This month will mark 10 years of life for us in the great state of Oklahoma! Needless to say, A LOT has happened for me and Darin in the last 10 years...and recently we've had another big change ~ my in-laws have moved to Oklahoma!
For ten years we have lived here without any family nearby. In the last six, there have definitely been times that we have felt that void in a very significant way. In the last week...our trek to see family has involved a mere 10 minute drive on I-40...exit to exit. It feels amazing and surreal...that seems to describe it best at this point :)
There's one thing that has been incredibly significant during change in our lives...God always shows up...big-time. When we are selfishly concerned with trying to adjust and all the tiny little details consume us...time and time again...He has reminded me what the change means for Him.
Today I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
The short back-story is that my in-laws are renting a home for now. They sold their house very quickly in Kansas, but the timing of finding a new home to purchase didn't pan out quite right. They have the sweetest connections here in Oklahoma and it has truly been amazing to see their community already rallying around them to help them make this big transition in their lives.
The first group of pictures below are the ones we took of the rent house the night we went to look at it for my in-laws before they moved here. Such a cute place...but for us and our need for accessibility...there were going to be some initial-visiting-challenges.
The incline to the front walkway is no joke and while we were able to open the car ramp at the steps...we have to lift Tessa in her wheelchair up the steps at the street and then again up the steps at the front of the house. It isn't something we considered a huge deal and we knew we could get a ramp for the steps up to the house at some point...but without a ramp and any time you are trying to rig accessibility, you can't help but consider the safety risks for everyone involved.
The front of the house and the doozy steps! ;)
Since we first went to look at it, they have added a beautiful little deck at the back of the house, but these were pictures when they had just barely gotten started on that.
The driveway is under the carport, but since our van ramp opens up on the passenger side, we had to stay at the very end of the driveway in order to get Tessa out...again, not a big deal at all, just something we had to accommodate to
We have made several trips in the last week to visit and it has been enough to prove that a solution to the accessibilty/ramp situation was going to be important. My father-in-law was already thinking ahead and said he had mentioned it to the landlord to make sure he would be okay with us trying to figure out a solution.
Well, as of this morning...a solution was in full effect.
Today...
The two gentlemen that work for the landlord on his rent houses showed up bright and early to begin working on a solution...and not just that yall, but a permanent solution!
WHO - DOES - THAT ?!?!?!?!?!
This is the plan...the path for a permanent ramp.
A ramp that will connect to a brand new concrete driveway where we can pull in our van.
I am absolutely humbled at the compassion, and kindness, and forethought, and sacrifice that people who have never even met Tessa are gifting our family...and they are gifting our family by gifting my in-laws...and this is a rent house folks.....a permanent solution in what could be a temporary situation.
I am overjoyed and overwhelmed.
I told my father-in-law today ~
"It is so very humbling for people to be so willing to go to such great lengths...for someone they have never met! I have been overwhelmed this morning just thinking about it all...just wondering if they will ever understand what it truly means to our family...for what it means we are able to get out and do...when there is accessibility. Yes there are usually ways around something inaccessible..but unfortunately they cause levels of exhaustion and defeat at times for me and Darin. It is such a gift when we can go about things with a level of ease."
God has showed up big...and through all the adjustments and all the details, once again He has made His purpose very clear. It is rarely about the specifics of our circumstances or the insignificant details of a change...it's about what God can and will do in and through the hearts of people who love Him.
~Whitney
p.s. We can't wait to see the finished product!!! :)
*Some updates added 7/20/2016*
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