Since my last post several months ago, I have moved to the city of Austin - living on my own for the first time EVER - and have had many, many other life changing experiences. Since there has been so much, I will probably break this down into several posts - mostly so that you don't go blind from all of the reading of the novela that IS my life! (Yup, I'm a giver that way.) I'll begin today with the incredible story of the move.
Easter weekend. A time when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and a time that we take to celebrate all things new. Never in all of my dreams or nightmares did I imagine what Easter 2013 would hold for me! Twenty-three years ago if you'd asked me if what I was going through was a possibility, I would have probably laughed in your face and said, "Nope, not me, NEVER!!! It's not even a word I will use." Yet, here I was in the reality of that very thing. I was in the middle of a divorce. Perhaps more on that at a later date - I was beginning a new season in my life, in a new city and Easter became a reminder that God is a God of 2nd chances, new beginnings and that He loves us inspite of our brokeness.
So, here I was, in need of a new place to live. Austin felt like the logical choice since it is where my church home is and also close to the school where I work in Buda, so I began to search. WoW! +20 years in the same house can leave one completely out of touch!! As I crawled out from under the apparent rock I was living under, I swallowed the shock of how expensive places to live have gotten. It was more glaring to me than ever that I was no longer part of a two-income household and school secretaries are not at the top of the economic food chain to say the least! Thankfully, I found an apartment, that while near the top of my budget, was in a great location close to church, school and in a part of town that I was actually somewhat familiar with. (little known fact - just a few short years ago, the thought of me driving anywhere in Austin set the hairs up on the back of my neck, caused palpitations and offered a bevy of jokes about my lack of directional fortitude to all who knew me. God does indeed have a sense of humor doesn't He?!?!?)
Anywho - Lease signed on a one bedroom apartment - time to move - Good Friday was the day. I had the day off already from work and had been boxing things up for a while in preparation. (plus I had recently de-excessed remember?)
A precious friend from church came to me one night following choir practice to check in and in our conversation asked who I had helping me to move. Hmmm, hadn't really thought about that much - just figured I'd do it on my own. (I mean, isn't that what my new life would be? Doing things on my own? Alone? - Almost as if it was a self-imposed punishment for failing at marriage!- that darn Shame voice!!) She asked if I minded if she told our growth group (aka Sunday School class) about the upcoming move and to ask for help. I replied that it was fine if she wanted to do that, but since I don't get to go to growth group very often, -No, I'm not a total slacker. I buddy with our special needs kids most Sundays- nobody would even know who I was much less want to help. She asked me to trust her and to relax knowing that these people would answer the call. I didn't hold my breath - so many people in my life had made promises before with no results. - all the while reminding myself "It's just one more thing that comes with the "Scarlet D of divorce" that in my mind I would forever have as my identifier and that would repel any thought of anyone wanting to do anything with or for me. Yup, the voice of deception was coming in loud and clear!!
In the meantime, I reserved a truck and was set for the move with or without help... Until... I got a call from the company saying that the smaller truck that I reserved was not available and that I was being upgraded to the larger sized truck. I almost had a heart attack from the stress of driving this beast from the store to my house which was only a couple of miles literally - how in the world would I get this monstrosity from Lockhart to Austin without total heart failure or possibly taking out an entire neighborhood as I turned a corner?!? Have mercy!
Easter weekend. A time when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and a time that we take to celebrate all things new. Never in all of my dreams or nightmares did I imagine what Easter 2013 would hold for me! Twenty-three years ago if you'd asked me if what I was going through was a possibility, I would have probably laughed in your face and said, "Nope, not me, NEVER!!! It's not even a word I will use." Yet, here I was in the reality of that very thing. I was in the middle of a divorce. Perhaps more on that at a later date - I was beginning a new season in my life, in a new city and Easter became a reminder that God is a God of 2nd chances, new beginnings and that He loves us inspite of our brokeness.
So, here I was, in need of a new place to live. Austin felt like the logical choice since it is where my church home is and also close to the school where I work in Buda, so I began to search. WoW! +20 years in the same house can leave one completely out of touch!! As I crawled out from under the apparent rock I was living under, I swallowed the shock of how expensive places to live have gotten. It was more glaring to me than ever that I was no longer part of a two-income household and school secretaries are not at the top of the economic food chain to say the least! Thankfully, I found an apartment, that while near the top of my budget, was in a great location close to church, school and in a part of town that I was actually somewhat familiar with. (little known fact - just a few short years ago, the thought of me driving anywhere in Austin set the hairs up on the back of my neck, caused palpitations and offered a bevy of jokes about my lack of directional fortitude to all who knew me. God does indeed have a sense of humor doesn't He?!?!?)
Anywho - Lease signed on a one bedroom apartment - time to move - Good Friday was the day. I had the day off already from work and had been boxing things up for a while in preparation. (plus I had recently de-excessed remember?)
A precious friend from church came to me one night following choir practice to check in and in our conversation asked who I had helping me to move. Hmmm, hadn't really thought about that much - just figured I'd do it on my own. (I mean, isn't that what my new life would be? Doing things on my own? Alone? - Almost as if it was a self-imposed punishment for failing at marriage!- that darn Shame voice!!) She asked if I minded if she told our growth group (aka Sunday School class) about the upcoming move and to ask for help. I replied that it was fine if she wanted to do that, but since I don't get to go to growth group very often, -No, I'm not a total slacker. I buddy with our special needs kids most Sundays- nobody would even know who I was much less want to help. She asked me to trust her and to relax knowing that these people would answer the call. I didn't hold my breath - so many people in my life had made promises before with no results. - all the while reminding myself "It's just one more thing that comes with the "Scarlet D of divorce" that in my mind I would forever have as my identifier and that would repel any thought of anyone wanting to do anything with or for me. Yup, the voice of deception was coming in loud and clear!!
In the meantime, I reserved a truck and was set for the move with or without help... Until... I got a call from the company saying that the smaller truck that I reserved was not available and that I was being upgraded to the larger sized truck. I almost had a heart attack from the stress of driving this beast from the store to my house which was only a couple of miles literally - how in the world would I get this monstrosity from Lockhart to Austin without total heart failure or possibly taking out an entire neighborhood as I turned a corner?!? Have mercy!
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| Truck Ordered |
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| Truck I drove off of the lot!! |
Thankfully, the Lord showed great mercy upon me, my heart, and those innocent people that I could have wiped out! -- I made a frantic call to a dear friend - not sure if I was all out bawling at this point or not, but totally stressed out over the prospect of driving this thing. As she has many times before, she talked me off of the ledge (so to speak) and said that her husband had driven one of these before and that they would come to Lockhart early the next morning, he would drive it to Austin and she and I could follow behind. The level of relief I felt as a result of this precious gift was immeasurable!
She apologized that they had other commitments later that morning and couldn't stay to actually unload the truck, but then asked if I knew how many people were coming to help. I shared that other than my Growth Group leaders I really had no idea, but it would get done one way or the other. I prayed some weak little half-hearted prayer that night asking God to provide help so that I wouldn't be alone in the process, but honestly, thought to myself that no one would give up their early Good Friday morning - if they would even be off work - for me. Hello! Never in class, don't know most of these people, soon to be divorced gal - seriously?!? Sad, but I promised you from the beginning I would be authentic and keep it real and this is about as real as it gets folks pretty or not!
Friday morning came and I was an emotional mess to put it mildly. All of my things were loaded in this monster that claimed the entire driveway. I was leaving the house we'd raised our boys in and lived in for the past 21 years. Lockhart, being a small town plus the fact that we lived on one of the busiest corners in town, made me feel as if all of this was live on CNN or something. I'm not sure I've ever felt so utterly exposed, vulnerable, sad, and alone in all of my life.
About the time that the balloons and streamers were set to arrive for this tremendous pity party I was hosting, my friend and her husband arrived. Seeing the state I was in (I take "ugly" cry to a whole new level!) they both reached into my van window and prayed for me. Honestly I have no idea what words were spoken in that prayer, but at that very moment I was reminded that I was not alone and that I was still loved. I knew that even if the two of them had never come that God had me wrapped in His warm embrace and that He would see me through this incredible pain. Having them there was just an added blessing to help me through the process.
Several more tears and Kleenex later, we pulled out - Austin bound. Just a mile or so down the road my phone rang and it was my precious friend calling me to talk and, I'm guessing, to keep my mind off of the pain as much as she could which ultimately saved me from driving off of the road from tear created blindness. We talked almost all the way to my new home and I even found myself laughing at times. To date, I am still so grateful for that selfless act of kindness.
I picked up my keys in the apartment office, we parked and walked in for a tour of the apartment that I had never actually gotten to look at in person. (and you were thinking I had absolutely no faith!) As we walked out, I saw a couple of teenaged girls from my church that I knew and adore that had come to help and one even had my favorite flavored Shipley's donut in hand- gush! Side note - this was HER birthday and yet, she was here to help... ME and brought ME breakfast!! I went to hug their sweet necks and by the time I turned around there were people all over the place that had come to help unload the truck and move me it! Wait... WHAT?!?
Within about 30 minutes the mega truck was completely unloaded by a team of about 25 adults, youth and even children. One of my friends drove the truck to drop it off, my bed was being set up by some other loving men - one even knew to ask how I wanted my bed skirt put on! PERFECTION!! it's the little things that impact me, I swear!! I even had friends hanging my curtains! In the kitchen a group of ladies and teens were unpacking boxes left and right and setting up things for me - even cutting and placing the shelf liners and going to the store for more when they ran short. Someone brought a cooler with water bottles to share and someone else had thought to bring paper towels, garbage bags and even toilet paper - BRILLIANT!! Some of the teenaged boys were setting up my TV and other electronics. Note -- I did not know who most of these friends were yet there were here... to help... ME... just because I needed the help. And yes, I cried... A LOT!! So humbling and so touching all at the same time!!!
By lunch time, pretty much everything that could be unpacked by them had been and they began leaving a few at a time, but as a result of this beautiful and completely selfless act and display of loving like Jesus, my life has forever been impacted. To add the cherry to the top of the love sundae, one of my sweet friends even returned that night to help me some more bringing Chinese take out for dinner because she noticed I really had no groceries in the kitchen she'd helped set up!!
When everyone left and I finally got still for the day, I stopped to thank God for His gifts of mercy, grace and for providing help from people I didn't even know. I asked for forgiveness because I didn't even have the minimal faith to believe that He is already there for me and totally able and willing to supply all of my needs and even some of my wants. I was so thankful that the He had provided people who exuded sacrificial and selfless love - for... ME... on a work holiday...just because!
Here are a few pics of my new home.
How can we go out and impact a people's lives even if they can't call us by name?
What if what we do doesn't guarantee human praise or accolades - would we still do it?
I'd love to hear from you regarding this experience or others that perhaps you have been part of or had done for you.
About the time that the balloons and streamers were set to arrive for this tremendous pity party I was hosting, my friend and her husband arrived. Seeing the state I was in (I take "ugly" cry to a whole new level!) they both reached into my van window and prayed for me. Honestly I have no idea what words were spoken in that prayer, but at that very moment I was reminded that I was not alone and that I was still loved. I knew that even if the two of them had never come that God had me wrapped in His warm embrace and that He would see me through this incredible pain. Having them there was just an added blessing to help me through the process.
Several more tears and Kleenex later, we pulled out - Austin bound. Just a mile or so down the road my phone rang and it was my precious friend calling me to talk and, I'm guessing, to keep my mind off of the pain as much as she could which ultimately saved me from driving off of the road from tear created blindness. We talked almost all the way to my new home and I even found myself laughing at times. To date, I am still so grateful for that selfless act of kindness.
I picked up my keys in the apartment office, we parked and walked in for a tour of the apartment that I had never actually gotten to look at in person. (and you were thinking I had absolutely no faith!) As we walked out, I saw a couple of teenaged girls from my church that I knew and adore that had come to help and one even had my favorite flavored Shipley's donut in hand- gush! Side note - this was HER birthday and yet, she was here to help... ME and brought ME breakfast!! I went to hug their sweet necks and by the time I turned around there were people all over the place that had come to help unload the truck and move me it! Wait... WHAT?!?
Within about 30 minutes the mega truck was completely unloaded by a team of about 25 adults, youth and even children. One of my friends drove the truck to drop it off, my bed was being set up by some other loving men - one even knew to ask how I wanted my bed skirt put on! PERFECTION!! it's the little things that impact me, I swear!! I even had friends hanging my curtains! In the kitchen a group of ladies and teens were unpacking boxes left and right and setting up things for me - even cutting and placing the shelf liners and going to the store for more when they ran short. Someone brought a cooler with water bottles to share and someone else had thought to bring paper towels, garbage bags and even toilet paper - BRILLIANT!! Some of the teenaged boys were setting up my TV and other electronics. Note -- I did not know who most of these friends were yet there were here... to help... ME... just because I needed the help. And yes, I cried... A LOT!! So humbling and so touching all at the same time!!!
By lunch time, pretty much everything that could be unpacked by them had been and they began leaving a few at a time, but as a result of this beautiful and completely selfless act and display of loving like Jesus, my life has forever been impacted. To add the cherry to the top of the love sundae, one of my sweet friends even returned that night to help me some more bringing Chinese take out for dinner because she noticed I really had no groceries in the kitchen she'd helped set up!!
When everyone left and I finally got still for the day, I stopped to thank God for His gifts of mercy, grace and for providing help from people I didn't even know. I asked for forgiveness because I didn't even have the minimal faith to believe that He is already there for me and totally able and willing to supply all of my needs and even some of my wants. I was so thankful that the He had provided people who exuded sacrificial and selfless love - for... ME... on a work holiday...just because!
Here are a few pics of my new home.
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So here are some questions.
What can we do as a genuine act of love and service today? How can we go out and impact a people's lives even if they can't call us by name?
What if what we do doesn't guarantee human praise or accolades - would we still do it?
I'd love to hear from you regarding this experience or others that perhaps you have been part of or had done for you.
