Yes, that’s what I got in January!
My One Word!

Then, it was refined to Be Like Jesus!

I’ve written a bit about both.

I also wrote about Jesus Knowing my frame….and how many spoons I have!

I created a video about being poured out – I think I need to find that, edited by Jim!

Last September, I wrote about my struggles with what was occurring at that time….since then
In October, we put Gabriel Down.

In November, we rejoiced with our children Faith and Steve in their new home, that included a room in which we couild stay without a hotel!

In December, we flew back to Ohio to share in Christmas with family.

Somewhere in January, I found out I had kidney cancer.
Somewhere in January, we found out that Jim’s fight with prostate cancer was not over.

In February, we discussed with various doctors about various cancer treatments…for both of us.
I have to have most or all of my kidney removed.
Jim needs another hifu, and we are looking at the lymphoma.
Jim has had to start a medication to be a stop gap for the prostate cancer…and we’ve had to fight with insurance for one of the drugs. (And we thought we had one of those golden insurance policies…how awful it must be for those that don’t have anything!!!!)

We need to lower our costs….and Jim’s focus is in lowering our credit card debt.

Then –
2/21 I get a text from our daughter “Do you want to be my neighbor?”
Jim jumps right over my maybe to a yes…because he’s seeing the end from the beginning…

2/27 – Faith and Steve walk the house…and Faith does a video call with me, and they share the google photos with us. It’s nowhere near as bad as the zillow photos!

3/2 – we have realtors over to this Florida house to check on the viability of selling.
we also check into a program called Open Door – the amount for which we need to sell this house is viable –
3/3 we jump on a plan to fly to Ohio to check out the house ourselves.
3/4 we meet the agent and the inspector, and we ‘fall in love’ with the house and the property.

Our 7 year old grandson, when asked if he could make sure that I got plenty of hugs and kisses if I moved in said ” Oh Mamaw, I’d do anything to get you to move up here!” MELT! The 4 year old offered ideas to make the house work for me! The son-in-law discussed the fences and my dear sweet daughter promised me baked goods!

I stayed up all night finding possible professionals to get quotes on work needed on the Thurber House.
3/5 we met with the agent one more time at the house, and let the boys go inside and see the place. Then, we flew home.

3/6 The open door offer comes in $1000 less than our mortgage payoff!!!
3/7 We worked up a bid for the Ohio house, based on comps and comparisons.
3/8-9 The seller came back with a $2000 increase(which was still $18k less than the asking price). we were so shocked it was ok’d so fast, that we didn’t even consider negotiating any more and said yes!
3/9 signed the papers for the Ohio house

One of the professionals from Home Advisor is working with us to come up with quotes for all the things needed to be done…Jim likes him! YAY!

Jim would need an apartment here, for work technicalities…and he was not able to find anything reasonable. One night, I was up, and found a bunch. He liked the website I’d looked at, and found a treehouse rental. Yes, they have one opening up, for $625 a month! No, it’s not in Clermont…but it is in the general area in which he was looking. It’s based in a resort…near Lake Marion, in a very secluded area. The ride to the treehouse condos is in cattle country mixed in with Orange groves…a very restful drive for Jim!
3/9 My friend and I drove out there to see the property and turn in some papers and money orders to hold the treehouse.
3/10 Jim and I drive to see the Treehouses
3/11 we signed the papers for the Florida House with Open Door

3/16 Jim signed the lease papers for the treehouse. The house that they have given him is close to the lake, and very secluded! Great restful place!
3/16 the major parts of the Open Door inspection were done…we think everything went well.

We had need of another car…because of the rental car location issues. Our Daughte rRachel happened to call Jim on the day he was headed down to Fort Lauderdale and said “could you check out a car for me? I’ll sell you mine for cost” The car was 10 minutes out of his way, and it was a day that he had time to do the test drive!
3/15 Rachel flew to Florida this past weekend to pick up her new car.

It appears that God’s plan is to eliminate the mortgage debt!

3/19 the Septic inspection.
Upcoming – Jim will be driving a truck to Ohio 3/22-24; flying to Austin to pick up the car from Rachel, driving to Dallas for SKO then driving our ‘new’ car home to Orlando area from SKO 3/29-4/1

Closing for Florida house is set for April 19th(if all things are agreed on from the OD inspections)
Closing for Ohio house is set for April 23rd.

We have stepped down from leading the small group, and the women’s group.
We are packing like crazy…and even have the house cleared of all things on the walls.

I have a peace that is totally incomprehensible(probably similar to Peace that passes understanding!) even in the midst of the stress, anxiety and panic attacks.

If there seems to be a flurry of activity in this blog, it’s because it’s been a flurry of activity. We have sought out friends and connections, especially those that might have a reason to NOT want us to leave, and laid out the very details as they have come up. The typical response is either
“This is a no brainer”
or
“What’s the question?”

Two additional God things:

• The agent in Ohio had a partial nephrectomy just two years ago and knows an excellent urology team!
• The doctor that handles my back pain had a cancellation for the first part of a procedure for my back…we can do the first part, the test, which will be over the course of two months…and I can come back for the results. If it works, then, he can do a procedure that will make me pain free for ONE YEAR!!

And if that’s not enough….
My Psych is fine with me meeting with him once a quarter.
My Therapist is fine with me once a month…and one computer visit.
I think my hemotologist will be like wise!

Jim does not have to change out his cancer treatment professionals, because he will have an apartment down here.
I can come down to Florida once a month to be with Jim…because he has an apartment…or to stay by the beach!
We have the car situation settled for Jim going to and from the airport in Pittsburgh!

And I will have all the grandbaby hugs and kisses I can handle…even the potential for those that live three hours away to come and stay for a weekend!

So, yes, the time was short….for our living here!
Yes, the end is near…. for our living here!

We still need to focus upon our walks with Christ, and being like Christ…
We still need to focus on numbering our days that we would apply our hearts to wisdom…
The days are evil…and short…and the Lord will return!

This house has been a blessing and gift from the Lord.  We thought we were going to be here for the rest of our lives.  God had other plans.  Lately, we feel like we are just holding on for the ride!

We just try to follow!

PRAISES UPDATE!
EDIT 3/19/2018 –
* Jim’s biopsy for the lymph nodes came back as B Cell follicular Lymphoma – only needs to be watched. No evidence of metastasized Prostate cancer!
* Open Door investigation came back with $700 repairs…a totally bogus claim against the carpet and pet odor…as confirmed by the many people that have come in, and a totally unrealistic claim to fix the damage to the ceiling that our repair guy charged $800 for and totally messed it up. Also, realistic maintenance repairs to the outside of the windows. The point…it cost us more to fix the ceiling(even if the guy did do a horrible job) than they have allowed for all three repairs. The difference between the check for this place and our mortgage payoff is about the cost of one mortgage payment!

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
• Obed’s House Ministries
• Project Based Missions, Global
• The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
• Compassion