Moving Time - One more stop before the dream

As we finish collecting our final belongings around the now quite empty house, I'm trying to think of our life in this place, this house we called HOME for seven years. There is no way I can write about it all: the whole metamorphosis the house has gone thru since we acquired it like the 3 or 4 colors (I'm not even sure how many) our kitchen went thru; the reupholstering of the furniture and moving around accessories. I remembered Saulito (my nephew who lived with us for about 6-7 months) said one day, "this house keeps on changing; at least the 'things' are always in different places". Good observation (but not always!). Instead of buying things, I move things around. Other events have been more significant like the Bible study group every Monday (and later on Tuesdays) we started at the request of our Pastor quite a few people came to these Bible studies and I believe they left feeling they learned something. We started with 3 - my husband, a lady from our church and myself. Later it was the two of us. And a few months later we were having 16 adults. As everything goes up and down so did our numbers but our persistence and faith that the Lord was moving stayed constant all the way through the 5 years we hosted it.
We started a business in decorating while at this place. The house was always full of fabrics from customers and the garage floor received many drops of colors from paint used for other people's houses. There were times of need: no food in the refrigerator or pantry during a time of transitions: Amarilys in a very expensive college (my doing); my husband Sam working in the border of US/Mexico, 10 hrs away from home, me trying to resurrect a business God had put the closing seal on; and a condominium whose renters left unexpectely, took us to some times of need. I remember eating meat like once a month and surviving on coffee with milk and buttered tortillas for about 6 months. (My sister Raquel would say, 'what's new then?' regarding my diet, but the truth is I do love to eat more than bread and coffee every now and then.) Later on though, Amarilys graduated, the condominium sold (we even got some money back), my husband was transferred back home and I got a new job.
There were other times I will forever cherish: Amarilys (my daughter) and Grace Kelly (her cat) moving back home after college; Amarilys in our home office planning her wedding; she & Ryan moving with us before leaving for Asia; Eduardito crossing the street to spend some time watching Mr Maggoo or Felix the Cat (he still argues with me Felix is a 'girl cat') and Andreita covered with pillows in our couch. I loved having them at home; loved holding her and talking to her instead of leaving her in the couch and watching Eduardo eating my ice cream while watching a video without blinking.
Will also treasure the gatherings of people from church which were a regular thing to the point my stepson once said to me: "there are always people here". I think it was all preparation for what is coming. Also, that's the way I grew up in the house of a pastor - people coming unannounce was a regular thing. At least here, I either invited them or they called. We cried with some, prayed for others, argued with some and one or two of our long-staying guests were kicked out (well, not really kicked, bought them a ticket hum, both were girls!).
I loved my quiet moments with the Lord in this house. The morning prayers before the sun would come out or the phone started to ring or before cars and noise filled the streets. The smell of coffee I think was a regular fragance: while reading the Bible, on a rainy or cold day, after arguments with my husband (did I say arguments? nahh); a long night waiting for news on Andreita, after the Bible study, or just because. Sometimes alone, sometimes Chela would come over, others just when my husband would come for work or Amarilys asked for some, any excuse was good for a cup of coffee at this house.
I loved receiving my brothers and sisters and my mother here along with some nieces and newphews who stopped by. I appreciated so much and treasure the fact that my brother Benji and his wife Rosahisela lived next door to us. It sort of gave me comfort to know they were there even if we did not see each other every day. To see light at night in their house when I was driving home, was always a sense of goodness, wellness - can't say exactly but I guess is a feeling that comes from knowing that you have relatives close by. I'll certainly miss crossing the street to share a piece of news that I'd rather communicate in person instead of by phone.
Leaving the house means taking another step of faith in our journey of God's will for our lives. It means leaving a place we call ours to get one like I like to say that will have God's signature and not ours. We tend to be possessive of things: my couch, my bed, my TV. Having other guests at home (staying over 3 months we had 4) taught me about this. "They have the feet on my couch"; "she is going to ruin my carpet on that room". Wherever we go later to start a boarding house/safe house, is not going to be ours but HIS. We will be just guests there as the others will be with the difference that our presence will be constant while the others are transitioning, going thru. We hope to be able to serve, to lead, to teach not just with studies but with our lives.
Leaving the house is leaving a security blanket sort of thing. Leaving the comfort that comes with privacy, that comes with knowing you have a place to call home. Leaving the house is renouncing to a way of thinking, a lifestyle, and learning and accepting a new one. I've learned to welcome change and I look forward to new learnings in new beginnings.
margaret