Here's a peek at a wonderful way God has shown Himself to be so real and so powerful in my life. I have cut and pasted a couple of short updates that I wrote to friends as things happened... so you can follow the journey. God is so good!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Hi Friends!

I wanted to let you know of the latest adventure of our family as it will immediately be taking us from our present address. Two days before Christmas a man knocked on my door and told me that ... he had condmened our house in 2003. Yep. He was so bewildered that we were living there (let alone had it on the market) he said he'd check things thru over the holidays and get back with us. We figured it must be some kind of mistake. Well.... last week we got word that the only mistake is that it was condemned TWICE.... again three months before we purchased it, no repairs were made, and the condition of the house was hidden from all future parties. So... again flying past countless details we will be staying at our church's missions apartment beginning tonite - and after that we aren't quite sure. We have some possiblities but as a result of the fraud by the previous owner, the negligence of the building inspector, the cover-up by several parties, and the mistakes of the title company........ there is so much confusion that needs to be sorted through. We do have a wonderful Christian lawyer who is going to help us sort through the details that are beyond our expertise, please pray especially for our meeting with him on Wednesday morning. I'll still have my cell number and we will only gradually pack up our house until we know where we go next (hopefully within the next 2-3 days.) I can't thank you enough those who have already offered to help us move... until we know more details we really have no idea what's happening and we'll keep you posted.

I'm thankful that I dont have to know all the answers. But that I can trust and follow God... and just wait with you and see what He's going to do. I've already tasted and seen that the Lord is GOOD. :)

I hope you each have a wonderful week!!!! love mary

Wednesday January 14, 2009
Hi again!

We met with our PHENOMENAL lawyer this morning. Unfortunately it appears we were taken pretty badly... the case is pretty deep, he called it "civil fraud." Unfortunately there are quite a few loopholes in the system and it looks like we were taken by some smart, and already "lawyered up" people. I won't add details on here as there is still a great deal of work the lawyer is going to do but you can feel free to ask. :) We are not able to move back into our house as it is and we will not be able to look for another place... so we're staying where we are in the church apartment until assessments and repairs can be made. Sooo yes I know that's not much information. :)

ALL we need to know right now is that we are following a great, powerful, wonderful Father God and we are right EXACTLY where He wants us right now... it just doesn't look the same as some other people, and that's ok! I'm so thankful, safe, and blessed to be able to walk with and trust the Lord one day at a time. It's a great adventure :) To my praying friends ;) please pray for all individuals involved to be able to see God for who He really is.

Again... thank you SO much for your encouragement and friendship! It's so awesome to have people to "travel" thru with ;) Feel free to come and see us!! The apartment is NOT condemned!!! :) :) :)

love mary


April 23, 2009
Hi Friends!

I'm so sorry that I have been so slow in posting an update. I'm SO much more thankful than I can say for you prayers and friendship. REALLY.

no. REALLY.

A smart person would have re-read their last post before trying to update. A motivated person would risk re-starting to do it. But.. *ahem*. ...

Suuuurely the last I posted was when we were leaving suddenly to stay in the churches apartment. We had a great experience there being close together and close to the church and school!! We ran into several obstacles.

- The lawyer said we "were taken good."
- The city, and all people involved were so afraid of the situation we were in constant hang-ups to get permits to even start work...

So we stayed put for about nine weeks.

Get this.
Since contracting typhoid fever over three years ago, I have remained sick and have not fully been able to kick typhoid from my body. Upon starting repairs on my house we found mold... (ick) hidden in the rafters of our house where a leaking problem had created a hole in the ceiling and the previous owners left it and covered it with pretty white drywall.
Ahem.
I was tested for mold allergies... DING DING DING ... toxic mold poisoning as well. THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY. wierd, maybe... but after three years I have answers and something I can do about it.

LOOK WHAT GOD DID FOR ME. If this hadn't happened... I might have never known why I'm so sick.
no seriously. Let that sink in. It's a big deal. That only God can do.
hmmm. you might even say that in my house being condemned... three years worth of prayers were answered and my life might have been saved. hmm. maybe my three little ones as well.

Do you ever hear people say that bad things happen and God can do good things through it. Well friends, chalk this up.

We were able to obtain a loan... and get the house "un-condemned." It's really a shame to have such a big bad word on my little home. :) It was mostly all hidden stuff... it's a cozy little house. :) Thankfully there wasn't anything structural, basically neglect.

After 9 weeks in the missions apartment my wonderful father in law (who lives in florida) offered us his house that's sitting empty... 7 minutes from Jake's school :) The deal is that we fix it up (which has been great fun) and live in it. If our other house sells, we can buy this one. If not, his house is now ready to go on the market.

(Did I mention the house has HUGE fencedin back yard.. and... a swimming pool?!?!)

After all God has brought me through... I KNOW He cares. I KNOW I can trust Him. I KNOW it doesn't matter where I live.
really.

I know this can still be called " an impossible situation." Bring it on. That's my God's specialty. I don't mind putting it out there for you. He is good. We don't often see things the same way. Bad things happen. They just do. My God has NEVER been anything but good. I could go on and on with the wonderful things have have risen up and suprised us as a result of this.

One final thing... fresh news-flash. :)
Will went to the house yesterday to meet the wonderful realtor who's excited to sell our house. (You know... the finally fixed "un-condemned" house...??)
The kitchen flooded.
The entire floor is a total loss.

Guess what. I KNOW God is in control. We're just following along....
Guess what. Insurance just called and said that they would cover it. :):) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) : ) : )
Guess what. I KNOW I shouldn't say I told you so. (ahem.)

I'm so amazed that a God who does impossible things cares about our smallest needs. That as one might call me homeless I'm finding wonderful little old tables ... paint for 75% off... painting white pirate ships all over the walls with my children.... (don't worry, i covered them up after a little fun :) and watching my EVERY need be met. Provision when our money (*"has been needlessly wasted on this disaster..." ) Joy and peace when they should be the last thing on my plate. Know why that makes me excited?

i can't do that.
I even get annoyed when I step in the bright blue toothpaste that sam drops on the floor.
REALLY annoyed.

But I've asked God to direct my steps.
He has and SO. MUCH. MORE. He has blessed ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL I CAN ASK OR IMAGINE. "Taste and see that the Lord is good..."

Please dont' stop praying.
Please thank God for something today. Because He's God. and He's amazing.
... Anyone want to buy a house??!?!
giggle giggle.
snort.
*ahem.*

GOD IS SO GOOD.