A Little LESS Exciting Would Be a Good Thing

Today started out fine, although perhaps I should have been clued in when I put too much sugar in my coffee this morning...I don't remember when (if?) I've done that before. And yet, even though I'm sitting here typing with only 9 of my fingers, (nah, forget that, I think I'll carry on one handed,) I have to admit that the day continued to appear promising. Our realtor came over with an accepted counter offer on one of the houses we are selling (our first home, turned rental) and we got to practice our autographs. I finished reading The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and came up with a quilt block design for my Sonlight Forums Quilt Block Exchange.

I was on my way to the fabric store (without kids, driving Chris' nice Audi instead of my huge Landcruiser--still sounding like a pleasant day, right?) and had just pulled into the parking lot when a white SUV quickly turned in front of me and stopped quickly. I stopped a bit farther back than I normally would--to make sure I knew what the SUV was doing--when the big thing started quickly backing up straight towards me! Ack! I looked in my mirrors and tried to shift into reverse while laying on my horn good and strong...all to no avail. The crunch was sickening. (like when you go to take a drink of milk and it turns out to be orange juice.) Not a good Doritos-CRUNCH, but the horrible crunch of time and money being wrenched out of your chest unwillingly. The damage looked to be relatively minior until radiator fluid started leaking out.

It was 2pm when I got home, and I hadn't eaten anything all day. I decided to open up a can of soup (because it's AUTUMN--regardless of what Southern California weather thinks) and as I was trying to get a grip on the loosened lid of the can, a gut-wrenching, metallic, slicing pain screamed through the tip of my left index finger. I let a triple scream/gasp loose into the calm Sunday afternoon, held onto my finger so it couldn't decide to leave, and turned to run my finger under the cold water in the kitchen sink. I was shrouded in a thick cloud of pain and tears, weakness and confusion. I couldn't bear to look; I kept hearing the metal ripping through my flesh. My wonderful children sprang into action, got Chris, (he was looking at his poor car,) and the next thing I knew I was all doctored up. I haven't felt a pain quite like that--maybe ever. It was not a shooting sharp pain, nor was it a building ache. It was undefinable, an aura so to speak, that sent echoes throughout my body and sent the tears gushing from my face.

I think that all will be well...but what a price to pay for a little trip to the fabric store! I'm going to aim for a less exciting day tomorrow.

bored

Expectations, unreasonable, unseasonable

Balking, pouting, sore.

Excursions, endurable, interminable

Waiting, sitting, bored.

Crazy Life? or God at Work?

I've been attempting to post about this for DAYS, and I'm just too crazy busy to really get all my thoughts out properly. So let me start by copying a bit that I emailed to a friend:

"Joshua Fest turned out quite well, especially considering that we skipped last year and that the economy is still not the best--especially up there in Nor Cal. We got back from there late on 9/7 and started school 9/8. Chris got back down here on 9/9, and decided we should go look at house for sale around the corner from us. So we did that on 9/10, drew up an offer on 9/11, and submitted it on 9/12. We received and accepted a counter offer on 9/13 and entered escrow on Monday, 9/14. How's that for crazy? So we're putting this house and our rental house (our first home over on Marwick) on the market and will moving into a gigantic house that has been barely touched since it was built in 1962. And, amazingly enough, we'll actually be paying less each month than we are paying for this house."

So that's the news. We weren't even close to thinking of moving this autumn, yet this opportunity popped up and we are excited about it! There are many things that point away from a simply crazy life and point toward God's hand at work. We found out that we were able to put in an offer that was not contingent on another sale, we found out that the house is in great shape for being original '62 when we were expecting something that would be barely livable, we found out that the original exorbitant asking price had been significantly lowered before we even looked at it, and we were amazed when the counter offer came in as low as it did.

Here the fun begins. Painting closet doors and bedrooms that up until now have been in a state of flux, decluttering the closets and rooms that held more than they should have, planting flowers, packing, and in the midst of it all, homeschooling and homemaking. It is a crazy life, but I can handle it knowing that God is at work.

JoshuaFest 2009

What a way to spend a weekend! Lots of people, lots of loud music, lots of fun. For those of you who may be unaware of how my family spends Labor Day Weekend, let me introduce you to Joshua Fest. With the exception of last year, we have been rocking the mountains around Quincy California since 2003. It is a ministry first envisioned by our good friend Aaron, whom Chris and I have partnered with. Aaron handles the bands, Chris handles all the logistics, and I schedule volunteers and run the coffee house (much needed at a festival--the hours are crazy!)

Of course, once things really got going I was mostly stuck in the coffee shop, so I really only got pics of the set up...but believe me when I say it was loud, fun, and friendly. We are blessed to have family and friends put in their time to join our vision. My mom and dad manage our children's area and bring their puppet ministry with them, and that is only the beginning.

Big weekend, long week! I'd love to see some of you there next year--check out www.joshuafest.com