June 4, 2010

SurvivorWoman!!


Hey ya'll!

Have you ever watched the TV show Survivorman on Discovery Channel? On this show, adventurist Les Stroud is dumped into the middle of a survival situation and has to persevere through all kinds of obstacles and setbacks, including no food or sleep in order to survive in the midst of the chaos for one week and then is rescued and lives to tell about it.  Well, move over Les Stroud - within one week of getting a contract on my house, I waded through years of accumulated "treasures", dug through bottomless pits (cabinets, drawers and closets), crawled through the deep recesses of storage crawl space under my house, trekked to Goodwill a thousand times (slight exaggeration, ya'll - but close),  negotiated with my hubs (a great survival skill BTW....I'm being nice here, ya'll) over what to keep and what to pitch (he's a tad OCD so he'd rather pitch it all in the name of order - uh, compromise is a beautiful thing but there was a whole lot of pitching going on!), existed on pizza, burgers and other miscellaneous questionable fast food rations with maybe only a few hours of sleep each night surrounded by vast cavernous mountain ranges of u-haul boxes! I dragged my exhausted body up before daybreak each day with a slug and slurp of coffee and a Zip Fizz energy drink and with my trusty packing tape gun in my hand (after a week I felt as if it were a permanent appendage to my right hand) and my marking pen in the other,  I steeled my aching back (whole body actually) to persevere, conquer and survive my 7 day packing and moving challenge!!!  Annnnnd, whooo! hooo! I did it, ya'll and lived to tell about it (barely)!!!!  LOL!!! Whew - just typing this nearly wore me out!!!

Moving day last Friday was an absolute whirlwind to say the least....up at 5 a.m. and the exodus began!!!  The buyer wanted to be in the house by Friday afternoon to enjoy the long weekend up here in the cool N. AZ mountains away from triple digit heat in Phoenix so she had her carpet cleaning people literally standing at our door waiting for us to get out at noon.  Kinda got on my last nerve, ya'll, but I just kept praising God for selling our home in such a depressed market and like the children of Israel, kept following the moving cloud......in the form of a U-Haul truck, that is!!    I realize I'm not as young as I used to be and a tad, uh - make that allot out of shape, but my goodness, I strained muscles I didn't even know I had!! Ouch, Hallelujah!!....(somehow, I don't think Les Stroud says that!) LOL!!

I always stand amazed at how God does things!  The house we rented in the same neighborhood as the home we just sold already feels like home to us!  I mean, honestly, my hubs and I have both commented on how cozy and peaceful it feels.  And, please don't think I'm nuts, but even my kitties, Murphy and Maggie seem happier and more content here - there was absolutely no adjusting to their new surroundings at all.......kinda like - "OK - we really like it here, we're gonna explore and play for a while and then show us where you put our food, litter box and bed - meow, it's all good"!

(see what I mean.....they don't look too stressed do they!!)


I really love the large open kitchen with skylights and more cabinet and storage space than I've ever had before and absolutely love the huge fir tree just outside the kitchen sink window.  It's like having a huge Christmas tree "in my face" and the fragrance is heavenly......I feel like I'm living in a tree house!  I'm already looking forward to winter snows.......that tree will look like a Christmas card for sure!!!

(wish you could smell the glorious fir tree!!!)

Here it is outside my kitchen window......Luv it!!

And there's a large deck all the way across the back of the house overlooking a creek-bed and a view of the mountains.  The only thing that would make it any better is a hammock!  I can just see me now......chilling in my hammock, listening to the birds, with my Bible, journal, laptop and glass of sweet tea close by......ahhhhh.......yep, I'm getting a hammock, ya'll!! I'm gonna enjoy this mountain home the Lord lead us to until we retire in Phoenix someday - PTL!  We know we'll be in N. AZ for another year of so until my hubs retires but will start looking for a house in Phoenix to buy now while there are so many good deals - we're trusting in His direction and timing in all of this.  He is Faithful!!

I can see forever from my deck!!!  Luv it!!


Had to show you the song birds sitting on the railing
 that serenaded me this a.m.
(BTW, you can click on the pic for a closer look),
and that chair is already my fav place to read my Bible!  Luv it!!
Oh and the place to the right of my chair would be perfect for a hammock - don't ya think??!!



Honestly ya'll, when I posted "Rejoicing and Freaking Out at the Same Time" I didn't know how in the world we could realistically pack and move in one week!!!  And yes, I had a few meltdowns along the way, but glory hallelujah He strengthened us to get it done!!  It was a miracle our house sold in such a depressed market.....there are three other houses on our street also for sale and we KNOW God did this and we give Him all the Glory!!!  Sooo, we stood on Phillippians 4:13 knowing that the same One who sold our house would strengthen and make us able to pack and move in seven days!  And He did!!!.....He is constant - His promises are sure - He is ever Faithful!!  PTL!  Glory Hallelujah!!!


I have strength for all things through Christ
Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything
through Him Who
infuses inner strength into me)
Phillipians 4:13 amp

THANK YOU JESUS!!


Well, I've still got alot of unpacking to do, ya'll!!  Since moving last Friday, I've only been consentrating on the most vital essentials things of life like.......sleeeep, finding my clothes, my coffee, my make-up and my MAC!!! LOL!!   Uh, but for now ya'll - I think this SurvivorWoman needs a nap!!



Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
Photobucket
Pin It!

22 comments:

Cathy said...

Forget the unpacking for now and go enjoy the view from that deck. Beautiful! I think I may be a bit jealous.

Yolanda said...

All I can say, is I'm tired even thinking about moving, packing, unpacking, arranging, rearranging, but am thankful for the sweet and precious spot you've already gained to sit and be still with God.

Lovingly,
Yolanda

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

That was great Jackie! And yes... go get a hammock right away! I have to admit I'm slightly green with envy at your view. You just would NOT believe how flat Texas is!! Enjoy every minute... obviously the cats already are!

Hugs!

Sonja

Anonymous said...

Jackie, you are too much. I laughed so much but then again I laugh even when I trip over something or when I stomp my toe. Yeah, I know, one of those. My kids say it's the true test of a good sense of humor when you can laugh at yourself.

I pictured myself when you mentioned your hubby's OCD with getting rid of everything in the name of order. Ugghh...I do that too at times. Got people nailing their stuff down. ;)

Your new home sounds lovely, especially that tree. Enjoy it and take a pic of the hammock. Blessings to you.

Barbara said...

Simply gorgeous there, yeah I agree go look outside, the packing can weight, giggles, hugs Barbara

Terri Tiffany said...

I want that view! WOW!!! You are pretty amazing and did it! I was waiting to read all about it and so glad it went well!! Loved the pics,

Pam said...

Congratulations on surviving the move. That was quite a feat, and definitely a test on the character. You sound very happy in your new place. May you be blessed there until you move to Phoenix. I'm a Phoenix girl. Living in Colorado now, but waiting on the Lord for some answers to possible plans of returning.

Sista In Arms Lxx said...

Loved your blog, hi from down under Lxx

Ella said...

Wow !!!!!!! The views are majestic ! Enjoy!
Blessings, Ella

Just Be Real said...

Glad the move was a success. Lovely pictures. Awesome in fact. Blessings in your new home.

Linda said...

WOW-beautiful view!! Just glorious!!
Yes-leave the unpacking and go enjoy your wonderful view!
Have a good day!
Blessings.

Leaon Mary said...

I seriously can't even imagine what you went through....! If I had to move everything we have on this place... I shudder to think! BUT... God was and is so faithful and in Him we can do all things.

I LOVE your view! WOW!!
Hope you enjoy getting things put away and get settled into your new home. AS COMFY as those wonderful kitties!
God bless you in your new surroundings!!!!
Lea

Angie said...

I would have a hard time gettnig anything done with a view like that! God is good, isn't He? I'm so happy that He gave you the strength you needed to get everything done. Have a blessed week & don't overdo it with unpacking those boxes.

Butterfly Works said...

WOW, move in a week.....and that view is wonderful....
I have so enjoyed finding your blog and browsing....so much I joined...I hope you will come over and visit me...sounds like we have alot in common....
Hugs and blessings,
Nancy

COUNTRY MOM said...

Jackie, I loved reading this post. Wow, you have a beautiful view. I really enjoyed the pics too:) Do you have any of the house you just sold?

Thank You for updating me on Laraine. Please keep me updated if you do not mind. I would love to add her to my prayer list too. Praying she conceives and gives birth to a healthy blessing very soon. I cannot wait to get the good news of her expecting:) Thank You for sharing your update and life. I love reading your blog. How are you feeling? Many Blessings,

Lou said...

Lovely pics! I would never leave the deck, honestly!

My hubby is a bit of an clutter phobe.... he lets me keep most of my junk but insists we keep it in labeled bins! They would be color coded, too, if the colored bins weren't so much more than the clear ones! :)

Take it easy and unpack a little at a time. Give those muscles a rest...

Lou

Deborah Ann said...

Jackie, those pictures are amazing! God has really blessed your socks off, hasn't He?

Denise said...

Oh my! I am like Cathy..... forget those boxes and enjoy that view! Life will be there when you get time to face it........ How lovely is that home....and it is a blessing that you sold your home in this economy....... That is God... For sure!

Diana Ferguson said...

I think I would just move to the deck!!

Karen said...

Wow...looks gorgeous...glad you survived! Now you can look forward to enjoyment....v

Trisha said...

It's amazing! So glad to read you were able to get so much done in such a short period of time. Praise the LORD!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! What a piece of heaven on earth!

Related Posts with Thumbnails