{"id":1244,"date":"2008-07-01T08:39:14","date_gmt":"2008-07-01T15:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/osbornz.net\/amy\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2009-05-31T11:41:29","modified_gmt":"2009-05-31T18:41:29","slug":"blessings-little-and-big","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/osbornz.net\/amy\/?p=1244","title":{"rendered":"Blessings – Little and Big"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyday, I’m surrounded by blessings…but two are really standing out lately.<\/p>\n

Little:<\/p>\n

Our niece is getting married next week on the 4th of July. It’s an outdoor wedding followed by a late reception where we all will watch fireworks together. (Well, that is assuming JGirl allows that – I suspect she and I will be in the motel. Oh well)<\/p>\n

I kept remembering and forgetting I needed a dress for the wedding. I’d remember usually just before I fell asleep – not a great way to get anything done. My mom came over last week to see if I liked a dress she found for me. But while she was here I remembered a dress I bought last fall on super clearance – like 80% off. However, after buying it, the one time I did try it on – it was too small! Yikes!! But I tried it on this time and it fit! And, I have shoes! And, I bought the perfect necklace a month or so ago – no idea it would work with this dress!<\/p>\n

I know it’s small but I am definitely feeling blessed! Matthew 6:28-30<\/p>\n

Big:<\/p>\n

All this house stuff. We have been married for 21 years. Due to our choices in life – mainly moving out of state and attending Seminary – we delayed what many people thought were normal married life activities. Thus a couple of my old friends welcomed grandchildren the same time I was welcoming home our newest child.<\/p>\n

A few times I would watch others buy homes and wish it was me. Mainly after moving so many times and having upheaval after upheaval, I just wanted the stability that home ownership offered. In the mid 90s we looked into home ownership for the first time, but our debt was too high after Seminary. We started paying down our debt. When we moved to another community, we looked at it again. And, while our debt ratio was better, we didn’t have any money on hand and we were fairly sure we didn’t want to be that far from “home”.<\/p>\n

Then while pregnant with Joshua, I really wanted to go home. When Eric came to that decision too, we had a pretty good idea of what we were giving up. Not just a career we’d spent most of our marriage preparing for, but we truly believed that home ownership here was just too expensive. But we both felt a huge need to be “home”. And, I’ll be thankful until the day I die that we were here when Joshua died. I don’t think we could have survived that ordeal without our family support and familiar surroundings.<\/p>\n

Anyway – I’m getting off topic. It just amazes me that in a matter of 30+ days we could be moving into OUR home. A home where we can decide what doors stay and what doors go….or what color to paint walls…of if we want carpets or to show the hardwood floors.<\/p>\n

And, it’s the little things in this BIG adventure that are tickling me…<\/p>\n