The pie hutch

I’ve loved this from the first time I saw it.

It’s one of the “leftover” pieces from our used furniture business.

When we first saw the house we are moving to I noticed it didn’t have a pantry.

Handsome and I discussed it and he had a wonderful idea.

“What about the pie hutch?”

So, instead of flipping it, I painted it and we brought it inside.

I began shopping thrift stores for canisters.

You can see my collection in my white wood box.

They fit nicely on the bottom shelf and with some other glass canisters and baskets the pie hutch worked beautifully.

Then, we got the keys and realized we needed to gut the kitchen.

When, we had the plans for the kitchen done, I didn’t factor in my hutch.

I hadn’t forgotten it, but trying to work around it was going to cost us.

So, I left it out and told the Lord I’d do whatever He directed.

Last time our daughter and I walked the house we discussed the placement of my furniture.

Although, I feel I know where most things are going, I’ve continued to pray about the pie hutch.

Where should it go?

What should be it’s primary function?

I’d like it in the dining room, but will it fit?

As I was packing up the kitchen today I began to pray about the hutch again.

I began with telling the Lord it is His and I’m willing to do whatever He directs.

As I began to pack up our mugs a thought ran through my mind.

What about a beverage center?

I suddenly could see our mugs lined up on the top shelf and my husband’s mini coffee maker sitting on the shelf above the drawers.

I thought about the possibility of adding breakfast stuff, cereal and muffins would fit nicely in my glass containers…

Then, I stopped.

“Lord, whatever this ends up being used for, I thank You for it.”

In my heart I went on to praise God for His blessings in so many things throughout all of this.

I’m excited to see if this will work in our dining room.

Whether or not we use it for beverages and breakfast, I am thankful to God for His guidance.

I know He is leading us every step of the way.

Psalm 18:32 KJV — It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for using something as unimportant as furniture to encourage my heart, today. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and guidance as we walk each day with You. Lord, thank You for the strength to do things. Please give me the wisdom and discernment to know what things to use my energy on and how to go about the things which need to be done. Lord, all of this belongs to You. My life is Yours. Thank You for giving so much to us. I praise Your holy name, Jesus! Amen.

Adjusting

I took a photo of where I was thinking about putting our garden the last time I was at our new house and it wasn’t raining.

I didn’t take pictures of the inside, because I figured I’d get those after we move.

Which we still have yet to do.

Why?

Well, because God showed us things.

A consultation, concerning our kitchen, with our son-in-law, who is a contractor, made it obvious we needed to gut the kitchen.

I wasn’t excited, at least not immediately.

The Lord was so gracious and showed me He was providing, He also helped me trust Him with the unexpected and it’s turned into a wonderful blessing.

Handsome and I were able to discuss all the necessary changes and make decisions without any trouble.

We haven’t had a single argument or disagreement throughout.

Distance and my health kept me from being able to go pick out cabinets, so our daughter and son-in-law went and did the initial layout.

A few days later I was able to travel down and put the final touches on the plans.

My heart was so blessed that our daughter knows me so well.

She picked out everything I liked.

When I commented on that, she just smiled and said we have similar tastes, so it was easy.

That blessed my heart.

I traveled down yesterday and got to walk through the bare rooms.

The new paint looks wonderful and I’m really looking forward to being able to live there.

We only had one moment of concern.

When I walked into our bedroom my chest began to feel a little tight.

My husband was watching closely and asked me to walk into the attached bathroom.

It felt strange and I knew it was my body reacting to a trigger.

Thankfully, I felt better the moment I was out of the room and the door closed behind me.

“I was afraid of that,” Handsome said.

Then he explained he’d been smelling something and was worried it was going to bother me.

He went on to explain he would remove the cabinets and tear out the linoleum to see where the smell was coming from.

As I drove back to our rented house he called me.

“It’s only in one area, but I found mold under the flooring and we will have to replace the subfloor and part of the wall.”

I took a deep breath.

“Praise the Lord, you found it now.”

Because I am allergic to mold, we have been concerned about making sure the house was mold-free.

Although, finding something else which needs to be fixed isn’t fun, it’s important we adjust to God’s direction.

For He is answering our prayers by showing us in advance what needs to be taken care of.

As I focus on the tasks at hand, I am praising God for His faithfulness.

Yes, sometimes I have to work at being patient.

Sometimes, I have to spend extra time in prayer, asking God to help each one of us to be centered on Him, as I await each of the details which are required before we can move.

I’m not a patient person and I’m learning to adjust my wants and desires to align with God’s timing.

It has also been an opportunity to praise Him more.

Although waiting isn’t easy, it’s very important.

Rushing ahead of God or trying to force circumstances into my desires are both a refusal to wait on God and it’s a lack of trust.

I’ve done both those things and it wasn’t good nor did it help anyone.

I don’t want to live like that.

Thus, I’m thanking God for this time and season.

It’s another opportunity to learn a wonderful character trait: patience.

Psalm 123:2 KJV — Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for another opportunity to learn to wait upon You. Lord, thank You for Your patience with me, I’m a slow learner. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness, Your understanding, Your love. Lord, thank You for showing us what needs to be done each day and for sustaining us. Lord, thank You for walking us through this season of adjustment. May our lives glorify You. I love You, Lord! Amen.