It's Official - I'm Going To Texas

For months, I've been walking, step by step, as the Lord leads me to relocate to Texas. With each step, I've just continued walking by faith and believing that the day would arrive when I'll hop in my Hybrid car and make the drive south. The day is almost here and I'm so excited!!


My friend, Selah, will be flying to NY tomorrow. I'm picking her up and then we'll spend time with my family on Friday night and part of the day on Saturday. We'll travel back to Potsdam Saturday afternoon and arrive just in time for a going away party, which will be hosted by the Hulls. We'll then spend the night in the pink house, which I've called home since the beginning of June. Sunday morning will be busy loading the car and getting to church by 10 AM. We will begin our journey south right after church. We anticipate arriving in Texas on August 7 or 8 since we will be making several stops along the way.

The reason that I'm relocating to Texas is because the Lord has called me to serve in Selah's ministry called Arising to Excellence Ministries. I will also continue with my current job since my employer has granted me teleworker status, which means I work for them, but just from my location in Texas. Because of this arrangement, I will travel back to NY every other month.

It is hard for me to find words to describe what I'm feeling as this new season of my life approaches. I'm in awe in how God has brought everything together with every step that I've taken. But only God, could arrange all of this. The level of excitement is almost too much for me to contain, especially when the Tribal Administrator handed me the signed teleworker agreement this morning and said "We value you, Laura, and good luck." I wanted to cry and jump up and down at the same time. Oh, how good you are to me Lord!!

I'm not sure when I'll get to post again since my Internet is being disconnected at the house today. If I can, I'll post as Selah and I travel to Texas.

It's a Riddle - I need Help in Solving

Are you familiar with the show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" It is a show where contestants answer questions that are posed to them. If they don't know the answer, they solicit help from the audience or friends by using what are called lifelines.

In two weeks, I will be entering my new apartment in Texas. I began leasing an unfurnished apartment two weeks ago and it will be completed furnished and decorated by the time I arrive. You may be wondering how this can be when I'm here in NY. My friend Selah is an interior decorator in addition to be a teacher and preacher. I'm thankful for this gift that she has because it is one that I'm lacking. She is volunteering her time, which I'm very thankful for, to set up my whole apartment and have it all ready when I arrive in two weeks. I'm mean, she is doing everything from cleaning dust bunnies off my kitchen cabinets to buying furniture and arranging it in the apartment.

I was on the phone with my personal interior decorator last night when she said "I have a riddle for you to solve before you get to Texas." I said "I'm no good at solving riddles." As I said this, the game show "Who wants to be a Millionaire" popped into my mind. I've seen contestants use their lifelines to get answers to the questions that they didn't know. Now, I know this isn't exactly the same as the game show, but I want to use my lifelines to help me solve the riddle. Will you help me? If so, read the riddle below and then leave your answer in my comment section. When I arrive in Texas in two weeks, I'll post what the correct answer is.

Riddle:

Selah said that I will have a new name and that when I entered my apartment I'd know what it is. So what is my new name?

A Tribute to Angel

Angel was my cat. I had to put her to sleep yesterday since she had a cancerous skin condition called sarcoma . With me moving in a few weeks, I couldn't find anyone to take her and give her the care that she needed, which was surgery every month to remove the tumors.

It was a sad day for me.

I met Angel ten years ago. She was a stray roaming around my property that I used to own. I would put food out for her. She would always run away anytime that I was outside, but would come to the food once I went back inside the house. One day as I was sitting on my porch, she decided to be brave and came right up to me. She was meowing, purring, and rubbing against me. This was decidedly different then her bashfulness that I had seen before. I asked her "do you want me to adopt you?" She without hesitation blurted out a big "meow." I opened my front door and she walked right in the house and had been with me every since.

I named her Angel since she looked like an Angel with her pure white hair. She was the most affectionate cat that I've known, and I know that I spoiled her.

Things that I'll miss the most about her are: (1) sharing my peanut butter with her during breakfast; (2) her giving me a high five with her head; (3) her chattering to me with that big meow voice that she had; and (4) her sleeping with me at night.

I truly loved and enjoyed my Angel. I'm thankful that I had 10 good years with her.

Kayaking

My friend and I spent the whole day kayaking on three different waterways located in the Adirondacks. Here are some pictures of our trip. Make sure to visit her blog since she posted pictures too. Enjoy.

Thanks to the Nordberg family we could ride together with all of our equipment in their truck.

Nancy, I'd like to see the picture that you took here.

Cascade lake along Route 73 on the way to Keene Valley.

Oh, the sounds of nature.

Nancy entering a channel with her lunker paddle.

Paddling through the channel.

Coming out of the second channel. Notice, she is using a different paddle - mine. Oh, how I couldn't wait to get it back.

Sunshine awaiting.

Furniture Shopping at The Dump

Last week I spent most of my time shopping for furniture for my new apartment. My friends, Paul and Susan, said that they were taking me to The Dump to shop. Now I know that I like all this trash stuff, but I would like to find some fine furniture that I didn't have to go to the dump to get. They assured me that I would find some nice stuff there at reasonable prices.

We enter The Dump and the place was huge. Wall to wall furniture was found. I also found some bargains. Here is what I bought at the dump: dining room table with 6 chairs, desk for office, and bedroom set including head&foot board, dresser with mirror, and end table for next to the bed. The furniture was delivered on Sunday. Susan says it looks great.

Paul and Susan: Thanks for introducing me to The Dump. Can we go back once I get there in August?

Walking on Water

The story of Peter walking on water is presented in Matthew 14:25-33.

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying "it is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

So He said "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him "O, you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

(NKJ)

I have just returned to NY from a 5 day trip to Texas. The purpose of the trip was to make arrangements for my upcoming move there. Yes, if you didn't know it, I am moving to Texas the first part of August. The Lord is blessing me with an opportunity to fulfill some lifelong goals of serving in a ministry there. The Lord spoke to me about serving in the ministry back in October 2007. After much prayer and seeking confirmation from the Lord, I began my "walking on the water" journey that has led me to move there. You may be wondering why I'm calling my journey one of "walking on the water." Let me explain.

This past Tuesday morning when I awoke my natural mind began to think about all that I have been doing: sold my home; sold most of my belongings; moved into a temporary apartment for the summer; signed a lease on a new apartment in Texas; bought furniture for my new apartment; negotiated a teleworker arrangement with my employer that allows me to continue working for them when I move; etc. etc. After thinking about all that I have been doing, my natural mind began to think about the "what ifs for my future." Of course, the "what ifs" were not based on faith, but rather than on doubt and fear. As I was processing all of this, the Lord spoke to me about not being like Peter when he walked on the water. I notice from Matthew 14:25-33 that Peter began his walk on water when Jesus invited him to come, and that Peter began to sink when he began to look at the circumstances around him and turned his focus away from Jesus and what Jesus had called him to do. "Ah, yes Lord, I now see and understand."

Up to Tuesday morning, I have been experiencing my own "walking on water" experience since my eyes were focused on the Lord and what He called me to do. It was only when I allowed my natural mind to focus on reasoning and asking the "what if" questions, that I began to doubt and fear the future. It only took seconds for doubt and fear to fill my mind and my focus on Jesus was gone. I could feel me sinking deeper in doubt and fear when the Lord said "don't be like Peter when he walked on the water." Thank you, Lord, for rescuing me and placing me back in the boat with You.

This experience has taught me that no matter what circumstance I find myself in, good or bad, I must keep Jesus as my focus and continue following Him. I know that this may seem pretty simple, but how quickly I can forget and begin sinking in doubt and fear. Lord, I pray that you help me to keep my focus on You and walking in faith.

My Future Home

I've been in Texas for the past few days. The primary purpose for my visit is to find an apartment for me. I will be moving here in about a month. Visit this link to see where I will be calling home. I'm short on time now, but I will post more later about my trip here and all that God is doing.

My Cowboy

To all my friends that said I'd find a cowboy: I found him in NY. His name is Will. I like the fact that he is ready with his gun and saddle.

See ya all in Texas!

My Own Personal Strawberry Shortcake Party

I had the pleasure of sharing a two hour kayaking trip with my special friend, Nancy. It was a beautiful day for being out on the river. I truly enjoyed our time together.

Since we had such a workout, having dinner together at "Nancy's Bistro" was in order. On the menu, was a throw-together tuna noodle casserole prepared Nancy's style. This was followed by one of my favorites - strawberry shortcake. Yes, it is strawberry season in NNY and it can't get any better than fresh picked berries (thanks Renee), piled on oven baked fresh shortcake, topped with real whipping cream. This is one treat that I allow myself to enjoy every year.

Thanks, Chef Nancy. It was a wonderful afternoon and evening.

P.S. I went to bed at 9:10. What time did you hit the sack?