What the future holds

We leave Hanoi mid August and head to Chiang Mai for about 3 1/2 months. We will be delivering baby girl mid October and before that Tim has some work to be doing in Chiang Mai and Kunming China. We already have a place to rent in Chiang Mai, but our lease in Hanoi was running out on Aug. 9th so we needed to either put all of our stuff in storage for 3 1/2 months (not ideal in this climate), or find a new place AND subletters at the same time. I have been looking at various apartments for about 2 months now, and NOTHING has really 'fit' our family. For those of you reading this blog that are at all familiar with Hanoi you know that inflation is OUTRAGEOUS and the cost of living very high here so finding something suitable in our budget has been just shy of impossible. When Tim's parents left on July 18th we began searching the internet for apartment options to see if there was more out there than what we had already seen. We asked the Lord to lead us and to give us both peace about the next move. We had only 2 weeks to figure it all out before heading to Chiang Mai. The stress levels began to rise at the start of the week. On Wed. night we visited an apartment and it was not only in our price range, but felt like it could be "home" right when we walked in. A bonus was that we got to stay in the same area we live in now instead of moving 30 minutes away. It was a total answer to prayer. The bad part was a 3 bedroom apartment in our area for the price they were asking was bound to go quickly so we said we would take it right away, but in the next 36 hours to follow the realtor couldn't get a hold of the owner. I tried to calm my nerves and prayed it would all be sorted out. The peak came Thursday when we still hadn't heard from them. My stress was at peak, with a little over 2 weeks to go until we leave and still no answer. Shortly after a good cry and a facebook post I got a call from Tim that we had an appointment to pay the dept. on the apt. the following day and it would be ours. To top it all off we also found a very nice couple to sublet the apartment for the months we are away. So after American Thanksgiving end of November (for you non Americans) we will be heading back to Hanoi with a baby girl and our very own apartment to move into just in time for Christmas holidays. My heart was put to ease and once again am reminded of Gods faithfulness. It has been a long journey over this last 6 plus years living overseas of learning that I am NOT in control HE is.

So we move out of our house on Aug. 1st and spend the first week of August unpacking our stuff and getting settled in our 'new' home before leaving for Chiang Mai.

So as we DIVE head first into this next phase please keep us in your prayers. Pray for Preston to be at peace as we once again find ourselves living in suitcase mode and adding another life to the family.