Thoughts On the Move

So here we are moved to another town. We are about a half hour away from the big city of Minneapolis, but according to everyone in the city, we are "Way up north". I think of telling them that, "No Grand Rapids is WAY up NORTH," but figure, maybe I have something to learn.

When we moved here about a month ago we began gutting out our 4 bedroom split level home. We basically have taken everything out of the house that we didn't need immediately (like our falling apart upstairs bathroom that still is working, but ugly) and we are in the very slow process of rebuilding it ourselves. It is goes much slower than one would think it should.

Anyway, in relation to our inner lives, this added stress of moving and leaving those we love and have depended on daily; has been a struggle. The projects have and are keeping us focused most of the time but it's still very difficult. God has moved us from being surrounded by caring and loving people to a new place where we just basically have God and each other. Summer is not the opportune time for our other children to meet friends even though we have put them all in a summer sport in hopes of just that. So far, nothing.

God threw us a blessing though in that department. Our neighbors happen to be Jerry and Karen, an early 60ish retired pastor and wife couple from the local E-Free Church. Very nice. We haven't really spent any time with them other than the usual neighborly yard chats, but still, it's nice to know they are there. Matt started a Wed. night Bible Study with Jerry and some other guys in our neighborhood so that was a welcome and quick response to him getting connected to people.

Still, I can't help but know that God moved me personally in my journey of faith, away from my network of friends so that I would focus on His grace, love, mercy and comfort alone. And let me tell you, most days, I feel very alone, humanly speaking. It stands to be comical even that I moved in the summer when all my friends and family are busy....which is how it is in Minnesota when you only get 3 short months to play outside and do gardening and camping and the like. So it's just me, my hubby, my kids, God and an occasional neighbor chat.

All I can say is I'm teachable, but still raw in my grief for little Gretta and now the rest of my extended loved ones as well. The journey continues....