TN Update

WEEK ONE:

I asked the Lord to show me my first angels as soon as I arrived in TN. I needed this prayer answered as moving here alone was truly a test of my faith. God is faithful and really does know our limits and Leigh and Olin were and are those angles.

This is the sweet couple, Beverly's cousins, that let me park my U-Haul in their driveway on my arrival to Franklin. If you ever come to the Franklin area make sure you visit their farm. www.stoneycreekfarmtennessee.com

Leigh's suggestion to stop at the local State Farm that turned into an interview my first 30 minutes in Franklin has turned into a job. Thank you Jesus. I am waiting for my start date.

They were also kind enough to allow me to stay with them in their warm inviting home. I think I have eaten more in the last two weeks than I have in the last two months.

In my first two weeks I have had 4 job interviews, visited 3 churches, attended 1 networking event and crashed four fun, food packed parties. One was at a Master Gardner event. I had to laugh as all my plants are made of plastic.
That's what I call an arrival!

I went with Leigh to her painting class (to observe only, just ask Betty Cardel other than the miracle of the trunk I can't paint. But that's another jewel.)

At the painting class I met Patsy Clairmont!!! 

If you don't know her she is one of the Women of Faith that tour our land. She is a great speaker, writer, woman of God and just plain crazy girl. I was so excited and tried to contain myself as staring at someone who is trying too paint can appear creepy.

At one point she walked behind my chair, stopped to chat AND gave me a quick neck massage. Are you kidding me!!! I gave her one of my Gena's Jewels books when I left so she will know for sure that I have issues and will not hold the “staring” against me.

I am so thankful to my son Anthony for getting me a new phone before I left so I can Face Time my children and grandchildren often. Talking to Anthony and Lucas often is very important to me so we can keep our connection.

So now I Skype Amanda and Claver and Face Time the rest. Who knew I would be so techie although I still had to have someone hook up my TV and internet.

I went to Good Will and Salvation Army and got lots of warm clothes and 2 really nice wool coats one for $8.00 and one for $4.00 God is so good to me.

After week one I was a bit overwhelmed. I cried when I passed a baby consignment shop because I thought of Ezra and the new baby. I cried when I passed McDonald's because Jess and I used to get Frappes together. I cried when I saw an inter-racial couple because I missed Amanda and Claver. The list went on and on. It was so weird to me to feel such peace about being in this new place I called home. Feeling God's presence with every decision and circumstance yet experiencing the emotions of leaving friends, family, sense of security and belonging.

Again the Lord knew what I needed so off to my Cynthia's house I went. Cynthia and I were friends in Florida and she has a sweet daughter named Mercedes who reminds me very much of my Jessica.

They have the same sweet spirit and honestly could pass as sisters. Cynthia moved to TN about 6 moths ago and lives about 45 min from me. She was out of town but offered her home and daughter to me. I took it. She left the door open as Mercedes would still be a school. When I walked into the house I burst into tears, I was a bit of an emotional wreck.

It was so good to embrace the feeling of home. Cynthia and John's home is so filled with the love of God I just wished she was there to hug me. I text her to let her know I arrived and my need for a hug. She responded with “crawl into my bed, I sleep on the right side.” Now that Gems is a good friend, that will tell you to climb into her fluffy comforter bed. And that's just what I did. That night Mercedes and I talked, watched movies and ate popcorn. Don't tell Cynthia I don't know if we were allowed to eat in their bed.
God even let me find a butterfly Christmas tree the next day when Mercedes and I went to Opry Land Hotel.

WEEK TWO:

I found an apartment and moved in! It's really cute and God has blessed me so much. All kinds of special touches that He knows I like and need. For example, if you know me you know I'm a bit directionally challenged. When I rented the unit I had no idea where I would be living so when I ventured out from the apartment I put the U-Haul address in my GPS and it was literally 1.2 miles away. Gems for me that is a huge blessing.
Now it was time to empty the storage unit, ugh. After a few trips I realized I had taken my full size mattress with my queen size box spring, double ugh. As God would have it there was an older couple that had just arrived. You could tell by their appearance they were struggling. There is a place at the storage unit you can leave donated items. They were there to look for some of those items. When they saw me dragging this huge box spring the woman said "oh I could really use one of those." I asked if she had a queen size mattress and she said yes. I gave her the box spring, sheets and a message that God loved her. I then went to the U-Haul office to close out my account and guess how much I paid? Go ahead guess, I'll wait....... 0, ZERO, NOTTA, NOTHING! Like I tell ya Gems, I am God's favorite.
Everything fits great in my little place and although my things were all acquired in different places they go together nicely. God has a way of giving me places to live with addresses that coincide with where I'm at in my walk with Him. My new street name is Wyndchase. I had to laugh as the Holy Spirit is often referred to as "the wind" and I am definitely always chasing Him.

My next challenge of faith is the first months rent. I was told I would start work today, Monday 12/15 before I signed my lease. I moved in 12/10 and paid for the rest of December. I knew this would give me a few paychecks before January's rent was due BUT I didn't actually start and not sure of when I will. I have learned not to panic when these things come up. Even if I didn't know there would be a change in the start date of employment God did. This may sound arrogant to you Gems but I don't worry because it's not my responsibility to come up with the plan it's God's. I do my part and go where He sends and His word says He will take care of all my needs.

Honestly if God can't come up with my rent we have much bigger problems. I have to wonder if He had another reason for the delay. I will wait expectantly to see and will tell you when I know.

Gems I want to thank you for all your messages and notes they mean so much to me. You are a great cloud of witnesses cheering me on and I need and appreciate that encouragement. Have a Merry Christmas

She'll Be Comin Round That Mountain

The words from my Father were, “it's time to leave, your long awaited move to Tennessee is here.”

God had been preparing me for this journey for about 9 years. At times I thought it was a distant dream but here it was, go day. My response to my Father was “do you realize it's almost December in TN? Normal people don't move North in the winter!” His response to me“Who dares to call you normal?”

I was excited and terrified at the same time. I spent hours alone with the Lord and asked Him to speak to me as a loving husband to his nervous wife. I would need His words to be extremely clear as to where to go when I got to TN and He gave me Isaiah 30:21 

To say leaving Florida without my family was a difficult thing would be a huge understatement. Saying goodbye to my children and grandsons about ripped my heart out. The only thing I love more than my family is my sweet Jesus. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit was there strength to drive away. Knowing I am following the Lord's leading is where the peace comes from, needing Jesus more than safety is the challenge.

I can tell you Gems there truly is a peace that passes understanding.

Originally I was going to leave with just my clothes but after wise counsel and consideration it was decided I should bring all my stuff (thank you Dawn & Tony.) 
No turning back....

This meant renting a truck and needing a driver :) In comes my wonderful son Anthony. Of all my children Anthony truly makes me laugh the most so he was a much needed distraction to the emotions that would follow.

Anthony drove the U Haul and I drove my car behind him. Alone with Jesus and my array of thoughts and memories my journey began. At times I was singing praise songs thanking God for my new adventure and other times I was sobbing like a baby. Honestly I think I cried through most of Georgia.

At one gas station stop I would be all smiles telling Anthony how excited and happy I was, next stop I was crying and saying things like “what have I done!!! Am I crazy? What was I thinking???”Anthony never knew which Gena would be jumping out of the car but he always seemed ready for me.

God is gracious, He really does know who much we can handle. I think if I were driving alone there is a chance I would have chickened out and turned around. My son disagrees, he says I would have came to my senses and kept going. I quickly reminded him my senses are what gets me in trouble in the first place.

We started driving at 8 PM and by 4:30 AM I hit a wall. Anthony and I pulled into a gas station and I had a major melt down. He climbed into the passenger seat of my car to try and console me. My face was pushed into my hands and tears of doubt and fear were flowing down my cheeks. I confessed I just couldn't do it. I have no job, no place to live, no family and apparently no brain.

His logical response was “your just tired” he then handed me a pillow from the back of my car and said just sleep a while.” I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP IN MY CAR!!! I WANT A BED AND A ROOM AND A ROOF!!”

He just kept rubbing my leg and saying it's going to be OK to which I replied HOW???

Anthony isn't the best at consoling, that's my youngest daughter Jessica's job. I was with the risk taker, the task get er done guy. His sympathy consist of a moment of rubbing your leg, a quick hug and what exactly do I need to do to fix this now? He went on to tell me that in spite of my momentary collapse I was the strongest woman he knew so don't worry about it. HUH?

We ended up going to a hotel and spending a ridiculous amount of money for a few hours sleep but it was worth every penny. It had big beds with cushy white comforters and it was clean! It's truly amazing what a few hours of sleep can do for a person. I woke up all energetic asking Anthony if he wanted breakfast to which he responded, “good your back.” We finished our long drive and arrived safely in Tennessee.

When we passed the sign for Franklin I yelled out my window as loud as I could “I'm here Lord, which way? Left or right?”

I decided to call my friend Beverly's cousins that live in Franklin and ask if I could leave the U Haul in their yard so Anthony and I could drive around the town and see where the Lord might lead. They said yes, as we drove down the long driveway to their home my heart was beating in my chest like a drum solo. Oh My Gosh I'm actually here! 
We met Leigh who greeted us with a warm smile and drank warm apple cider before spying out the promise land.

With red weary eyes from hours of driving and the last bit of energy I decided to stop at a local insurance office and drop off a resume. I got to talking to the receptionist and before I knew it I was in the Office Manager's office having an interview. Thirty minutes in Franklin and I'm in an interview. Only God....

The next morning I put my stuff in storage then drove my oldest son to the airport. Another tearful goodbye and another realization that I'm here alone. As I drove away watching my son walk into the airport I was comforted with these words from my sweet Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

A few people have called me brave, it is not because I'm brave it's because I trust that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. Even on my own in Tennessee.

To Be Continued.....