Tuesday, October 22 – Darren got the word in person that – Congratulations – You’re Promoted!  Congratulations again- You’re Transferred to the Central Oregon Coast. Tomorrow. **Yeah**. (Weak overly tired best effort cheer, Pom Poms added for effect). .

I received the phone call during Homeschool Middle School Chemestry which is the same time as the Ladies Bible Study Time.  One small sentence to all but 2-3 best friends – and everyone knew.  We’re Moving.

Off to Lincoln City to find a home.  We spent 2 days and over 200 miles on our car zig zagging through town, following every lead. To no avail. Too Small. Too Moldy. Too many spiders. Too much mullah. And that was just the first house, of many. Then the Lord led us to Mil-Mar. One step on the property, without seeing the full home or the back yard, and the peace wrapped us like a blanket. Hearts racing, anticipation building, we wandered around the property. Then phone calls to family and a friend, questioning whether this was  a good choice. We had looked at EVERY known available home in the area.  Was paying a couple of hundred dollars more a month a good thing?  It became the only choice. And a PERFECT fit for our family.

But the money. How would we get there?  We had to take out a quick loan just to drive to the coast from Central Oregon. Hubby’s company pays for everything – after the move. . . .  $3700.00 to move in. Add gas, food, motel for the trips. My folks and 2 families stepped up to say call us when you need it. We’ll put it up front for you.  But I felt the Spirit inside me say, I’m not surprised by this, I planned this for you. Trust me. It will be there.  Wide eyed, chomping a couple of tums, tightening the peace blanket a bit, we set off on what we knew to do. 

Sell the 1991 Pathfinder that we purchased when Nathan was born. Emotional. Still a GREAT car. Sold it to a very close family friend. Which is hard also, as it is over 15 yrs old. Purged the entire house and held a garage sale.  Sold over $1200.00. A clean up crew still hauled off 2 truck loads of left overs, and another family came to pick up my tables/chairs. Another to pick up Grandpa’s old desk. Cashed in on a few – I’ll pay ya backs – and was blessed by people giving back our class fees for this year.  Two weeks later – we have almost $4,000.00 in the bank, paid rent for the month in Central Oregon, and still have monies due us from BiMart and Payday is Friday.

We were approved for the house, owned by a couple who’s father built it in 1947. She was raised in it, their family has used it all these years, enjoyed by 3 grown children, the youngest of which is 43 now. They travel to the Middle East in missions work, homeschooling their grand children to free up the ministry of the parents. So they rent it out, fully furnished, to keep it in repair, and heat, and to bless other families. 

There is a place in Tumalo called Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch. A sign is posted near the ground, near the base of the walking up hill that reads, “No Worries Beyond this Point”. I absolutely do not have the words to express the feeling I get each time I walk up that hill. I should be getting worn out, but I feel lighter for the journey. Cares and worries melt. Its not the breathtaking views, or the meticulous way the care for the grounds, or the beautiful horses walking over for a nudge and a scratch, it’s not the friendly staff, or the care and love of the owners. Many places in Central Oregon have those elements.  I believe it is the prayer that is covering the place. You walk in peace. A calming gentle feeling of knowing the world is outside the door, but you are in the tabernacle of the Lord there. In that Place. Your heart beat slows. Your joy and quiet comfort increases. Your childhood sense of naivety and openess and willingness to try new things increases. The desire to pass on that comfort to others. Appreciation for rest. Joy in the gathering.

That’s the feeling I get at Mil-Mar. Overwhelmingly so.

So – 12 days later, driving a 26’ Uhaul, pulling my Explorer on a trailer, followed by my Husband and eldest son in the Ford Truck, my youngest and I set out on our pilgrimage.  How many times did the Lord say Go.  But kept the Why an anticipating secret.  Or Go – and you are headed to this end – but the middle will be lived by faith. We know that in the next 2-3 years we will move at least 3 times.  Hopefully purging more of the “stuff”, material and worldy as we wander.  I pray to keep the attitude of the spy’s and of Joshua. Ready for the battles ahead, knowing God goes before us. Preparing the way. But still needing to be heard over and over, “Be Strong and Courageous!”. 

So – this week, our remembering of Sukkot, we have journeyed.  We have seen the Lord’s Faithfulness. And today I will set up our Sukkah, that may last through June, when we will travel again.  I will meet with my Lord here at the Ocean. I will teach my boys all the things their minds have forgotten about our great coast. All that I learned as a youth and still have to discover.  I will be ever impressed looking out at the ocean that the Lord holds it back with his hand, saying go no further. I will be ready for our ministry here, our rest, encouraging others, igniting a passion for Christ, and the passion of living out that joy, patience, trust and servant hood as a daughter of the King.  I will remember that God came here to dwell with us in the flesh, to tabernacle with us. Leaving us the comforter when He returned to sit by the Right hand of God. I will wrap myself in Him like a warm fluffy down comforter. 🙂