M.J. Abell Farm

…and the livin’s not exactly been easy.

Any of you ever get stuck in a rut, or a holding pattern of sorts, that feels like you’ll never get out of? I’m there, and it is not my favorite place to be.

This past school year was one of the hardest I’ve had in my entire career (which started in 2006): student behaviors that had no place in any classroom; a severe lack of common sense among many students who really ought to know better when it comes to many things; the onset of chronic high blood pressure requiring ER trips and medications… So, naturally, I was looking forward to my summer break.

Well. Let me tell you folks…it feels like it’s just been a continuation of the school year, but all the bad stuff has been concentrated to these past two weeks.

We are still searching for our farmland, and had a nice chunk saved up for a down payment, started working with a different lender, my credit score was finally up near where I wanted it to be (because, let’s be honest, divorce will destroy your credit and it takes years to recover), and we were approved for more money this year than last year for financing. Seemed like everything was finally starting to fall into place…but I may have been mistaken.

First, my 2006 Tahoe’s air conditioning started to falter. We drained some of the refrigerant and charged the system with new refrigerant. Still no change–the coldest setting, about 60 degrees, was feeling more like 75-80 degrees. Ok, no big deal, right? Wrong. Turns out, a pulley froze up and that, in turn, burned up a belt on the ventilation system and totally destroyed the whole system. The cost of the repair wasn’t worth the effort to fix her. So, we started looking at new used cars…and wound up buying one, which required that I dip into our property fund for the down payment on this new used vehicle. This was a pretty major (but necessary) setback.

Then, last Friday morning around 1:15, a couple of losers pulled up in front of our house while Mike & I slept, popped my paid-off Harley into neutral, rolled it off our property, and down the street into the C&O Canal. Like…into the canal. A man out for a walk later that morning spotted the license plate & rear wheel poking up out of the water and called it in. A deputy was waiting for me outside my house when I got home from the grocery store to let me know my bike had been stolen but also recovered and was already being towed to the body shop the county sheriffs use. I have no idea who it was. I have no idea why they did it. I just know that I’m praying they get caught before they ruin someone else’s property.

Third, I received a summons for jury duty for after the school year begins, and it isn’t just a day or two. It’s an entire business week.

Finally, with the school year approaching, I logged in on my work laptop to check rosters…and wouldn’t you know, the child who caused the most problems in my classroom this past school year is enrolled in my class for this year…an entire second year with this kid. Different subjects–last year was Baking & Pastry, and this year (and going forward) is English–but still. This is not the news I needed, nor is it the news I wanted.

These may seem like tiny complaints. They may seem trivial. Perhaps they are, to you. But to me, and to my family, these are big struggles. I am thankful that God has had my back through every one of them.

Thankfully, He knew that my Tahoe was on her last leg–but He didn’t let her really crap out until the right vehicle was available and we had the funds to afford it. He knew that I was hoping to find another Volkswagen, and He provided one that checked all the boxes at just the right time (and the right price). Thankfully, I now have a reliable vehicle with nearly 1/3 the miles on it, even though it comes with a sizable monthly payment.

Thankfully, I no longer have to stress about being able (or not being able) to sell my motorcycle in order to contribute more to a property down payment. He took care of it, albeit in a very strange way.

Thankfully, He knew that jury duty last school year would’ve been impossible, and that I used a lot of sick days last year because of my BP issues. Jury duty doesn’t count against my sick days. He knows I’m probably going to need to use them this year. And, thankfully, I have single-period classes rather than double periods, so planning for my absence should be far easier this year than last year.

Thankfully, He also knows that I can likely handle this child for a week or two, until schedules get completely straightened out…but He also knows that I really don’t want to because I don’t know how it’ll impact my health. But perhaps, like Jonah, my wants (or my don’t wants) don’t matter. Maybe this kid is back in my class for a reason I don’t yet know or understand.

“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

So, if you’re struggling lately, too, just hang on a little longer and cling a little tighter to the only one who really has you taken care of in every situation and every circumstance.