Saturday, April 27, 2013

Maximize your Mornings challenge for the summer @ Hello Mornings


With 2 weeks of holidays coming (we call it May holiday).... and in 10 weeks the summer , I definitely do not want to lose sight on whats important. When I saw this challenge, I thought to myself, its the summer, things are chaotic anyway, we will be away on holiday perhaps, oh , of course we will be moving into our new home for starters. Thats going to be super busy with living in and out of boxes. Nah! maybe I will join the chalenge after everything is settled and I am in regular routine. Essentially, I was taking a break from Jesus during the summer, and telling Him to take a chill pill and enjoy the summer too. That was a blow to my face. To think I was abandoning my Lord for a season. So, whether its the summer, or trips, or moving into a new home, my time with the Lord should be the first thing every morning. So, here I am taking the challenge.
Now whats the challenge all about:

  • A 13-week challenge to maximize your mornings, via online accountability groups.
  • Starts May 6th and runs through August 2nd.
  • Registration is open until Friday, May 3th.
  • Perfection is not a requirement. Just a desire to meet with God in the morning and a commitment to checking in with your group.
  • There is also a free Bible study for all HelloMornings participants, Meet Jesus, a walk through the book of John.
So, think about this wonderful opportunity to learn and sit at His feet with accountability and perseverance.

 

Monday, April 15, 2013

Here

Making friends comes natural to me. I am an extrovert. But being an expat in an expat world with expat friends slightly changes that extrovert nature in me.

When I came to the Netherlands to join Bobby, everything was new here. But since Bobby was part of a church with his own set of friends, they became my friends too. And one such friend is Lingwei. We had an automatic connection, felt like we knew each other for years. We loved stationary and she was the only person I know and still know, who will be excited with me in a stationary store. Books, pens and papers and even paper clips excited us. She is Chinese but lived here most of her childhood. So she was'nt going anywhere. But then she met Matt, and long story short, she married him and moved with him to the U.S. That rocked my world. I had other friends here but she was my best friend. We kept in touch and send each other a book where we would write each other special things and paste photos... and even send each other pretty stationary things.  After her, I was very cautious about making friends, knowing very well, they are here for a short time or would leave suddenly. It went completely against my character to be "Hi/Bye/how are you ?"type of friend. Years went by, and I learnt that I could not just stay that way. That friends come and go, but they remain dear and valuable, even if we speak once in a blue moon, and is vital to your seasons of life.

Here is where I am and here is where I need to impact others and be impacted by others. So, I commit to new friends and give them all I have. And they bless me and my family more than I can imagine. They are part of what makes life interesting and meaningful. We can't say no to community. Even for an introvert.

Here is where I have learnt to nuture and value the relationships in my life.Here is where I have learnt many times on how to accept them they way they are because they love me the way I am.

I am so blessed to have a select set of really close women, whom I love and can go crazy on them. Can corner them and force them to tell me whats wrong. Can just laugh ridiculously for no reason. Make special "death by chocolate " dates. Who just know you need a hug without words. And also blessed with select few who are so far away, yet freshly close to my heart.

As I prepare my heart, yet again to say good bye to one crazy lady, who hates it when food touches each other and spends at least 5 minutes separating them on her plate, who introduced me to this space on blogosphere and the world of Pinterest without her knowledge, who calls me "friend " with so much love and kindness in her heart, I continue to learn new things about her, continue to be blessed by her words and actions and continue to behave as if she is going to be here forever. This friendship is not going to end because of geographical distance. Friend, you are stuck with me for life. Here and there.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The work has begun


April 2, 2013 we signed the deed to the house and every relevant document was transferred. There was much less signing to do as compared to when we were applying for the mortgage. Especially, when they read out the risks and responsibilities or like how they translated from Dutch " burdens", we gulped and looked at each other. Nevertheless, we knew this was the house God saved up for us. And signed the documents with God on our side. Last week,we
signed agreements  with the contractor. The kitchen has been chosen. And they have started ripping out the interiors. A good feeling indeed. This contractor will be the one who will be doing everything. From, fixing new windows,rebuilding and repairing damages, building my breakfast nook, painting, flooring and finally installing the kitchen. Around 40 working days is what he says. And we plan to move in by God's grace in June. We also got our Pastor and his wife to walk through the house and pray. A lot of spiritual cleansing and chucking out was much required. We realize that even more now.

Check out the huge container parked outside the house!
Tomorrow we get an update on all the work that has been done so far.
Dumping container
Sold


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Remembering

Buying a house has been the major  development of this year so far. What He has in store for us with that house will be the "big" reveal of His purpose for us. Tuesday was the day when we signed papers and the deed to the house and the mortgage. We gulped and looked at each other when the notary person read out the risk and "burdens" (probably how he was translating from Dutch). to buying a house. No turning back?

We are currently waiting for the contracts to be signed with the contractor, so the renovation can begun. At least two months have been estimated. I wanted the work to begin on Wednesday, but Bobby is being very careful with the contract and crunching the numbers , and making sure that we are not agreeing to any other situations, or estimates. There has been a lot of issues in the news, these days, about home owners being stranded without any work done after half the payment was made and how they never pick up the phone and cause other problems. So being careful  and PATIENT is whats required now.

Enjoying our "old" home
People tell me, "look, you have a house now finally after being so patient...". Patient? who me? I had no other choice except to wait with Bobby being so patient and careful, following the housing market. Guess, that's why God made Man the head of the family. Imagine what it would have happened if that responsibility was given to me.

So I wait and continue being patient with him and Him. And while I do that, I have a huge de cluttering job to do. No one needs to carry junk from one place to another. But where to start is always the dilemma.

When I avoid that , I look at the memories and events that this house carried.

Came as a newly wed to this house. Benjamin and Elijah were born here. Elijah had his tooth come out at 1. All the birthday parties. The mums and toddlers bible study group. Young adults Bible study group. 4U2 Bible group. The stain on the walls reminding me what happened at that time.

Every room  fully lived. Filled with laughter  and tears.

I will miss this house. And will have lots of occasions to pass by and see how this house becomes someones else's home.
The new house(Minus the car)