I bought this desk when we closed the store because I knew it would be perfect for inspiring creativity and calm in writing. (I couldn’t believe it’s almost been 6 mo since my last post!) I closed the store 6 weeks ago…

Monday, one week after we closed the store and moved 1100 sq ft of retail stuff home…Monday, one day after we got home from having set up for a 3 day retreat and recreated the store in a mobile site I made plans.  I was cleaning up the work room and family room (aka dumping ground of Do Good store stuff) when the phone rang.   “I know it’s a long shot but I wondered if you would consider selling your house.”  Excuse me?! What?! Ummmm, let me talk to my husband. Talk. Pray. Talk. Pray.

Wednesday – Yes, we would consider selling our house. Give me a few days to get it ready before you come and look at it. (The caller was an old friend whom we hadn’t talked with in forever so it wasn’t like it was a stranger calling.  The biggest question at that moment though was where we were going to put all of this stuff?!)

Saturday – take the kids and go look at a potential new house that had just come on the market.  Everyone loved the space (not so much the blue counters and wallpaper) but this could work.  It checked the biggest box on the list of having a room big enough to hold our growing crew.

Sunday – go back through the open house. Still like the house.

Tuesday – another call.  “You aren’t going to believe this. There is an offer coming in this afternoon on the house you looked at this past weekend.  What would you like to do?”  Excuse me?! What?! Ummmm, let me talk to my husband. Talkpraytalkpray. And this tiny whisper of a voice asking “Do you trust me?” On this day every prayer for guidance was answered with this whisper of a question.

Let’s do this.  We don’t want to lose another house (that was how we ended up here – in my Never House.)  Every door thus far has been opened for us before we even had to knock on it (including the financing for this crazy idea.)

Tuesday night – the phone again. “Congratulations! They accepted your offer.”  GULP! We looked at each other and said “I think we accidently just bought another house.” Our heads were spinning. We don’t do stuff like this! God was moving on this, and fast, affirming and shoving us through new doors (literally!)  We hadn’t even had a chance to show the old friend who set this whole situation in motion our house yet.

I made plans.  I closed the store because I have a senior and a freshman.  Since the store has been closed I have fed teams breakfast, lunch and dinner, made snack bags, created pinterest locker decorations and treats (for the girls obviously – boys don’t care about cute pinterest crafting.) I have attended games, cheered, held my breath, covered my eyes when I couldn’t stand the pressure, cried bittersweet tears over the whole situation, and prayed like a crazed mama. We have nursed injuries, had x-rays, sat out games, and had moments of glory.  We have written papers, packed lunches, visited colleges, shopped for a homecoming dress (this was a very new experience – boys and formals are so, so, much easier!)  and smiled for pictures.

Oh and did I mention cleaning and cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. This is beginning to feel like the movie Groundhog Day.  I made plans. We bought another house because our house was as good as sold. (HA!) The family whose call set this in motion came out and looked at the house. These puzzle pieces would not fit together. “Do you trust me?” Two weeks ago we officially listed our house. Within the first 24 hours we had 10 calls with realtors wanting to set up appointments. We had an open house with over 25 couples and in the last week the house has been shown seven times. “Do you trust me?” I’m more than kind of freaking out and I don’t even know my name half the time anymore and I’m flying by the seat of my pants while we’re feeding the teams and attending the games and making the beds and hiding the laundry. (How is a person supposed to do the laundry, fold the laundry, and put it all away when there is a house showing everyday? Laundry is an all day event at our house.)

And, oh yes, I closed the store. I made plans. This was the original plan.  That was how all of this got started. Yesterday, I began setting up a new “mini studio” in a new space. I was asked to be part of a brand new artesian market place. The concept and space are so cool I couldn’t say no.  Plus, the owner is generously donating a portion of their proceeds back to Love Runners as well!

I made plans. I was going to take September off and just breathe (my exact words!) I made plans. I was going to sit at my super cute new desk and write.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

I made plans. My plans were safe. My plans were comfortable. But instead of my plans I am choosing trust. And, in doing so find myself leaning into these verses and coming away with the crazy peace that Jesus gives.

“Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.” Joshua 23:8

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalms 37:4-5

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalms 37:23-24

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

““I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Do you trust me?” Yes.  I am trying very hard to. But some days I just want to make my own plans the agenda for the day, to make the world conform to my timeline. And that is the truth and reality in the situation.