Category: Life Foundations

 

This has been quite the adventure as we close down the Shiley house here in Mount Vernon.  We are down to the last five days.  I have had back issues, slept on the floor, then on an air mattress that didn’t hold air, to finally last night, where we didn’t sink into the middle.  We actually rested better than the last week.  Of course with all that is going on, it couldn’t stop there.  Nope.  I had to get a sty on my right eye!  Challenges…it’s all in how we look at them.  However, with the help of essential oils that is almost gone!  So that was a blessing.  Don’t want to go out with that kind of thing!  But you know, when we look for the blessings, they are right in front of our eyes.  Many of them!  We had the buyers of our home ask for an extension which we gladly gave because we were nowhere near ready to be completely out.  We had a local clean up day where you could take anything and dispose of it.  WHAT a blessing that was at just the time we needed it.  I have also had wonderful friends who didn’t mind me invading their house to do a couple of loads of laundry so we have something to wear.  We had a couple who were a real blessing when it came to moving the large things out of the house!  So God has been ever-present to give us gifts just at the right time.  His timing is perfect!

I have learned to:

• take short breaks
• enjoy some quiet in the gardens
• drink a mocha or a glass of cold ice tea
• take a few moments to write
• meet a friend for lunch.

It has helped keep my perspective where it should be and to also stay in thankfulness.  We need those reminders when things get a little rough.  I found myself wondering what a dress made out of bubble wrap might look like.  Ever thought of THAT?????  Add a little shrink wrap and some heat and it could really be something unusual!  I even started a group on Facebook for my relatives on my dad’s side of the family so we can share pictures and memories there.  Those younger than me didn’t have the experiences I did.  It’s fun to share them.  I share encouragement through social media as thoughts come to me.  It’s all a part of what keeps my focus in the right place.  Sometimes we have to start with the right attitude and God will add blessing to it.  There are times I have had to just close my mouth at times when I had a lot to say.  I have had to slow down because my back wouldn’t hold up if I didn’t.  For this task orientated lady, that can be hard.  I am learning more and more to listen to myself and ask why I might feel that way about something, and then ask God what He may be trying to help me see or learn regarding a situation.

So, as we approach the count down, I feel like we are heading into the curve.  We don’t know what is ahead.  We just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Adjust where we need to, and lean into the curve.  It reminds me of when I rode motorcycle.  If you are a rider and you go into a turn, you lean WITH the driver, not opposite.  A rider can cause an accident by not leaning with the driver of the motorcycle.  It feels like you might go over when you are both leaning.  But that is not true.  You lean in, accelerate into the curve, all the while leaning with the driver.  We can choose how much fun we have as we go into the curve.  We can throw our hands up in the air with frustration, or we can throw our hands in the air and shout for the fun of the curve.

It is both sad and exciting to leave our house on the hill.  Surprisingly enough, our new house will be up on the hill above the city also.  We are excited to see where God directs us and how we can make this our sanctuary and soft place to fall.  We are choosing to go into the curve with our hands in air, and laughing where we can, and holding on to each other while we lean into God until we round the curve on Friday.  There are always adjustments that we have to make in our lives; often daily.  We know we are going to have to adjust to the various differences in a new city, friends and family at a distance.  However it has always been my priority to stay in touch and keep family close.  I will continue to do just that!  But it also brings a new excitement and new vision to what we do with the rest of our lives.  When we trust God, who knows what comes next!  We know there is another curve in this road of life and it is just ahead of us.  But we know from this ride, we can trust Him to make the next curve more fun than the last!!

Walking the journey with you…

What did you do on those beautiful sunny days we had?  At least for us in the Pacific Northwest, it is a real treat to experience nice warm days this early in Spring!  But for me?  These warm days created some more difficult working days.  I am still packing boxes for a move.  It got kind of warm to be doing that.

We have been up early every day; wrapping and packing everything in the house!  Our day lasts until around 9-10 p.m.  Makes for a very long day.  Most days I am doing pretty well.  Tired by the end of the day, but making it.  But I have had a couple of days that I have just crashed.  Most days, I have been so tired I could have laid down for a nap.  But instead, I rested my legs and got back up to pack some more.  All this while hubby is loading our old Land Rover up with boxes and items and driving them down to the storage unit and unloading them again.  This is our day everyday until April 29th when we will leave the “house on the hill” for the last time.  We leave our flowers, trees and all the improvements we have done to our home, behind.  Along with those emotions of leaving what we have built, we also have the anticipation of something new to us.  We can anticipate a fresh start.  Seek out what God has for us and why He has chosen this particular journey.  It’s not necessarily a fresh start, but the expectation feels the same.

As we have worked on the house and moving, it has meant moving all the items by our old Land Rover.  Now if you know about them, you know they do not have a large capacity to carry things, even with the seats down.  So it has been quite the challenge for us.  We have had to rent a storage unit to store our furnishings because we have a gap between closing on this home and getting into the next.  And then there is renting of the second storage unit.  And then the third!!!  We aren’t just storing extras friends, we are storing a household!  So, we make the move with all the boxes, and then we will have to move it all again to our new home.  Bubble wrap and stretch wrap are my best friends!!!!!  We were most fortunate to rent a small truck the other day and have some help with moving the large items.  I am now sitting very gingerly in my chair at the computer as I try to baby my back and left shoulder in order to type this post.  At this time, I can’t move my head to the left very far at all.  But God blessed us with a wonderful couple to help us and my son get it done!  God is good!  You should have seen the comedy act with Terry and I trying to load our mattress by ourselves.  It is not a stiff one.  Of course, I thought it might be wise to wait until my son could help, but hubby thinks he can do anything sometimes.  Of course through a series of what would have been hilarious strategies if I wasn’t hurting so much, we finally did get it in there.  By the time we were done, I hurt so bad that I just couldn’t go with him to unload.  I don’t even want to think of what it was like for him by himself!!  🙂  What can we say?  It has to get done.  Now you may be asking, “Why did you take your bed out so early?  Why not wait until the last-minute, since we are working hard and having a nice place to fall might be helpful?”  Yes.  Well…I wondered too.  Last night that left us with the floor.  It’s kind of hard when you are already hurting.  Today we get out the air mattress and it has a leak.  So we fix the leak, we hope.  But it has to rest for eight hours.  Where do we sleep tonight?  On the floor with every sleeping bag, afghan, and quilt that we have in order to have some cushion.  Yep!  This is life at the Shiley house!  Never a dull moment!  The 5:00 news report is, our closing has been put off for six more days!  So I guess that is good.  We have a place to hang out a few more days without paying rent, and a bit more to get it all out and cleaned.  Hopefully with an air mattress to rest on!

It’s a lesson in life, isn’t it?   We learn to trust Him for the next step when it isn’t clear what that step is or where that step will be.  For many weeks, we didn’t know where it was.  But even knowing where it is now, it is a big transition.  Going to a place that is not new to us, but we will still have to rebuild a life in a different city again.  Establish new friends and a church family.  We are fortunate enough to know what church we will attend, but so many changes and growth, that it will be like going to a new church again.  It is not always easy for us to step into the unknown with God, but it’s always a wonderful and rewarding experience to walk in obedience with Him.  He will do amazing things when He knows you are willing to leave your comfort zone to do what He asks you to do.  I get mad, exasperated, overwhelmed, and just plain grouchy sometimes.  Just so you know.  But I try to keep my eyes on the prize…getting through this, so that, we get to our new home.  I look forward to enjoying all this home has to offer, and using my creativity to make it uniquely ours!  Plus a few days at the ocean to rest up!

When the tough times hit or the change turns into a challenge, hang in there, ask Jesus for help often and never forget to thank Him for even the little things that come along.  He orchestrates it all!  Even, and sometimes especially, the comedy situations we get ourselves into.  You never know but they are just so I can share them with you and give you a laugh so you can say, “Boy!  I’m glad its them and not me!”

On to Bel Aire!  Here’s to a retro/farmhouse living, and relaxing times on the deck!

Walking the journey with you…

 

Doesn’t that sound awesome?!?!?!?   Well…we just found out yesterday that it is true, if nothing unforeseen should arise.  But this decision has not come easy.  We have spent weeks in this process.  But God…He has been faithful!  Let me share a little about this.  I am learning it is always about our faith and trust.

We have had many disappointments as we have walked this journey of house finding.  If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know we were trying to stay in the northern area of Washington state close to family and friends.  But God has something else in mind it seems.  As we scoured the real estate market, we realized once again that if we wanted to do the Dave Ramsey style, which is to “live like no one else, so that some day you can live like no one else”, then we would have to look outside our area.  We began to look elsewhere to a place we had actually lived for over 4 years; from the end of 2003-2008.  We made the drives down to look at some houses only to be disappointed by the condition of the home or property.  We would drive around the area and look at homes on our list.  I had found this one online and we both really liked it.  We had a few others to consider and compare against this one you see above.  So for a third time, we made the drive down to look.  We went by each of them on the list again, and decided they were not wise choices for us.  We had already drove to the Bel Aire home and walked around it.  We really liked what we saw on the outside.  We hung out until our appointment with the agent. When he came to meet us there, we told him we had eliminated the other homes, except for this house on Bel Aire.

We walked up to the front door and walked in.  No bad odors or smells, quite clean for a home that had sat empty for a number of months, and oh my…I saw the inside and the office area, and the living area, dining area, the divider cupboard which was kind of funky but I liked it, and then…the kitchen!  That was it!  I loved the kitchen and the light in there!  The cupboard space was amazing!!!  I even liked the color!  It was so bright and airy looking.  Then…I saw the range!  How cool is THAT???  The agent sort of said yes, this is an old style range, like I was going to hate it.  But I started pushing buttons, and turning the light on, and told him this was right up my alley!  So while the guys walked around, I stood in the kitchen and said to the Lord and myself, is this the one?  I really love the comfort of this house.  Then the agent showed me the plans for the house that were still there!  VERY cool!

As we both walked around, we knew there was one other offer that had been presented, and countered.  We had already determined that if we offered a contract on this house and the real appearance was at least close to the pictures of it, we would offer full price.  We made the decision that we would make an offer.  At this time however, the agent has gotten notice that another showing will happen the next morning.  We decide that we have to meet in the morning to do the contract.  The next morning we travel over an hour to the office to fill out the contract.  The agent gets another notification that the house is being shown.  We submit our contract.  Now, if they all put an offer in, we are competing with three other buyers!  Just to give some background… in all the years that my sweetheart and I have bought a home, the home we like can sit for months on the market.  Let us show ANY interest in the home, and all of a sudden there are multiple people and offers that come in.  Now we are sitting across the signing table and we both look at each other and roll our eyes.  It is happening again!  However, we leave the Harbor and I was feeling like we would get the house.  Just felt right.  However, on the way home, we get a call saying the agent is not presenting the offers (2 along with ours) today like he planned, but waiting until the next morning so the other offers can be considered.  Not only that, but the first buyer gets a courtesy call to say, “There are other offers and are you comfortable with your offer or would you like to change it?”  What?!?!?!  Wow!  It doesn’t matter what number you are in line anymore, you are just one of the offers to the seller.  I am just bummed.

Enter…the devil.  My attitude is, “Oh great!  Why do they do that?  If you have a contract that should be presented.  Especially since you are giving a full price offer with no requests.  It’s just all about the money.”  My hubby is rather bummed but pretty quiet.  The kicker here is, I had decided as we left the house that whatever happens, happens.   Why?  Because we had some backups by the ocean that we both liked.  Well…that just went out the window with the wind!  All the way home, that ol’ devil went to work.  I reminded myself of my attitude about, it is up to God and that I had the feeling this was the house.  So…leave it there.

We get home that evening and of course, me being me, I go in for a back up plan.  I once again, after hubby retired for the night, go to the internet and start looking.  Just in case I missed something.  So I am searching and all of a sudden, the Lord seems to tap me on the shoulder.  “Hummm…I seem to recall you were going to leave it with Me.  I gave you confirmation in your spirit that this home would be yours.  What are you doing????  Do you not trust Me?  Do you think I can’t give you that house?”  Now, if I was walking in faith with this decision, it would have been a BIG reminder and confirmation of what God can do, and has done for me many times over.  Do I stop?  I pause.  🙂 Does that count?????  Then all of a sudden I feel very tired and I close my computer.  I go to bed and try to rest.  I don’t sleep very well.  Eight hours pass…

It’s the next morning and about 10 a.m. I get a phone call.  My agent gives me a big congratulations on being the owner of our new home.  I pass the phone to my hubby and let them talk.  I have an appointment.  I need to go to the Lord and praise Him for His faithfulness.  Once again, despite my lack of faith at times of trial, He has come through for me.  Is it because I’m “lucky”?  No.  I am blessed of the Lord.  He knows that I want to trust Him with everything.  I do.  But the real blessing is, He doesn’t shake His head at me, lift His hands, and tell me I’m hopeless.  Instead, He tenderly reminds me to trust Him and then shows me once again that He wants to give me the desires of my heart.

It isn’t easy to do what we feel we need to do.  There are family and friends who are happy for what makes us happy, but they were really hoping that happy was in this area close to where they live.  It really isn’t that far, but to them it is.  As God leads us, and if we want to really follow Him, He will take us to places we wouldn’t go on our own.  There is a reason and I know He will make it clear.

So today I am renewed in my spirit because God has shown me once again He cares about the little things and big things!  He can bring our contract to the top and win out other offers.  He can bring us around with a U-Turn to take us in the direction He wants us to go.  I can’t wait to sit out on my deck and write from there.  I can’t wait to sit at a yet-to-be purchased table and chairs, and enjoy my mocha and thank Him for all the glorious things He has done!  I will enjoy the quiet of our surroundings which we haven’t had in over three years.  I am learning that those times are worship for me.  Those times are necessary for me.  Consequently, I am very much looking forward to place of sanctuary.

Another blessing is the community God has put around you?  As I shared a bit of our journey of the house find on social media, I was overwhelmed by the well wishes, the encouragement, and the love shown towards me and this endeavor.  That amazes me!  I am very thankful to my family and their understanding, to each reader who shares a moment here with me, and my friends who don’t want me to leave, but are happy for me anyway.  The dream is, I will have a dedicated guest room for visits.  Another best part????  The ocean.  I am thirty to thirty-five minutes to the ocean!  That has been a long standing dream of mine; to be close to the water.

I leave you with this: Don’t give up when the devil hits.  Kick him to the curb!  I want to share with transparency here on the blog with the hope that you will know that we all have those times of doubt.    It is what we learn FROM it that is important.  Keep pressing on.  He is making me strong!  God has given me my move to Bel Aire!  Who knows what is next?

Walking the journey with you…

 

 

 

How DID we get this idea that things are supposed to run smoothly in our lives at some point in time?  Did our Sunday School teacher tell us?  Pastors?  Parents?  Where did it come from anyway?  I certainly have never found this to be true in my life.

See the picture above?  This picture would be more to my life; hanging on for dear life for what may come next.  I am hanging in there with my toes spread out because I never know what the next day may bring!  I do a lot of self-talk.  Always have.  Most of the time its good things, but occasionally, I find myself stuck in some not so good self-talk.  Ever happen to you?  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, Who speaks to me when I need a good talking to, and will pick me up and turn me around when I need to go in a different direction.

Well…this is one of those days.  I am facing a BIG change, especially at this time in my life.  I’m not sure of the future because I don’t know what it will hold.  However, how I face this change and challenge, will have a lot to do with the outcome!  What is my BIG change?  Putting our house up for sale.  Yes.  That.  After all the cute things I have done to make this our home, we are selling the house!  Where will God move us to?  How far away from my kids and grandson?  In this economy, what can we comfortably afford?  All of those items tick off my mental list and I don’t know the answer to a one of them.  Why?  Because we have to sell our house first!  We have to stage our house first.  So what makes my house my house, has to be taken down.  It slowly becomes someone else’s home.  What goes.  What stays.  Where do we store these items that we are staging out of the home?  See what I mean?  It drives me crazy!  So I can only take one day at a time and answer a question or two each day and move toward accomplishing what needs to be done for that day.  But God is asking us to step into the water before He parts it.  So…hubby and I are holding hands together and are stepping on in!

Is that easy???  Nope!  Not for this more A type personality.  I have my list made and start working on it.  I want to check things off my list and get it done!  And…preferably, I would like someone else to do it!  I’m getting to old for this stuff.  I want to be settled in my place of comfort with family and friends coming to visit me.  Quiet evenings by the fire.  I know you get it.  However, we have decided to move in the direction God leads and TRUST God to lead us in the way that is best for us.  Totally dependent on Him for our needs and the sale of our house, which we hope will be very quick!!

So what do we do when these storms come blowing in?  I have had a relationship with God long enough to know His faithfulness!  He has always taken care of us.  So this is what I do…I lean in close to God, ask Him to direct my attitude, be willing to do what He is asking me to do, and stay in gratitude.  Even today as I take a break from packing boxes, I had a message come in that my coffee table and end tables sold.  Not for as much as I wanted them to, but they sold.  That’s three items we don’t have to keep or move!  That is a praise!!!  In OUR house, that is a BIG praise!  (A little thing that shows God is already at work!)  We have a storage unit so that we can stage things in the house and give it a roomy feel.  I have de-personalized a lot of the house now too so they begin to see their own things in the home.  But God…He has helped me do that.  After all the dreaming and changing of things, it’s hard to almost have it like you want and then have to take it all down.  But where God takes down, He rebuilds.  He has already started.  I am now praying and asking Him to go before us, sell our home, help us find a home in our price range, (which isn’t easy) and keep my heart soft to where He might take us.  It is all an adventure!!!  Full of expectation!!!  Big on trust!!!  I will soon have another house to make a home!

So if you think of it over the next several weeks, would you pray for us?  Pray for our home to sell quickly.  Pray for just the right home.  I am also praying for the next owners of this home, that they will find comfort in what we have built up and improved.  Thank you in advance for your prayers.  If you know of anyone looking for a cute little house in a price range that is unbelievable in this market for what you will get, message me.  I would be happy to share the information.  Never, never, never give up!

Walking the journey with you…