Thanks, God.

Well, Christmas is over and the new year is here. We jump back in to routine in two days.

I've enjoyed the time off. I've savored the time with my family. I can't say that I'm ready for us all to get back into our busy schedules, but I know I can't stop time.

One of the things we wanted to do over break was to spend time at our "weekend home" in McHenry County. (I'm hoping that most of you know that we really don't want this house, we just can't get rid of it. So, I'm trying to look at it in a different way. So, we now call it our weekend home.) Anyway, we decided to spend a night up there and enjoy the area. Jason went skiing (thanks Mom and Dave!) while the kids and I headed for Gurnee Mills. (We did a lot of walking around, not so much shopping. But, each of my children managed to leave the mall with a treat.)

After our adventurous day, we headed back "home" for some more fun. We pumped up the air mattresses, set up the cots, and settled in for some big screen movies (thanks for the projector Bobby and Steph!) We grabbed our snacks and settled in. Eventually, we all fell asleep.

Until,

I woke up to the sound of the furnace kicking on AGAIN. and AGAIN. and AGAIN. I would hear the pilot light, then click off right before the blower would turn on. And, I was getting colder and colder. Now, we usually turn our heat down to 64 before we go to bed, so I knew that it was much colder than that, since I was freezing under 2 thick blankets.

Yep. Our furnace went out.

So, morning came, after a long night on restarting the furnace to keep it warm in the house. Jason called a heating guy who came and fixed our furnace for a mere $264.00. (And we thought this was a free night of lodging!)

But, in all of this, we can give thanks.

Thanks, God, that the furnace went out while we were staying there. (Did I just say that?) Otherwise, the damage could have been far worse.

Thanks, God, that we had packed enough blankets and clothes to keep warm through the night.

Thanks, God, that, even after Christmas, we had enough money to pay for the service.

And, here's a funny one, thanks, God, that the furnace repair man was sort of interested in the house. So, while he was there, we showed him around. He was pretty surprised that it hadn't sold yet. (Another confirmation that God is working here.)

So, while I don't quite understand what God is doing or why He is doing it, I know that He is in control. And, I am waiting for Him to just blow away our expectations and our limited thinking.