a slight cold right now) and go look at the snowflakes and make a snowball." Notice the mismatched mikkens..... some one's been so eager to wear them that she plays with them and has lost one of each, she could care less! She didn't miss a beat when the snow had stopped and there wasn't enough to make that snowball, she improvised with brushing the bit of icy snow off her slide! The only way I could coax her in was to tell her I'd make hot chocolate and marshmallows, a first for her, but something she's seen often on a favorite curious George video. And it did not disappoint! Look at her drinking from her own big girl cup! What could be better than that hot chocolate smile!! I am so blessed!
1. I hosted a baby shower for my sister, Ellen, in SC
