A change in plans

**mateosbaby** · 07-22-2009, 10:08 PM

Well, our house didn't sell. And now we have a baby who seems to want to make it impossible for me to get much more than dishes and laundry done in a day.

So we decided to stay here until at least spring. We'll see what the market is like then and make a decision from there.

So anyway, the money we had in the house down payment fund went to a new laptop for Matt (he needs it for his side business, and his died a year earlier than planned), and the rest will be going toward a new dishwasher. We don't have one at all, and with 6 people in the house now, I really could use one.

After that, along with tearing out 3 huge drawers in the kitchen that don't pull well (replacing with cabinets), we'll see how much things cost to "remodel" some other stuff. We have a 1 1/2 story house, and the upstairs is one of the major reasons the house wouldn't sell, at any price. So raising that roof will make a huge difference just for that reason, but also so we can make bigger bedrooms up there that actually fit beds in them. I'm sure that's going to be A LOT of money, so hopefully, if we stay here past spring, we'll be able to save up enough to do that. It may take well past next Christmas, though, to save up that much money, so we'll see what happens.

**Siebrie** · 07-23-2009, 04:13 AM

Why did you want to move? Because of the house or because of the area? You might be better off adapting the house to your needs than actually moving, settling down, uprooting the kids, making new friends, finding the best buys in the area, etc.

**mateosbaby** · 07-23-2009, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Siebrie

Why did you want to move? Because of the house or because of the area? You might be better off adapting the house to your needs than actually moving, settling down, uprooting the kids, making new friends, finding the best buys in the area, etc.

Because of the house, mostly. It's tiny, and we have 4 children, ages 6 and under. Plus, we homeschool. It's quite tight. And we don't want to be done having kids, either.

So it was either move or remodel. We tried to move, but evidently God has other plans for us. So now we are going to start with adding a dishwasher in the kitchen, and we will see where we go from there. A remodel is A LOT of money, and I don't know when or how we'll ever be able to save up enough, especially while still trying to pay down those debts, too. Tough decisions.

**MaryCarney** · 07-23-2009, 11:45 AM

God's going to make a way, he wouldn't leave you where you are without it being part of His plan.
Remember that godliness with contentment is great gain!!

**mateosbaby** · 07-23-2009, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by MaryCarney

God's going to make a way, he wouldn't leave you where you are without it being part of His plan.
Remember that godliness with contentment is great gain!!

I've been thinking about that A LOT in the past year! LOL And, really, the peace that has settled over me now that we know we're staying is unmistakable as we are now following God's plans instead of ours. It's funny how you're not really at peace until you do things His way.

**forHISglory** · 07-23-2009, 01:58 PM

I can certainly understand the confusion at understanding God's will. We, too, had our house for sale, and wondered if we were crazy to try to sell in this market. Plus our home was unusual in that it is solar and set up for energy efficiency, so that was making it hard to sell. We wanted to sell, and we didn't want to sell. We knew that we needed to be nearer my aging and ill parents to help them, but oh, how we love where we are. The only plus in moving, for us, was being near my folks.

So we just asked God to show us His will and make it very plain, and to make us obedient to His will and desiring of His will. This simply became our prayer every day. "Lord, where do You want us to serve?" and "Father, Your timing is exquisite. We trust Your ways and not our own ways."

Well, this week we had an offer. It was stronger than we ever believed possible. Now we have an inspection and an appraisal coming up. We just continue to seek His will and ask for obedience.

We had to admit that we didn't know exactly where God wanted us, and acknowledge that the world didn't revolve around us and our wants. We only knew that we would not be happy anywhere except smack dab in the middle of His will and plan.

All this to say that I will be praying for you and your family to be at peace wherever God puts you, and that He gives you wisdom, discretion, and strength to do what needs to be done.

**MaryCarney** · 07-24-2009, 07:37 AM

The best analogy I ever heard on this topic is that of an umbrella. If it's pouring rain or scorching hot, as long as you stay under the umbrella WHERE YOU"RE SUPPOSED TO BE, you won't get drenched or scorched.

Our home is for sale, too, but for a different reason. We've 'downsized' our family - two oldest DDs have graduated from college and moved away to their own homes, and two youngest will be gone before you know it.

SOMEWHERE God has a family who He wants to live in this house, and benefit from the orchard, small town atmosphere and homeschool friendly environment. Until they're ready for this blessing, we're content to stay here.

Isn't God good??????

**forHISglory** · 07-24-2009, 10:11 AM

Yes, MaryCarney, God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. We passed the inspection yesterday, with only a few minor things to be adjusted. That's one hurdle passed.

**frugalfranny** · 07-24-2009, 07:35 PM

Sounds like you have a plan and that is half the battle......

Good luck with carrying out your plan!

**mateosbaby** · 07-24-2009, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by MaryCarney

SOMEWHERE God has a family who He wants to live in this house, and benefit from the orchard, small town atmosphere and homeschool friendly environment. Until they're ready for this blessing, we're content to stay here.

Isn't God good??????

Hey, that's us! We want that type of place! LOL Where are you? I'll go tell hubby right now!

And, yes, He is SOOO good!

Ironically, today I got our monthly newsletter from our church in the mail. We've been considering changing churches after we move (if it was far enough away, we would have to anyway), and now that we're staying here, we started thinking about changing anyway. Well, in the newsletter, it announced that they will now be offering childcare during the Sunday morning Bible classes. We've been waiting for that for 6 years now, ever since our oldest child was born! Praise God! We could never head it up because we have 4 kids now, and I homeschool. I just don't have the time for it now. One big reason that we were considering switching was because they don't help young families be able to attend Bible classes and other events where children aren't "allowed." This is really a big step in the right direction. There have been a couple things lately that are making us reconsider the switch, and they just fit right in with having to stay in this house a while longer. Guess it really does all work together!