Thursday, May 31, 2012

A dozen eggs at my doorstep

Today I found a dozen eggs at my doorstep.  Why was this find so significant for me?  Let me explain. 

Ten days ago we moved for the second time in five months.  Each of these moves have been significant in their own way.  We finally feel like we have arrived home.  We have been living in a white shell and functioning out of boxes (to some degree) for five months.  Our new home feels warm and inviting.  We have moved from the valley up to the mountains surrounding Heidelberg.  The air feels cleaner, and the beauty is breath taking.  I guess the events that led up to the move is what has left us reeling.  We gave notice at our old condo three months ago.  Following that notice we began looking for a house.  Another crazy thing the Funks would do...give notice before finding a house.  It took about a month of intense searching and we found our house advertised in the newspaper.  I fell in love with it immediately, and we signed the lease two days later.  My husband was just a little slower to fall in love with the house, but at last he is really enjoying the house too.  I saw past all the yellow paint, old toilets, and holes in the walls, and saw a cozy house with tons of character.  What I did not see (and perhaps my husband did) was exactly how long it would take to renovate and get the house ready to move in. 

Driving 30 minutes each way through narrow winding German roads, just to get Lukas to sleep in his play pen and work like a crazy woman for two hours (mostly painting), then loading Lukas and driving back just in time to pick the kids up from kindergarten.  The afternoons were full with packing and cleaning the old place.  Matthias would drive to the new house straight from work and paint at night.  Often the kids would not even see him.  We kept up this pace, and about two weeks before the move realized that there was no way we could finish.  We were exhausted.   Then Matthias' family came to the rescue.  His brother and family came for one day when Matt had a holiday.  They worked from early morning until night and got another huge part of painting done.  Then one week before the move his Dad made the five hour drive down to us, and did some amazing things.  He stayed alone in our empty house and worked often from early morning until midnight or later.  Matt again would join him in the evenings, and they would work together after dark.  Light fixtures were installed (there were not any lights in the house, the previous renters took them all!), painting, wall repairs, and endless cleaning.  Matt's brother came once again and in one night, one very long night, they completely redid all three bathrooms.  New toilets, sinks, light fixtures, everything.  Wow.  I never would have guessed it could have been possible.  Meanwhile, I was at home taking care of the kids, and trying desperately to get everything packed and ready for the big moving day.  We all had short nights to say the least.  So the big moving day came.  I took the kids to my sister-in-laws house (a two hour drive) so we would be out of the way, and the exhausted trio (Matt, his brother Daniel, and Dad) moved our entire house with furniture, boxes, everything in one day.  A big sigh of relief?  Well no, not yet.  Our old condo still needed to be cleaned.  So once again I made the drive in the other direction and worked with my father-in-law to clean our huge five-story condo from top to bottom in the mornings. Then spent the afternoons struggling to bring order to the new house. The inspection from the landlord came three days later.  His answer: "not good enough".  He said the few minor marks on the walls would require us to paint ALL the walls, that the sinks were not shining enough, and the list went on.  That night I started to have intense contractions.  I was only 32 weeks, I could not keep up the pace.  So it all fell on my father-in-law.  He worked tirelessly the next two days, and our condo was perfect.  He even steam cleaned the windows!  Our house passed the second inspection, we would get our deposit back.  Now we could breath a huge sigh of relief.  My very amazing, and very exhausted father-in-law left four days ago, and now I am left with a house that is still in a state of caos.  

At last this brings me back to the significance of the eggs.  Yesterday I needed some eggs.  But I do not have a car (another interesting fact, our van broke down this week!)  I walked to four different little shops and no one had any eggs.  On the way home we met a very kind older gentleman, and I told him that we could not find any eggs.  We both had a laugh and I did not give this topic another thought. Today I began to feel very isolated, overwhelmed, and alone.  So I took the kids out on a walk.  When we got home there was a dozen, farm fresh eggs sitting on our doorstep.  This simple act of kindness was like the sun bursting through the clouds.  I am not alone, and we will make new friends in our new little town. These eggs were followed by a visit from the sweet gentleman's wife later this afternoon.  The smallest acts of kindness can be used in the biggest way.  I don't think I will ever forget that dozen eggs sitting on my doorstep!




4 comments:

  1. you are a pretty amazing lady Katrina! Congratulations on getting all of that done! I am exhausted just reading about it all! WHat a blessing good neighbors are!

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  2. How encouraging and what an amazing story!! Am sure your family will have the opportunity to bless this older couple too! :)

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  3. I'm reading this and crying! God is so amazing. We miss you so much, and are so grateful that Matt's parents and family are taking such good care of you. Although the marathon painting and house prep and move are right up my alley! Maybe next move I can come help. And the eggs? I have a story a little like this featuring a little old Austrian Frau and a bus stop in Vienna. It's amazing how God sends those little things to show that he loves you!
    Kari

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  4. Wow that makes me exhausted reading all of that. I'm glad you were able to get everything done and are finally settled though. Praise the Lord! You are continually in my prayers especially with your due date getting so close! I hope you will be able to get some rest now.
    And what a sweet act of kindness by your neighbor. :)

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About Me

The novelty of the situation was inescapable; he was German and I was American. From the day we were married I knew that our family would always have an ocean between us. When in one country there is always a part of our family on the other side of the ocean. Now, as we move, there will also be a huge distance between many amazing friends. I am so blessed beyond words to be married to Matthias Funk. My name is Katrina Funk and I have lived the majority of my life in Las Cruces New Mexico. I have three precious children Daniel, Rebekah, and Lukas. In my spare time I enjoy researching and consulting in nutrition and herbal medicine. The most thrilling aspect of my life is knowing God. Learning the depth how he has adopted me, wow, amazing! The exploration of his creation, and enjoyment of his church, and the list could go on and on. I am so glad God has given life to me and this life is a wonderful adventure!