Memorial Box Monday – On Tuesday

I am happy to report that due to the power of prayer and the help of medicines (even poopy tasting ones) the girls are feeling better. They are talking instead of laying like zombies moaning. Okay, j/k about the moaning part.

Anyway, I love Memorial Box Mondays and pray that many of you will begin to make Memorial Box Monday part of your blogs. If you do, let me know. One of these days I am going to highlight those that also partake.
I cannot emphasize enough how, over the course of Dw’s and my 30+ year marriage, when life has taken unexpected turns we have been able to look at the things in our Memorial Box and remember. We remember what God has done. How He has moved mountains. How He has taken our breath away with His mighty power. How He has provided supernaturally above and beyond all that we could think or ask. How He has ochestrated events to show His deep, unending love. And then as we face the unexpected trials in our lives, we can say with confidence: Okay Lord, you have done this and that and that and this and oh yes! even that and so we can trust you again!
Even if you don’t have a box, start a list of events and circumstances where you have seen God move and then think of symbols that represent each of those. Gather the things and find a box…or enter my giveaway (how exactly do you spell give a way? Every week when I type it I stop and go back and retype it…argh)…anyway, enter the giveaway here.
Since the fire we have seen God do some pretty amazing things. Many of you have asked how we are doing. It is hit and miss. We, of course, know we will make it. We know He is faithful. We know that we will look back on this one day “as waters that have passed by” but in the meantime we are healing….three steps forward, two steps back.
We grieve over the loss of the familiar and our sweet and cozy log cabin with its beautiful acreage surrounding it. I find that I miss some of the most random things.
Like years ago friends, when I was visting them in Phoenix, gave me a travel mug from a drug rep (our friend is a neurologist)….well that travel mug was my constant companion. Dumb thing just never leaked! We had other travel mugs over the years, but they all leaked before long except that one! So many times a day I go to get that travel mug…only to remember that it is gone. I can go buy another one, but where? They all leak before long!
Or my haircutting scissors. I cut most the kids hair. I’d had the scissors for years and years. Miss those little orange things.
Then the other night we were heading to bed. Emma broke down and was sobbing and sobbing and sobbing. She was grieving the log home and all the familiar. She was remembering that the only thing she has left from 15 years is a necklace. She also doesn’t want us far from her. She has bad dreams. Liberty has been having bad dreams.
It’s a long haul.
On the flip side, we KNOW He will use it for good. (And that’s another post for another day.) But in the meantime, God showed up in a big way the other day. Super huge to us and so it is a fresh story for our Memorial Box.
The kids are still sleeping on the floor. Which when you are having a sleepover, soooo fun! But when your home is destroyed by fire – ummm not so much. It is hard to go buy things when you are overwhelmed with life because everything needs to be replaced. Where do you even start? We went looking for bunks but the selection in our small city is small. We really wanted at least a twin over full for the boys. But they all were so blah.
We saw a log one but it was alot of money and we must be good stewards…too many orphans need forever families! =) We waited and prayed for direction.
One day we got a phone call from a lady at church. She had shared our story with a friend (who doesn’t know us at all) who we’ll call B. Our friend went on to tell us that B had had two sons, now both grown. B, after hearing our story, had asked her one son if he was attached to the bunk beds(!) that he had had. He said, “Get rid of them!” The lady from church told Dw about B and asked Dw to call B. Dw called B. B said that she had had the bunk set custom made for her son. Did she say custom? LOL
He said, “They were custom made?” She said, “Yes I have always loved log and since we live in a log home it seemed like the right fit for it.” Did she say they were log? Oh, and yeah, it happened to be a full over full. *giggle* OH Yippee Jesus!! B told Dw she was not in town because was living in her other house and so when she came to town she would call us to come see them to see if we liked them. Her other house? (Maybe she could loan us that too – j/k.) Turns out B doesn’t really have another house, she has many other houses. Like in Italy, Hilton Head, NY City, and Connecticut to name a few. Actually, come to find out – B is a billionaire. *gasp* (Yeah, never met one of those before!)

So last week while Abi was home, Dw, Emma, Abi and I went to B’s home (more appropriately probably called a log mansion.) We were wide-eyed I’m sure. B showed us the bunks custom made of log. We were smitten from first sight. We stayed at B’s home and visited. She was one of the sweetest people and never would we have known that she was a billionaire (well other than the fact that this house was stinkin’ unbelieveable!)…

Today B’s workers came with the bunks and put them up for us in Graham’s room. Yeah, you read that right. Her workers took them apart, delivered them and set them up. The workers said that her sons probably slept on it for a few weeks total as they only are at the home here for about 2 weeks a year. (I asked B if I could take a picture of them at her home, she was happy to have me do it…notice shelf over on the left side…wow!)

B wanted her son not to have to get down to get a drink of water, so asked the craftsman to make a shelf for a glass of water. Unbelieveable.

We are thrilled beyond words: Wouldn’t you be??? Our miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God had a little surprise up His Mighty sleeve and provided above and beyond all that we could think or ask.
When we get another Memorial Box we will have a little twisted stick in it to represent Jehovah Jirah’s supernatural provision. What would you put in your Memorial Box?? Do tell!

26 thoughts on “Memorial Box Monday – On Tuesday

  1. Wow, that’s awesome Linn!! I’m thinking we will start to see a trend here…Fire Aftermath: blessing after blessing after blessing…

    God is super cool, huh?!!

  2. What a special gift and blessing from the Lord. I love it when people who have much love to give much. I’m pretty sure that is the way it is supposed to work! Hope everyone is feeling a good deal better and that well days are ahead. It was fun running into you downtown. I look forward to seeing you again in April. Blessings!

  3. A billionair? That’s so cool! What a beautiful BUNK BED! Unbelievable. God is so good Miss Linn. He is loves you guys so much. I sit here in awe of his provision for you… and his unending love and pleasure in you guys. I’m still praying sister. 🙂 lv, jen

  4. I’m glad the girls are feeling better.

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the bed it’s awesome!!!! I’d like to have one of those for my room (I would need queen size now though =) ).

    How did your radio interview go?

    OK, I love you memorial box thing but I would so fail at keeing up with it. I sure hope Rett signed up for it though because she would be good at it.

  5. Glad to hear that everyone is feeling a little better. I will pray for continued healing.

    I see where you are planning a trip to Indiana. Seeing as how that’s where I live, I will be anxious to hear details as they are finalized.

    You continue to be a blessing to me. I continue to pray for you.

  6. What an awesome story!! God is so amazing–and so detailed. He loves to bless us and I think it is so cool that you waited and prayed and He gave you what your heart desired. I can just imagine how much He was smiling when you all saw the bunk bed! 🙂

  7. WOW! Jehovah Jirah provided indeed! My favorite line of the post is “we waited and prayed for direction.” When there’s a need in life, sometimes we have the tendency to pray about it and then act too quickly (not waiting for God to reveal and move in the situation). We acknowledge the need and see the “logical” answer, so we move in our own capacity. Your need for bunk beds for the boys could have been “logically” solved by purchasing the first or second bed you saw. But with wisdom, you and Mr. Dw prayed and waited, allowing God to reveal His answer for your need. What an awesome answer He provided! Not just any ol-run-of-the-mill bunk bed, but a custom-made log bunk bed that’s larger than your original request. And characteristic of our loving Father, He chose to bless you with a bonus (abundance)…not just in the thing for which you asked, but with a new relationship. Oh, for friendships are much more lasting than things! I do not believe in coincidences and therefore believe your connection with Ms. B was divinely appointed. Praise God!

    In awe of His faithfulness,
    Tina

  8. Oh for goodness sakes—can I have THAT house 🙂 My word, that is SUCH a huge blessing. I don’t think I have ever seen such beautiful bunks. Doesn’t God know the EXACT desires of our hearts. So amazing.

    So happy for you tonight, friend. And thrilled the girls are feeling better.

    Wow–what an incredible God we serve!

  9. AWESOME Linn– God has done that for us too– exactly what we wanted in trade for a queen bed we needed to get rid of. God is good. I am glad the girls are feeling better too.

  10. Linny, Wow!! This bed is amazing. It’s beautiful!! AND room for another BOY! I’m so stink’in happy for you!!! I bet the boys are just thrilled in their new big ‘ol bed! Now for the girls…hmmm…what are they praying for???

  11. I just love reading how God is blessing you after this fire.. and your faith is uplifting to me! Thank you for your comment on my healthy living blog also 🙂 I am also glad the weather is turning nicer.. today was just beautiful!

  12. What a beautiful log bunk – reminds me of the log furniture my parents had when they lived in colorado. 🙂 A good reminder that sometimes God provides in ways we cannot imagine!

  13. hard to fit a bed in a box, but you think of everything!!
    what an enormous blessing, and the bed is flat-out amazing!! thanks for sharing how God is moving. . . and shaking. and thanks for your faithfulness to share.
    i check back with you all the time and am a loyal reader/prayer warrior.

    blessings to you, and can’t wait to win that memory box!!!!

  14. Praise Him for His provision and caring EVEN about details! 🙂 I do so love Him!
    Echoing your Yippee Jesus!
    And marveling that B’s workers (“worker bees”??) EVEN delivered them and set them up for you! Amazing! How cool!
    Blessings,
    Elisha

  15. Well I was wishing I could have provided beds, after seeing your girls’ beds on the floor. My idea of a bed pales in comparison. WOW!
    Now for the girls.

  16. That is so amazing.

    Really Linn, we shouldn’t be amazed, as we know how much God loves us and how he desires to give us the desires of our hearts.

    Keep going to Him and let us share in your joy…perhaps we won’t be so surprised as He continues to meet your needs.

    Rejoicing with you…and your beautiful LOG custom bunkbeds.

    xoxoxo
    Kimmie
    mama to 7
    one homemade and 6 adopted

  17. BEAUTIFUL! WoW! I wouldn’t dare show this picture to our son (7 yrs)! He would be talking about them until he leaves for college! I know I don’t have to tell you how much something like this would cost to make and you can certainly tell these were made by a true craftsman!!! again.. WOW! Congrats on your newest miracle of the day!

    So glad team S. is feeling better!

  18. Awesome! I have goosebumps! If we wait on the Lord isn’t amazing how what He has for us is so far beyond what we imagine! We are waiting for a car in this way right now! It’s hard to fit 3 kids, one in a car seat in a 2000 ford focus anymore. Our blessings are overflowing! (and fighting back there I might add!)

    Also glad to hear your girls are better! We had a round of the bad throat but it wasn’t strep. That would have been easier to treat. The swollen glands and sore throat kept Olivia home for a whole week. I think the moaning is a horrible horrible symptom with no medical intervention available! Haven’t had that much moaning in the house really ever! Hope its warming up out there! Sheri

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