We are officially out of our house and into our apartment. This apartment will serve us quite well for the next 30 days. Leaving the house was hard, though. We went back on Wednesday morning to finish up a few things and take a few pictures of us and the kids in front of the house. We said goodbye to the neighbors, shed a few tears, and drove off. It will be a long time before we own a home again which is strange to think about.
We had some great help from family and friends to get us out of there on time. Jessica had a few ladies offer to help her clean and I had a few guys help me load up and haul all of our earthly possessions away. My mom watched the kids for the day which was also a tremendous help.
Things continue to move forward on all fronts, in fact, I'm writing this entry from my brand new laptop that I just opened up and configured yesterday and I love it. This should serve me quite nicely for the next several years. If you want to know, it's a Dell Studio 17 (www.dell.com/studio17).
Just a few minutes ago I ordered the software I need for seminary. It's called Logos, and from the way it looks it's got more bells and whistles than I could ever hope to use. It's basically a giant preacher's database that allows you to cross-reference a bunch of different commentaries, bible translations, and textual studies all at the same time in the same location. It looks pretty cool and I'm excited to learn how it works.
Tomorrow we are headed to Worthington for the weekend with my whole family. Mark & Kelli and the kids are here from Zeeland and we are going to have a fundraiser from them on Saturday morning at my parent's church. This is an opportunity for people here to meet them at an Open House and help defray some of their medical expenses associated with Ruby's care and treatment, since most of it is not covered by insurance. It will be good to be altogether one last time before we take off.
Time for some ice cream....good night!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
One more night...
Tonight is the last night we'll be sleeping in this house and I've got very mixed emotions about that. On the one hand we know that God has new plans for us and we're excited about that. On the other hand, we love this house, this neighborhood, and this community and it's hard to leave it all behind.
There have been so many people that have helped us with the house over the years with the deck, the basement, the electrical, the landscaping and a host of other projects. Plus, we've put alot of sweat equity into it too. It's hard to leave that all behind. So if you were one of those people that helped us with this house...a sincere thank you. We'll miss this place, and you.
We're closing this chapter of our lives and opening a new one. And while it's always hard to leave a good chapter you never know what the next one brings. But we do know, that God is going to be praised in all of it, and that, my friends, is something we can all look forward to!
Until I write again from our new, albeit temporary, home....peace.
There have been so many people that have helped us with the house over the years with the deck, the basement, the electrical, the landscaping and a host of other projects. Plus, we've put alot of sweat equity into it too. It's hard to leave that all behind. So if you were one of those people that helped us with this house...a sincere thank you. We'll miss this place, and you.
We're closing this chapter of our lives and opening a new one. And while it's always hard to leave a good chapter you never know what the next one brings. But we do know, that God is going to be praised in all of it, and that, my friends, is something we can all look forward to!
Until I write again from our new, albeit temporary, home....peace.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Moving out...
We've started packing and moving in earnest this week. Tonight my cousin, Gabe, came over and we got the piano moved as well as a number of large items from the basement...thanks, Gabe! Monday and Tuesday will involve more moving and cleaning and we close on Wednesday.
Our temporary quarters until we leave on July 9th are two apartments that Dordt College owns that we are staying in. They are part of an 8-plex and we are living in two one bedroom apartments. One is downstairs and one up and they are connected via a hallway. Jessica and I and Alex will sleep and live in one and the older two kids will sleep in another. Yep, my ten and eight year-olds are getting their own place. Maybe I should have them pay rent!
The kids have been doing very well with all of this. Today was the last day of school and they both received some nice farewells from their friends and classmates. Sioux Center Christian is a great organization and they will be missed and we will miss them. I'm glad we told the kids about all of this back in January. They've had a long time to process it and that's been good for them.
We are making other plans to move, like canceling phone and internet service. To that end, I should share our new contact information. As of June 9th you can reach us via phone at: 616-953-6116 or via e-mail at: mj10haken@gmail.com . Our mailing address won't change until later in July.
That's the latest from here...thanks to all of you for your support and prayers!
Our temporary quarters until we leave on July 9th are two apartments that Dordt College owns that we are staying in. They are part of an 8-plex and we are living in two one bedroom apartments. One is downstairs and one up and they are connected via a hallway. Jessica and I and Alex will sleep and live in one and the older two kids will sleep in another. Yep, my ten and eight year-olds are getting their own place. Maybe I should have them pay rent!
The kids have been doing very well with all of this. Today was the last day of school and they both received some nice farewells from their friends and classmates. Sioux Center Christian is a great organization and they will be missed and we will miss them. I'm glad we told the kids about all of this back in January. They've had a long time to process it and that's been good for them.
We are making other plans to move, like canceling phone and internet service. To that end, I should share our new contact information. As of June 9th you can reach us via phone at: 616-953-6116 or via e-mail at: mj10haken@gmail.com . Our mailing address won't change until later in July.
That's the latest from here...thanks to all of you for your support and prayers!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Doubt
Doubt is a funny thing. It seems like doubt strikes when you least expect it and can least afford it. As the transition gets closer and closer I asking more and more questions....I'm feeling doubt-full.
Can I do this? Should I do this? Am I crazy? Everyone I come in contact with tells me I'll do great and that it's a good fit for me. That's great that they all think so, but what if I don't think so? How am I going to go back to school again? What if the kids don't make new friends at school? What if Jessica can't find a job? What if I hate it? What if we can't fit everything on the moving truck? What if the finances don't work out? The questions are endless right now and that makes me doubt.
Often in the Christian life, we think asking these kinds of questions is bad. We think it shows a lack of faith, a lack of trust. I don't think so...I think it's part of being human. God made us to be dependent on each other and totally dependent on Him. If we didn't question things and have doubts and fears we wouldn't need to depend on anyone -- we wouldn't feel the need.
So I'm clinging to the fact that this is what God wants from us. It isn't easy, but it's right. It may be that sometimes it isn't fun, but it's necessary. I'm clinging to the fact that "God is my rock and my salvation" and that his will will be done.
So I'll likely doubt some more, but I'll trust some more and depend on His promises some more. And that's a good thing.
Am I crazy? Probably. But then again, maybe crazy is good!
Can I do this? Should I do this? Am I crazy? Everyone I come in contact with tells me I'll do great and that it's a good fit for me. That's great that they all think so, but what if I don't think so? How am I going to go back to school again? What if the kids don't make new friends at school? What if Jessica can't find a job? What if I hate it? What if we can't fit everything on the moving truck? What if the finances don't work out? The questions are endless right now and that makes me doubt.
Often in the Christian life, we think asking these kinds of questions is bad. We think it shows a lack of faith, a lack of trust. I don't think so...I think it's part of being human. God made us to be dependent on each other and totally dependent on Him. If we didn't question things and have doubts and fears we wouldn't need to depend on anyone -- we wouldn't feel the need.
So I'm clinging to the fact that this is what God wants from us. It isn't easy, but it's right. It may be that sometimes it isn't fun, but it's necessary. I'm clinging to the fact that "God is my rock and my salvation" and that his will will be done.
So I'll likely doubt some more, but I'll trust some more and depend on His promises some more. And that's a good thing.
Am I crazy? Probably. But then again, maybe crazy is good!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Small Towns
I've been having my share of 'small town' moments lately. You know, the kinds of things that only happen in a small town. Like yesterday, I brought my grass clippings to the dump and as I was sweeping out my pickup bed a guy that goes to my church came over with his gas-powered blower and blew it clean for me. Just tonight the neighbor lady offered up a whole bunch of moving boxes while I was over admiring her new landscaping and last night a couple in our church offered up their humongous garage for storage if we need it.
In Sioux Center, it's pretty hard to go the grocery store and not see someone you know. In fact, it's pretty hard to go anywhere and not see someone you know. When we first moved here Jessica found that very hard to deal with (see came from the city). I was used to it, so it was no big deal. But every so often, I wish that I could go out and not be known. Be anonymous while I'm getting bread and milk (or beer).
When we move to Grand Rapids those small town moments will go away (or at least diminish) and we'll have to get used to a new normal. For example, I can't remember the last time I went to bank and actually had a deposit or withdrawal slip. I've never once been asked to show my ID when I go to the teller window -- they all know me! If I tried that in the city, I'd get laughed right out of the lobby. That's just one of the many things I'm sure we'll miss about small town living.
But I hope we'll still get to know our neighbors and develop the kinds of relationships that we've developed here. It just takes a little time and a little trust and those are two things we could all use a little more of.
In Sioux Center, it's pretty hard to go the grocery store and not see someone you know. In fact, it's pretty hard to go anywhere and not see someone you know. When we first moved here Jessica found that very hard to deal with (see came from the city). I was used to it, so it was no big deal. But every so often, I wish that I could go out and not be known. Be anonymous while I'm getting bread and milk (or beer).
When we move to Grand Rapids those small town moments will go away (or at least diminish) and we'll have to get used to a new normal. For example, I can't remember the last time I went to bank and actually had a deposit or withdrawal slip. I've never once been asked to show my ID when I go to the teller window -- they all know me! If I tried that in the city, I'd get laughed right out of the lobby. That's just one of the many things I'm sure we'll miss about small town living.
But I hope we'll still get to know our neighbors and develop the kinds of relationships that we've developed here. It just takes a little time and a little trust and those are two things we could all use a little more of.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Lasts
Lately we've been experiencing a few 'lasts'....Jessica's last GEMS meeting, Bethany's last orchestra concert, the last day of Sunday school, our last parent-teacher conference, our last Bible study, etc. It's not that we won't ever experience those things again, it's just that we won't experience them here -- in Sioux Center. I'm not necessarily sad about that. But it is strange to think about.
I never really pictured us moving away, we're happy here. I guess it's good that I've never felt the need to 'get out of dodge'. For me, that's been part of the whole process -- coming to grips with the fact that being comfortable, being happy, doesn't necessarily mean you should stay where you're at. We should always be challenging ourselves to try new things.
Being too comfortable usually means that you stop asking questions -- life becomes predictable, safe, maybe even easy. We like routine, patterns, consistency. Life is harder when those things aren't there--or is it? Maybe life isn't really harder, just different. And maybe, just maybe, different could be better.
So we will continue to have more and more lasts over the next few weeks (council meetings, work days, school days, Sundays) but maybe that's a good thing. I've been playing that line from "Closing Time" by Semisonic in my head a lot this week, "Every new beginning, comes from some other beginnings end."
This is a new beginning. It's also an uncertain one....and that's OK by me, because the One who is never uncertain and infinitely dependable is going with us. And that's all the certainty I need.
I never really pictured us moving away, we're happy here. I guess it's good that I've never felt the need to 'get out of dodge'. For me, that's been part of the whole process -- coming to grips with the fact that being comfortable, being happy, doesn't necessarily mean you should stay where you're at. We should always be challenging ourselves to try new things.
Being too comfortable usually means that you stop asking questions -- life becomes predictable, safe, maybe even easy. We like routine, patterns, consistency. Life is harder when those things aren't there--or is it? Maybe life isn't really harder, just different. And maybe, just maybe, different could be better.
So we will continue to have more and more lasts over the next few weeks (council meetings, work days, school days, Sundays) but maybe that's a good thing. I've been playing that line from "Closing Time" by Semisonic in my head a lot this week, "Every new beginning, comes from some other beginnings end."
This is a new beginning. It's also an uncertain one....and that's OK by me, because the One who is never uncertain and infinitely dependable is going with us. And that's all the certainty I need.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Well, things continue to move forward for us on the transition front. The garage sale was a success, allowing us to get rid of a lot of stuff and giving us some much needed funds in the process. I also sold my pickup last week to a guy here in town and we've worked out an arrangement wherby I can share it with him until we leave, which is great!
And if that wasn't enough...we sold the house too! Yep, after waiting for eight weeks we got an offer in the morning and had the whole deal sealed by the 4:00 that afternoon. So, while were excited about that, we are also anxious since we have to be out by June 9th. We are hoping/planning to stay in Sioux Center until at least July 1st, so we'll be looking for some temporary housing for about three weeks. I'm currently on the prowl for a few sturdy refrigerator boxes taht I can duct tape together! =)
So day-by-day this whole process is becoming more and more a reality and we are continuing to feel affirmed about this next step in our lives. While we are feeling bad about leaving Sioux Center, we are also eagerly anticipating what God has in store for us in Grand Rapids.
We are seeing how the Lord provides and have faith that he will continue to do so.
And if that wasn't enough...we sold the house too! Yep, after waiting for eight weeks we got an offer in the morning and had the whole deal sealed by the 4:00 that afternoon. So, while were excited about that, we are also anxious since we have to be out by June 9th. We are hoping/planning to stay in Sioux Center until at least July 1st, so we'll be looking for some temporary housing for about three weeks. I'm currently on the prowl for a few sturdy refrigerator boxes taht I can duct tape together! =)
So day-by-day this whole process is becoming more and more a reality and we are continuing to feel affirmed about this next step in our lives. While we are feeling bad about leaving Sioux Center, we are also eagerly anticipating what God has in store for us in Grand Rapids.
We are seeing how the Lord provides and have faith that he will continue to do so.
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