Moves, moves and MORE moves!

Back to the original story line!

Now, in September of 2002, I had moved in Houston from one apartment to another. This was in the middle of seminary and unpacking unnecessary boxes was the last thing on my mind. Then, in May of 2003, I quit my job and start my internship, which goes from June 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004. I stay in the apartment during this time.

Come that January of 2004, I begin to think about what will be next. I mean, I will have no job, no source of income, no way to pay for rent, car note, school... panic begins to play with my mind. In all this process, I decide to throw my name in for a student appointment; that would at least help with the expenses, and perhaps give me a parsonage or housing allowance.

My mom then has a set back in her health and I begin to realize there is no way I can deal with school plus a student appointment and with my mom's health. I withdraw my name from the appointive process after much prayer and discernment. OK, so I am back to square one.

Do I cash in my savings, my teacher retirement (I worked as a nurse for the Univ. of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center and therefore had teacher retirement!), or do I take out a student loan. St. Timothy's very graciously allowed me to live in their parsonage as the minister serving there had her own home. I would be allowed full use of the kitchen two bedrooms, the master Bathroom, the laundry room. That left the living room, the dining room and two other bedrooms for the church. They used this parsonage as an extension of the church, often holding meetings there, the UMW holding some lunches/meetings there as well. I would be able to continue to assist in worship, make hospital calls when I was in town and generally just be available if needed.

It sounded like a pretty good deal. They did not require me to pay rent, phone, electric...since all this was already being covered by the church. As it turned out, I would be in Dallas from Monday afternoon through late Thursday night...the times the church most often needed the parsonage for meetings anyway.

So just a little over 18 months after moving into my new apartment, I moved to the parsonage. Again, because I was in school, I left most everything except the essentials in boxes, and we stored them in the smaller of the two un-used bedrooms.

After recieving my appointment, Moving Day comes again...about 15 months after moving into the parsoange. Thank goodness, most of the stuff was still packed. The conference pays for the move, but you are responsible for making all the phone calls, arrangements and other details.

The movers arrived around 10 AM on moving day to pack my stuff. They were going to head to Beckville, but not unpack me until the next morning, bright and early. After they left, I packed my car with a few essentials that would be needed that night, packed up my new 'babies'...PJ and Timmie...two kittens about 3 months old. I went to my parents, showered, washed my clothes, said my good byes and left. I would arrive in Beckville late that afternoon and be there for the movers in the morning.

It was a LONG, tearful, drive to Beckville. It seemed like "FOREVER!" It is about 3 1/2 hours from Houston, but you could not have made me believe it that day! I stopped and got something to drink about half-way; called my contact in Beckville and let him know where I was. He told me the house would be open and to call him when I arrived.

I got to the house, took the kittens, went in and sat in the floor for about 30 minutes praying...
"Oh God...where are you??? I don't think I can do this!!! I need your help..." To say that I was petrified would have been an understatement. Outside of living in Denton while in college, I have never been away from home...from family. Yes, I had lived independently, but never without having family close by. This was a big change, and to top it off, a BIG change to a very small town.