Wow, we have been SO blessed.
Every time something awesome happens we say, "we should write about it on the blog!"
... and then another blessing comes... and another.... then a big change comes in our lives (like a baby... or move across the country...)
We can hardly keep up with how fast things have been unfolding for us! So, for sanity sake, I'll just make a grand list of the blessings :)
HOPE THIS ENCOURAGES YOU
(theses are not in any order, I'm just picking them out of my head)
1
We were able to pay off our debt
2
Willie's parents let us stay with them, rent free, for 3 months so we could save money for the move.
3
We got an amazing deal on plane tickets to visit our family in South Carolina one last time before we moved to Washington.
4
We were able to drive to Ohio with Willie's whole family to visit more family before we left.
5
Willie's parents gave us their minivan come to Washington in because it is a more reliable car than the one we were going to bring.
6
We got a great deal on this VERY NICE hotel in South Dakota during our 3 day drive to Washington. I felt like a princess :)
7
We were welcomed by friends in Montana to stay the night during out 3 day drive to Washington. They blessed us SO much with amazing hospitality, laughter, relaxation, A HOT TUB :P, meals, encouragement, and a gracious parting gift to help us get on our feet.
8
We had just enough money saved to move to Washington and pay for the first month of school and living costs.
*** 9 ***
When we moved we had no jobs lined up... One week later we both were working about 30 hours a week making $10 and $12 and hour. I am able to have Owen at work with me! It couldn't have worked out any better. Willie drops me off at 8am, where I get to help take care of my old friend Elenora. He then drives to a construction job that he was offered by a good friend of ours. He leaves at 2pm and comes straight to pick me and Owen up... and we have every evening together! Amazing. Both of these jobs are temporary, dependent on when the renovating is done and when Mrs.Elenora passes... BUT once again, we have what we need when we need it.
10
Willie's parents bought our mattress from us for $500 bucks! And they gave us their really nice air mattress, with a stand, so we have something to sleep on.
11
Willie was able to sell his tool chest for $250 (we could not fit it in the car and have room for anything else, so we had to sell it... but pray that we get a good deal on one here, because he still needs one for school)
12
We were blessed by our aunt & uncle in Wisconsin to work around their home doing little projects here and there, and were able to save an extra $240 for our move!
13
Willie put an add on craigslist for extra work and got a call back! That job brought us an extra $50 and we were only there for 2 1/2 hours. Awesome.
14
We had a small yard sale and brought in a couple hundred bucks to add to the bank.
15
We have been blessed by the Hamilton family (Frank & Margie) to live with them until we sign our lease on June 28th. Hospitality is SUCH A BLESSING! They have given us everything our family has needed during our stay. Truly, they are spoiling us with all this food and fellowship. (not to mention the golf outings they bless my hubby with).
16
We were debating if we could afford the townhouse that we would really like to get, and when we went in to get the application for it they gave us $100 off per month for the first 6 months of a 9 month lease! Amazing.
17
We will be sharing a 3 bedroom, 2&1/2 bath townhouse with another couple at the rate of $735 a month (divided by 2 = $367.50 each couple + about $40 each for utilities) Amazing. We couldn't even get a studio apartment for that much! So blessed. O yea, it also has full sized washer and dryer as well as a dish washer :D
18
We budgeted for our 3 day trip to Washington to cost $550... and with the hospitality, gifts of money, lower gas prices, and higher gas mileage - it only cost us around $400!
19
We never ran out of gas or had car trouble the entire trip. And owen was an angel the whole way! (that is, ... if angels poop up their back in their carseat??? but hey, it only happened once in 3 days! :P )
20
We were able to fit everything we "needed" to bring in the back of the minivan. (leaving all furniture behind) BUT, once we got to Spokane a friend of ours said we can have his couch. And another friend of ours said he has lots of furniture he wants to get rid of! All we have to do is go over and pick it out.
21
We got approved for our townhouse even though none of us had proof of income at the time!
22
We thought that the disk drive on our computer was broken (and it was) we tried 3 times to get it to work... and nothing. But I felt a strong sense that we should pray about it, so we did, and immediately after it worked! And, it hasn't given us any trouble since. We know this computer is old... but if God could cause the Israelites sandals to not wear out during 40 years of wandering... :) we are certain he can keep this computer going if he wants.... and if not, we are certain he will provide what we need :)
23
We made it to spokane :)
Each of these blessings could be a post of its own, and I am certain I am forgetting many, but we have so much that we want to share with you that we just had to get it out there.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support. This is an amazing ride.
We move into our place June 28th, and Willie starts school July 9th.
