Sandpoint, here we come... MAYBE!

Gosh, it's kind of difficult to get back into the blogging swing of things after a break! I will be posting a few of our vacation photos tomorrow. For now, let me just say that North Idaho is a special place. Well, only if you like mountains, rolling farmland, meadows, lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, and trees. If you're an urbanite, it might not be your cup of tea!

I was praying about a potential move to Sandpoint while driving around the Lake and I felt like God was telling me that I need to put my husband and child first, before myself, as I consider our options. Then I was reminded of my husband's journey toward God. Penn was raised in the Catholic church and attended Parochial school. It wasn't really his thing, and he often butted heads with his theology teacher. When he graduated, he didn't have much interest in "church things." Faithwise, he was agnostic at that point. What really changed his direction was a summer spent in Montana, about nine years ago. He was so overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the place, and the quiet and solitude did a number on his soul. He was once alone on a wooded hilltop and he could just sense the prescence of the Lord. At that moment an eagle swooped down and almost flew right into him, it was so close. Those months marked the beginning of his walk with Christ.

So I tend to believe that a place like Sandpoint might be the best possible place for Penn. As for Nicknack, it's hard to say what his soul will respond to. But I couldn't help but imagine his childhood in North Idaho. Swimming, boating, canoeing, and waterskiing in the heat of summer. Hiking and camping. Skiing at Schweitzer and sledding in the winter. What a place to be a kid! A backyard summer camp, truly.

For now, we are fighting the urge to try to figure out how to move there, asap! I want to wait a while, pray about it, and try to discern what God thinks. I've prayed that if God wants us to move there he will open a door so that we know it's his will for us. We'll send Penn's resume to a couple of places that would be ideal employers. But we aren't going to knock ourselves out to "make this happen," unless we discern a clear signal from God. It's possible that this is somewhere we will get to be in the future, but not right this second. We are pretty certain that Penn needs to find a new job, but perhaps he'll take another jobs somewhere else for a few years. This would give us a chance to save more money, so his salary requirements wouldn't limit his Sandpoint job prospects as much. In the meantime, we could consider buying land and vacationing there every year. We are already planning to return for Christmas, because we want to check it out in the winter.

I looked at a lot of property in the area during the week. Of course, I fell in love with an acre that is about twice what I hoped we'd spend for five or ten acres! It is in a cute, year round neighborhood that is situated in a small meadow area, a few minutes from the more rugged forests and hills. The lot is on a small, quiet bay with sandy shores, that connects to the bigger (45 or 50 mile long) lake. So it's the perfect place for a little dock and a great spot for swimming or canoeing over to one of the sandbars and having a hot dog roast. But you could also take your boat and enjoy the big lake activities. The location is ideal - very easy year round access (because it gets snowy all winter and some roads aren't maintained) and the most convenient area for visitors and trips to the airport in Spokane.

The nice thing is that the area is recovering from a real estate boom a few years ago. Things skyrocketed as new people flooded into the area, and prices and builders got ahead of themselves. So now there is a glut of avaiable land and buyers don't have to move very quickly. There are three lots available on the lane I love, so I sould have months and months to see what happens.

I have a hard time not running away with myself. I tend to get very excited about things and attached to my own ideas. I've already been looking at houseplans that would be perfect for the particular lots I liked so much. I'm just dreaming, right now. But sometimes my dreams get me in trouble. I hyperfocus and obsess. And I get wrapped up in my plans and don't leave myself time or room to wait on God and His plans. So I need to check myself, already.

PS! Still giddy over my newfound freedom from food! Woo hoo!