Mom pointed out to me yesterday that each problem I’ve faced, related to being in Columbus, has resulted in my having something better than what I lost. That’s very true, and I don’t believe that kind of stuff happens by chance. And since I also don’t believe that my own positive thinking can cause the universe to align to bring me good things, there must be some other explanation. I hope that seeing all these events together will help to build your faith as it has mine. And I hope that you are encouraged to take hope in your current circumstances …

Renting My House – Before I even could decide to leave, I knew I would have to make provisions for my house for a year. Now, if you know me at all, you know how much I love my house. The thought of leaving it behind was hard enough, not to mention leaving it in the hands of strangers. The thought of packing it all up was daunting, but the thought of renting it furnished was frightening. However, Jill and Lucas decided that they were going to sell (turns out “rent”) their own home so that they could rent mine for a year. Having my best friends living there was a better solution that I even thought to pray for.

Part-time Job – I knew that what the amount of support I had raised would not cover all my living expenses, so I really needed a part-time job. I filled out an application at a coffee shop in our church’s neighborhood, but what I really wanted was to work at Curves. At the very first one I visited, I really hit it off with the assistant manager. I had to wait more than a week, but they finally called me for an interview. A few days later they offered the position, and I accepted. Bonus: the job pays about $2 more per hour than I had expected to make!

House Fire – On Valentine’s Day, I woke to phone call from Jill telling me that my home in Springfield had caught fire the night before. (See previous post) That was horrifying enough, and the prospect of trying to manage the reconstruction project from here was overwhelming. However, God continues to redeem this situation. Here’s the list so far:

• Jill and Luke are able to handle much of the project for me.
• The company hired to clean things up is also contracting the entire reconstruction project, so I’m only dealing with a few people (who have been wonderful).
• That company has an agreement with State Farm such that whatever they quote is what is paid. No quibbling about money.
• When the ruined flooring downstairs was pulled up, they found the original hardwood floors in brilliant condition. Yup, think I’ll take those instead.
• The entire house is being rewired and brought up to code. They are making sure every wall has an outlet. And they are getting rid of the ugly institutional fluorescent light in Stephanie’s room.
• The roof has been completely replaced. Like, they took the top off my house and put it back on. (Thank you to those of you who prayed for good weather that day!)
• I am getting a new furnace.
• AND they are going to paint color on my ceilings, which I did not have before.

It’s going to be just like my house … but nicer. And it’s supposed to be done before I’m home for the weekend in June.

Housing in Columbus – I was hoping to find a family who would rent a room, or an elderly couple who could use a companion/housekeeper. Adam and Jenna tried for months before I arrived to find something, but to no avail. Finally, Adam’s aunt and uncle graciously allowed me stay in their home while they vacationed in Florida in February. Then I went to stay with my cousins, who I had only met a couple weeks before. They invited me to stay for two weeks longer than any of us expected. At this point, I was getting desperate, and was starting to really feel discouraged. I even interviewed with a home-sharing program in Columbus, where I would live with a total stranger and either pay very high rent, or do a lot of personal care. But then, one of our generous Curves members offered to rent me the third floor of her home, which her family wasn’t using. We agreed on a one-month trial and what I felt was a very fair rent. After only a week, she told me she’d decided that we didn’t need to go for a whole month: she knew she wanted me to stay. And recently she’s told me that she doesn’t want me to pay rent because I’m helping her by watching her daughters a few times a month. AND her house is in a beautiful safe neighborhood and a five-minute walk from my Curves club.

Cell Phone – When Jill and Luke came at Easter, I picked them up at the airport. I pulled up in the crazy passenger pick-up lane and jumped out of the car to get their stuff. I thought I heard something fall, but didn’t see anything when I looked down. After we were already on the road, I realized that I didn’t have my cell phone. We went back to look for it, but it was nowhere to be found, having probably been pulverized by about 70 SUVs already. I knew I could not be here without a cell phone, and there’s no Alltel store in Columbus. So, Jill and Luke decided that, if I could buy myself out of my current contract (and I managed to), they were going to add me to their family plan. And they were going to pay the nominal monthly fee. So now I have a nicer phone (even though I lost all my numbers) and no cell phone payment.

Car – See below post. Long story short, I have an infinitely nicer car and I got an amazingly, divinely-arranged deal on it.

“We are assured and know that, God being a partner in their labor, all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good, to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.” (Romans 8:28, Amplified Bible)