The Backyard From My Head

During a casual search for real estate in Tulsa, OK, yesterday during our messy snowstorm, I came across this house.

Oh my goodness. Their backyard! The same, perfect yard which I believed only existed inside my head--right there! Displayed, online, before my eyes. And no lawn anywhere to mow.

With a pond, even...

And a screened-in porch in which to sit and survey all the beauty.

Happy sigh. Did my winter-weary heart good to absorb all the summer-time beauty (though honestly, I didn't feel winter-weary until I saw this amazing yard. heh.)

 And all for just $59,900. But alas, though it has two bedrooms and an office space (all on our list), part of it is split-level (Tom said he could handle that, but I said oh no he can't. I appreciated his willingness, though.). And no garage. But it blessed me that Tom, also, dearly loved this yard... and did I mention there was no lawn anywhere to mow? :)

Check out the rest of the photos at the website, including the indoor ones, and you'll see the owners poured their hearts and souls into their home. Their hard work, artistry and commitment blessed us both.

Happy Saturday. And remember--Spring is coming!

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This And That On a Snowy Afternoon

More 'Gingerbread House' from the street behind us.
More mega snowfall today.
More feeling oh-so-ready to move away.

And guess what?

Now I'm thinking Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ha! See, I warned you not to take me seriously when I tell you where we're considering moving. 

And yes, I read about the Tornado Alley thing. And the humidity thing (but at least they get less snow). But I also realize that God knows us better than we know ourselves so if Tulsa is His idea--all will be well. At least, eventually. I truly believe that and it's certainly what happened when we moved to Buffalo 20 years ago from Nevada. 

Anyway. Tom's been invited to do an interview for a plant in Tulsa and at least--finally--this is one state not on my I Have Absolutely No Peace About Moving To These Few States list.

Whew. I would move to 40+ different states(!), but for probably 18 years Tom's hinted about moving to the bad-bad-no-way other states.(ThisIsOnlyATest...ThisIsOnlyATest.) Perhaps he's finally getting it. Or maybe I am. heh. 

Besides, in Tulsa we'd be 100 miles closer to Naomi. :)

I know... Some of you think I'm bonkers to glibly consider moving to one state one day, another the next. But actually? I long to be oh-so-careful to follow where God is leading--not to where I think is best. So I must stay open, and with as few 'must haves' as possible. Besides, God knows our true must-haves, so basically, the 'just staying open thing' applies and illustrates my real level of trust.

It's one thing to say, "I'll follow God wherever He leads," but soooo another thing to actually live that way.

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We're due for 7 - 10 inches of snow today. I choose 7. No, 3. heh.

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Did you see the previews for the new movie, Identity Thief? Gah, it could have been such a brilliantly funny movie. I've loved Melissa McCarthy since Gilmore Girls and Jason Bateman since, well, forever. But noooo.... The writers had to 'crass it up'. Sigh. (Read a Christian review here--if you dare.)

Anyway... just for fun, I spent part of this morning rewriting that movie inside my head. Man, it would've been hilarious--and clean--had I made it. But oddly, no one asked me. :)



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"Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground."   ... Psalm 143:10

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Oh, if you love dogs, you'll appreciate this (short) news story. 

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Obedience: A Mystery Solver

So.

Not in a huge, wild-and-crazy way, but in a calmer one, yesterday I became antsy about moving away. You know, like, "I know we're supposed to move out-of-state, but, like, when? When should we get serious? When should we put the house up for sale?"

After awhile, I even wondered if 'when' might be now. I mean, after all, I've learned that God's timing is as vital, as important to obey, as the thing He asks you to do, itself.

Didn't help that I discovered an I've-waited-for-this-for-years prophetic website with tons of posts (click on 'blogs' and 'spirit') speaking about these Last Days and things such as mass exoduses of folks to different states, ones where they feel safer and more in tune with those states' policies, etc. Lots more there confirmed what I'd read earlier here through a newsletter which I'll forward to anyone who wishes to see it--email me at GladOne4@yahoo.com. (My mouth dropped at how often she spoke what I'd been saying in my blog lately.) And I'm not even mentioning a couple other prophetic blogs I added to my blogroll. I've been busy. :)

Hey. We each enjoy certain quirky things--and well, I enjoy prophetic stuff. You know, meditating about what's been said, weighing it, pondering and finding confirmation about certain odd things I'd 'heard' inside my head/heart/who knows?

Anyway.

Then there's Tom's who's got a job interview on Monday with a local plant, which feels weird when I'm all set to move to Boise (or wherever). I told him I feel Jekyll and Hyde-ish lately, as though Good Ol' Debra could gleefully stay in New York forever, but Way Down Deep Debra believes we need to call Cher the real estate lady and get outta here quick.

Again, there was no wild-eyed-ness about this, just an unsettled wondering which colored my day.

But then this morning! God reminded me of this: "If you faithfully do Today what you're sure of, then Tomorrow's questions will eventually be answered. Tomorrow you'll find yourself in the right place at the right time."

And oh, the peace... The sweet, sweet peace. It's baaaaaack.

I certainly do know the tasks I should be completing today. The Holy Spirit's a pro at nagging revealing to me Today's To Do List:

Return to the Great Decluttering Project of 2013.
Keep stocking-up on groceries for the basement pantry using sales + coupons.
Get around to the basic house repairs that have needed doing for, er, months.
Make a written plan for someday selling the house.
Research Boise. Stay open to other areas. Listen. Pray.
Pay your bills.
Plan your flower beds.
Prepare for emergencies in all ways, physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Send your Valentines.
For goodness' sake, exercise.
Clean your house.

Oh my yes... There's no wondering about those! No huge questions there, no need for 2 angel appearances as confirmation. They simply should be plugged away at until their completion, rather than stepped over, ignored and procrastinated for months.

Plain old obedience can illuminate dark paths and solve all sorts of mysteries. Today I'm grateful for that reminder... I'm so very thankful for the return of sweet, calm, trusting peace.


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Not certain what God's specifically asking of you lately? Often it helps to go back to the last thing you're sure He told you to do and ask yourself if you've faithfully completed that.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

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