Hello, Friends! Last time I blogged, our family was headed to Iowa. I told you that the next blog would tell all about our move. My apologies for taking so long. I still want to share about our move and all of the farm stories that I treasure and hold dear to my heart, but first I must confess why it took so long in between posts.
Our first Iowa farm had become an idol to me - one that has been hard to lay down. After writing all of the blogs about God providing and the story of how we got the farm, the memories came flooding back, and that idol reared its ugly head once more. I was going around that same mountain...AGAIN! So, I took time off to deal with it.
You would think that after writing about all of God's provision, miracles, love, and faithfulness, I would be thankful in all things all of the time. That I would trust him all of the time. That I would never question what He is doing in my life. Well, folks, it just doesn't work that way, does it?
When blogging, I am very particular about what picture to choose to go with my post. It almost takes longer to choose a picture than it does to write. The picture I chose today shows two important things: the mountain (like the one the Israelites went around and around and around, because they could not learn from their mistakes) and spring flowers (which represent new life).
It is a picture of me...of you...of all of us.
We are fallen humans. We sin. Daily. We are just like our ancestors that go around the same mountain all the time - sinning, confessing our sins to God, only to sin again. I am so grateful that God had a plan to save us from our sins.
You know what? I loved that farm. We loved that farm. None of us wanted to move. But God had a different plan. (I will eventually get to all of that in later blog posts.) I was very sad and angry to have to move - away from the farm, and then away from Iowa. I could not understand why God would take away something that brought our family such joy. Why He would move us away to another state. And why He would have me become a "townie" after living country life for so long. I held on to that sadness and anger until last week.
I knew it had been an idol. I have been dealing with it for quite a while. Some things just take time to work out, producing faith and patience.
As you know, God has been teaching me how to give thanks in all things. I had been going through the motions of trying to give thanks about living in town, but my heart was not in it.
It was a beautiful week of weather last week. After winter, it was such a blessing for me to sit out in the sun and go for walks. I spent some time talking with my 84 year old neighbor, Stan. I went down and met the crossing guard and told him thank you for always waving to me with a smile every morning that I take Brooklynne to school. The children were going to the school park right across the street and playing with their friends. Yotty's, the amazing ice cream place up town, opened up for the season. The play practices for the children had picked up for tech week last week. The church was only a few blocks away, so the children could walk.
I began to think of things differently. Appreciating the conveniences and opportunities I have by living in town. I started to make plans for a garden in the back yard that we have not had for 2 years. Stan offered to give me red raspberry and black raspberry bushes to plant. I told hubby I wanted to plant a strawberry patch and pull out old bushes and replace them with things we can eat!
I think I also talked hubby into getting an above ground pool in the backyard. Last year, the heat induced Brooklynne's seizures, so it made going to the pool difficult. I thought of all the friends, children and adults, that I could have over for fellowship.
I hung clothes out on my line. Heard the birds singing. Waved at all the cars going by, that in the beginning I loathed and was not used to. Smiled at the children getting out of school.
I began to look back and see all that God had done everywhere we lived, and thought to myself, "I would not want it any other way." I have made friendships and memories to last a lifetime. Our children have learned to adapt, be flexible, and make new friends. My family has learned that God has always been faithful and knows exactly what He is doing, and that His timing is always perfect.
I have a cute little house, in a quaint little town - where horses and buggies go down my street all the time. The people here are friendly. The bank teller knows me by name. Yotty's Ice Cream is the summer social gathering place. The children's friends can come and go at their convenience.
After years of dealing with this trek around the mountain, I can finally say that I am so thankful God has delivered me from the sin I have been holding onto since October 2011. And now I can look forward to blogging about all the farm stories and adventures we have had since the farm without regrets or idolatry.
With this one sin, I went from the mountain to the flowers. :)
I love my family. I love my life. I love Kalona. And most of all...I really love my God. He is so faithful. Such a good Father, indeed!
Have a great day, folks!
