This past month has been a complete world wind. We went from living in Kuwait to moving 6,000 miles across the world to Houston. At the beginning of this past month I worried that this move was not in God's plan. One thing I know for certain is that I do NOT want to step out of His plan for my life.
I am going to back up a bit to this summer. The boys and I came back to Arkansas for about 6 weeks this summer. I was ready to be out of Kuwait and go back to something clean, beautiful, and normal. The trip did not go as planned. Really nothing in life goes as planned, but that doesn't stop us from trying to control it. I went back to Kuwait with the impression that God wanted me to embrace my circumstances and make the best of a difficult country. I have a blog post planned for my year in Kuwait and I will write more there about the pros and cons of Kuwait. So, I came back with a renewed and refreshed spirit. I was upbeat, as much as I could be, and was looking forward to the next year. And then a possibility of a move came up. I was in doubt. Was this in God's plan? We figured it would be around December and give Owen and Eli time to finish up the first term of school and give me time to get my stuff in order. Then, the roller coaster started and still hasn't ended.
On September 22nd David got word that their was a position he was wanted for back in Houston. And that he needed to start fairly quickly. Let me try to put this into a better time frame for you. Sept. 22 was the start of the Muslim holiday Eid. That means the country shuts down. So we went from a country that moves fairly slow to a country that is in complete stand still. Meanwhile, America is still moving at its fast pace. David was off work until the following Monday. So everything was still moving forward in Houston for him to come to work. He went back to work in Kuwait on Monday morning and told his team he was transferring and then flew out that night to start his work, while the boys and I stayed behind. We stayed behind so that I could work on packing and selling stuff and saying all my final goodbyes. David came back to Kuwait three weeks later to pack up the house, do a handover at work, and say goodbye. We flew out of Kuwait on October 23rd. So when I say the past month has been a world wind I am not kidding. We are now in a hotel and about to move into a house this weekend. Still have nothing but the 7 bags we flew over with but hey God will provide. And now I want to write about how God has been with me every step of the way so that I am not able to doubt Him!
I am going to back up a bit to this summer. The boys and I came back to Arkansas for about 6 weeks this summer. I was ready to be out of Kuwait and go back to something clean, beautiful, and normal. The trip did not go as planned. Really nothing in life goes as planned, but that doesn't stop us from trying to control it. I went back to Kuwait with the impression that God wanted me to embrace my circumstances and make the best of a difficult country. I have a blog post planned for my year in Kuwait and I will write more there about the pros and cons of Kuwait. So, I came back with a renewed and refreshed spirit. I was upbeat, as much as I could be, and was looking forward to the next year. And then a possibility of a move came up. I was in doubt. Was this in God's plan? We figured it would be around December and give Owen and Eli time to finish up the first term of school and give me time to get my stuff in order. Then, the roller coaster started and still hasn't ended.
On September 22nd David got word that their was a position he was wanted for back in Houston. And that he needed to start fairly quickly. Let me try to put this into a better time frame for you. Sept. 22 was the start of the Muslim holiday Eid. That means the country shuts down. So we went from a country that moves fairly slow to a country that is in complete stand still. Meanwhile, America is still moving at its fast pace. David was off work until the following Monday. So everything was still moving forward in Houston for him to come to work. He went back to work in Kuwait on Monday morning and told his team he was transferring and then flew out that night to start his work, while the boys and I stayed behind. We stayed behind so that I could work on packing and selling stuff and saying all my final goodbyes. David came back to Kuwait three weeks later to pack up the house, do a handover at work, and say goodbye. We flew out of Kuwait on October 23rd. So when I say the past month has been a world wind I am not kidding. We are now in a hotel and about to move into a house this weekend. Still have nothing but the 7 bags we flew over with but hey God will provide. And now I want to write about how God has been with me every step of the way so that I am not able to doubt Him!
- I had and still do have a Bible study group that is praying for me
- I managed to sell everything that needed to be sold to move, including a car that needed a lease taken over. We thought we were going to have to pay a 4 month penalty and then at the last minute on the last day (Thursday when we fly out Friday) was taken over
- I was able to say goodbye to everyone
- David arrived back in Kuwait and we were able to pack our stuff within two days with two days prior of planning for the packers to come. And schedule our flight home.
- I was worried about David having too much time and too many options to pick a house. Less choices is better sometimes. And God knows. He had it were we were only allowed to look for one day and had to make a choice.
- We found a car easily within our budget and quickly.
- And then when we were trying to figure out how to get our money from Arkansas to Texas for the purchase a way was provided.
- David's dad was able to come down and help with the boys long enough for us to look at houses and to pick a car.
- I managed to pack everything I needed for two weeks of hotel living without having to run to the store, except for some underwear. :)
- God has met the financial needs for this move.
- God knowing I need friends has already helped meet one with two boys.
- God has provided ways for David and I to meet in the middle on everything so that we don't argue.
Now some of you may count this up to luck or karma, but not I. I believe in the true I AM and know that He is with me every step of this journey. As He has been with me in all my past journeys. He knows my needs, desires, and worries. He squelches them before I even have a chance to make them into a mountain. And even in the midst of being alone in a hotel with two boys God is still speaking to me. The Bible study group I left behind was starting the study of Ruth. I so wanted to do this study with them. So last night I went and bought the study so I could do it here, 6,000 miles away and 9 hours difference. And of course God knew what I needed. As a verse has stuck with me today. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Gal. 6:9 And giving up is not in my vocabulary. And a parting verse by Matthew Henry "It is our wisdom to make the best of that which is, for it is seldom that changing our place is mending it."
