The Drive

Sunday afternoon, our family loaded up after 7 years in Louisville to drive back to GA. For this move I needed to drive to GA in the car alone. This was my choice, but I'm more comfortable with the car than the van on long drives.

Having my entire family driving in our large 12-passenger van in front of or behind me got to me a little bit. When you're alone it's easy to let your mind get crazy, and Satan likes to take the opportunity to make you think the worst.

A very good friend of mine was killed in a car crash on a family trip in a similar style van. Satan was playing with my mind thinking that could be my family while I was safely in my car. I prayed for protection, fought these terrible thought, but it was a struggle.

And then, just after we got on the interstate for the last leg of our trip, I saw the top of a rainbow peeking over the mountain. God began speaking to my heart, reminding me of His promises to be with us no matter what! We go around the mountain and the rainbow is stretched across the sky. I broke. God met me in that moment. The promises filled my mind and I knew that we would make it, but even if we didn't I would be OK.

That's when the rain drops fell out of a brilliant, sun-filled sky. A friend once told me  that rain is God showering His blessings on us, and that is what God brought to my mind. He was there, blessing me with life, with safety in that moment, with family, with Himself.

This is the God I serve. The God who is all powerful, the Creator of the universe and is still right there with me in a moment of fear and speaking to my frail and fragile heart. God is good. He is merciful when He doesn't have to be. He met me where I was ans spoke peace to me.

Where is God meeting you today?

Settling In

We finally got moved this week and we are slowly but surely getting settled into the new house. It has been a busy and exhausting week, yet full of blessings. Monday, while moving some boxes, Jim and Becca got to the house when the inspector was here. The green light was given and we got full permission to move into our new home. We moved as much as possible during the day. Jen came to help take a load. Tuesday we attained a U-haul and loaded up some. In the evening we had several able bodies to help load us up. Many thanks to Jen, Greg, Dawn, Jeffrey and Laura for their able hands. We did not finish until almost 2am, but we got it done. Wednesday morning Mandy took the kids and the 3 of us headed to the apartment to gather the last few things. Sarah came to help us with cleaning, another huge blessing. Our previous neighbor Heather prepared lunch for us. She made Romanian food, which allowed me to feel like I was there for just a moment. (I miss that area of the world.) Jim had to work, but Becca and I worked awhile on the kitchen until she had to leave for class. Thursday was mostly a productive day. Lillian was not feeling well and woke us up off and on throughout the night. This made us all a little sick and tired, but we made it through getting much of the kitchen done and some of the living room. SWI was a nice respite. Thursday night we finally got some sleep. Friday we got more done, but still so much more is left to do. Today more sorting and figuring. I hope to be done in a week, but at this rate it could take a month. Thankfully there are people who can help with the kids, just got to get that figured out!

Blessings I can remember from the week

101. God's provision
102. God's protection
103. Getting moved on Tuesday
104. Jen Jones
105. Greg Wilburn
106. Dawn Wilburn
107. Jeffrey Kellow
108. Laura Kellow
109. Getting a U-haul
110. Getting most of our stuff moved on Tuesday
111. Figuring out how to put the beds together with Laura
112. Mandy Montgomery
113. Sarah Sloan
114. Getting the apartment cleaned on Wednesday and officially moving out!
115. Heather Matasaru
116. Romanian Food!!!!!
117. Getting much of the kitchen organized
118. Getting most of the kids books sorted and on a book shelf
119. SWI
120. Meeting new sisters who give encouragement
121. Ann Daugherty
122. Free bunk beds and dresser
123. Family here safely
124. Pizza
125. New Car
126. Getting the internet up and working
127. A new house to live in
128. Cordless Blinds
129. Rain
130. Room for toys that Reuben can play in and have fun
131. Jamey teaching Lillian animals and colors
132. Jamey helping wherever he can
133. Jamey learning to sort alphabetically
134. Lots of space
135. Quick healing for Lillian

Packing

Wow! Many hands really do make light work. I am so thankful for the wonderful ladies from church who came along with my family and got almost our whole house packed by noon! What an amazing feat! Special thanks to Carole Fouts, Joy Reeves, Doris Belflower, Harmina Caird, Donna Clippard, Anna Murdock, Dianne Sudduth and Dale Kimmel for their hands in making the light work. The beautiful thing is that after all of this wonderful packing we had someone come look at the house! God is good! Please pray for this prospective buyer/renter. Hoping for a more low key day tomorrow before loading the truck on Thursday.

3 days!

Almost Time

by: Emily Elizabeth Manor

Packing up the house

It's almost time to move on

Looking all around

Where life has taken me

This is my life, my home

I've known no other place

But now it's almost time

Time to move on

Memories Flood

It's almost time to move on

These are the last days

I call this house my home

Sorrow, joy and relief

All flood my very soul

Now it's almost time

Time to move on

God takes us down so many roads

Not knowing what lies ahead

I will plunge forth

Knowing only that His hand is guiding me

And it's almost time to move on

Bittersweet heartache

It's almost time to move on

Leaving family and friends

And the comforts of home

The church where I was riased

The love and the support

And now it's almost time

Time to move on

God takes us down so many roads

Not knowing what lies ahead

I will plunge forth

Knowing only that His hand is guiding me

And it's almost time to move on

I am ready

I've waited so long for this time

I know

God has a great plan for me

He will show me step by step

Until I reach my final day

Still it's hard to say good-bye

God takes us down so many roads

Not knowing what lies ahead

I will plunge forth

Knowing only that His hand is guiding me

And it's almost time to move on

Oh, it's almost time

Just a matter of days

It's time to move on

Farewell Party

What a fabulous time with family and friends. Some wonderful people threw a farewell party for our family Sunday afternoon. We got to see friends we do not get to see often as well as talk to our church family about what our next step is. Thanks so much to Carole Fouts, Joy Reeves, Charlotte Winkles, Mary Durueke, Harmina Caird and Anna Murdock for the fabulous celebration. We are so blessed to have a church family that cares about our lives and has invested so much in us. Not long at all now.

4 days

Apartment Approved!

We got our official word today, we are approved to move into the Village Manor apartments in Louisville, KY! We are so excited. God has provided once again as He always does.

Our move in date is Friday July16th. That means we will be packing on Thursday July15th and loading up the moving truck as we are moving ourselves. If anyone is available, or know anyone who is available, to help at all on the 15th please let me know some way. We will be packing up last minute things, cleaning the house thoroughly and loading up the truck to leave first thing Friday morning. There is a lot to be done and as we all well know many hands make light work. We appreciate any help we can get.

4 weeks and 2 days left in good ole Smyrna.

Starting Out

So today, the date of our 6th anniversary we are starting a blog/journal to share with family and friends about our adventures that are to come. As those of you who know us know we are about to embark on a new adventure by moving to beautiful Louisville, Kentucky for Jim to attend seminary. Neither of us has ever lived outside of Smyrna except for a couple years of College in Young Harris. This is, for us, indeed a great step of faith but we know that God has some amazing things for us to learn and many ways to help us grow. Already we are already learning to put our complete trust in Him and His absolute provision for us and our family. In five weeks we will be moving from our life time home and downsizing significantly. Already I have discovered how much I do not need to live. How freeing a discovery that is! I cannot wait to share the little and big things that will occur in our lives in the next few years.

P.S. If anyone knows anybody looking for a house in the Smyrna area send them our way.

And does anyone want a very old but sweet dog? We can't take Birkey with us. :(

Thanks for being a part of our life.