BIG STUFF

In spite of it having been a year since I last posted on this blog, please know that Caring For The House continues. I will forever be doing this. It is who I am and the purpose for which I have been created. God keeps speaking to me in this language. I want to be ever listening and learning.

In the recent year, my parents began the process of downsizing with the goal of entering the next season of their lives unencumbered and free to work if they want to, travel when they wish to, rest when they feel like it and reflect on a life well-lived. This is no small transition. This is BIG STUFF. It takes time, thought and prayer to make the changes. 

After several months of discussion, we invited them to consider living in the lower level of our house. It is a large empty day-light basement which we are not using. So we began drawing blueprints and designing the space to meet township regulations for it to officially become in-law quarters. I enjoyed this dreaming phase as we planned the timeline for construction and installation of everything needed to make it a lovely apartment.

A blank canvas to work with.

Nothing but a gas fireplace to work with.

But this fun little renovation project quickly became BIG STUFF when we discovered that the state and township regulations require certain things to make this move legal. In order for another "family" to live in the house, our land had to be surveyed to verify the septic tank is adequate. Due to the cost, we opted to hook up to public sewer. Because the driveway had to be trenched for this, we decided to have our whole driveway re-paved while we were at it. In addition, we needed to extend the driveway so my parents can drive around directly to their main entrance. 

A pit was dug for a grinder pump. Bye bye flower bed.

 

Trenching for sewer hook up went right through the driveway.

My tidy peaceful home suddenly became overrun with BIG machines. I no longer heard only the sounds of saws, hammers and drills...but I awoke early to the "beep beep beep" of large dump trucks backing into our driveway each morning. There was the rumble and bang of dirt and stones dropping into empty truck beds. Diggers and earth movers were running back and forth. I no longer could drive down the driveway or park in my garage. I had to walk through the woods from our neighbors who were kind enough to allow us to use their driveways to park our cars each day. 

The driveway disappeared.

Stones were delivered. That took care of the mud after all the rain.

On one occasion, I walked to my front window to find comfort in the only patch of lovely green grass and flower bed remaining...and at that exact time I witnessed the digger begin trenching for electric conduit for outside lighting. In that moment of defeat, the Father spoke. "This is BIG STUFF. No longer are you just doing a little renovation. I'm taking you further; into something you've never done before."

I had become comfortable with renovation. I could predict what happens at each phase of construction. I knew what workers to call for each task. I knew how to execute my design. And I've never before had to use big machines or destroy the whole property like this!

God spoke to my spirit that BIG STUFF is what he has for my life. I've become comfortable with what I can do. I can find my way through situations and execute my plans. But God has bigger plans. He wants to take me places I've never been before. He wants me to learn a deeper dependency and trust on Him.

So right now I'm declaring that I will open myself to dream BIG STUFF and watch for him to execute it. I will trust Him with the BIG STUFF.

How about you? 
Have any BIG dreams?
Life with God is BIG STUFF!