MBM: The Last Test

When we began to pray about moving, we asked the Lord to make it very clear.
We loved our home and we had been putting a fair amount of sweat
equity into it.
I had also been working on a little project – a collection of
pictures of each of our treasures in frames gathered from thrift stores
and yard sales all over Phoenix.
I loved my non-matching frames – they looked
more than appropriate for our non-matching beautiful family –
and that non-matching look happens to be my most favorite flavor – ever.
I would stop and stare at the wall as I worked on it the
last few months and smile with gratefulness.
So as we prayed about moving, we knew that Ruby was very limited in where she
could go since half of the house was upstairs.  And the Arthrogryposis
had begun to present more challenges to Isaiah as well.
A stairless home just made sense.
I had even begun to put together a Grandtreasure section which I was
also still working on…
Hadn’t really ever thought that we would fix it up to sell it, but when the
idea came to sell, and find a home better suitable to Ruby’s wheelchair and Isaiah
and well even me – and then when the Lord gave us the idea to share some of the proceeds
with some precious Gems on the other side of the ocean – well,
that was too exciting to pass up and we were ON IT lickety-split!!
I was giddy at moving.
Okay, maybe not giddy about packing and packing
and packing and packing and packing…
but you get the idea!
Not long into looking, we found a home we really loved.
And of all things – there was a wheelchair ramp in the master bath.
I almost fell over!!
I wondered, could this be the home from the Lord for us?
However, we were not going to be hasty in our decision….
we knew that if it was the house from the Lord, He would
hold it.
We continued to look and constantly prayed:
“Close any door that is not of you. Slam it on our fingers!  
Pinch our toes – make it hurt!!  
Just keep us in your perfect {not permissive} will!” 
 
We kept looking and found two different homes that had been on the market for 
almost a year.   Both homes we seriously considered and although
they had both been on the market for nearly a year they each
SOLD the very day we talked 
seriously about them!!
How crazy is that?
Both on the market for just about a year and
the day???
It felt good though.  We knew that God was closing the doors
because He had something better for us.
We kept thinking about that home with the wheelchair ramp.
And it was still available!!
But we didn’t even have our home on the market…
But God had something miraculous up His sleeve!!
And to make a long God-story short,
through some miraculous events the wheelchair ramp homeowners
said that they would be happy for us to rent it while we
sold our home.
I had been dreading showing/selling our home
with all of us in it – we’ve done that way too many times
in the past!
But faithful God moved in a mighty way
and allowed us the privilege to live here while our home sells.
Then the night before our inspection on this house
I began to get cold feet.
Like ice cubes in ice water.
I told Dw that I was scared and maybe we should back out.
We have nice neighbors where we live.
They either like us or ignore us.
I’m okay with either of those options.
But what about the new neighborhood??
Cause after all, seven kids in the backyard playing
is not quiet.  No matter how you listen to it.
Dw prayed with me.
I told Dw that I had been praying that the neighbors
would be out to meet them when we went over the next day
to see what the inspector said.  {The other side has a vacant home
that’s for sale – anyone want to move to Phoenix and live next door?
so that was okay.}
And God was so gracious, as we pulled around the corner
what should we find?
Our neighbors out trimming their trees.
We had Ruby with us and I whispered,
“He answered my prayer!  Now go meet them
and see what they are like!”
Dw spoke, “You’re coming with me babe.”
UGH.
I hate when he says that!
My shy/introverted self was going to have to suck it up big time.
Ruby, Dw and I went down to meet them.
I knew that if God had answered and they were outside,
we would no doubt know without a doubt one way or another if
this really was our home from the Lord!
The story of meeting them is amazing
but imagine my giddiness when I learned that
my precious new neighbor
has spent her life working with special needs treasures!!
ONLY our Faithful GOD!!
 
She love, love, loved Ruby and invited her to come with
her and meet her kitty.
Ruby loved that!!
And two days after moving in she brought us homemade
muffins!  A neighborly neighbor – sooooo cool….and so rare
these days!!
She really likes our family {her husband does too}.
We are humbled beyond words to know how God has
moved to allow us the privilege of living here
and next to a family whose mom has spent her days
working with special needs kiddos.
For those who don’t believe that God cares about
us or the details of our lives….please go back and read the story again….
He not only cares, but is intimately involved in each detail!!
We need a special trinket in our Memorial Box 
to represent this amazing story.  
If you have any ideas what the trinket should be, 
please don’t hold back, because we are stumped!  

49 thoughts on “MBM: The Last Test

  1. I think that a little tree would be awesome since the Lord had your new neighbors out trimming the trees so you could meet them and have your hearts encouraged and confirmed 🙂

    1. Isn't it sooo cool that they were out trimming? In Phoenix, it is seldom we see a neighbor trimming {we do it!} because of the heat I think…but it was beautiful to have God answer our prayers so emphatically!

  2. How about a small disk of wood from a branch that was being trimmed? Trees are such a sweet picture… pruning, "downsizing," growth… Such a sweet, sweet story. So thrilled for your new home!

  3. I love how God is in the details! My favorite memory is seeing those details it in every answer to prayer for my adopted little sweetheart (who is not-so-little anymore).

    I am not exactly sure what kind of trinkets you usually get for your memorial box as I am new to your blog. My first thought was a kitty and a tree since your neighbors were trimming their trees and invited Ruby to meet their kitty when you first met. After a quick google search, I wondered if something like this might work:

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/112379820/kitty-cat-hugging-fruit-tree-charm?ref=market

    Blessings,
    Tanya

  4. A house key.
    A leaf for the tree she was trimming.
    A small calendar for the year the other houses were on the market.
    A small plastic fence to represent neighbors.

    1. Great ideas – thank you Debbie – and although we would be hard pressed to find a picket fence anywhere in Phoenix – it certainly does speak of being neighborly, Doesn't it?

  5. My first thought was a little kitty. I think because that was such a sweet touch from the neighbor to engage Ruby not just be friendly. Such an amazing story as always my friend. I want to move and living next to you would be so nice….not kidding.
    need to connect soon have something my daughter did for the Gems and I have an oil question. Also I have been commenting alot on post, but for some reason they are not showing up.

  6. Wonderful! Thanks for telling us about those amazing details. I think you have some lovely ideas already for the memorial box. Now we need photos of your updated photo wall!
    Love from Sandy in the UK

    1. I can't wait to get my pictures up!! We aren't allowed to paint though until our house is sold and we have closed on this one. Pray for a buyer for our old home, will you?

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