Better Luck Next Time! :)

The barter didn't pan out, and I'm ok with that :). I am super-anxious to be out on the road but the Lord apparently doesn't have us ready yet, but He'll get us there in His timing - which is the only timing that matters to us!

Meanwhile, we continue to pare down. We have gone through boxes - DOZENS of boxes - of stuff that has been packed and never unpacked for the last 2 moves! We now have all of the cardboard boxes unpacked and have a bunch of empty totes as well.

Something that worked out really well for us - and is but a small evidence of God's big plan - is that a woman at our church wanted to fulfill her dream of having a second-hand store. And God was paving the way, opening doors, leading her directly into His plan/her dream (which, when we seek God's will He fills our hearts with His desires - and then gives us the desires of our hearts!) at the same time He's been working with us...long story short, she has helped us to clear out our home and we've helped her fill her store! Yes, God IS that good!

So we're not letting the grass grow under our feet. Pete starts receiving SS in January but will continue to work at his current job part time until the time comes. My seasonal job will end in the next few weeks, and I'm seriously praying about seeking my first out-of-the-house job since 1997, just for the winter. (I had my own business plus my seasonal at-home job for most of those years.) So please pray with me if you are so inclined...

We were driving downstate last week and stopped in Birch Run for gas. There, across the street from the gas station, was the expo center - and on the sign out front was flashing an RV show THAT VERY DAY! So we did what we needed to do downstate and then hustled back up to the show. It was wonderful! They had lots of Class C's and Class A's, but not only new ones they had quite a few used ones as well! AND we talked to lots of people and discussed my bartering idea - lots of interest in the idea, in general, enough that I have some new ideas:

It may not happen until my job is done for this year, but I plan to make a website with a few photos of my house, and some details, along with a description of what I'm looking for. Then I can make up some cards - like business cards - to hand out during such discussions, and also make some post cards to mail out to used RV brokers and in answer to ads, etc. AND, if nothing happens by spring, and as I'm led, I could even put a sign right in front of the house with my URL right on it!

Then again...we may just seek a buyer in the spring, if we're still here (probably will be, although I don't know God's plan yet! but most RV's I'm guessing will be winterized and/or stored, and not ready to be bartered/sold in the wintertime), using traditional means. Besides God...who knows?

Thanks, once again, for listening :).

Step TWO!!

Just got off the phone with the guy who has the 96 Vectra for sale. On to the next step: he and his wife want to see the house, they have some houses that they've fixed up for rentals apparently. We talked about general condition of this house and his motorhome, he said the Vectra will need some tires but that everything mechanical is in good shape. We need to see if it will suit us...he needs to see if this house will suit him...we'll try to get together in the next few days so that we can each examine the others' units.

If we're unable to barter our house for a motorhome before spring we'll list it to sell...but you never know, God has a way of working things out for the benefit of everyone within His will! So we'll just keep doing our part putting the word out there.

Have I mentioned why we're not simply listing our house to sell, then purchasing a motorhome as our first choice? It is because houses take FOREVER to sell around here. There are houses still for sale that were for sale when we were looking in this area in 2005 and 2006! To barter makes so much more sense!

We will definitely NOT be just taking the first motorhome that comes along - unless it is right for us. We aren't desperate. We have time, if we want to take it. As I've mentioned ad nauseum, we need to have spaces for critter cages, first and foremost, and I like to cook so I need an adequate kitchen. Since it will be spending so much time here in northern Michigan, it has to be able to withstand the cold. I realize that 4-season MHs are few and far between, but we need to be able to take measures so our tanks and lines don't freeze, and that we can heat it adequately through the winter. There are other considerations as well, but these are foremost in my mind at the moment.

So. On to step 2 of our first bartering contact: the evaluations. I hope that you will join me in praying that God will speak clearly to us when we run across the right MH for us, and that He'll keep nudging us back onto the right path as we're walking in His will where this is concerned!