As much as the do’er in me wanted to get started and not pause to be with extended family, I knew this was an extra opportunity to stay hid (at this point it felt more like being lost) in Jesus so as a family we were grateful to be able to gather and make some memories. On our way back to Mount Joy we had planned to pick up Marcie Lu, our gift of goodness (in the form of an eight week old sheepadoodle) with just a slight detour. Oh, and just before we left to be with family, Hurley our precious 11 year old golden-doodle needed “emergency” vet care. (Was is an emergency, no! Has COVID completely screwed up the potential for normal veterinary care, yes! Ugh.) $600 dollars later Hurley had all he needed to treat his hot-spots and we remained hopeful his meeting (and teaching of) Miss Marcie Lu wouldn’t be too difficult even whilst wearing the cone-of-shame!
What kind of person gets a puppy and expects to pack up and move multiple homes which are 3 hours apart? [Insert every ridiculous emoji there is!] Not a Type-A, wait that is me, well, was me… ugh, I don’t know, let’s just say it was a challenge to have Marcie and accomplish a n y t h i n g. Audrey was a tremendous help as she had Marcie’s crate in her room and understood what it meant to be in charge of her, that of being proactive by taking her out every 30 minutes or so. We continued to remember this whole change for our family was “not about the dog” and God was right, of course, as our Marcie Lu brought us the moments of stillness which were necessary to remain grounded in Jesus instead of living out our last days in Mount Joy being lost in the list.
We were at the Mount Joy house for two days and in that time, while adjusting to having Marcie, my most amazing Audrey helped me think through what furniture would hopefully fit in the new house of 1388 square feet (remember the Mount Joy home is over 4000 square feet) so this was no small task (heehee). The kids and I then planned to drive up to the lake house to be able to unpack it, so that… we could actually move in.
From the beginning of our hope to have a lake house Ryan and I thought it would be a space we would use, sure, but equally important we would offer to friends and family as a renewing retreat space. A space where sun and stillness could bring refreshment to the soul. A special steal-away being fully stocked and able to meet the known and unknown needs of those able to retreat there. The weekend of July 13th I was officially ‘finished’ preparing the lake house so it could be just that, and then this. This change. This new opportunity.
I use the word opportunity because I know that is what it is. God is synonymous with opportunity (most often humble opportunity) and at the same time it is wise to remember opportunity is hardly ever, if ever, synonymous with expected or easy. Are you able to embrace the full scope of that word? I believe because God is the author of opportunity there is also complete peace available and that then, for me, brings the ability to let even the unplanned and most difficult opportunities be good. I certainly have not solely-skipped in and with joy regarding this new change. I have let myself grieve different aspects of my thoughts and plans which is now how this change, this opportunity is felt as good.
Oh yeah, while we were with our extended family tropical storm Isaias was making its way up the East Coast and I was sent some footage of what was happening in the lake house community. It had my attention and I was thankful as we were unfamiliar with how storms come and go up there but don’t ya know… I’d soon come to find out just how ‘good’ it is to ‘experience storms’!
Off I drove kids, dogs, boxes and all!
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