God's Timing is Always Perfect

I seem to be talking about best laid plans a lot lately.

Remember the trip to Tennessee that didn't happen last month?

That was kind of like the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, there was sickness on both sides and it was God's perfect timing...
 ...because He already knew all about it.

God's timing is always perfect.

Anyone who reads my blog knows of the plans we have for our retirement.

They included selling our home here in NC this spring or summer,

moving to Tennessee and live in our RV for a while
while we build our farmhouse in Adam's meadow in Haywood Hollow.

Now I am not one to share a lot of health information about myself...

mostly because I have always been quite healthy and rarely had many issues. 

You know how at church when they ask for prayer requests?

Well, I really struggle when it comes to asking for prayer for myself.

I am really struggling just writing this post.
But I think of you as my friends and thought I'd share with you what's going on.

So back to best laid plans...

Without getting into all of the gory details (you certainly would not want me to share them),

just let me just say that a health issue from a decade ago has decided to revisit me.
Back between 2007-08, I had a very sick gallbladder that resulted in a biliary stricture.
That meant that bile was backing up in my liver and making me jaundiced and very sick.
Several stents in the bile duct and removing the gallbladder and I was all good...

...for ten whole years!

Fast forward to August 2017, right before my brother passed away.

I started getting sick and was all too familiar with the symptoms.
Another stricture had indeed formed, another stent was placed,
and then removed this past November.
So about a month ago when we all got sick, what I thought was a nasty stomach bug wasn't.
I knew I needed another stent so last Monday it was put in place...
...a different kind this time that can stay in longer.
(This is done by an endoscopic procedure, just so you don't think I was cut on all those times.)

I get to keep this one for at least 6 months, maybe longer...
BUT...and that's a big but...I have to stick around a while, as it would seem.
You just can't up and leave your trusted doctor who has been there from the beginning...
and your insurance when you need it most!
Nope, can't do that!

I will know more after I see my doctor in six months.

Until then, we will continue on with the plan...
just knowing that the timetable is a bit off from what we had hoped for.

Here's the good news...it gives us more time to get it all done. {{smile}}

God's timing is ALWAYS perfect.

Well, well, well...

Well, how about that?!
We have a well!

After a slight delay, well over a month,
the well driller man got his well drilling rig working well again.



 And it's all well and good...
...the well driller man hit water at about 250 feet but went down just a bit further...
well, you know, for good measure.
Adam says our well is better than his well.
Well done, right Parker?

Well, I think the well has his stamp of approval.
~
All's well that begins well...(we hope)...
...but you know as well as I do...only too well actually,
building projects have a tendency to...well...
encourage one to practice that fruit of the Spirit known as longsuffering.
If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well...
...and it will be well worth it in the end.
~
So I'll leave well enough alone and end this post.
But just remember...

...you never miss the water 'til the well runs dry.

Fare thee well!

In my mind...

No, in my mind I'm not going to Carolina, as James Taylor sang about...
y'all know I'm already there.

But here lately, my imagination seems to be in overdrive.

More and more I find myself daydreaming about our future move to Tennessee.

In my heart of hearts, I know this will happen only in the Lord's perfect timing.

But if His timing and our timing happen to coincide, we may be there next spring or summer.

In my mind...

...I see a little white (or gray) farmhouse with a red tin roof nestled in the corner of a meadow.
It looks something like this, only fresh, new and pristine.

The house plan is a one-story pyramidal, hip-roofed style that was popular in the 20's and 30's,
particularly in the rural areas of the deep south.
This is the actual house plan.

In my mind...

...I am trying to imagine what it will be like to see so much open sky for a welcome change.

Although I have mostly enjoyed living in the woods, there are a few draw backs...
...especially if you are a cloud watcher like me.
We will have to create much of our own shade so the front and back porches will be perfect.

In my mind...

...I am wondering I how I am ever going to live in something like this for several months...

(google image)

...or longer....you know how construction projects go. 😒

Now, I'm sure you must be thinking,
"You're going to live in a camper for possibly six months to a year?"

Believe me when I tell you I am asking myself that question almost daily.
We're talking about the girl (me) who needs her space.
You know, the same one who doesn't like loud TV and endless sports programs.
The one who really has to have her quiet solitude.
Lord Jesus, help me...I'll need lots of grace, grace and more grace.

In my mind...

...I see myself spending quite a bit of time down by the creek on the swing,

or exploring all of the wonders of Haywood Hollow,



or making friends with the horses down the way,

or spending time up the hill at Adam & Carrie's place on the back porch swing,
and taking in this view...

...and trying not to wear out my welcome before the farmhouse is even built.

In my mind...

...I am pondering with great anticipation what a joy it will be to watch these two grow up.

In my mind...

 ...the farmhouse is already decorated with antiques and vintage pieces,

some that I have had for many years, others recently acquired from thrift stores and yard sales.

I have had this photo saved on my computer for a while now and I can't even find a link to it.
Although I won't be having what seems to be clusters of grapes on the wallpaper,
(but you can bet that there will be wallpaper)
I just love the comfortable, homey feel of this room and the design of the fireplace.

In my mind... 

...I am also seeing some things like these...

...and I really want some of these...

...and definitely some of these...

...and maybe even one of these.

 

I've always wanted a rooster...a real one.

In my mind...

...I feel like I should have been born a country girl.

Funny thing is, back in 2013 when I began My Favorite Things,

I started a random post that I never finished and titled it Country Girl Wannabe.

Actually, I just wrote the title and never wrote the first word of the post.

I guess we can never get too old to hold on to a dream, can we?

I may have to just go back and write that post and retitle it one day.

How does Old Lady in the Country sound? 

:D