Transitional Blessings & Chaos

Whew! I'm back in Virginia. There is SO much that could be said about our final days in Arizona that I hardly know where to start. I was blown away by the way God brought closure and blessing all the way to the very last hug and goodbye.

A great group of folks from both Compass and Crossings Churches took the morning off to help us haul all of our stuff into the truck. It was a hot, humid day, so their sacrifice was an even greater blessing. I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am for all the hard work. It was amazing! Also, I'm amazed at how much stuff we have! Margo and I are both looking forward to that season of life when we downsize. :)

We had a chance to say farewell to some great friends over the past couple of days, and I was extra blessed by those who stopped by just to give us a hug and a blessing before we headed out. It was especially satisfying to see how God has brought new seasons of blessing into the lives of some folks that we have been praying for. (Way to go, Shera! Looking good, Dane! Can't wait to meet Mallory! Go for it, Brian & Stacy! Keep the faith, Arden & Vicki! etc.) And we were very grateful for Nick & Gay going out of their way to connect with us in a special way. We also had a chance to bring closure to some lingering heartaches by offering a couple of people a chance to make things right and ultimately entrust them to the Lord. All-in-all, I feel totally released in a warm-and-fuzzy way... like reading the final chapter of a great book and knowing that all is well. Praise God for his blessings, for our friendships, and for the way he guides our journeys!

We met the new owners of our old house, and it was great to share a bit of God's blessing together, knowing that the great things the Lord did in that place will continue in a new way in the lives of another pastor and his family.

While packing up the truck, I saw my swimsuit at the top of one box, so I grabbed it and held it aside. After the day was over, I took one last opportunity to dive in the pool and swim with my dog (Blossom just loves to swim! She's a hoot!). Margo came out and stood poolside, and I encouraged her to jump in with me. At first, she said she didn't want to get her clothes wet, but I talked her into it anyways. After all, who knows if we'll ever live in a house with a pool again? We floated around together, enjoying the warm water, praying for all the people whose lives and friendship and encouragement have meant so much to us. We thanked God for his blessings and looked forward to the blessings yet to come.

I spoke with Margo this afternoon, and she was already in Texas. Despite the long distance they've covered today, she and the kids are planning to slow it down and take their time getting across country. They'll stop and see friends and family along the way. And, since the moving truck with all our stuff will be here Tuesday morning (8:00 AM for those in town who can help me unload... hint, hint...), we'll be ready and waiting for them to move into our new home.

God is SO good! And I had a great time in the book of Judges on the plane ride back east... but that'll have to wait until another post. :)

One last note: It seems that Cox messed up our e-mail accounts when we discontinued service in Arizona. We were supposed to have another month's access to our e-mail, but neither one of us can log in as of today. Also, we don't have phone access at the new house yet. SO... if you're trying to call or e-mail us, we're not receiving it. Feel free to use my cell phone (623-640-8390) or scott.heine@gmail.com until we get it straightened out and have something new on this end.