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Friday, October 14, 2016

Our lovely temporary home...

Let me tell you a fact I have learned with much certainty over the past 2 months. That simple fact is that no matter where you are, as long as you are with your family and remain positive--> you will be okay. Not just okay but really + truly + perfectly A-OK :). 

I have learned this because our family sold our first home. Our starter home we had for 9 years. Our family of 5 was ready for new memories in a new home. However, we did not find that "dream home" to move into seamlessly like we thought we would. I'm not going to lie, it was sad leaving our home. It was hard. We had such amazing memories there. With much thought and consideration we were so  thankful to be able to rent a wonderful {smaller} home for the time being. 2 bedrooms/1 bathroom small.

But you know what? This experience has been completely humbling and incredible! I really would not trade it for the whole world. We are living in the cutest older home with the prettiest trees. The fall colors are everywhere. I can not get enough of the reds and oranges. And the views are glorious from every angle.




 One evening as I was reflecting over my life and the future, my youngest caught my attention "Mama! Look! Out dat window. The sky is pretty red!" I turn my head to look out the window in our living room. The sunset was a beautiful red and deep orange! One of the prettiest sights I've seen.
Because I can not miss a special photo opportunity of God's beauty, I ran outside for a picture. In the drizzling rain I quickly took a picture. As I came closer to the view, I noticed 3 peaceful deer in the field.





THREE. God is so good! In that second I knew that God was speaking to me. He was clearly telling me that my purpose right now is here. It's in this rental home. My purpose is being the best Mom I can be to my 3 kids. Memories will be made in this home. As long as we are together and remain positive everything is going to be really good. 



There's a hill in the back that my oldest has decided will be awesome for snow tubing down. Over the jumps he will make. Because, he is all about making jumps these days. There is a concrete path from the garage to the house that my kids need to ride a bike or scooter to and from each day. It's the cutest. We have a beautiful road to take walks on. A gas station super close that my oldest thinks is the best in case we run out of milk. We've walked down the road to the restaurant to eat. Seriously, we are so thankful. 


The leaves! Some may think I'm crazy to think this but I am loving the leaves. The kids are, too. At our other home we mostly had pine trees. Raking up huge leaf piles and listening to the giggles from the kiddos while they jump in over and over is music to my ears. And I don't even mind that my raked piles end up all over the yard again. Memories!





We have a rope swing we made in the back in which the oldest kids love to have underdogs on. We didn't have a rope swing at our other home. They laugh as the branches brush up against their legs as they go so high. 

Trees to climb {carefully} is a favorite. 


 In August my son picked me a gorgeous flower with the root and all. That was too sweet!





This simpler living has brought our family closer. I thought we were a close fam before but now I know for sure we can be closer :). And that we are. I know what everyone is doing at each moment of the day at home. There's no hiding an extra piece of candy or trying to take my phone to play games on it without Mama knowing. I see all and know all. There is not a dishwasher and I have learned that we can be perfectly fine without one. My son even has learned to wash dishes and I think his wife will definitely thank me one day. And my hands are super clean, just sayin'. 




A large portion of our belongings are still in 2 storage units. The kids are learning to enjoy playing with only some of their toys. When we stop at the storage unit and they see an old toy, it's like Christmas to them! The boys are sharing a room which has taught them how to show respect to one another. My youngest son absolutely loves his bunk bed. He was so excited when he found out he gets to sleep on one and share a room with his bro. 

My husband and I laugh so much because for one, our "bedroom" is in the porch. We are sleeping on our oldest son's full size bed instead of our fancy newer mattress because it won't fit :). These are the memories I will miss and love to look back on. Because life is too serious sometimes to not laugh about it. Our dining room table fits us 5 perfectly. We can pray over our meals and eat as a family. I just love family dinners. 


We are thankful for a roof over our heads, running water, meals and laughs to share, beds and blankets. A washer and dryer to wash the many many loads of laundry we accumulate. The warmth inside with the recent cooler temps outside. Grateful to have a kitchen to prepare meals at. Baking pumpkin pie, muffins and cookies is a favorite. We are grateful that God has given this opportunity to be thankful for all this and more. 



This home will be temporary but our family is FOREVER. 
Happy is the family centered on God, thankful hearts and love.


Friday, April 22, 2016

2 years, 6 months and 10 days

It's been 2 years and 6 months and 10 days that our lives were forever changed when we made the decision to raise a little girl as our very own. 2 years, 6 months and 10 days that we have been blessed to be called Mom and Dad to a beautiful girl. 2.5 years we have loved another little being as our very own. 2.5 years of bonding, millions of cuddles and kisses given, hundreds of books read and more giggles than can be counted. 



922.5 days of praying for her every single day. 922.5 days praying for the day we can become a legal family of five. 922.5 days that my boys have had a sister and that we have had a daughter. We've celebrated 3 Thanksgivings, 3 Christmases and 3 Easters as a family of 5. Wonderful memories made.




Watching tummy time turn into crawling turn into taking first steps. Watching first steps turn into racing around the yard chasing 2 brothers. Hearing first words turn into complete sentences and belting out lyrics to "Let it go." Watching independence set in with wanting to wear a Princess shirt daily. And witnessing the sweetest bond develop between 2 brothers and a little sis. Along with the silliness and laughter :). 



To say this waiting has been incredibly difficult is an understatement. 

To say this has drawn us closer to God than we have ever been is the truth. 
To say we have gone through significant ups and downs with our emotions would be honest. 
To say we will persevere through this waiting is 100% correct.
To say we can't imagine our life any other way is real. 
To say we are blessed is spot on. 



We don't know what the future holds. We do not know the potential day we may be able to pass through the storm of this specific unknown. We do not know the questions that will come up one day nor will we know exactly how to answer them. We do not know what tomorrow holds nor what the next hour may bring.


But what I DO know is that we serve a Mighty God who knows the future. We know that He hears our every single prayer and cry out to Him. We know that He does know the time of the passing of this unknown. He understands our frustrations and our anxiety of the unknown. He holds us up with His mighty right hand as stated in Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."




We know that we don't need to worry about tomorrow because He has already taken care of tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 


We know that God has never let us down and is not going to start now. We believe Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He has good plans for us. 


We believe Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." We will continue to pray for wisdom, peace, patience and joy in this storm of the unknown. 




We will continue to be patient and press into God's promises for our future. We know there will always be hard days when worry sets in. But we do believe God will be there every step of the way. We are grateful for encouraging family and friends who surround us and pray for us. We will continue to trust in God's perfect plan in this.




Lovingly,

Jamie :)