Lindaslist 2

So while mom and I were talking we thought of a couple more items that could be included on Lindalist and I realized I have pictures of a few of the items listed earlier.  In addition to the other items listed that need a new home, there is 

• a Kenmore  21.9 Cubic Ft, Refrigerator --Bottom mount Freezer - Almond Color bought December 2009.  Works well just not needed.
• The toddler table and two chairs that my dad built when my brother was little.  It is 26 in wide by 22  in wide by 22 in tall with a little drawer for paper and crayons.  It has lots of history!

Pictures of items listed earlier:

The computer cabinet or storage cabinet as we used it for.

Mom's Secretary.  She won it for sales in Tupperware!

I know mom, I didn't take all the stuff off the beds before taking the picture and now everyone knows the spare room had become the storage room.  Sorry! The bunk beds are currently separated and piled upon however this give an idea of what the wood looks like.  See  a glimpse of the glider rocking chair in the lower  left corner?

Lindaslist

With 4 weeks until Mom and Dad move, they are walking through the house looking at the furniture saying "keep that" and "let that go."  and Behind them is Linda going "I want that" and "you can't get rid of that!"  Most of the sentimental pieces are going to the new Condo or my house.  There are some items though that need new homes. For those readers who are local or those interested in a road trip, I am going to list here some large items needing new homes and opportunities to check out some of the other "stuff" that will not be going to the Condo or my house.  Somehow it is easier to let stuff go to people I know, especially the sentimental pieces. 

Currently selling:

• full bottom/single top wooden bunk bed set very lightly used
• a beautiful yet large computer cabinet 
• reclining love seat and one or two matching reclines. (not sure they have decide which of their two sets are staying and which is going.)
• large desk/shelf set up
• drafting table
• glider rocker with matching ottoman (mauve) 
• hall tree with mirror
• secretary with glass display top and drawers on bottom
• boxed sets of baseball cards.  Many
• the dining table and 4 chairs that I grew up with.  Yes the one we sat on to open birthday presents when I was little.  
• little bookcase (38 in wide and less than 3 feet tall) dad made in their living room when my folks were newlyweds (needs home if mom or I can't find room for it)

The "Man Sale" is Saturday May 3rd.  Tools, yard items, men's clothes

The "Everything Else Sale" is Friday and Saturday May 16th and 17th

There will likely be a " left over sale " at Linda's in early June.  Got to make room at my house for the sentimental pieces I am not willing to let them get rid of! 

If something sparks an interest or you know of someone in need, let me know!

Wanting - part 2

The "want list" I made has been helpful for me because I am seeing how God has answered some things very specifically. I think it is unfair to not let you know how God has answered "the want list" in some pretty amazing ways.  I know many of you have been praying and I am grateful.

As stated in earlier post, just as Mom asked God, the first person to look at the house, put a contract on it. The inspections on both places have gone well so plans continue to move forward.  The closings are scheduled for June 2nd with hopes of having all moved out and in by the end of that week.

I have asked for help and support of my folks in their move.  This weekend a friend of my dad's came from 7 hours away with his wife to help my parents.  This is a man whom my dad worked with years ago and told me that he and my dad just hit it off and he has a special place for my dad. He helped dad clean out his attic and under the house as well as the utility room.  He took home some of dads bigger tools.  And I think dad is a bit like me, it is nice to give your treasures away to friends.  Dean and Kay's help was such an answer to my request and Kay told me it was a good thing for Dean as well.

Larry does not yet know about my parents move.  However something said this week and his response gave mom the impression that he is happy where he is and not anxious to go home. He really does seem content. That makes leaving him at the end of a visit so much easier.  

I was notified this week that we have been granted the same financial assistance from Peter's school that we received last year.  This is good news as the possible options were to receive same or less!  More is needed to completely pay for the coming school year but this provision from the school is huge.  I am very grateful for the school's generosity and God's provision.

I had been struggling with job and lifestyle related decisions.  Through the Perspectives class I have been taking this Spring, God used some things I had been learning and processing to guide my thinking.  I am grateful for this as I have made some decisions that were not necessarily "easy" or "safe" yet fit with my desire to live "intentionally." 

Thank you for praying and now sharing in the joy!  We appreciate your prayers if you are so led as we continue to watch God answer from the "want list."

Wow

We asked God to sell my folks house quick.  Looks like he said yes.

Two weeks ago tomorrow the sign went in the yard.  Three days later the photographer took photos.  Three days after that the house was on the real-estate page in the paper.  Two days later a real-estate agent wanted to show the house - the first viewing.  That night my folks had a contract on their house.  This Tuesday is the inspection on their house. If all goes well, Wednesday Mom and Dad will begin packing and preparing for yard sales. The scheduled closing for their house and new Condo is June 2nd with three days to move! 

Wow God,Wow!

Let it Go

I like many others thought the newest Disney movie Frozen was a winner.  I bought the movie and even downloaded "Let it Go" onto my Ipod.  It makes for a great soundtrack to the last .2 miles of a race. It does seem like that song is everywhere these days though.  Recently a friend shared Scott Kramer's video of his own version of the famous song.  Scott is a dad who is tired of the song and ready to "let it go."   I discovered that he is not the only one posting versions of "Frozen" songs on YouTube. I found it all pretty funny. What was even funnier was when I realized that I was singing my own versions of "Let it Go."

Because I didn't ask enough questions and made assumptions, I ended up paying $14 for a coke and pretzel at the ball park the other evening.  I kept going on and on to my companions about how I had just spent $6 on a piece of twisted bread!  I kept bringing it up and pretty soon the voice in my head started singing, "Let it go, let it go, they don't want to hear it anymore!"

Then today I was doing a major revamp on my wardrobe.  I was determined to downsize my clothing supply.  I figure that if I "have nothing to wear" when my closet and drawers are packed full then it wont be such a big deal if I reduced it by a third.  I would find myself holding a garment in hand, debating on whether it should stay or go and that silly song would pop in my head "Let it go, let it go, you don't wear it anymore. Let it go, let it go, take it off to the thrift store!"

Wanting

Do you ever get confused about your wants?  And I am thinking beyond simply knowing what it is that you want. I am realizing that my understanding of wants and especially how it fits into the life of a follower of Jesus can get pretty tangled.  I think there are the sounds of a variety of voices that include the following.  "If I want it, it probably isn't  a good idea."  If I want it, I probably won't get it." If I want it and I get it, I am not really sacrificing all for Jesus." "If I got what I wanted last time, I won't get it this time." "Don't say what you want, take what you get."  "What you want is so much more than what others have so its wrong to want it." "Its better to not want than risk being disappointed." "If you say what you want, someone might give it to you and then you are indebted to them." And we can't leave out the voice that yells out "I NEVER get what I want!" 

I have been discovering and sorting through some of this thinking recently.  How do my wants fit in with my trusting in Jesus for everything?  The truth is sometimes He answers our prayers as we want and sometimes He doesn't.  And the chorus of voices can create conflict in my mind about how I relate to Jesus when he doesn't answer my prayers as well as when he does. It also keeps me from bringing my wants before him. Recently a friend and I were talking about being okay in wanting God to do something then also being okay with what he does whether it is in line with what I wanted or not.  Sounds simple I know. I would like to think that I am free with God - letting my request be known and trusting him however he answers. Yet recognizing the "voices" in my head helps me realize that I have some twisted thinking that hinder this freedom.  

In response to this I have decided to share some of my "wants" or prayers, however you want to phrase it. I am often hesitant to publish a pubic list.  I think it is part of my twisted thinking which includes, " It is okay to make your personal prayer needs known in mass if you are a missionary but not if you are a preschool teacher in the US."  I know it doesn't really make sense.  There is a lot happening in my family right now. I thought if I listed my wants it might help me feel a little more organized about it.  And maybe there are things on this list that God would prompt you to also pray regarding.  

• Larry's stay in Rehab is becoming a stay in the Nursing Home with an indefinite end.  We want an easy switch over of the insurance coverage without complications.  I want him to have regular visitors. I want him to receive good care as well as have positive relationships with people at the Nursing Home. 
• My parents found a Condo that would allow them to downsize. It would also put them less than five minutes from Larry as well as me and their doctors!  We want their house which has just gone on the market to sell ASAP so that they can buy and move into the Condo quickly. Timing is pretty critical if this Condo is "the one."  The downsizing and move will be a large task.  I want to see them have support and help in this process as well as sustained health. 
• I want Peter to graduate from RMA in 2017.  I want the money for this coming school year so that he can attend as a boarding student. I want Peter to have good friendships and role models.
• There are other wants that I am not sure yet how to express so I will leave it at this for now.  

Whats Worse than . .

being a kid who is sick on her birthday?  Being an adult who is sick on her Spring Break!

When I was a pre-teen (I remember it is the year I got my first Shawn Cassidy album) I was sick for a whole week with some cold-flu thingy.  I don't know what I was sick with just that I was sick on my birthday.  My birthday party was postponed and I cried all day on my birthday. In my way of thinking, it was just not right that one should be sick on her birthday!  My family teases me about my crying because I was sick on my birthday.  I have learned that life doesn't always turn out like we think it should. However I confess  that I still think that some things shouldn't have to be imposed upon by a cold, flu, or virus. Therefore I am just a bit annoyed that on the second day of Spring Break I got sick.  

I have spent the past two days sleeping. Actually the first day was pretty fun.  I liked the freedom to lay in bed without feeling any guilt. But today when I didn't feel better, I started to get irritated because I have "a list".  There is this massive list of all the things I am going to do during Spring Break and it is hard to do those things when your feet keep taking you back to your bed. When I was still feeling yucky this evening, the panic really set in.  I have tickets for Peter and I to take friends to an Atlanta Braves game tomorrow night.  I haven't cried yet about being sick on Spring Break but if I have to miss out on tomorrow, I probably will. Okay so what's the good news in all of this?  I haven't been out shopping and spending money. I finished the financial aid application for Peter's school that I had been putting off. And I haven't had to use my sick leave!