Has it really been nine months?

I have been delinquent in keeping all my prayer warriors up to date. I have run into a few of you over the past several months and all of you have encouraged me to write a post. Thank you for loving me so much and wanting to be apart of my life in this way. I appreciate every one of you and thank God that He continues to be in control of all and send you as burst of love my way.  So sit down, grab a coffee we have a lot of up dating…..

Over the winter months Mike and I worked closely with our builders Rodger and Heather and came up with a design. We looked for property, which proved to be a little more challenging than we though but yet again God provided a beautiful property in a older neighborhood, Fallowfield Village.  One that was very familiar with Rodger, as he has built several homes here. We started the build of our new home May 2014. The hole was dug and the footprint was laid. It wasn’t long and the foundation was placed the framing was going up. We could start to see the drawing become a reality. Working with Roger and Heather was amazing. Definitely a God sent. They were so organized and on top of everything, we all had our tasks with timelines. There was no time to worry about a thing, not that we had to. It was a challenging yet a fun experience we would do it again. They made it easy!

Mike was excited from the get go. The girls and I took a little longer as we were sad to leave our home on Finrod. The memories of the past and the dreams of the future there were hard to give up. I know, we will make new traditions, new memories and have a new future but I didn’t want to. God had a different plan. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” From the beginning God was in control and it was so obvious. We don’t always get what we want but God always provides what we need.

The weeks went by quickly as we were making decision after decisions. Preparing our current home to be put up for sale and trying to have some family time with the girls during there summer holidays. There was a lot of running around … Mike did most of that.  We were able to sneak away every weekend to enjoy the cottage and managed to get away to P.E.I. for a week with 3 other families. Which was the highlight of summer for sure.

Our house went up for sale before we left for P.E.I. it was sold just 3 weeks. Did I say God was in control? No conditions and the closing date we were hoping for November 3^rd.  Now the packing begins, giving us a great opportunity to purge.

By now the new home is closed in and we are able to see changes daily, it amazed us as to how quickly it was moving along. Before we knew it, it was moving day. Ready for another God thing… We booked moves for October 22^nd; I was confirmed with contract in hand. 8am came and no movers now it was 9am and I may have started to worry just a little. I asked Mike what are we going to do? “No big deal, we can just get a room at the Brookstreet Hotel tonight and book a mover for tomorrow” “We’ll figure it out” I’m not to sure what ruffles his feathers yet! Needles to say I got on the phone with moving companies and God provided again “2 Men and a Truck” There was actually 3 men a truck that showed up to our home at 10:30 and started the move. Everything was unloaded at the new house by 7pm. They were amazing they couldn’t do enough for us.

The unpacking begins. Friends and family were busy making beds, setting up the kitchen getting my things ready for me so that I would be comfortable and prepared. The hardest part for me was watching it all happen and not being able to get my hands dirty. Its probably one of the biggest struggles I face, I’m not a very good spectator. 

It wasn’t long and we were pretty much unpacked. I am able to get to every part of the new house. I can tuck the girls into bed again. The kitchen and the modifications we have made have enabled me to cook again. I’m not sure who is happier about that, the girls or Mike. I have a new bathtub that allows me to have my tubbies again. I loved having a warm bath before bed and it’s been a long time. My legs float so it’s been a little challenging figuring out what would work best for me. With a little bit of weight around my ankle we are good to go. Although the home is amazing it still takes energy to do some of the littlest of tasks that would have been nothing for me to do before. I’ve had to really look and prioritize as to what is important. Waiting on someone to do it for me, or just letting it be. Christmas is just around the corner. Decorations needed to go up! Mike waiting for no one, out they came and they were up the last weekend in November I don’t think we ever had them up that early. We celebrated our Saviors birth in our new home with lots of family and friends around us. We had lots of room for everyone to enjoy. As per tradition we spent the new years up at the cottage with friends. Which we love.

During all of this both Mike and I kept up with work. I am still in therapy. I have been keeping up with my schedule of working Monday, Wednesday and Thursday keeping Tuesday and Friday mornings for Physiotherapy and my acupuncture appointments. During my two-hour sessions of therapy I am working hard at keeping my core strong, by doing a lot of balancing and weight lifting. I have been doing sit to stand exercise. This is when I lock my knees against my therapists and pull my self up using her shoulders to a stand. We are working on me trying to lock my knees myself and having the endurance of being able to hold myself in this position while moving my hips side-to-side or squatting up and down.  I have continued to use the body weight support to allow me to work on the treadmill as well as walk in the parallel bars. Progress is extremely slow and it has been taking so much energy. Challenging to say the least both physically and mentally. I struggle and understanding the plan that God has me in right now and I continue to search the scripture to help me to have the peace, hope and ability to rest in the Lord.

In a few weeks I will be starting pool therapy, which I am looking forward to seeing what will happen. My therapist says that there are a lot of people that are able to move their legs in the water since it’s zero gravity.  I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. 

Winter is a challenge as the snow makes it difficult to wheel through the parking lots. Your hands freeze even with gloves on; you need thin gloves to get a good grip. The sides of your legs get wet from the snow coming up on the tires and who’s kidding who I just didn’t enjoy winter that much before. I always looked forward to the summer.

I am struggling to know God’s plan in all this. I know that God is always trying to build endurance, perseverance and steadfastness. I cling to His promises but it still seems to very difficult at times. I question Him as to why and I may never know why. James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of like” I know He is taking me to a new level of dependence on Him. One of the biggest things I have begun to learn is that Joy doesn’t = happiness and God doesn’t promise us happiness but we can choose joy. James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

 Joy only comes from God. “Consider it all Joy” Joy in trials is saying that I’m going to find away to trust Him even though I’m not seeing Him and His plan. Considering why am I here, what life is really about, glorify Him in all things and where I’ll be is the only way I consider joy in my trial. When trials come we want to jump ship but staying put is the very thing God wants to teach us most of all.

There is a closeness with the Lord that comes though trials that doesn’t come any other way. I rejoice in the opportunity, OK not always but that’s my goal.

Thank you to all of you for supporting us through prayer. So many of you have reminded me that you are praying daily for me and my family. We wouldn’t be able to go through this with out it. I pray God’s blessing on you and your families this year. I pray that He will continue to be a strong presence and that you will cling to Him daily.

Big Hug Sandra