Well, I am sure many of you have been wondering where I have been for these past couple months. I still can’t believe that it has been so long since I have blogged. I have so much to update you on!
In my last post, I mentioned about our apartment flooding AGAIN and the fact that we were homeless and looking for a new place to live. To read the actual post – click here. What a difficult time that was. There were days where I really thought I was not going to make it. But thank God for His strength that got us through it.
We wound up staying with the wonderful family from church, who took us in, for almost 2 months. My husband had to continue working, so the pressure wound up being all on me to search for a new place to live. I spent hours looking in our local papers, searching online, dealing with realtors, making calls, and traveling to look at countless different places. I really got sick of it in the end. I would come home crying because the places that I looked at in our price range – were disgusting. I saw one place that was covered in black mold – outside and inside. I literally stuck my finger in the mold in one house, right in front of the landlord and let them know that this wasn’t good. I really have no clue how anyone could live like that.
In another house, the walls were covered with DARK paneling. It was like a dungeon in there. There was yet another house that had bedrooms that were only big enough to fit a twin size bed and NOTHING else. Oh and how about the one that had absolutely no yard – definitely wouldn’t fly with my 4 children. There were tons more, but I really don’t even want to think about it now.
In the end, I wound up compiling a general email telling about our recent flood, about our family, and what our budget was for a home. Whenever anyone posted anything of interest on Craigslist, I would attach the email and just wait for a response. Many didn’t respond, and those who did just said that they really could’nt bring their prices down. But I didn’t give up and one day a landlord responded and we set up a day to meet. It was on a Saturday, so my husband was home that day and we all went to look at the place. We walked in and honestly just felt a peace. It was a totally different layout than what we were used to. We always lived on one floor – no stairs. But this place had 2 main floors and in addition also had a full basement and an attic. It would be perfect for us and a welcoming change.
Everything came together and we moved in shortly after. We are so blessed and so grateful. I really believe that all of this happened for a reason. We probably would’ve never moved out of our old place if it hadn’t flooded so much. But God had a better place that He knew we needed to be. Yes, it was difficult going through all of that. My husband and I went through the whole gamut of emotions. It was not easy waiting and searching and waiting and searching.
Cliff had to continue working during that whole time so really the pressure and stress was all on me to find us a home. I spent hours looking through the papers, making calls, talking with real estate agents, and emailing people. It was crazy. And man, some of the places I went to see that were supposedly within our price range were just horrible. I would come home crying and feeling hopeless.
During that time, I was listening to a Joyce Meyer teaching on CD called “Satan’s Interruptions” or something to that effect. And Joyce said this profound statement that really touched me. She said “God is the God of MORE than enough”. Wow, it hit me like a ton of bricks and from then on I started praying with faith and confidence – claiming that God had something even better out there for us than what we could imagine. And guess what? He did! And during that time, I not only learned about patience and flexibility – I also learned how to TRULY let go and depend on God.
And look what He gave us – a wonderful new home that is much better suited for us than what we were living in before. God is so faithful!
So check out our new home!
[nggallery id=1]
YEA! I love the pictures. And I am so happy that you guys have found a great place to live. Honestly, I really like the place. I think that taking the doors of the closets was a great idea…it really let you use that space…especially for your office!
Oh my gosh…I LOVE this new little place. You have made the best out of all spaces! It looks so cozy-like a home. I’m sorry about the flooding. I also really like what you said about learning to let go and depend on God. So true, and so hard. Thank you for the reminder.
Oh, and I don’t know what state you live in, but look at how green it is!!! Wow! 🙂
.-= Tiffiny´s last blog ..Growing Up =-.
God is so awesome!!! Your new home is absolutely beautiful!!! I know how hard it was to wait for the right place and how hard it was to do all the house hunting yourself with 4 small children. Wow! You are a very strong woman and now you can look back and see how God moved in your lives and how He pulled you through this storm. I’m so happy for you all 🙂
.-= Mary Lutz´s last blog ..Final Days of High School =-.
I continue to be thrilled for what God has given u all.It is a wonderful place.!!Can’t wait to visit again.
Congratulations on the new home!! It looks beautiful!! Wishing you and your family years of happiness there!
I’ve missed you…welcome back! Your story is a shining example of how God helps those who help themselves and you are a testimony to the power of prayer and grace. Others would have cracked under pressure, but you dug in and became proactive. Writing that letter took so much courage and faith and look at what you accomplished for your family. Way to go! Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
.-= Teresha@ Marlie and Me´s last blog ..Baby Log: Week 38 =-.
WOW! That’s awesome. I also love how you just had the “show picture list”! Makes the post nice and clean. I love clean lines and I LOVE those pictures! What a beautiful house! Congrats!
.-= Julie From Momspective´s last blog ..This Post Is For My Father, Even Though It Benefits Me =-.
Yes, I just installed the Nextgen photo gallery plugin and I am loving it. I can’t get the Lightbox plugin to work though – that makes it even cleaner and nicer looking. Oh well.
Anyway, Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks Teresha! What wonderful words of encouragement. God is so good. I give Him all the glory.
DAWN
Thanks so much Stefanie! I appreciate that!
DAWN
Thanks mom! God is faithful and always takes good care of us. Thanks for all your encouragement over these past few (very difficult) months. God came through though in the end. I love you!
Thanks so much Mary! It definitely was a hard time. I look back and I just can’t believe that we are finally on the other side of it. God is so faithful. I could never have done it without Him. I wonder sometimes how people can face life’s problems without Him. I give Him all the praise.
DAWN
Thanks so much! How sweet. 🙂 I am actually in NY and yes we are in the middle of Spring when everything is blooming. It is the perfect time to be in our new home.
God bless you!
DAWN
Amen to giving God all the praise! We too are finally coming out on the other side of things financially speaking. Things are beginning to look up for us. It’s been hard the last couple of years with two houses, but the one is finally selling and my income from my online business is finally increasing. So exciting!!! And we definitely couldn’t have done it without God! I too do not understand how people can get through storms like these without God. If only they knew how awesome and amazing He is, they wouldn’t have to. God is definitely the re-newer and restorer of all things and He always comes through for those who love him!
.-= Mary Lutz´s last blog ..Final Days of High School =-.
Dawn,
I am so happy that you love your new place. Thanks for sharing the pictures it is great to see the answer to our prayers! I love the Joyce Meyer quote too! AWESOME!!
.-= Cindy Schultz´s last blog ..Playtex Bra Makeover =-.
Oh Dawn! God is good ALL of the time! Your house is absolutely beautiful. You’re right, it is perfect for your family and I am SO glad that you have been blessed with it. I looked through the pictures twice and it seems so roomy, so comfortable and you can tell that it is filled with A LOT of love. I know that you have been going through a tough ordeal lately, but the blessing in the end made the tears and pain in the beginning worth it. May God continue to bless you and your family.
I know how good it feels now that you have peace of mind. 🙂
Take care,
Shynea
Girl, that is exactly how I feel. I finally have peace of mind and it feels great. Thanks so much for your kind words about our new place. It is so wonderful and definitely filled with lots of love.
I read something this morning in my devotion time with God and it was about trials. I wound up looking back over the past several months and thinking about many of the specific incidents that have happened. I thought about the many tears. I thought about the frustration and the pain.
In the book there was a picture of a staircase. Each step had “trial” on it, but at the top it said “relationship with God”. In other words, each of our trials are meant to teach us how to be better people and they allow us to grow closer to God. Our trials are stepping stones. They are stairs that bring us UP and closer to our Savior.
Both my husband and I have changed a lot (for the better). And as tough as it all was, I would not have wanted it any other way. Because now I truly know what it means to trust God and depend on Him for EVERYTHING.
God bless you too sweety. And again, thanks for taking the time to comment. Love, DAWN
oh your new home is sooo nice. BLessings to you!
.-= Alyssa´s last blog ..I’m Not Going to Make Any Promises =-.