Almost Time

Well, the time is getting closer and closer. I leave for Creston on Sunday. Close on my house on Monday. And try to get unpacked and settled. My parents are then coming on March 8 to help with some house projects. Then I start work on March 15. It's happening very quickly.

Part of me is so excited and ready to jump in. The other part of me is a little sad to be moving away from my family again and missing my friends from camp and church.

I am, however, very excited to see what God has in store. There is no denying that this entire process and direction has been laid out by Him. I'm very thankful for the time I've had off to rest and recuperate. I'm also very thankful for the time I've had with my wonderful parents. If I had a choice in picking my parents, I couldn't have done any better than the ones God blessed me with. They have been so supportive and so generous. I am truly blessed.

House Pictures

Hello all! I thought I'd give you a quick house update. I'm scheduled to close on the house March 1. I'm also scheduled to move March 1. Aaron and Anna are going to drive all my earthly belongings down from the camp on the day I close. Yay!!!

Remember how I posted a few weeks ago about how scared I was? There is still part of me that is scared, but I'm getting very excited to get into my home and make it my own. I'm getting excited to see what kind of ministry my new home will be used for. I'm getting excited to start my new job and get settled in. Can you see the theme?

God is good!

So here are some pictures of the inside of the house. We didn't take one of the outside, but it's brick and cute. I'll be taking more pictures as I make changes and I'll be more than happy to share with you along the way.

I really want to tell you what I have planned for each room, but them the post would be really, really long. I'll just have to post as the changes are made. Hope you can see the potential that I see.

This first picture is the spare room. So when you come to visit me, this is where you will stay!

This will be my bedroom.

Here is a shot of the front room/living room. I'm going to use this space for my piano, bookshelves, etc. The living room furniture and TV will be at the back of the house.

Here is the teeny, tiny bathroom. Lots is going to be done in this room.

Kitchen shot #1. Those cupboard doors you are looking at, go waaaaaay back.

This shot is a little dark, but you can see the addition on the back of the house from the kitchen.

Here's a shot of it from the other side.

This is the family room addition. I'll be using the part you see here as the dining room.

This side will be the living area. One of the first projects is taking out the wood burning stove. Can't use it with my asthma and it would need some adjustments to be up to code. So out it goes.

I'm very excited about this room. I see it as a neat asset to be used for ministry and having people in my home.

Thanks for taking the tour. When can you come for a visit?

It's Finally Here

My best friend, Bekah, has been on deputation to go as a missionary to Japan for a long, long time. Well, it's finally here. Very early tomorrow morning, she boards a plane for Japan. I'm so very excited for her!!! She has worked so hard and been so patient. I'm excited that she will finally be able to minister on the field where God has called her.

I love you Bekah and I'm so proud of you!!!

Biblical Counseling

I attended the Biblical Counseling Training Conference at Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN this past week. My parents have both gone through their training and my dad warned me that it was like trying to take a sip from a fire hydrant. He was right!

Even though I don't see myself as every counseling in a session type environment, it was such a helpful conference. It will not only help me in helping others, but it was very convicting in my own life as well. I came away with several areas of my heart exposed.

I got to hear incredible speakers such as Steve Viars, Mark Dutton, Dr. Wickert, James MacDonald, Paul Tripp and too many others to list.

It was also wonderful to attend the conference with some of the camp ladies and spend some time with them. Anna and I stayed at the same home and had several late nights of iron sharpening iron. I'm very thankful for such wonderful friendships.

Becky did provide us with flannel sheets! :) I had a great time catching up with a wonderful college friend though our time together was very short due to the conference schedule.

I hope to be able to attend again next year...on to Track 2!

Strong Cheese

You guys are going to love this one!

New Dishes

Here are what my new dishes look like. I just love them and am so thankful the Lord allowed me to find the "perfect" sets.

I'll have to blog later about my time at the conference. But I can tell you my brain is full and my heart is convicted.

Quickie

Hello, All!

Just want to let you know I'm headed to Lafayette, IN tomorrow. I'm attending Faith Baptist Church's Biblical Counseling Conference for the first time! For those of you who have no clue what it is, check out their website.

I'll be staying with my college friend, Becky. She and her husband are graciously opening up their home to me, Anna (from IRBC) and another couple attending the conference. Get this...she's even promised we get flannel sheets. You can't get that at a five star hotel!

I also want to let you know that I'm officially buying a house pending the inspection, which will be done Monday! The closing will most likely be Feb. 19, but it's not set in stone yet. That means that I'll be moving less than a week after I get back from the conference. Lots to get done in that time.

And in other totally unrelated news, I got new dishes today! The two Corelle sets I had were very dated and used before I had them. I left them at the camp to be used by volunteers or in the dorms. See, I left them so I'd have to get new dishes. Very clever; don't you think? I've been looking every time I go to Kohl's, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. I found a set that I really liked at Wal-Mart, but it just wasn't perfect. My parents and I were at Wal-Mart today and I walked by an end display that had them...my perfect stoneware. My mother bought them for me as a house-warming gift.

I took a picture with my phone, but I can't figure out how to download the picture to my computer. I'm so sorry because I know you are dying to see them. I guess that means you will all have to come to my house for dinner when I'm settled in.

AND my dad also gave me a house warming gift. He set me up with tools, tools and more tools. He's says I'm going to be a home owner so I need to be prepared. He even bought me this set ladder thing! Isn't he wonderful. Now, I just have to figure out how to use them.

I've been told that I'm getting too wordy lately with no pictures. So I'm sorry that I once again have a post without a single picture. I hope to change that very soon.

Praise!!!

I had previously posted about the surprise on my insurance bill. After my initial "freaking out" about it, God worked in my heart to show me that He will take care of me. I just needed to trust Him.

I heard from my insurance agent that it was a mistake and the extra $200/month is coming off! God is so good. Even if I did have to pay it, He would still be good! I'm glad I came to that point even before I had the good news. I'm very thankful for such an amazing God that cares about our needs. I'm also thankful that even when we fear and doubt, He cares and doesn't give up on us (or more specifically me).

Please Pray

I hope you have been following the Johnsons and praying for them. I just got a text from Jessica's cousin who says Josiah will be home with his Lord in a matter of hours. I'm not sure how many of you will be checking my blog this evening, but I ask that you pray for this wonderful family. Their testimony is amazing and they have shown so much of God's grace through this.

I love you, Jess, and I'm praying for you!

**Update

I just received another text letting me know that Josiah is now with his Savior. The battle is over and he is now resting at the feet of Jesus. Please pray for his family as they mourn his loss.

I Thess. 4:13 "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as other do who have no hope."

Josiah, we will meet again!

Grace

At the conclusion of my devos this morning, I had a song running through my head. It seemed to fit with my bout of fear yesterday. So after another time of confessing this morning, I meditated on these word for awhile. My heart feels so blessed to have such an amazing God that forgives and blesses. I don't want to miss out on the joy of His leading because of fear. I don't want to fearfully follow God's leading, but faithfully follow. I'm not saying the fear is gone, but I'm working on it.

Grace
by Carolyn Hamlin

Lord, as I seek your guidance for the day,
I find my thoughts unyielding: confusion clouds my way,
But, then when I bow to you, the challenges you guide me through,
Your promises are ever new: I claim them for today.

Your will cannot lead me where your grace cannot keep me.
Your hand will protect me: I rest in your care.
Your eyes will watch over me: Your love will forgive me.
And when I am faltering, I still will find you there.

Each new day’s design is guided by your hand,
And graciously revealed as I seek your Master plan.
Keep my footsteps faithful when from you I go.
Return me to the joy that your blessings can bestow.

Your will cannot lead me where your grace cannot keep me.
Your hand will protect me: I rest in your care.
Your eyes will watch over me: Your love will forgive me.
And when I am faltering, I still will find you there.

Your eyes will watch over me,
Your love will forgive me,
And when I am faltering,
Lord, I will find you there

One Step Forward...Two Steps Back

Wow! God is doing things in my life and He's moving at rapid speed. I'm going to be honest here...I'm scared. Which is simply quite silly. It is so obvious that it's God's plan for me to move to Creston. It is also obvious that God placed a particular house in my path.

Let me back up a bit. My parents went with me to Creston on Thursday and Friday of last week. It's a long drive, so we didn't have lots of time to look at houses. In human terms, it really seemed impossible that I'd find a house in such a quick trip. But God does not have limits. We looked at a total of seven houses and the very last one was it. We almost didn't get to see it, but it was totally a God thing. It's in a great neighborhood and it's a really nice house. It needs some updates and a bit of work, but it's manageable.

Now, on with the story. My thoughts have been running along these lines for the last few days..."It would be so much easier to do this if I had a husband." I know that all of you married people out there are thinking it's just as scary when your married. Today in my devotions it hit me that what I was actually doing was wishing there was a living, breathing person in the flesh that I could trust in and rely on. Whoa! Isn't God so much better than that? And I'd rather trust a sinful man than trust an amazing God? See...that's just plain silly!

So I had some confessing and committing to do. And then the mail came. I got a letter that stated my medical insurance was going to be over $200 more a month than I had expected. Seriously....it was only like five minutes after my prayer. What did I do? I'd love to tell you that I had great faith and knew it was simply another twist in the road. Nope...I freaked out! Lots of tears and growing fears.

When will I learn that God will only allow what is best for me in my life? When will I learn that perfect love casts out fear? When will I learn that I should only fully trust in Him and in nothing else?

As you can see, I have a lot to learn. This process of moving to Creston has been amazing! I have no doubt that this is direction God has laid out for me. I have no doubt He wanted me to see this house. So why all the fears? I guess I'm still a sinner saved by grace that needs to refocus my attention on Him.

I'd appreciate your prayers throughout this process. We are still in the "counter-offer" stage on the house. I'll post and let you know as soon as it goes through.