Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a division of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
A Time to Celebrate
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17
With the packing completed for the drive to Colorado, Bruce drove the truck and Dawn drove Anne’s SUV when Anne needed a break—not only to rest, but to avoid Noah’s back-seat driving.
“My oldest always thought I drove too fast, and he wasn’t bashful about letting me know. I was happy when it was time for him to trade places with Aaron and ride in the truck with his uncle.
“I sensed my sister wasn’t happy about my insisting we bring both dogs, and not crating the puppy. Mike thought I should have our older dog, Sydney, put down before leaving for Colorado, but I wouldn’t hear of it. I knew he had joint issues and the later stages of arthritis, but he didn’t seem that bad. Leaving without Sydney would have been an additional stress for the boys, and I wanted to avoid that. I was okay with Sydney being crated, because I wanted Noah and Aaron to be able to hold and play with their new puppy, Dossee.
“Mike and I were able to talk about once a week via satellite phone. During those conversations, we each did our best not to worry the other with daily happenings. It was difficult enough having him in Afghanistan, and I knew he wished he could be home to help with relocating.
“Before we got to Colorado though, it became necessary to find a vet. It was obvious Sydney’s arthritis pain was increasing, and tests now indicated kidney failure. I should have listened when Mike suggested we have our furry companion put down before leaving. Sydney had lived a good life and deserved to be free of pain. Our new puppy became a good outlet for Noah and Aaron to deal with Sydney’s loss, and the long miles of travel.
“Dawn didn’t want me doing anything on the trip, but when I was a passenger, I just couldn’t sit. I used the time to check on hotel availability once we knew where we would stop for the night. I’d call ahead and make reservations for us—having control over something helped me feel useful.”
A Temporary Residence
“Before leaving Washington state, I had worked with the realtor we met in Colorado. She helped make arrangements for a month-to-month lease on a four-bedroom, three-bath rental in Estes Park. I was grateful for two reasons—month-to-month leases were scarce at the time, and with an elevation of more than 7,500 feet, I knew it would be harder for mold to grow.
“We arrived in Estes four days before Thanksgiving. A couple of neighbors stopped by and offered to help Bruce unload heavy items. Dawn and the boys helped unpack just enough boxes so we’d have adequate clothing. Because the rental came furnished, the remainder of our household items would stay packed and in storage until we could make other arrangements.
“The house had an open, spacious feel. But I soon realized the same couldn’t be said for the outdoors area, which was cramped and had little room for Dossee to run. On warm days when neighbors had their windows open, I could hear phones ring.
“The blessing was I could breathe in Colorado—it wasn’t full of humidity and mold. My lungs welcomed each breath of fresh air. If we hadn’t been so disobedient, I could have been breathing Colorado air a lot sooner.
“While I was grateful we had a place to live, there were things that made me feel uneasy. I was afraid Noah and Aaron might break something while playing—space was tight and many of the furnishings were fragile. The owner’s tastes in furnishings was the direct opposite of mine—I didn’t like the house because it didn’t provide a sense of peace. However, it would have to do short term."
Home for Sale
With Mike in Afghanistan, it was Anne who arranged to sell their house in Washington.
She knew a realtor who was struggling. In our time of difficulty, maybe Mike and I can be a blessing to someone else, she reasoned. The woman returned her call, and they set a time to meet.
“God spoke to my heart, and told me this wasn’t the agent I should use. I couldn’t believe His message. How could trying to help someone else be harmful? I ignored Him, confident I was doing the right thing.
“But God didn’t let me alone. In a dream one night, He clearly told me not to have this lady list our house. I couldn’t understand why God wouldn’t want us to help this woman. We knew other agents, but she was someone in need. Surely we could make something good happen for her.
“I ignored the dream. It never occurred to me in this situation that God had our best interests in mind. I didn’t know I would learn the hard way—there would be a steep price attached to that lesson.”
A few days later, the agent came to the house, and Anne signed the necessary paperwork. The quicker the house sold, the better, but Mike would need a place to stay when he returned from Afghanistan—even then his retirement wouldn’t be approved for an additional three months. If the house didn’t sell right away he would stay there rather than spend money on a hotel room.
Getting Settled
The trip to Colorado drained Anne physically and emotionally. She had all she could do getting herself and her boys settled. She gave thought to homeschooling, but knew she wasn’t up to it. But, she was extremely thankful for the breakthrough Noah experienced with reading, right around the time he would have been a fourth-grade student in public school. Now there were times Anne couldn’t get him to put a book down.
“I decided it might just be an ideal time to enroll our boys in public school. Mike and I had given them a Christian foundation. We agreed it would be a good break for them as well as for me. Although it would mean me driving, I made arrangements for them to attend one of the schools in the area.
“Noah would have an opportunity to play sports. He particularly looked forward to basketball. I prayed Aaron would adjust to a new learning environment and enjoy being out from under my tutelage. Putting both boys in public school would free me to focus on my health, which I had ignored for so long."
With the boys’ schooling arranged, Anne followed up on the referral doctors at Madigan Hospital had given her for a doctor in Fort Collins. The Fort Collins doctor saw Anne, reviewed her health history, and made a referral for her to receive treatment at National Jewish Health in Denver. Anne researched the facility—what she learned gave her hope. Perhaps the day would come when she wouldn’t struggle to breathe.
“Mike and I had trusted my doctors for referrals—coming from Washington state, we weren’t familiar with National Jewish’s reputation. Once I began treatments there, my breathing became less stressful. I started feeling better. I was being treated by respiratory experts. Those treatments and Colorado’s dry climate were slowly making a positive impact on my health.
“Each appointment meant a 100-mile round-trip; it was worth every minute on the road. And I was so thankful I didn’t have to spend energy homeschooling!”
Anne and her boys had settled into a routine. They couldn’t wait for Mike to join them.
School Trouble
Anne’s excitement about her health was soon overshadowed by the problems her sons were having in school. Growing up in a Christian home hadn’t prepared Noah for the coaching he and his teammates were receiving. Noah’s height served him well for shooting baskets and playing defense, and he told his mom he considered himself a good player.
“It was upsetting for me to learn that when Noah or another player made a mistake, their coach would scream and use foul language. Noah began shutting down. I encouraged him to ignore the coach’s words and to just do his best and let the season play out. Although I had encouraged my son to let Christ shine through him, the longer he was exposed to his coach’s foul language, the more he shut down.
“And I soon learned things weren’t going well for Aaron either. His fourth-grade teachers didn’t understand the extent of his learning disabilities. My youngest son wasn’t handling regular classroom work. The day I was informed Aaron had been caught smoking a cigarette in the boys’ bathroom, I knew something would have to change.”
While her boys were facing challenges in school, Anne soon had another health challenge. She had begun throwing up at least once a day—a delayed physical reaction to the respiratory treatments. There were days she took Aaron along for those treatments. She felt guilty doing so, knowing he should be in school. But school wasn’t working out, and it was easier to have Aaron with her than in school and miserable.
“I wanted to tear my hair out. There just had to be a suitable alternative to home-schooling. But what? I added researching education options to my ‘to-do’ list, right along with looking for a church home. Both were important. Neither looked promising.”
Mike’s Retirement
Mike joined his family three months after returning from Afghanistan. His official retirement date was August 29, 2011. Anne already had plans in the works for them to celebrate the occasion.
“It took some time, but I found the perfect venue for Mike’s party. I was delighted, and relieved to learn that staff at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park had hosted other military events. They knew just how to decorate for such celebrations, and they would also provide the bell that would be rung at the end of the ceremony, signaling Mike’s crossing from Navy life to civilian life. Saturday, October 8, worked perfect for the hotel and for us. We gave the necessary deposit to reserve the banquet room.”
Dawn and Bruce came back for the party, and Dawn helped Anne with additional room decorations. One table was set aside for the display of the numerous commendations, decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign ribbons Mike had earned during his twenty-one years in the U.S. Navy. Steve had agreed to serve as master of ceremonies for his brother’s celebration. Mike‘s title in retirement would be Dr. Michael Schlegel, CAPT., US Navy, Ret.
“In spite of the festive atmosphere, the celebration was bittersweet. The bright side of things was having our families together for the first time since our wedding. A retirement party on base in Bremerton would have meant full military pomp and circumstance. The celebration at the Stanley meant a non-military program, but having our family and friends share the occasion made it intimate and meaningful. Mike was especially happy that several of his long-time Navy buddies traveled from out-of-state to attend.
“Mike’s dad knew our finances were tight, so as his gift to Mike, he footed the bill to fly family to Colorado. By that time we had found a larger rental outside of Estes, with enough room for several family members to stay with us. Others made arrangements to stay for a few days after the party, and experience the beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.”
Back to Home-schooling
Noah and Aaron struggled in public school. Anne and Mike continued to encourage them as best they could, but things reached a point where they knew neither of their boys was ready for public school. Anne dreaded the thought of resuming homeschooling, but she didn’t have a choice.
It was tedious, even more so than in the past, but Anne diligently worked to put together lesson plans for her boys, doing her best to pick up where their public-school classes had left off. She also continued her research efforts, feeling in her heart there just had to be an educational program or school that would be a fit for at least one, if not both her sons.
She was determined to find that place.
Noah and Aaron were thrilled they no longer had to share Mike with the Navy. Having him home helped them adjust to living in yet another place. They enjoyed more indoor space without having to worry about breaking something while roughhousing, and, they enjoyed spending time with their dad in the outdoor space surrounding the rental.
After seeking God’s will through prayer, the Schlegels began feeling excitement at the thought of finding a permanent home in Colorado.
Searching for a Home
“The agent who had helped identify our larger rental, was willing to work with us to put financing together so we could make an offer on a house. She knew every detail of our financial situation, and, much to our surprise, didn’t consider us lost causes. She went to bat for us to find a lender and a house that matched the vision God had given me for our Colorado home.
“The agent had years of experience, and she was patient. None of us knew just how patient she would be, as our search for a home became what we referred to as our Saturday morning hobby. Our agent would call, we would meet her, and go look at a place or two. Nothing matched what Anne had drawn in her journal. The next Saturday, we’d do the same thing. We learned, several months into our search, that our agent thought we’d never find a place that suited us, but she enjoyed riding around with us every Saturday, This went on for almost a year.
“Then one morning, she called and asked if we’d be able to drop what we were doing and look at a property several miles outside of Lyons.”
“It looks rough,” she warned us. “There’s thirty-five acres and a house.” She said we were to dress in hiking boots and long pants. We drove to the address she gave us, thinking it couldn’t possibly be the right location.
“We parked at the end of the driveway and waited for our agent to arrive. Yes, we were at the right place. We saw she too was dressed in hiking boots and long pants. It was a good thing for the three of us—we had to hike through knee-high weeds.
“Mike and I wondered what our agent was thinking. The place didn’t look one iota like what I’d drawn in my journal. Every square inch of the wooded acreage was overgrown with weeds—both it and the house were in shambles.
“Since we’d made the trip, we decided to investigate more closely, certain the place wasn’t where God wanted us to be. Just when we thought about heading for our car, we spotted an old rope swing tied to a tree. Seeing that swing was confirmation we’d found our Colorado home. It exactly matched what I’d sketched in my journal.”
The Schlegels had lots to think about. They asked their realtor to give them a few minutes to talk privately.
“What are we going to do with this place?” I asked Mike. “It’s a total disaster.”
“Yes, I know” he replied. “But over the years, I have learned to trust you and what you write in your journal,” Mike continued. “I realize it’s an important tool for you to communicate with God, and to discern what He has for you, and for us. I have come to rely on that.”
“But Mike, look at this place. No wonder it’s been in foreclosure for so long. Yes, the swing is here, but can you imagine what it’s going to take to make this place livable?” I asked.
The two continued their discussion about what they might be able to do with the acreage and the house. They walked to where their agent was waiting. She asked if they were ready to leave.
“Mike and I asked her to write up an offer for less than the asking price. We were both shocked when we learned our offer hadn’t been countered—it was accepted.
“We had to assume there hadn’t been any reasonable offers prior to ours, and that the bank was willing to cut its losses and move on.”
Making a House a Home
“After the closing, we just looked at each other, wondering what we’d gone and done. We were thankful we were still young, because the place needed tremendous work. I’m sure the neighbors shook their heads in disbelief when they drove by and saw three thirty-foot dumpsters sitting at the entrance to the drive.
“We couldn’t start work on the house until we bush hogged our way onto the property—we filled the three dumpsters just with the debris from clearing the driveway. That done, trash had to be hauled out of every room of the house. The former owner had stuffed pillows in doors and windows, where there had once been glass. The only room in the house that was in somewhat usable shape was the kitchen. The appliances worked and the countertops and cabinets were in relatively good condition.
“Mike had called his dad and Rainy to tell them about our purchase. They came out a few weeks later to see our new residence. We showed them around, and then Mike asked them what they thought.”
Rex didn’t hesitate to respond. “I think it’s the ugliest place I’ve ever seen!”
“We couldn’t let Rex’s comment deter us,” said Anne. "There wasn’t any way to fully explain our vision for the place, and we had plenty to do before we could be comfortable living in our new home. In spite of the hard physical work, Mike and I managed to enjoy the process—it wouldn’t have taken much for us to consider a livelihood investing in property, fixing it up, and flipping it."
“The flooring and the sink had to be replaced in the main floor bathroom. The four of us shared that bathroom while other work continued. The next step was making the boys’ rooms and bathroom clean and functional. We replaced the carpeting. We also installed a sink and faucet.”
After the boys’ bedrooms and bathroom were cleaned up and functional, Mike and Anne tackled other rooms. They didn’t allow Aaron in the basement, where loose hot wires and open pipes filled the maze of walls. Around one corner, Mike discovered the remnants of a photo lab. Nothing was finished—the entire basement was a disaster.
“Mike is just as handy with shop tools as he is with medical tools and equipment, and he did what he could to take care of the wires and pipes. We knew his work would do until we could bring in a licensed plumber and electrician.”
The top floor of the four-story house was partially finished as a master bedroom. At the end of the day, climbing stairs depleted Mike and Anne’s energy. They would then pray for continued physical stamina to work on the house and for their boys to again make the adjustment to living in a new place.
The Schlegels soon lost count of how many dumpster loads of trash and debris were hauled off their land. Too often, it seemed as though they would never have the place cleaned out. And there was an equal amount of debris needing to be removed from the immediate area outside the house. Mike and Anne pushed to get as much work done inside as possible before cold weather set in. Mike gave his pickup a good workout—using it to haul lumber, electrical supplies, sheetrock, nails, and other building materials.
Anne watched for sales on linens and other household furnishings. Bit by bit, day by day, they were making progress on turning their latest house purchase into something that matched their vision for mountain living. What they would call the Timber Frame House was slowly looking and feeling more like home.
Looking for Work
Finances were tight. After joining his family in Colorado, one of Mike’s priorities was finding work. He took a position as an ER doctor. When he wasn’t pulling long hours at the hospital, he was working at the house, and when he wasn’t working at the house, he was studying—he would need to re-take medical boards to maintain his emergency medical certificate. And though lots of work remained at the house, Anne was making plans to celebrate her forty-eighth birthday.
***
Anne had laughed more than a few times while relating the story of their home purchase in Colorado. I marveled at her and Mike’s energy and enthusiasm—but I knew that came from the Lord. I was looking forward to hearing about her birthday celebration. After writing about all they had been through, it would be fun to write the details of a happier event.