Foto Friday~Boys at work

We have had SO many things to put together since our move!
For boys (and Moms) that is a good thing!
Don't ya love the tongue action!
(it shows GREAT concentration!)

It might have taken a little longer,

but it was all worth it!

For a time, they worked together and showed amazing abilities using screwdrivers!

Now if I can just keep them from taking it apart!

Have a great weekend!

FREE good home?

I have heard of "Free to Good Home", but until now, never heard of "Free Good Home"!  Let me explain...We have a new place to live.  Not a new home but new to us!  It is probably to date, one of my favorite places we have lived.  (We did live in a small community years ago that had a home I would say comes in first.)  There is quite a story behind this "new" home!  It is not just a house to me!  We have made it a "home" because God has given it to us to live for a time!  It was a gift from him for this chapter in our lives.  The circumstances are amazing, actually.  At the last moment, a dear woman realized that our family would be homeless and offered her home to us free of charge for as long as we need it.  Can you believe it?!!!  For months we sat in our living room with a lurking foreclosure over our heads.  Although no way to pay the mortgage, there was always that thought and maybe some guilt or burden to pay it.  With that behind us as of January 18th, and NO way to change it, we sit here in our living room, from God, with no worry of being homeless!  We don't know how long we will be here but God has made an impossible situation beautiful!  There is a heavenly economy!  This lady who offered her home (the one we are living in right now), has also seen some things happen with her home.  It was vacant for some time and it was in need of some TLC!  An amazing organization came to us because of a friend of mine who knew we were in need, and redid the kitchen and other things that needed to be fixed FREE of charge.  I will get into more detail soon.  I am still trying to get pictures and my camera does not want to get along with my computer since the move.  So I will post them soon! 

Thank you for your many prayers!  Continue!  We are still in need of a job.  We are settling in to our new home and LOVING it!  We do have a dream of another home, someday!  But God has been so good to us and held us up in a very desperate time!  He simply is AWESOME!  Trust Him!  He IS who He says He is and He does what He says He is going to do!  He takes care of His children!

A request to pray...

I am asking all of you to pray for a dear family we know.  We lived in a small community years ago and we were SO blessed to have lived there.  Yesterday, our former pastor/friend and his wife from that community were killed in a car accident.  They have left behind 4 children and an AMAZING extended family!  My eyes burn from crying so much after being up much of the night crying out to God.  It is so hard to comprehend...words don't even come to mind of the pain these children are going to go through in the months to come.  I am pleading for you to also cry out to Jesus on their behalf.  The sweet parents are in heaven looking at Jesus face to face and for that we are TRULY greatful but we still need to come together as the family of Christ and lift this family up that has been left on earth.

God, we don't understand these things, but we know that you are all-knowing and you bring comfort in our deepest darkest hour.  We place these children in your loving arms and we know that you are their Heavenly Father and you WILL hold them.  When they want to be held by their earthly parents, please give them a peace that passes all understanding and allow them to feel your arms of love.  Somehow, allow good to come from all of this and allow your glory to be seen.  Give beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning and peace for despair.  WE trust you and lift them up to you...Amen

Now we are...



digging out

unpacking

arranging

rearranging

not sleeping much

waking WAY to early

adjusting

coughing

eating on the floor still

trying to clear the dining room

playing hide and seek in new places

tossing footballs in the new yard

bringing soup to new neighbors

driving to Wal-mart everyday

tiring of not having a schedule

still waiting for a job

feeling VERY blessed

always trusting in the One who holds our future!

Now we have...

started a new chapter in our lives!

Foto Friday~ Does she have a chance?

Do you think this little girl has any sort of a chance to play with anything "girlie"?

I'm thinking trucks and hot wheels will be in her future in some way!

We are...

                                                                                                                                                                       

sorting

organizing

tossing

keeping

reminiscing

wondering

anticipating

sharing

seeking

praying

praising

We are...

MOVING

I will be back!  If we did not have to wear clothes, eat or play, this move would be LOTS easier this week!  I don't think that will work!  I have never moved 14 people before! 

I will return after we are settled and I will be sure to fill you in on all the happenings! 

You have my word!

Blessed

 

Our lives have been a little chaotic to say the least!

Moving 14 people has been something I have never experienced before!

There is something to be said about sorting and cleaning out.

Not that I would "welcome" it again but it is good to HAVE to rid ourselves of access!

And BOY do we have it!

My oldest 2 daughters have been there through thick and thin and continue to bless me with thier help!

If they are not home babysitting siblings, they are cleaning or painting.

We always say in our home, "Many hands make light work!"

They have made our load lighter because of their willingness to serve!

I was not part of a big family growing up but I always wanted many children!

When they were young, we went through stages that were REALLY trying.  (I am not always a patient person!)  Wiping noses, little hands pulling on my shirt CONSTANTLY, buckeling carseat after carseat, etc!

Now, I have older kids that help and it is a blessing to watch them interact with their siblings and SO fun watching them grow up!

My oldest son is tiling our bathroom this week, and my girls are helping in anyway possible!

Not to brag, (okay, maybe I am a little bit!)

But...

I am one BLESSED MAMA!

Out with the old...in with the new!

This week, is the final week in our home.  I have cried much with the thought of saying goodbye to this place.  In this house, I have...

1. brought home 4 babies from the hospital
2. potty trained 4 boys
3. redone a bathroom
4. watched a 3 year old drive down a 15 ft retaining wall in our mini-van
5. seen 3 of my kids go from kids to teenagers
6. made to many meals to count in what was a "new" kitchen
7. seen my oldest became at "adult" (not age only!)
8. walked the hallways MANY times with sick babies
9. listened to children play the piano for the first time
10. danced with my husband the day he lost his job and many other times
11. spent many hours on my knees in prayer
12. seen my kids learn and take pride in caring for rabbits
13. taken TONS of pictures
14. gone on many walks
15. lost 30lbs
16. cried in my bedroom while my kids were in Africa but felt a peace that passes all understanding from my Heavenly Father!
17. met neighbors that I will miss having around ( not sure we will be missed quite as much! :)
18. brought cookies and pies to them
19. read many bible verses to my children
20. made a house a home

I have mixed feelings right now about leaving our home.   I am ready to let go and see what the next chapter in our lives will be.  It has been an amazing chapter that we have lived!  I have been on a journey that I would not trade for ANYTHING!  Not always an easy road but exciting none the less!  As the garbage bags and boxes of "old" things go to the curb or local charity, I am reminded that other things are behind me and all "used" up.  I will and have gotten rid of much!  I am glad in most ways to be "out with the old" and I am welcoming the new!  I know God has an amazing plan for us and I will cherish the old but release it to Him and allow Him to do whatever He chooses with the new.  I have learned not to cling to comfort but to Him only! 

I can't wait to write what the new is in a few months!  I know it will be fun!  Never a dull life when God is in charge!  I am finding out to be true a church sign I read this past week, "He is the originator of surprise endings!"  This chapter ended in MANY surprises!  And good ones too!  I wonder what surprises will be at the end of the next chapter!  I hope you continue to join me!