On A Peninsula

Four years ago, while house hunting in New York, I was uncomfortable. As our real estate agent revealed the OUTRAGEOUS property taxes that came with living in NY ..in the next breath she explained I would need a permit to paint the inside of my new home! Looking into it, I never found that to to be true,  but I vividly remember running outside to catch my breath, and tears flowed down my cheek as I cried aloud, "What had we done??"  We had lived in 5 states and as time would reveal,  Jeremy and  I would witness more and more restraints that came with being a New York resident. It was a foreign land. Ironically, it would be the place I would become MOST FREE!

When we came to the tough decision to sell our home last year, I was ready to depart New York, but God had others plans.  Jeremy and I asked where He would like us to go, and two days later we got an invitation of a lifetime! An anonymous couple that had been following our story wanted to help. They offered up their secondary home on a peninsula to us.  

As John Donne, English Poet, articulates that no man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main and while I agree, these last months on a peninsula have been just what the doctor ordered,  a prescription of peace and tranquilty and time of self-examination.  It has been uneasy at times, as we have wrestled with inner demons, and focused on the purpose God is presenting us. As a Uhaul trailer sits in our driveway, It's the most LIBERATING experience to hand over our lives to God. He has been so faithful through some of our most trying years.

When Jeremy was offered his dream role as Chief Meterologist where he would experience some of the most fascinating winter weather in the world, we took a chance and came up to Western New York. What was in store for our family was something you might expect to read in a fiction book. (Well you may have heard..a Non fiction book is coming this Fall!) 

Today as we pack up the Uhaul, this unique experience in New York has changed our purpose, passions, perspective, and priorities. In a nation where our libertes are so easily being stripped away, we are FREE as we trust God like never before. So often I get asked, "You must hate New York?!" My answer is always the same, "how could I hate a place I got to truly know the Lord and meet friends that I now call family!"  

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (Philippians 4:8)

Persecutions, death threats, insulting politicians, censorship, expensive attorney fees, outlandish labels were never part of the plan as we uprooted our family to this foreign land, but neither was comfort. That has never been my goal. My prayer as we made the decision to move to NY from Indiana was for God to send me and use me! Wow, be careful what you pray for haha! We THANK God for our time in New York. 

Character development is a value that is getting lost in this new generation. The path of least resistance, political correctness, and comfortable lifestyles seem to be winning. After a year of outlandish ideas promoted by the extreme left: Defund the police,  permit males who identify as females to participate in women’s sports,  destroy an eagle’s egg and be fined, kill an unborn child without penalty,  pay people a generous government stipend for not working...well sensible people with little formal education recognize the idiocy of it all (Bob Russell).

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1 2:4)

I did a poll on Team Kappell.. which do you value more? Comfort or Freedoms? Freedoms won by a landslide. But I often wonder if we are being true to that.  

James Carville, a well-known Democratic Strategist, admitted, “Wokeness is a problem, and we all know it, including lots of people in the Democratic party.  But they don’t want to say it out loud, or they’ll get clobbered or canceled.”  Even the moderates on the left are concerned about our nation’s excessive spending and Marxist leanings.  But the cancel-culture intimidates them into silence.

‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’” (Ephesians 5:14).

As uncomfortable days lie ahead...may I suggest while we pray for protection, may we not forget to pray for BOLDNESS! 

Months ago, as we drove to Cleveland to take a look at our potential 'home on wheels', I laughed! I never saw myself living in an RV down by the river haha. But part of getting out of the box that I had put myself and more importantly, removing God from the box I had conveniently placed him for way too long..OPENS up a life of freedom I pray for all to experience too! His ways are always better. And so "The Liberty Bus" made sense for our family. 

As we get ready to step off the peninsula, it has brought much clarity, as I have a confidence in my Comforter, He goes wherever we go.  My life belongs to him. He created me. He saved me. He forgave me. He’s taking me to heaven. Til then Oh the places we will go on "The Liberty Bus".

Love to all those who have made this time unforgettable! 

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).