A Bend in the Road

This week the sky changes as fast and often as a teenage girl’s moods. The weather vacillates between sunshine and rain several times a day, much like our first visit to Ashland four years ago.

Keith had prayed about finding a different church. I liked living in Northwest Iowa near Keith’s family. I enjoyed my church, friends, and job.  I hoped Keith was just going through a phase he'd soon grow out of.

God gave clues to our future but I missed them.

Clue #1 – A plaque on my friend’s wall said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road...unless you fail to make the turn.”

Clue #2 – A spur-of-the-moment trip we took four years ago to Colorado. For years Keith had wanted to visit Glenwood Springs in winter. We took his Christmas bonus and left before his rational “we should fix the roof” side kicked in.

We spent New Year’s Eve (with single digit outside temps) in Glenwood’s ginormous warm pool with two hundred people. I sat in warm, soothing mineral-laced water and marveled that I was doing something I’d never thought to do, but was enjoying myself immensely.

Clue #3 came four months later when Keith and I visited my family in Oregon. One night we rented a delightful room in Manzanita, a small town on the Oregon coast.

For twenty-five years I had lived an hour from the ocean but had never spent the night there. It never occurred to me to want to. We lived so close that going to the ocean had always been a day trip. 

Manzanita was wonderful and I listened to rhythmic waves crash on shore and marveled that we were doing something we’d never thought to do, but were enjoying ourselves immensely.

I had never thought about visiting Wisconsin. I had never thought about seeing Lake Superior. There are many places I’d like to see someday but Wisconsin wasn’t on the list.

A Wisconsin church approached us. Keith prayed but didn’t feel led in that direction. We both agreed that we didn’t want to live in Wisconsin. He meant to take Wisconsin off his church-match profile, but forgot.

When our present church contacted us, something in the man’s voice caught Keith’s attention. He found this picture on the church’s website.

It looked so pretty, I wanted to sign up immediately. There are better reasons to choose a church than how it looks from the air so we prayed about it.

As Keith talked to their search committee, I wondered about the trees. Keith was born and raised in Iowa and loves the landscape. He likes Grant Wood pictures. He likes open prairies and seeing for miles and miles in any direction. He loves Iowa sunsets. He hated living in Oregon amongst so many trees.

I suggested a trip to Ashland to see if Keith thought he could live there. Four years ago on Memorial Day weekend, we drove eight hours north for a life-changing trip.

We stayed in a charming Bed and Breakfast. We’d never stayed in one before. It had never occurred to us to want to. I marveled that we had done something we’d never thought to do, but had enjoyed ourselves immensely.

I liked the church and people we met. Lake Superior was inviting. It rained off and on the whole time, which showed us what normal spring weather was like. A beautiful spring day would have been deceptive since Ashland’s springs are usually cold and wet.

I thought Keith wouldn’t like the trees. To my surprise, he said he could live there. Wisconsin has more deciduous trees than Oregon, more open spaces, and the huge lake gave Keith a horizon.

He took the job and we transplanted our family 450 miles north. If we were Lego people, God had just picked up our pieces and moved them to another board.

God answered many prayers. We love it here. We like the church, the area, our house, and the weather. Leaving Iowa was hard and I still miss some things, but I’m thankful we moved.

God knew that this small Wisconsin church on the south shore of Lake Superior would be a good fit for a quirky, bearded bi-vocational pastor/plumber from Iowa.

Five years ago I didn’t know this place existed and I often marvel to be doing something I’d never thought to want to do, and yet am enjoying myself immensely. 

Our Glenwood Springs excursion, the Manzanita getaway, and the move to Ashland had in common the element of surprise. Of God doing the unexpected. Of doing something way beyond the realm of our experience. Of being blessed when we least expected it.

A new church friend gave us an antique picture of a curved country road. I got chills when she said, “This picture is like your trip here. You can’t see where the bend leads, but you took the road anyway.”

This picture hangs in our entry way. It’s the first thing we see when we enter the house. I wish I had my Iowa friend’s “Bend in the Road” plaque to hang under this picture.  

I am reminded that God's time is the right time. God has a plan for my life and His plan is always better than mine. Hopefully I’ll remember all this the next time God wants us to go around another bend.


I'm linking up with my friend Jennifer at Getting Down With Jesus 

Only in Wisconsin

My husband is a die-hard Denver Broncos fan. When our church interviewed Keith two years ago, their first question was, "Are you a Packers Fan?" When he said he liked the Broncos they supposed that would be okay, as long as he wasn't for the Vikings. 

Some friends gave Keith a Green Bay Packers tie saying that if he wanted to save souls in Wisconsin he needed to  become a Packer fan. But how can you expect a man to change his football allegiance just because he changed states?

So despite the state-wide Packer frenzy and general euphoria, while Keith and the oldest 4 girls went to a youth group Super Bowl party, the rest of us stayed home and watched Letters to God on Netflix. I could tell by the firecrackers going off outside that the Packers had won.  

Happy sigh! Football is done for another year. Big grin.

The next day I'm checking out at Wal-mart. Nobody behind me so the clerk is not in a hurry. I tell her I want my two groups of items rung up separately. 
     
She gets a bit crabby. "Do you want them bagged separately?"
    
I know attitude when I hear it so now I'm on guard.  "It doesn't matter."
       
The clerk grunts, "You're paying for them separately but it doesn't matter if they're bagged together?"
     
So much for the customer always being right. Wanting to get away from this testy lady as soon as possible, I reply, "Yeah."

The clerk switches gears, "So what about them Packers?"

She'd have no way of knowing I'd rather have a cavity filled than watch a football game, but I want to be polite. "Um...yeah."

The clerk suddenly becomes Chatty Cathy. "Man that game was exciting. I kept holding my breath."

It didn't matter now whether I talked or not, she just kept going. "Um...yeah."

By now the clerk is almost done bagging my groceries. She grins, "I would have lost a lot of money if the Steelers won."

I'm weary of being polite.  "I'm glad it worked out for you."
      
People are now in line behind me but she keeps talking. "There was a lot of yelling at our house."

Finally done being polite, I admit, "I didn't watch the game."

The clerk stops what she's doing. Looking genuinely stymied she asks incredulously. "How can you live in Wisconsin and not root for the Packers?"

Indeed. How could I? Probably some sort of genetic defect. Which is worse - to not like football or to not like the Packers? I offer a conciliatory "If I would have watched the game, I would have rooted for the Packers."

At that point she probably decided I wasn't worth talking to and we finished our transaction and I was out of there. 


Sheesh! I'm back to my conclusion from my hair-dying post, when you're not sure what to say, the safest response is "Yep."

Embracing Winter

I apologize for the recent rash of winter posts, but my attitude towards winter is gradually changing.

Two winters ago Keith got a wild hare (hair?) and took us to Colorado for New Year's weekend. I love Colorado but we normally go in summer. For years he's wanted to go to the big hot pool in Glenwood Springs when there's snow on the ground
.
Hmm. I had my doubts.

So we drove in icky weather to get to Colorado, then double icky weather to get up in the mountains, had to stay an extra day because a snowstorm closed the interstate,

and as we're sitting with frozen hair in a steaming hot pool with outside temps in the single digits,

watching lifeguards waddle around in snowpants and parkas, I thought, "You know, this isn't so bad." Sort of felt like we had cheated winter somehow.

Last year Keith signed the girls up for 9 weeks of ski lessons.

So this former California girl, who rarely saw temps less than 40, noticed that Wisconsinites don't sit around complaining about weather.

They embrace it.
All five months of it.

So far the girls have tried:

Dog Sleds


Snowmobiles
Downhill Skiing

Cross Country Skiing
Ice Skating
Hockey


Sleigh Rides
Sledding

We still need to try:
Ice Fishing
Snowshoeing
Winter Camping
Ice Races
Ice Road
Ice Caves

Goodness, winter isn't long enough.

So build a snowman, grab a sled, and embrace what's left of winter.

O For Grace To Trust Him More

One Year Ago Today:

My 100th Blog Post coincides with the one year anniversary of our move to Wisconsin. The weather is beautiful today. If only it could have been this nice last year…

I dreaded moving. I was happy where I was. I liked our house, church, friends, and living by family. It’s one thing to say you’re willing to go wherever God tells you to go. It’s another thing entirely when He takes you up on it.

I was thankful for Keith’s new position and if it hadn’t meant leaving family and friends, it would have been ideal.

Moving involved A LOT of work. We spent three months fixing up our old farmhouse to sell. Our thirteen-year-old To Do list finally got done.

Then sorting and packing. Nine people living in one place for 13 years accumulate a lot of stuff. Sort, Toss, Give Away, Clean, Pack, Paint, Go to Bed Dog-tired, Repeat.

Keith left six weeks before we did. The girls and I stayed behind to finish packing and wait for the house to close.

Thursday - Keith’s return to load the moving truck was one of the lowest times in our marriage. Tempers flared and we said things we’re not proud of.

Black Friday. Snow fell all night. Why God decided a snowstorm on moving day would be good for us, I don’t know.

I saw the bleak weather forecast and the icy, windy snowstorm outside and said, “I’m not going.”

Keith had no time margin for bad weather or wimpy wives. He got mad, saying I had to go, as his installation was on Sunday.

I wasn’t trying to be difficult. I was reconciled to moving. I had said my good-byes. But I’m a weenie and driving eight hours in a blowing snowstorm with four kids, one dog, two cats, and a hamster was more than I could handle. I reasoned that I didn’t need to be there for the installation and promised to come when the weather cleared.

He left Friday morning mad and frustrated.

The weather improved a bit Friday afternoon so I decided to leave. I left our property for the last time and cried my eyes out. We had lots of good memories there and it felt like I left a part of us behind.

I picked up the girls in town and we left Iowa with heavy hearts. I summoned all my Big Girl, Be the Adult, I Can Do This molecules and got three hours down the road to Albert Lea, MN before running out of steam. After sundown, blowing snow caused visibility to deteriorate. It was cold and wet and windy and miserable. I didn’t have the emotional wherewithal to keep going.

Bless Comfort Inn Suites in Albert Lea who for a mere $20 extra allowed pets in our room. We slept good and I prayed for courage to keep going.

Saturday - I left the next morning, dreading the next five hours. The weather was still messy and unpleasant. Our big van is like a sail on windy days. The wind blows the van around and it takes extra effort and concentration.

But then I had a new worry. I had never driven through Minneapolis before. The map was confusing. I tried not to panic and resorted to labor breathing to stay calm. How do people drive that every day?

North of Minneapolis we connected with good friends, Jeff and Lori Poppinga, who were coming up for Keith’s installation. I forgot about being a big girl. I swallowed my pride and asked Jeff to drive. He recognized desperation when he saw it and suggested I ride with Lori in their car.

Oh thank-you Lord. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you. Jeff drove the big van in the icky weather with the four kids, one dog, two cats, and a hamster while Lori drove their car and I melted into the seat and breathed four hundred sighs of relief. Riding with a sympathetic friend was incredibly therapeutic.

We finally arrived in Ashland. A new chapter had begun.

Sunday: Less than 24 hours later, I stood beside Keith during his installation service as the church leaders prayed for us. I was so conflicted. I was happy for Keith but sad for me. These were wonderful people but I wasn’t ready for them. Everything was new and overwhelming. Introverts DO NOT like being up in front of the whole church.

I felt so unworthy. If my behavior the last few days was any indication, I was not mature enough to be a Pastor’s wife.

I liked our new church. I liked it from Day One. What a neat group of people. But I was tied up in emotional knots and could not embrace them with open arms.

I didn’t deserve their kindness. So many new faces, I couldn’t keep track of everyone’s names. Someone suggested we needed name tags so they could remember our names. I thought, “You only have five names to remember. I have a hundred.”

It was God’s mercy that Lori was there with me that first weekend. She was safe and comfortable and familiar and loves me, quirks and all. But Monday morning came all too soon and they had to leave. I cried all over again.

The curse of the cautious is they can’t jump in the pool and start swimming. I poke my little toe in and then my foot, and hopefully soon my calf. When I’m comfortable I’ll go a little farther. There are no guarantees when I’ll go all the way in, and Lord, help me swim when I do.

God, I don’t understand. If moving was a good thing, why was it so hard?

One Year Later –

I like living here. I like my house, church, and friends. I like the area (lots of year round outdoor activities), the weather (easier winters and NO THUNDERSTORMS!), Lake Superior, and clean air. I’m glad we came.

I realize now God wasn’t asking me to give up my old friends. He was asking me to make new ones.

I had been so focused on the hard things, that I overlooked a multitude of good things.

God wanted me to trust Him with moving but I only half did. He knew the move would be hard. Though I still had to do it, He walked beside me, every step of the way.

I am thankful for blessings I couldn’t see a year ago. I’m thankful for a God who knows what’s best for me and cares enough to make me go where I don’t want to go.

I've shared this quote before, but it bears repeating:

The quote in essence says the same thing as: Trust in the Lord with all your hearts and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. --Proverbs 3:5,6--

I'm Legal

It's official. The cars are both licensed. I finally got my Wisconsin drivers license two weeks ago. This is mainly newsworthy because it's the first time in my driving career that I got my license on the first try.

We are now... Wisconsonians? Wisconsinites? Wisconsinegians? Wisconsinese?

Can somebody help us out here? What do Wisconsin residents call themselves?

Missing Iowa

I glanced at the woman's sweatshirt on the next treadmill and noticed the word "Wisconsin" in big black letters. Wisconsin. It still seems unreal to live here. 

Growing up in Northern California, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Definitely not Iowa. Certainly not Wisconsin. But here I am…

And I like it. If I had to move, this is a nice place to live. God has been good. I like our house and church and we’ve met some nice people. We’ve been treated well. Lake Superior is awesome. I look forward to when Ashland sheds her winter coat so we can explore.

 
But being human and contrary there are times when I long for things that Ashland, as nice as it is, and as much as we enjoy it, can’t duplicate. Hence the following list:

 
Things I Miss Most From Northwest Iowa
1. Kiah - she’s technically in Adrian, MN, but close enough 
2. Grandma and Aunt Karen
3. Girls Club - waah!!!
4. Rock Rapids Library - My all-time favorite library
5. Friends - goes without saying
6. Great neighbors - We left behind the world’s best neighbors
7. B & L Café - Beth and Lawrence are one of a kind
8. Rock Rapids Fitness Center - the gym here smells funny
9. Audrey Groen - her piano playing in church
10. Sunsets - Wisconsin’s trees block the view
11. Big yard for our dogs to run around in
12. Frontier Bank - Is it pathetic to miss your bank?
13. George Recreational Trail - easy and peaceful
14. Rock Rapids Pool - Ashland doesn’t have an outdoor pool
15. Lake Pajoha - I know, I know, you'd think living three block from Lake Superior would make this a non-issue