It seems that the prayers you all have been praying have been heard. We have a verbal agreement (lease to follow) on the rental of a home – Yippee Jesus!

There are some interesting things about having a trauma like being in a fire where your home is destroyed. It does weird things to your noggin. I am the girl who has always said, “Plunk me down in the middle of 500 acres in a house and I will be the happiest lady around” – – UNTIL the fire. At this moment all I want is people around me and I want to live in a sub-division. Dw was like, “HUH? This cannot be my wife!”

Here’s what I know so far:
1. I am feeling very vulnerable and I need “community” around me.

2. I don’t want to go anywhere alone – it sounds overwhelming.

3. I am reliving the fire over and over (still!).

4. I feel like I am swimming in molasses, with my nose barely bobbing above the molasses.

5. I can’t remember much post-fire. I know friends called, texted, etc., I can’t remember anything. People have said they told me this and that (all important things)…yeah, like I said, no clue.

6. It feels like the fire was over three years ago (no kidding).

7. If you called, emailed, or texted and told me something important that I needed to remember and I haven’t gotten back to you…….please forgive – I don’t remember it at all! I am slowly responding to all the wonderful emails you friends have written, but I am starting at January 14th and working forward so please be patient!! I am so thankful for each and every encouraging word – you guys rockt!!

The home we found is in a sub-division. It has a killer view of the mountains (looking forward to taking pictures of them and posting them for you, my sweet friends, to see). The gentleman who built it currently lives in it. It is only 2 years old. He showed it to us days after the fire, but was reluctant because he has never had any children, but “he felt sorry for us”. =) We’ll take “sorry” if it means we can move into something more permanent than the hotel. This sleeping in two separate rooms – around the corner and down the hall from each other is just not-so-much fun to this mama and her sweet hubby – especially at a time like this!! I miss that man of mine’s snuggles!!

Anyway, the home is a four bedroom. We had even considered a 3 bedroom but didn’t want Ch*na to get fidgety with Jubilee coming home and us only having 3 bedrooms. We are so thankful that this gentleman is willing for us to rent his home. He is going to move his things out. We will probably be, Lord willing, allowed to move in about 2 weeks.

I called my friend Tavi to tell her we had found a place. Her husband, Terry, wanted to know when we would be moving cause he wanted to help. I told him that so far we only own a crock-pot so I think we got it covered. (Have to add a speck of humor to get through these difficult days.) When Celestia came this past week she brought me a crock-pot full of chili and said to keep the pot – thank you precious friend!!

People from church have made a list of what people are willing to donate to our home. I have not seen the list, but we will be checking it soon. Shopping for things, again, overwhelming.

Many of you have written and want to know some specific prayer requests:

1. As much fun as it might sound to outfit a home, it sounds completely overwhelming to me at the moment to set up house for 8 people, especially since I am swimming in molasses. Please pray that we have the strength to do it.
2. The kids and I have been having lots of nightmares (even our grown kids)…horrible nightmares…please pray that they end and that the Lord would heal the memories.
3. Please pray for the contractors who are looking at bulldozing vs. “repairing”….as much as we love our little log home we are praying that they just bulldoze it and get rid of the memories.
4. Please pray for Tyler and the rest of our troops and their families.
5. Please pray that the time spent here in the hotel we will be able to be used to draw people to Jesus Christ. We have become friends with much of the staff and they all adore the kids. We want this time here to be productive for the kingdom – so please pray!

6. I am not sleeping much at night. Actually, I admit that I am kind of afraid to go to sleep. (Yes Leslie, I was up at 1:45am typing the Memorial Box Monday post.) And then after doing the post I was talking to Lynsay (in Ch*na) on the phone. I know all the scriptures and I know that my God has always been faithful. This is just a difficult adjustment time.
7. Please pray for the kids. There are so many thoughts and feelings floating around and I am attempting to help each process them.

Thank you all, dear friends! Speaking of friends, since I last mentioned all the new friends a bunch more have joined in: connie, Karen, Carla, Anita, Jen, waitingarms, Tonya, My2Blessings, Glo, Hay Family, Selima, Laura, Joy Portis, Berg, Esther’s mom, Team Krupa, Kristin, Shonni, Tracey S., StressedBlessedMom in GA, Jackie Egan, Jessi Shoup, jennifer, Kelly, Debbie K., The Costa Family, and Andrea Nielsen! Your love and friendship is amazing to us!!

Thank you for your prayers and may the Lord shower His love on each and every one of you!