...and, finally, we can see which direction it is going.  Just look and see how God is working this all out!  It's simply amazing!  We're still in awe!

Our House

We got the termite inspection done and it turned out okay.  Also, we got the abstract taken in to the lawyer.  Now, we just need to set up a time to meet with the buyers to sign all of the papers and receive the payment.  Plus, we will need to decide how we're going to go about renting this house for the short amount of time that we'll still be here in March.

Norman's Job Situation

The meat-packing plant that Norman had applied at was supposed to call him last Friday to set up a time to take the welding test at the college this week.  It was getting later in the afternoon and they still hadn't called.  Finally, he called them and found out that the test would be this Thursday.  Well... all of this has been weighing very heavily on Norman!  What should he do?  He really didn't want to work at the meat-packing plant.  He couldn't invision staring at hogs' heads with bulging eyes, hanging from the rafters, on a day-to-day basis.  But then, he really didn't think that he could afford going back to school either.

He finally called his case-worker at the Iowa Workforce Development Center later on Friday and left a message:  "Hello, Lindsay.  I'm having a ‘George Bailey’ moment.  I just realized that I'm worth more dead than alive.  Please call me back."  Of course, he was jokingly referring to the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life", and when Lindsay returned his call, she was laughing.  But, she also had good news!  She had called around and figured out how that Norman really could go back to school PLUS keep our heads above water financially.  She explained it all to him and it sounds like it really will work!  I could see the heavy burden lift from Norman's shoulders even as he was speaking with her.  During the phone conversation, he referred to her as Clarence (the angel in the movie who jumped in the river to save George).  And then, just before he hung up, he took a bell off the wall and rang it and said, "Did you hear that?  An angel just got his wings."  Of course, we know that it was all God's doings, but we also know that He uses other people to fulfill His plan.  Lindsay might not be an angel, but she sure seemed like a messenger from God to us!

Our "New" House

Okay, I saved this one for last... just to keep you in suspense!  J  Yes… we found a house to buy!  Norman went into Realtor.com and wrote down all of the houses in a certain price range for the city that we want to move to.  On Saturday, we went and drove past all of them and brought the number down to 11.  After considering lots of different things, we were finally able to eliminate all but 2.  Norman called the real estate agent and set up showings for this morning.  It’s funny because before we went in to look at them, we had pretty much decided on which house we were going to buy.  But, after the showings, we changed our minds and chose the other house.  Our boys were even excited about this one, so it was unanimous.  And, to make it even better, it is unoccupied and has a stove to go with it!  We were able to agree with the sellers on a price later this afternoon, so now we just need to go back in tomorrow and see about getting a loan.  If the Lord wills, we might be able to move into it in a couple of weeks!  Maybe we’d better get to packing, huh?  J

I want to thank you all for praying for us!  No, things aren’t all settled yet and I know that things could change directions rather quickly.  But if they do, then God has something even better planned for us.  He is in the lead and we will humbly and faithfully follow, even if it means waiting until the last second for things to all work out.  But, “work out” they will.

~Connie~