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Thursday, February 29, 2024

New town, new journey

Hello all!

It's been 7 months since I last posted and alot has happened!

It's been a VERY BUSY time for me, and although I thought many times of posting something, I just couldn't get it started, or if I started the post, I couldn't finish it. I didn't want to jinx myself by telling  my news and then have it not happen! And there WERE times I didn't think it would happen.

There finally IS some news!

I've moved!

My dream of many years has been realized.... to live closer to my son and his fiancĂ© on the Oregon coast. It took a year of planning, stress, worry, hard physical work, hard mental work, driving back and forth to the coast, and many other towns in between, and lots of prayers... oh so many prayers. I wanted to follow the path God had in store for me, after my husband passed a little over two years ago.

I didn't want to make any snap decisions after he died... so I waited a year before starting with my plans, to be sure the plan was right for me and what God approved for me.

There were many ups and downs.. many times I thought maybe I was not supposed to move and was supposed to stay in Madras. I questioned that many many times.... besides wanting to live closer to my son, I did not like the climate where my husband and I had ended up back in 2012 (he wanted to move to the dry climate of Oregon - I preferred the wetter, greener climate west of the mountains). 

I did not like the dry, brown area, with no rivers or creeks or streams, no big trees, no green, no misty air, and nowhere to walk in the woods! I had dreamed of moving back to west of the Cascade Range for years. I could not stand the hot summers, where it reached sometimes 114 degrees! or the frigid winters with weeks of air inversions, and feet of snow. 

I dreamed of moving back to the place I grew  up, but it seemed like I kept hitting roadblocks all along the way this last year. I sure did pray alot and read many scriptures on how to make decisions and how to listen to the Lord. 

Last May or so, I did found a scripture that just screamed at me.... to MOVE! Yes.. "move" He said...... find your joy and feed your soul....... and so that is when the real search began, for a little (downsized) cottage, hopefully by the town of Astoria where my son lives . After I had found that scripture though, and began my search in earnest, there were times I wondered if I was right to pursue my dream, when I was so comfortable in my nice 3 bedroom home there in (dry) Madras, and brick walls hit me left and right! 

As I said, MANY ups and downs, much soul searching and much second guessing myself and God's plans for me.

I'll find that scripture and put it in my next post, as right now, I can't find it as haven't unpacked all of my "desk" stuff.

So I'm finally here......... and I will tell more on my next post and have photos to show of my journey so far. This new journey has really just begun..........

I'm still recouperating from the move, but have gotten alot unpacked since I arrived here 3 weeks ago. 

Bye Bye beautiful Irises..... I'll miss you, but I did bring a few with me.

Bye Bye Madras house. I'll miss you too......  you managed to wrap me in  your arms and keep me safe and warm for 8 years. I admit that I did NOT like your climate though! But you WERE a wonderful  house for my husband and I. It was time for me to move forward.

Oh what a journey it's been!

Hugs...........Marilyn















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10 comments:

  1. I was just over here the other day and wondered what was happening with you! I'm so glad you realized you could serve the Lord anywhere and are near your beloved son and family now!!! God will use you, Marilyn!!!! Blessings in your new home. Can't wait to see pictures!!!

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    1. Anne thank you! It's been a long time. Thank you for checking back! I hardly ever get notices of anyones' blog posts anymore which I hate. It was a long hard year, and I'm not known for my patience! I'll be posting pictures pretty soon! Marilyn

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  2. Blessings and gratitude that you have reached your new home and near those who love you so dearly.

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    1. Good to hear from you Michele. I have never gotten notices anymore of your blog posts, so I'm going to go back and look at all of your wonderful posts that I've missed! Once I get settled here, I know I'll be more inspired to post again, as this beautiful area is so so lovely and inspiring to me! Hugs.. Marilyn

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  3. Oh Marilyn! Such joy it brings my heart to know that you've found a place closer to the mountains, rivers and streams that you love so much, along with the ocean, and being close to family - your son and fiance - oh I just thank and praise the Lord with you! You have certainly been in the depths of the valley of decision, and I know how agonizing that process is! Praise the Lord, you are on the other side - and I can't wait to see pictures of your new home once you get settled in! I'm rejoicing with you dear friend, and praying that the Lord will continue to guide you in all you do, He loves you so much!

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    1. Thank you Marilyn.. you said it all right in your comment.. I'm where I should be... close to (right IN) the mountains, by rivers and streams and all the amazing big trees and forests. I can hardly wait to get out and explore more, once the weather improves somewhat. And what a blessing to be only 20 miles from my son and his fiance! I'm already meeting new friends here and there are going to be many fun things to do and places to go.. and the ocean to visit! I'm still in shock that I'm finally here! I DO Praise the Lord! hugs.. Marilyn

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  4. Of course I have been keeping up with your new adventure through emails, so not a surprise to me. That said; I am delighted to see you blogging again and I want to be one of the first to encourage that you keep it up. Looking forward to a blogging house tour when you get everything unpacked . Wouldn't it be nice if all of your blogging sisters could be there to help. We could each take a few boxes and we'd be done in a very short time. Then we could all hop in our cars and drive to the ocean together.

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    1. Oh Connie, that would have been wonderful to have my blogging sisters helping me! It has been a long hard process alone, but He is by my side and directs me as to what needs to be done.. and when I need to take a break. Oh and what fun to all go and jump into the ocean together! I keep forgetting I'm only 20 miles from the ocean.. the place I've yearned to be for many many years. The next sunny day, I'm heading there. I've managed to go once on a nice sunny mild day, and am looking forward to going again, and exploring all of the beaches and waterfronts, and little towns up and down the coast. Thank you for all of your prayers for me! xoxoxoxo Marilyn

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  5. This is beautiful news sweet Marilyn. I am glad you gave it time and prayed on it and God spoke to you. You are near your family now and there is nothing better than family. I look forward to seeing your new place. Congrats on following your prayers and heart. Hugs. Kris

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    1. Thank you Kris. It was a long and hard year for me.. I'm not known for my patience! But my mantra was "Wait in the Lord" and "Let Go and Let God".. I wanted to be where He wanted me to be, or should say, I wanted His blessings to be here where my heart is. He knows my heart, but for some reason, He wanted me to wait to get here. Hugs back... Marilyn

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