The Promised Land

I feel a little silly using that title, but that is what we felt the Lord say when we left California, that we were leaving the desert and entering the Promised Land. So here we are and as of today we've been here almost exactly one month. We left SY exactly a month ago today and boy o boy am I glad it is today and not a month ago!!!

So, what has happened to us in one month? 

Well, much in every way. We are officially settled. 

We have our own home. We lived with mom and dad for 2 weeks before they moved out and bought their own home. We are living in their old rental. Renting from a wonderful and generous lady who is so kind. She even installed a new dishwasher for us! (I've never had a brand new dishwasher and it is heavenly)

The boys LOVE their new home and friends. They get to play like I remember playing when I was a little girl. Ethan just ran in a couple minutes ago with a live fish he caught in a canal in our neighborhood. He was so happy it was still alive when he got it inside. He even forgets to eat when he is playing.... a first for my boys! It is soo good for my heart to see my boys loving life, living carefree like I did when I was little.

Daniel and I both passed our written exam and now are proud owners of Oregon drivers licenses again. Our car even has an Oregon license plate (so we don't get nasty looks for being Californians). 

Daniel has lead worship several times at our new church Desert Streams. We love the people, a lot of young families and the church has about 50 children!!! The kids love it to say the least!

Daniel and I met with a group of 6 other couples last week for our first official House of prayer meeting. The meeting was so amazing because it wasn't just our church there were 4 other churches represented at this meeting, all of them were hungry to see a 24/7 house of prayer started here in Bend. We worshipped together, prayed together and each of us commented how we sensed the presence of the Lord like we hadn't felt before. It was so fun.

My body has fully returned to normal. Something I am celebrating with great joy. I took my ring in today to get it fixed from having to have it cut off for surgery. I've been without it for 2 months now and have felt quite naked without it, although I'm also happy to not have it stuck anymore. I tried the rings on in the jewelers shop to see what size I needed to be and before surgery I was a size 8. My hand is totally back to normal. The size 8 ring fit perfectly! It was such a thrill to pull it on and off my finger! Looking forward to having my rings back.

The weather has been cold but breathtakingly beautiful. We love it here. Daniel got to have about 3 weeks off before the work started rolling in. He is working with my dad painting houses. They worked 1/2  a week this week and are booked from here on out! Amazing how the Lord brought about a great rest for all of us to get established and now he is saying, it's time to work! We are thrilled. 

For me personally it's been a month of mourning. Even though I've been thrilled by all the newness of our life here, I have found myself grieving quite a lot this month. Today it lifted. Like a heavy blanket lifting off of me and the Lord said "The past is the past, no more grieving, it's time to face the future with joy". 

So here we are, a new day, a new season, a new land and we are FULL of Joyful anticipation.