Week In Review

I told you I'd try to keep you updated with our move to Idaho.

Whew!

What a week we had.

Lulu taking her 2nd grade examines 

with pearls on!

Levi celebrating after doing a addition problem in his head correctly!

Ila May coming up with another original outfit.

Silas at his annual cardiology check-up.

All of them are doing well!

On Tuesdays, I work with Trey on his reading and writing skills.

Then we go for our daily walk.

Thursday, Mark, Kimmy and family

 got the keys to our new home, for us.

The old owners left us a bottle of sparkling juice and a really sweet note.

And then.....

Yup! 

We are expecting our

 6th Grandchild,

 sometime in September!!!

Todd and Stephanie 

CONGRATULATIONS!

It was a GREAT week!

"Let the peace of God

rule in your hearts."

Colossians 3:15

Reflecting

Time is ticking away.

It won't be long before Tom & I 

close the door for the final time to our

 Little Cottage and

 open the door to our new home, 

The Holly House.

We are moving ourselves to Idaho in two phases.

Most of our things are already packed and ready for Phase I.

We don't have a lot of things

 (well, except maybe baskets)

so the move should be easy.

Why two phases?

Long story, so here's the condensed version.

We bought our house and it has already closed!!

A few months ago, Kimmy and Mark asked if we'd babysit

 the first part of March.

(yes, we are driving 496.1 miles to babysit)

So we thought we'd bring 1/2 of our stuff with us.

Phase II will be mid April.

Now some reflection:

I love this cottage! ~sigh~

All 750 sq. ft. of it!

I can walk anywhere in this town 

and be there within 15 minutes.

We have watched buildings go up.

We have watch buildings come down.

We met neighbors who are now friends.

Life has been wonderful here in the

Little Cottage.

When our daughter,

 Kimmy and her family moved away,

 it broke my heart.

BUT...

 God knew and was there.

When I was depressed. 

God knew and was there.

When I was lonely.

God knew and was there.

When I was frustrated,

God knew and was there.

I had to learn a lot of things before God would answer prayers.

I remember the day, I told God I was content to be where I was.

I was sitting at the table, with my computer open, looking outside.

It felt good to be content, really content.

Then things starting happening and FAST!

It's amazing to see God's hands on our lives.

God was with us when we decided to move to the Little Cottage.

God has been with us with each step we are taking, moving to Idaho.

When you listen for God, you can hear him.

"The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

RAK...

RANDOM  ACTS  OF  KINDNESS

I love reading about others,

 who are a blessing to someone.

 My friend Betsy, has asked that we share our RAK's.

I decided to join.

At first I felt a bit awkward sharing.

But because it's Betsy Black,
(blog: My Five Men)
who I admire and adore,

I will share.

~*~*~*~

You've seen them.

They are at a stop light. 

They are there on the corners of streets.

They are asleep on benches.

They are in the cities.

They are in our neighborhoods.

My heart goes out to the homeless

 who truly are in need of help.

I first heard of Blessing Bags a few years ago.

They are zip lock bags filled with food and personal supplies.

They are so easy to make.

A quick visit to the Dollar Store and

you have all the necessities.

Keep one in your car and 

when you come to a stop light,

instead of looking away,

reach for your Blessing Bag!

~*~*~*~

My RAK for this week was giving a Blessing Bag

to a person who sleeps on a bench.

I drive by him on my way to take care of Trey.

He is hunched and bent over

 but in a some what sitting position.

He is covered with a blanket, except for his head,

 which has a hoody.

It's dark out and usually nobody is around.

He's not on the side of the street,

 so I can't just hand it to him.

My heart hurts every time I see him 

and I've seen him several times.

Because of Betsy's challenge, 

I knew I had to get the courage to 

park my car and walk up to him.

And that's what I did.

Thank you Betsy for challenging us!

Basket Fetish

Moving is always an eye-opening ordeal.

I thought if we lived in a small,

little cottage and we wouldn't have STUFF.

But somehow my basket FETISH 

took over!

Where did these all live?

Is it like,

 the multiplying of rabbits?

 These are the ones that aren't

 being used everyday.

I still have some that are still busy doing

  their assigned tasks.

A few years back,

 I showed you how I used some of my baskets

 for our refrigerator.

They are still hard at work, 

for at least a little longer. 

click here

I have others that we use for everyday.

Those will have to wait to "retire",

just like Tom.

 He is still waiting to give

 his two week notice.

"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in You?"

Psalms 39:7

This Week ...

Things are happening fast around here.

I've been packing up china, crystal, glass wear,

figurines, books and anything else that we

don't use everyday.

I'm also sending out "moving cards", to a few friends.

~~~ :::: ~~~

I tried my hand at making croutons, yummy.

**

A good friend made a quilt and it gave to me .

**

Daffodils are popping out, along with a peanut.

**

Our soon to be new home in Idaho!

Happy Faces

 Just got back from Idaho.

All smiles!

 And a few silly faces.

 Can you guess what we are doing, in the picture below?

Yup!

Signing the Purchase and Sale Agreement.

We bought a HOUSE in Idaho!

All smiles again!!

We will be neighbors to Mark, Kimmy,

Lulu, Levi, Ila May and Silas.

to be continued.....