Back to the phone call on December 3rd when my friend offered us the house while I was running my errand. In that call she asked if I could come by and check it out. I was still sitting in my friend's driveway, red-eyed from tears, and as we wrapped up the call we sorted out how I can quickly pop by to peek at the farmhouse. I savored the call and the joy that came with it!
Upon greeting my friend who was sharing the clothes with us I shared with her all that shook out over the phone and with matching joy she offered to come along with me to see the house! She has been a friend of ours for a long time and appreciates the journey we are on so it was a tremendously special gift to have her with me.
Upon finding the property and turning down the lane, my heart was numb. I knew this was His gift for Ryan, for me, for us! If you hold my essay and Psalm 65 up against all this property holds, it is miraculously and beautifully all the same (even in the dead of winter)! As I walked the property I was met by a blue heron and songs of many other birds. After a bit my friend arrived and led us inside to check everything out, including the kitchen’s green countertops! There are window sills one can curl up and read a book in, many many rooms, multiple stairways and multiple cellars. I actually got lost and completely turned around because of the space it offered! Crazy! Only God in His abundant and awesome ways could this be happening for us, and now!
That evening I shared with Ryan the opportunity we were offered. We didn’t want to be hasty in making any decisions so we planned to return to the property in two days. We then would use the following weekend to weigh the pros and cons, seek council, and pray about this potential change.
As planned, we returned to the property and upon starting to drive down the .2 mile lane Ryan’s expression showed me, he too, is recognizing the miracle of this “gift.” He grew up surrounded by farms and I couldn’t help but think he’s being offered the opportunity to return to his roots, and with that, celebrate this new change by giving that same opportunity to our flock.
One last time, to be continued…