i remember learning about the nomads when i was still in junior high. they were a group of people who traveled from place to place without a permanent home…like the mongols in asia or the gypsies in europe. for the past seven months, even though we have been staying at a beautiful place with ben’s brother, at times i felt like we were living the nomadic life. for the most part, i learned to enjoy the drastic change from living in the suburbs to living on a farm. i loved seeing caleb and abby roam free in the backyard and cherished  their excitement when they climbed small trees. most of all, i loved seeing the beauty of god’s amazing creation when the sun set each day right behind our barn.

but there were times when i missed having my own place. a place where i and the kids can really call home.

ben and i have been going back and forth on finding the right rental for us. the emotional roller coaster we went through was…huge. we searched for hundreds of properties online, visited a handful of possible abodes. we talked about where we should and shouldn’t compromise; we even almost settled for anything. during this whole time we prayed and asked for guidance and direction. but it seemed all our prayers went nowhere.

until i realized sometimes his answer doesn’t come in ways we expect.

sometimes his silence is his answer.

be still and know that i am god. so simple, yet so hard.

then in the least way we expected, he provided. not only did he provide, everything about our new home is perfect. the perfect size, the perfect location, the perfect neighborhood. it was perfect for us.

meanwhile….we have moved in with my in-laws once again. they have been a wonderful blessing. they took us 5 in during the summer when the hurricane hit and when the power was cut off from the farm. now that we are in the transition to move in and settle into our new home, they have so graciously provided a temporary shelter for us. these pictures are from the first day we moved out of the farm. this is our life. on this day, caleb was struck with some kind of stomach bug. there was no elegant wallpaper, no pretty window dressing, no eye-catching furniture. with our stuff still packed in multiple boxes (that are literally all over this tiny 2-bedroom place), i know i will want to remember this. and i can’t complain.  i have a roof over my head, food to eat when i am hungry, and i get to spend time with my beautiful children and ben everyday. my heavenly father has provided every little thing in my life. and i know i will look back one day at this seemingly difficult time and be grateful.

i have learned yet again to be still.