The Move: "Out With The Old, In With The New"

Since my last post in June, I wrote a couple more possible posts, but decided against posting them. Both writings included updates about the difficult situation that I was facing with the neighbors. As it turns out, after much more prayer and listening, I did put my house on the market and, with the help of my older son and my daughter-in-law, began looking at places to live in the Bartlesville area. So many were either much too expensive, too far from the kids, or the condition the properties were very poor.

I had the opportunity to rent a cute place that was part of a multi-plex. However, since I had not yet had any interested parties in my house, it did not feel right to take on the additional financial responsibility. And, it was farther than what we had planned on me being from them. It was about six weeks after I listed the house that an interested buyer came along. I hadn't been feeling well, so had very little accomplished as far as trying to get things sorted and packed. In light of the possible sale, the young lady who had been cleaning for me on a regular basis shifted into sorting and packing mode. What a great help!

About a week of negotiations with the interested buyer culminated in an agreed upon purchase price. In the meantime, I was still dealing with the difficulties and lack of cooperation from the neighbors. And, the work that was supposed to be done to improve the driveway issue was not being done. Thankfully, that was not a problem for my buyer who had her own ideas about what she wanted to do with the property and driveway.

With the signing of the contract for sale, came an increased and intensified whirlwind of activity and preparation for moving....still no place had been found for me to move into. We just left it up to the Lord to open the door to the next place I would live: whether my own place, or moving in with my son, daughter-in-law, and their three children. About two weeks before I had to be out of my current home, the door opened for a duplex that was only about five minutes from the kids and in a "perfect" location.

My daughter-in-law texted me about it that evening, and after a few phone calls back and forth and with the owner of the duplex, she arranged to look at it the next morning. then follow up with me. She and the grandkids (a major storm had gone through the previous evening so school was cancelled due to power outages) loved the place and thought it perfect for me! She immediately let me know that I needed to get down there and look at at right away - it would be snatched up quickly if I waited.
As it turned out, the young woman who cleaned for me was scheduled to come to my house that morning anyway....I contacted her, she had the whole morning free and agreed to take me, verified a time with the owner of the duplex, and everything fell into place. Only problem was that  I had a bad migraine and the Fibromyalgia was flared up big-time:(

The quick trip to Bartlesville resulted in my agreeing to sign a lease to rent the place. I couldn't wrap my thoughts around how everything was going to work and didn't sense the excitement nor see the opportunity that others were seeing with this place. Rather surprised me that I was that apprehensive, yet I took a step of faith believing the Lord had this worked out. What I was sure of: the decor would have to be something totally different than I had been used to - most, if not all of the old would have to go - it was time for change, in more ways than one!

As He always does, God made a way where there looked to be no way. He worked it all out for my good.  Family and friends went into over-drive and rallied to get everything done, including a major estate sale, so that I could get moved in quickly. So many other details worked out, dates changed, time-frames moved up,  stayed with the kids for the first week while we were still getting things figured out for my new place, but it was amazing watching how it all came together and worked so well. My new place is entirely different in terms of being smaller, but it is laid out well, has great storage spaces, and I have my own attached two-car garage (with a garage door opener), and a privacy-fenced patio! Good neighbors, too!!!!

It did take Bella a few weeks to acclimate to her new environment. I decided to buy her a puppy bed - she hadn't had one since she came to live with me, only a large floor pillow that she liked to lay on sometimes and her doggy carrier. She loves her new doggy bed. She has a new interest as well - soft squeaky toys. lol Always before, the only things she liked playing with were the small twisted ropes and small tennis balls.

It has now been just over two months since my move. It is working out well. Though there are friends in Independence that I do miss seeing, this move has been so good for me in so many ways :)

I am excited to see what other new things that the Lord has in store for us; what promises and plans are yet to come to pass.