Jeremy and I have had quite the week. What is so funny to me is how much the post has changed from what I thought I might originally write. Last weekend we bought a new couch from the paper. (Remember the really good deal one?) Well, to make a long story somewhat short it wouldn't fit in our basement. Looking back it doesn't seem quite so stressful, but at the time it was anything but! On Thursday night we brought it home and one of the boys from our youth group came over to help Jeremy move it into the basement because the trailer we rented to pick it up had to be returned early the next morning. Well, it wasn't budging and Jeremy and I were experiencing some "communication issues." (a.k.a. trying not to totally loose it in front of one of our kids) Well, he went home and told his parents, "I guess this just shows you everyone is human." Needless to say I was feeling very guilty I had spent $550 on a couch that wouldn't fit in our house. Luckily, my amazing husband wasn't mad at me for making such a stupid mistake I couldn't fix. (Did I mention the trailer poked a small hole in the otherwise brand new looking couch?)
On Friday morning this is what my living room looked like:
I couldn't believe I had made such a bad decision. But, I learned a very valuable lesson. I had been semi aware that one way I have been processing the grief our family is experiencing is to whole heartedly invest myself in "new" dreams. I have gotten myself excited about working on the house, improving my wardrobe, dreaming about our family vacation, etc. While this is not a bad thing it had resulted in me spending more money that normal. I am usually quite selective in how I spend money. I am so thankful the Lord showed me this before it became a issue in our home. God is a great teacher, even if I am a painful student.
Thankfully my mother was coming for Garage Sale weekend and helped convinced me to put the couch in our upstairs living room. I was quite convinced it was too big and still frustrated it wouldn't go down the stairs. But after hours of rearranging it looks awesome and I LOVE it upstairs. (My mother was quite a saint, I was not easy to convince.)
So this is where the story gets long, but interesting... Remember, I said we had quite the week. Our basement flooded and is completely trashed. Those of you who are familiar with our home know that our basement is over half the square footage of our living space. It is our primary living room space and the girls' playroom/daycare area. I won't go into all the details but here is what my beautiful basement now looks like.
Basement with water, before the worst of it.
What is left of our bathroom...
But, God has continued to be faithful. Our small group has been absolutely amazing helping us move stuff, providing food, doing laundry, storing stuff, etc. And even though we still have a long road ahead to restore our basement I find myself in a place of thankfulness. Did I mention what an absolute blessing it is to have a sectional couch upstairs? I know, I know God is funny!
Even though my life lately sounds like a sad country song I have answered one of the faith questions that has always haunted me. I have always had a hard time singing the following worship song. I wondered if I could earnestly sing these difficult words. But, in my life recently I have seen a glimpse of the road marked with suffering. I have seen God give and take away in my life and I can honestly say, "Blessed be your name!"
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
I am watching to see how He will turn this basement "opportunity" into a blessing as well.
The girls in their party dresses. Notice Faith's face, she took her first major spill this weekend falling down our back steps.
My girlfriends from my small group, with the window from our old church.
