A NEW ADVENTURE AND BEGINNING OF AN END

Over a year ago, Wade started talking about the possibility of asking his mother to come live here with us in Springfield. Her husband had passed away and she was living alone in a house in a small town. Willie and Carol were close by, but if she needed additional help - it just might not be there. 
In the back of my mind I always agreed - yes. She can come live with us anytime. And a part of me just thought that this would never happen anyway. Score points for me!! I can be the loving daughter-in-law to Wade and not be inconvenienced in any way. How truly noble of me!!!
Then we heard Dixie had had some minor strokes. Not enough to totally incapacitate her, but enough that her vision was affected, there was some dizziness, and now she could not drive her car anymore. She would be at the mercy of anyone available to get her where she needed to be. Carol was a good daughter-in-law and stepped in whenever needed - plus helping with housework and yard maintenance. 
But Wade could not shake the urging that came on him. He wanted to get her to come live here with us. So during the summer while we were visiting, he brought up the idea and after a while she agreed with some conditions. Mainly, she would not want to be a 'guest' in our house, but rather have her own separate living area. Agreed - we could remodel the house to incorporate a mother-in-law's living area. Take the garage and one bedroom and convert it into a small apartment-type dwelling with her own bathroom and kitchen area. 
So now time has elapsed and she will be leaving Montpelier, Idaho tomorrow morning to start a new life here with us. 
Since summertime, I have been praying about this project of preparing the home for Dixie. Asking God's direction, blessing, insight, and wisdom. We've hit some big snags and I believe it's all in His hands: 
First - we applied for a refinance of the mortgage. Our financial company offered a no-cost, no-appraisal refinance for a lower interest rate. We applied and they started the paper work process. Fortunately all the required documents could be emailed which saved numerous trips to the company. But I believe that God's hand has been holding things back:
1. Closing times have been lengthened and we were told it could take up to 90 days for closing. 
2. The interest rate was only a fraction less than what we are paying now. 
3. Closing costs were going to be close to 4 thousand dollars.
4. An appraisal was required and came in so low that we would be getting a small amount to use as building funds. 
Based on all this we decided just a couple of weeks ago to stop pursuing the refinance loan and work slowly with funds as they come up.  (God timing - God wisdom).
We have been unable to find a construction 'guy' to do work for us. I've looked through Christian Blue Pages, asked on Facebook, Wade has been asking around at work. No one available to take on the jobs we need done. So the garage sits (mostly) empty and waiting. Wade has torn down some walls and ripped out the closets in the bedroom and there is debris and plaster all over the rug that will eventually be torn out. 

This is the wall between the garage and back bedroom. Eventually it will be torn down.

This is the doorway leading into the hallway of the house. There used to be a door there, but it's gone now....

This is the room formerly known as "Tiffany's Room". Heaters have been torn out and we were hoping to have some nice big picture windows installed. (Tiffany's Room will be moved to the library eventually.)

This used to be two big closets - and all the contents are sitting in my hallway and the library where they need to be sorted and hidden this week. 

Garbage on the floor and plastic sheeting hanging in the hall to separate our part of the house with the construction area.

Wade told me that living with construction work going on in the house is stressful. Well I believe it. I've had internal tantrums, snippy remarks, and downright sullenness about this process. Not the work so much, but giving up some of my THINGS. Putting away, throwing away, and giving away. And the work that I'm doing here too. But what is calming me is the Lord's quiet voice telling me that He is all that I truly need. Everything else is just stuff - and I need to let some of this stuff go. So with His help I am working on it. In future posts, I will share what I have come to realize, know, and live.