Part 1 Complete!

Last Sunday was a wonderful day for the "non-move". God blessed us with perfect moving weather; sunny, with a slight breeze.

The Gang arrived @2:00 and work began. Soon the boxes and all the furniture was out of the apartment. When the trailer was packed, there were a few items left over, so we filled some of the vehicles.

A BIG THANKS

to each of the friends who helped move and clean the apartment.

The place looks so different empty. The remodel began on Monday, May 17th. (Picture to the left is the 'old' empty bedroom.)

This entire "non-move" has been a great deal of work. Not just for me, but for my friends (who have graciously helped). Some have asked, "Is all the work, really worth it?" I guess it all depends on what you see as the final goal. If I was JUST doing this because I wanted "new" things, than maybe the effort wasn't worth it. However, there was more to this than just a new kitchen. The rug needed replacing, the walls and ceiling needed painting.

Perhaps, some would see the work, and say, "That's not for me. I'll make due with the old." But really, you can't focus on the work, rather the results. Each thing we do in life requires some level of work. As a kid, I never understood the reason for making my bed each day. "I'm just going to 'un-make it' again tonight". To me, making my bed was a waste of time. However, my parent's thought otherwise.

As we go through our lives, we determine each day what we will do and how much effort we put into each task. We make those choices each day, often without much thought. It needs to be done, so we do it. Whether it be doing laundry, making a meal, working at a job... whatever the task at hand, we make choices each day. We can do a job well, or do it so it's "just done". We can put off doing a job, only to have to rush through it, or cause more work for us in the future.

Sometimes the work is a "chore" literally. It's a drudgery to accomplish the task at hand. That's one reason God says to do all to HIS GLORY. When working toward that goal, the tasks at hand take on a new meaning. Each day we "work for God". Whether you go to a job, or stay home and clean the house and care for the kids..... God is the Boss! My work philosophy has always been "to make my boss look good."  That takes on a new meaning when I realize that God is my boss. As a Christian, my responsibility is to glorify Him and share His everlasting love with those I meet.

When I reflect back on a day, it may have been positive in areas I like... such as getting a new apartment. However, if I want the day to be a TRULY POSITIVE day, my life, attitude, and all that I did would have been to the glory of God.

Old and New Pictures!

Just wanted to share some pictures of my apartment. These show the 'Old' and the 'New' place. The old has the darker wood, the new is lighter. 

I'll post more pictures when all my stuff is moved back in and I'm unpacked. But I know some of you have been waiting to see the results of the remodel... so enjoy the pictures!

Old bedroom

New Bedroom

Old Kitchen

New Kitchen

New Living Room

(facing front door)

I like the new look and am excited to getting my stuff back in and unpacked. It will take a while to have everything put away. But even with the new look, it's still my home!

Unexpected Blessings!

God once again surprised me with a wonderful blessing... and helped out my friends along the way! 

The Plan: Rent a trailer, pack it, then park it in the far back of the apartment complex parking lot until it's time to unload it all. 

What really has happened.... SO FAR!

On Thursday, I called to make reservations for the trailer. The first place I called informed me of the price (a bit higher than I had planned) and that I should look into a "pod" type arrangement. After researching the "pod" route, I called another trailer place to set the reservation. The pod was a higher price. I wanted a Sunday afternoon pickup....not at this place...so I called several others...still no Sunday. I went ahead and made the reservation with a Saturday evening pickup and the next Saturday drop off.... the total cost would be almost $200 depending on the size of trailer they could get me....I'd save $50 if they couldn't supply the larger size I reserved. 

On Friday, I ordered my Daybed to be delivered on Tuesday, May 25! Very excited. After dealing with all the paper work... I was tired but really needed a few things at the store. Should I stop? Or should I just go on home... STOP! So I stopped and went in.. as I entered I met a lady who works in the office of my apartment. We chatted for a few minutes and she asked about the progress on my 'non-move'. She then mentioned that the apartment parking lot is being resurfaced that week..... WHAT??? That means I'll have to move the trailer several times..... or find another place to park it for the week. (This was not what I had planned!)

I finished my shopping and arrived home to quickly email my friend to explain the change in parking plans and figure out plan B. It was decided we'd park it in her driveway... and they'd maneuver around the trailer for a week... not the best... but it would work. Plan C was to see if my church would allow me to park it there..

My friend also asked if I could somehow get a Sunday pickup....since she and her family had some special plans on Saturday. I said I'd try again... but my attempts so far had failed. 

On Sunday..... my friend called to share some news with me. She was thinking about the trailer and then thought of a guy at church. This gentleman has 2 trailers. He is NOT ONLY letting me use the large trailer for the week FREE!!! He is also letting me park it on his barn/garage! A very secure place! And to top it all off... my friends can pick up the trailer after church on Sunday! 

Recap:

The right size trailer.

 A Sunday pickup.

A SECURE parking place.

AND all for FREE!

This is all so cool... but the Sunday pick up and the parking issue are double blessings... they help me... but more so help my friends who are helping me! God made sure He cared for them in all this too!

I love it when God

takes care of the details!

When I look at ALL the details which God considered in His plan.... I'm overwhelmed. Any ONE of the details would have been a blessing. But God took care of EACH detail. Each day God takes care of details...some which I'll never even know about. Others, such as this are so evident... that all I can do is PRAISE God. Creating a positive day each day is all about seeing how God is working in and through me.

 When God is working in your life....

each day has a positive outcome.

Waiting

Still waiting for the date of the "non-move". Last night I packed a few more kitchen items. Figured I could use paper plates for a while. If the move is this weekend... can't put off too much until the last minute; there is already too much of that stuff. 

Normally, I'm not a good "waiter". I like to plan and know what to expect. But since my back needs some extra rest right now, this waiting period has actually been a blessing. During this resting and waiting period,  God has made me realize that sometimes, I think clearer if I'd just step back and wait.

I've been able to figure out the layout for the furniture and think through what will work and what wont. Some layouts, I had planned, wouldn't work because the wiring was too short. Glad I realized that BEFORE I had the guys move it all. Don't think they'd appreciate having to move it several times. But if I didn't have this waiting time, I wouldn't have thought through the pro and cons of various placements. I would have rushed in and then realized that things would not work.

This waiting mode, is also having a calming effect. It's been peaceful, just being still. There will be enough hectic things once the remodel date is set. Right now, I need to take advantage of this stillness. 

I hope to remember this lesson the next time God puts me in a "waiting mode". If I just stop and rest and allow God to work, the waiting time will be very peaceful and will allow me to be better prepared for the next lesson God has in store. Too many times, I've been so busy during the waiting period, that when God is ready to move forward, I'm sidetracked on my "business" rather than ready for Him.

Today, as I rest and wait for the move date, I'm enjoying the calmness. Sometimes creating a positive day, isn't about how much I can accomplish, or what I can do, rather it's simply being still and waiting. Today, has been a very positive day.... even though I haven't done much. Days like these are very special and I need to enjoy each one. 

Thank you God for those waiting times which give me strength and energy for the task that lies ahead.