Please Pray

Sometimes, we just have to drop all pretenses and humbly ask for some help. Today, I'm asking for prayer. It is difficult for me to admit to you that this move has me far more stressed out than I want to be. I feel like I'm getting scowl wrinkles in my forehead, my back is in knots, and my stomach is churning. Sean and I have barely begun the process of sorting through our things, selling, and packing, but it is obvious that this is not something I can do well without an extra measure of God's grace. It is a constant battle for me to keep my words kind, my thoughts honorable to the Lord, and my actions gentle and patient. (Not so unusual really, but I so don't want this move to go down in history as the time Mommy had to be tranquilized.) Even though we have plenty of time to get things done well, I still feel anxious - mostly because, at this point, I just want it all done. I'm an all or nothing girl - I don't like to leave things undone. But there just isn't enough time in the day to do it all and some things just have to wait. It is incredibly annoying to me to leave things half-finished...and basically our whole house is "in process" for the next three weeks. Our house is officially in chaos, which means we have lots of things within reach of little hands and plenty of stuff in our way as we move about the house. I like things organized, clean - and our house is anything but orderly.

It is hard for Brooklyn to see things being sold, and she keeps trying to pack her things in open containers. I know it worries her that we'll leave some special toy behind, but it sure is hard to remain patient with her when we've told her five hundred times to stop putting her stuff in containers full of things we still need to sort. Maddie just bangs on the metal shelving we pulled out of a closet into the hallway. She's having so much fun, but it doesn't add one iota of calm to our current situation. AAAAAAHHHH!

So, would you please pray for us? We need it. I know God is able to give us the patience, endurance, and peace that we need as we pack and move to Mexico. Pray for extra-good sleeps, obedient children, peace within the storms of moving, and wisdom in deciding what to sell and what to pack. Pray that we are able to deal well with the myriad of emotions we are all experiencing right now. And especially pray that we would be able to see the blessings for what they are and focus instead on those things....

• Our sweet Ecuadorian neighbor is bringing us lunch today. Just because. She has no idea how much we needed that.
  
• We had a wonderful break from all the work last night and just relaxed, laughed, and ate tasty fajitas with our friends.
  
• We've had offers up to wazoo to help watch the girls - and we'll take all these dear people up on their offers, I'm sure.
  
• We've had help building our crates. And these are some nice crates - much better than what we built to come here :-)
• Things are selling easily and we won't have any trouble getting rid of all that we need to.
  
• Our church here is blessing us with so many kind words and expressions of love.
  
• We are, somehow, avoiding all-out illness, even if we do all have minor sniffles.
• It looks like we have a house in Oaxaca - in the perfect location, for the right price, and we know it will be a perfect fit for our family.
  

These are the kinds of things I want to focus on - not all that other junk that stresses me out!

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." - Phillipians 4:8