As of right now I have 408,xxx seconds left before I’m officially unemployed.

When I started the countdown I was over 7million seconds, it seemed like time moved so slowly. We have been through so much! God provides everything we need.

Last night Jess and I sat and watched Sam (Jessica’s youngest) walk for his high school graduation at the Golden Gophers hockey arena. I went back in time, I went back to my youth and thought. “Is this what I missed out on when I dropped out of high school?” You see, I attended a Minneapolis high school as well, I wondered if graduation would have been here as well. Then I thought deeper about things and realized I never attended my little brothers graduation. I didn’t attend pretty much anything! Life was so different back then! Life was cruel and harsh! In my sophomore year so many things had come to a crucial collective, I had to make a choice.

UPDATE! I can’t believe how the time has passed by us and it’s now June 27! I started writing the beginning of this post on June 3 and now I’m living in our new home full time. I’ve barely stopped working from the day I pulled our last load up from Chanhassen. We are blessed beyond measure with strength that’s only from God! But, if anyone is looking for something to do? I have plenty to do up here. I apologize for not posting regularly! I will try to do better! (Actually, I welcome the down time I need to take to do some writing)

 

may the peace of our Lord be with you all

We are working harder than ever to meet our goals! But new challenges arise and resources get stretched, we trust you God!

So, do I spend more money than I have ever spent before on a truck? It’s hard for me to spend money on cars. It’s because the money is just gone! The return on investment is always a negative investment. It’s not like “updating a house” where you get equity that offsets expense. With a car, it’s always more money, But in this day and age, it’s a “necessity”. We have been looking at a truck that’s bold enough to get through the deepest of snow, provide protection from collision with deer (it’s a real threat up here) haul people & cargo, use for work and dependablity for travel.  We have a car, it’s high on miles, but it’s in decent shape(although it’s windshield is below the center mass of the tremendous number of deer we see every evening on the roads). We also have an old truck that’s proven its value. But I need something better for Jess to drive safely on these roads. We need the seating for 6 with ease of loading (third row seating is just not an option) durability in case of deer collision, ability to use it for work, hauling and such. So I looked for days, weeks! Me, Jess, Misti, KJ and Jacob…. we found one in Montana that fits the task. It’s older, it’s powerful, it’s four doors, seats 6, 4wd…. everything but it’s a manual transmission. Jess has agreed to learn to drive a stick! (she is a trooper) but now? I need to spend money! (This type of Truck is not cheap) so, buy the truck and put off a few other things? It’s all about decisions, prayer is my only resource needed, so, here’s what we do, we ask you to also pray for us. Please pray for these many decisions each day that we are wise and God centered!

Btw, this Saturday I get to install flooring in the living room and our bedroom…,finally! That’s right, Jess and I will soon be moving into our bedroom and have a living room! Kitchen cabinets are half installed and walls are painted and we still have so much to do! But, we have a stove, microwave and a refrigerator, it’s tough cooking on a camp stove. My bride is an amazing woman and she has put up with so much during this first phase. Ohh, did I mention? We also have a washer and dryer now(although it’s just cold water hooked up and it’s in the garage for the summer) but no more laundromat. God is good!

I’ve been told distance can help a realationship grow deeper. I believe sometimes that can be true. But truth be told, it’s hard to be apart from the one who you call “best friend”

 

Jess and Al, Mom and Son, living in the north, with all its wonder and beautiful majesty. But today I miss them (I miss them everyday) I try not to think about it but rather keep my mind busy with my job, chores and an evening sit with friends. My heart is up there! My mind wanders around looking for occupation! I have a countdown for that last day down here, I make plans in my head and constantly reprioritize my future projects. Today I received a blessing from a great guy, he gave me the transite I borrowed last year when I was working in the yard in Chan, I have a huge need for this tool upnorth and now it’s one less thing to “plan”.

Gods blessings keep pouring in and we are so grateful for all and any help we get. Kj and Misti are a major blessing as well, they do so much for us and ask for nothing but friendship in return! How can we not find gratitude when we are so blessed? And yet, discontent still has a foothold as I “want” so much to be where my wife is.

This weekend is a work weekend in Chanhassen for me, it’s my last time to be “on-call” and my plans are to move dirt, prepare the yard for a fire pit and soften hills so a mower can manicure the weeds that are sure to follow. Jacob is headed up with a load of bicycles and give Jess a chance to escape into a world of adult women at a “women’s church event” it’s not much, but it’s all I can do for now.

Ive made that drive so many times,  it seems to be like a drive to the store now. My two oldest sons will be visiting soon, the first time they will see the new place that we will be calling home, my blessings are abundant and knowing you are in prayer makes things so much easier.

Genesus 1:1 starts with “in the beginning, GOD…” and I’m reminded that without GOD, there really can be no “beginnings”

btw, anyone have a tiller? Tractor? Any thing to help us start a garden? Lol, God will provide in HIS timing, I trust in HIM.