A day at the Beach

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at Old Orchard Beach .  It was so warm and beautiful, and the water was actually nice.   This is an album so open the picture and you can see the family playing.

Hope

Mt. Katahdin at sunset 

This picture represents hope of a new tomorrow.  Sounds corny, but right now we need hope.  This process is so slow and our needs are so great.   If  I allow myself to think to long on our situation the hopelessness sets in pretty fast.  My mind can play some pretty nasty tricks on me, and take me to some dark places.  Sometimes I feel like we are almost homeless.  And possibly not to far from it.  But  when I really think about it I realize the worse case scenario is really not as bad as it could be and most likely we'll not be homeless.  No pics of the house today but Curtis has made some progress this week.  The stairs are starting to get built and we've made plans for a kitchen.   Hopefully, next week we'll get a sander and get the floors done downstairs.  Someone has removed the pile of bricks from our backyard and I think we are almost done with demolition.   School starts next week and then my craziness begins.  One of my friends gave me a water bottle for my birthday that says "Which kid am I picking up where, again?"   And I'll sign off with that.

Emotions

Emotions are a funny thing.  Laughing, crying, anger,  feeling stressed, and there are many more.  At any given moment I can feel excited about our future home, and in the same moment feel totally overwhelmed and depressed.  Why is that?

There is nothing more calming than staring into a campfire in the evening.

The girls and I just spent a week at camp playing and having a great time.  The moment I got home my joy turned to frustration.   I wish we could be done walking through this disaster but at the same time I am hopeful that we are being part of a kingdom construction of a sort we don't  yet understand.

Kiana rode a horse last week and that was so cute.   That brought me joy to see her not afraid to sit on an animal 100 times her size.  I also took Barbara and my 4 year old niece Jada at the same time.  Fun fun fun!
     

We still have miles to go before we sleep but have managed to find some fun family moments with the kids this summer. Hoping to soon be able to unpack our stuff into our new home that Curtis is working so hard to fix.  We still need to fix the kitchen, move the stairs, finish the plumbing and electrical.  It sounds like a ton but we have made a lot of progress with the help of friends, family and God.  Still praying everyday for more miracles.

House progress this weekend - Aug 14th
This week we (we being a mutually exclusive Curtis) have been working on the kitchen. Curtis removed the existing cabinets and wall from inside the kitchen only to discover that the outside wall had not been properly "studded". He pushed studs up through the wall from the outside of the house and secured them. Now we need to trim the window and put some siding back up.












He also removed the existing door, which you really can't see from the picture. We'll be putting a door on the back porch where you can see a window half covered with debris. This will be our main entrance into the house. I would rather have everyone walk through the back and hang there stuff up by the kitchen.











Here is the inside of the kitchen. We'll be insulating as there really wasn't any and sheetrocking. Curtis is going to make open base cabinet boxes with no doors for now. Cheap and it will get the job done. Someone is helping us out with a countertop- so we'll see if that really works out or not. I am a bit skeptical these days. In the bottom pic you can kinda tell from the new studs on the left wall where the door was.

It may look like we haven't done much beside demo but if you look closely you will see lights! And then come one when you flick a switch! Doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment until you realize rewiring was like solvng a Sudoko puzzle.

So, this week has been very interesting. We had someone add a Mary to our shrine and within a couple days both Mary and Jesus disappeared so we are left with just the crucifix candle holder.

There is a little boy that pretty much drives us nuts. He is always getting into our vehicles and touching everything and everyone. When you ask him not to he looks at you and does it again with a smile. For those of you that know Curtis you can imagine how he reacts. We'll just leave it at that! I have to say, the little boy is being much more respectful and comes around with his big brother who also seems to be a nice kid. They like to hang out and watch Curtis work.

We still need tons of prayer, we have a long way to go on the house and Curtis is pretty much doing alone these days. Sometimes my dad can help and that's nice. He's also working and I can't imagine how tired he must get.

The three older kids have been gone to camp and I unfortunately allowed one of Justin's bearded dragons to kick the bucket. It made me sad.

New kitchen window, just trying to figure out the best placement.

















No basement stairs now. but we did get the support beams in downstairs and the house feel so much more solid.


















New front door that was donated. What a blessing!

Fear

I know that God  has not give us the spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind.   I have to say that the sound mind part of that verse is vitally important when experiencing fear.   This last year and a half has been one of the most fearful years for me. When you go through loss of work, or not enough work to keep up and get steadily behind   - you stop answering your phone.  When you have a knock at your door you look out window before answering.  I, even on one occasion took my kids and hid in the bedroom to avoid the person at my door.  All this for the sake of money.   I am not sure it is worth the trouble.

As good little conservative Christian children we were taught to not overspend, always pay your bills on time and  through the actions of others judge those who don't.  I will admit that I have stood in judgement and now have experienced the other side.   I hope that I have learned a valuable lesson when it comes to being the accuser.  Some lessons are harder to learn than others.

As for fear, I am not so afraid anymore.  Of course, our phone has been turned off.  We have moved.   And we are definitely experiencing another side of life.  I hope that in the end all will be forgiven and that God's economy is not like ours.  I'm sure it's not.

Curtis has a job interview tomorrow.  Pray all goes well.
The roof should finally be finished today.
Please pray, we can get plumbing , electrical, and a kitchen in before the end of the month.  And that it will all be free.  I know I ask for a lot but my God is BIG!

Religious shrine

A religious shrine comes to Shawmut street.

Well, I guess the word is getting out that we are Christians. And, on one occasion a certain somebody asked Curtis if we wanted a bell. Something about getting one from a local cathedral????? Anyways, not a bell, but I guess our first "religious" donation. Not sure how I feel about the shrine in my flower garden, or how it got there, but here it is. What are you to do with an unwanted donated shrine? I guess I'll light a candle and hope that the Somali's aren't too offended during Ramadan.  I'm not sure if this is what I had in mind when I asked God for more but I am thankful that some are thinking about us...... Could be Marty.....

Now, what do I do with it?

Our Barn

Front of the house got sided over the weekend. Curtis started Friday afternoon and with the help of my dad it got finished on Saturday. We celebrated with steak and salad for dinner.

As we get ready for this next chapter in our lives I am entering with mixed feelings.  It was definitely easier, quieter, and comfortable in our last house, although friendlier I am not sure.   This has surely been a "not so fun" time in the Roundy household.   In the last month we  checked out of our last house, put our stuff in storage, moved into a two bedroom apartment,  Barbara has been to camp twice now, and the girls and I have been traveling back and forth to my brothers to hang out with them.

We have seen God's provision in this whole event in ways that no one could imagine.  So, I just keep praying for more. There are still miles to go before we can move in and I think that if this process had been quicker and easier the neighbors wouldn't be getting to know us the same way.  Maybe it is good for them to see us struggle, maybe this will help with our testimony with them.  I am not sure what God is doing but I know he will complete what he started .....

In the meantime my current prayer if you would like to join me :  Lord, please provide what we need to be able to start the new school year off in the house.  And also if you see fit let Barbara be able to stay at her school.  Thanks and thanks all of you for journeying with us in this process.