When we moved to this home several years ago, we were so thankful to finally have a place of our own. We had very graciously been allowed to live temporarily for a few months in the basement of a family (friends of friends of ours from seminary).....11 people in a finished basement with 1 bedroom (where most of the kids slept), pull out couch (John and I) in living area, kitchen area and storage area. It was tight but we did it, and yes, it was noisy and chaotic at times, especially with 2 kids with Downs and a child who rarely slept through the night and often squealed or cried (Joshua).
We had loaded the kids in the van and looked at many homes up to an hour away in either direction and finally settled on this one, the first one we had seen (again, friends of friends)! After settling in here, we soon discovered however that despite how beautiful and private it is here, and how wonderful our neighbors are, our well was failing! In the summer time, we would run out of water by the late summer....where there would be just a little in the morning or sometimes none at all. We'd do as many dishes as we could in the morning and have to leave the rest. We ate primarily on paper plates but even still, with a family our size, the pots and bowls add up fast (and the paper products run out even faster!) We all couldn't shower each day , and got very good at very quick showers. We had to depend on bottled water.....not just to drink, but for our animals and at times to wash our hands. Laundry was, shall I say, overwhelming? Dear friends started picking up our laundry or taking it at church and rotating doing it for us....for a summer or two, and after that we did it at the Laundromat. After a busy day or traveling, my dear husband would have to go with 2 of my children to do MANY bags of laundry....so much for family together time. They actually got quite good at it, and Naomi and Jonah enjoyed their time with Daddy despite the work....but it was very expensive, monetarily and on our time.
And each summer, it ran out earlier and earlier.....
Very stressful way to live. Yes, there are worse things--and we reminded ourselves often, but it sure is challenging.
I can't tell you how many times people asked how I could stand it. Well, what else could we do? We could not afford a well. We had to try as best we could to get through it and trust God. And yes, there were the normal things too and some other unexpected health crises, car problems, laundry machine and dishwasher breakdowns, financial stressors, and a child in the PICU for 5 months! While I wouldn't wish these things on anyone, nor want to repeat them, I can see many blessings in disguise.
First, we quickly learned more about our weaknesses and sins ( dealing with frustration, impatience, and disappointments etc.)
We learned to be ever so careful with and value our water supply (ie not running water when washing dishes or taking long showers).
We learned to make do, be creative, work together and persevere.
We prayed a lot!
We learned to humbly accept help from others, to see God's provision, and to be thankful.
One really amazing provision God gave us was the help of a local church (the same one that helped us to put in a ramp). They took an offering for us and gave to us what they made from their craft/food fair. They raised over half of the amount we needed for a deep well. We saw God's love for us IN ACTION. We actually were offered by a well company to put in a shallow well just for the cost of supplies and with help from people to do the labor.....but it was determined that we needed a different kind of well (a deep one). After saving more, we finally had enough for a different company to put in our new well a couple of weeks ago.
Quite an interesting process. It ended up taking an extra 3 days and they found water at 300 feet or so....so it was more than the estimate but thankfully by hundreds and not by thousands. After fixing a few gliches (like our sink and toilet not working, and not being able to use or drink the water for a week, and new lay dry machine not working), we now have a working well that should be more than sufficient for our family and animals. Praise God!!
Life , while never easy, will be SO much easier this summer, and hopefully, we will not take it for granted. I deeply respect the many people who do not have the luxuries of running (clean) water, laundry machines, dishwashers, cars....and yes, that is what they are....luxuries!
We had loaded the kids in the van and looked at many homes up to an hour away in either direction and finally settled on this one, the first one we had seen (again, friends of friends)! After settling in here, we soon discovered however that despite how beautiful and private it is here, and how wonderful our neighbors are, our well was failing! In the summer time, we would run out of water by the late summer....where there would be just a little in the morning or sometimes none at all. We'd do as many dishes as we could in the morning and have to leave the rest. We ate primarily on paper plates but even still, with a family our size, the pots and bowls add up fast (and the paper products run out even faster!) We all couldn't shower each day , and got very good at very quick showers. We had to depend on bottled water.....not just to drink, but for our animals and at times to wash our hands. Laundry was, shall I say, overwhelming? Dear friends started picking up our laundry or taking it at church and rotating doing it for us....for a summer or two, and after that we did it at the Laundromat. After a busy day or traveling, my dear husband would have to go with 2 of my children to do MANY bags of laundry....so much for family together time. They actually got quite good at it, and Naomi and Jonah enjoyed their time with Daddy despite the work....but it was very expensive, monetarily and on our time.
And each summer, it ran out earlier and earlier.....
Very stressful way to live. Yes, there are worse things--and we reminded ourselves often, but it sure is challenging.
I can't tell you how many times people asked how I could stand it. Well, what else could we do? We could not afford a well. We had to try as best we could to get through it and trust God. And yes, there were the normal things too and some other unexpected health crises, car problems, laundry machine and dishwasher breakdowns, financial stressors, and a child in the PICU for 5 months! While I wouldn't wish these things on anyone, nor want to repeat them, I can see many blessings in disguise.
First, we quickly learned more about our weaknesses and sins ( dealing with frustration, impatience, and disappointments etc.)
We learned to be ever so careful with and value our water supply (ie not running water when washing dishes or taking long showers).
We learned to make do, be creative, work together and persevere.
We prayed a lot!
We learned to humbly accept help from others, to see God's provision, and to be thankful.
One really amazing provision God gave us was the help of a local church (the same one that helped us to put in a ramp). They took an offering for us and gave to us what they made from their craft/food fair. They raised over half of the amount we needed for a deep well. We saw God's love for us IN ACTION. We actually were offered by a well company to put in a shallow well just for the cost of supplies and with help from people to do the labor.....but it was determined that we needed a different kind of well (a deep one). After saving more, we finally had enough for a different company to put in our new well a couple of weeks ago.
Quite an interesting process. It ended up taking an extra 3 days and they found water at 300 feet or so....so it was more than the estimate but thankfully by hundreds and not by thousands. After fixing a few gliches (like our sink and toilet not working, and not being able to use or drink the water for a week, and new lay dry machine not working), we now have a working well that should be more than sufficient for our family and animals. Praise God!!
Life , while never easy, will be SO much easier this summer, and hopefully, we will not take it for granted. I deeply respect the many people who do not have the luxuries of running (clean) water, laundry machines, dishwashers, cars....and yes, that is what they are....luxuries!
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