Just a Cute Picture

The girls usually watch Sesame Street at 11 every morning. It gives me a little time to finish up any project I have going or get lunch going before Dan gets home. They love Elmo's World. It's their favorite part. Dan was home this morning and caught this moment. It was pretty cute. Olivia wasn't really watching the TV she was just trying to look like her sisters. I had the couch piled high with papers I am trying to get organized in the filing cabinet so it was off limits. This was the OBVIOUS alternative. At one point I heard FaithLyn saying, "Here, I'll get you a pillow." Sweet girls!

Iowa Park, HERE WE COME!!!

Well, we made it back from our marathon view of a call weekend and we are recovering nicely. We spent this morning sleeping in and then had a picnic at the Kimble Art Museum and then walked over to check out the new exhibit at the Fort Worth Science Museum. Now it's nap time, Dan and I are going to watch a movie, then we will head back to the museum to see the IMAX movie Amazing Cave Adventures!! Dan is pretty pumped. This is our day to rest and have fun then the rubber meets the road. We have lots to do. Well, I have lots to do to get this house in order. Did I say that the church is going to provide a moving company to come and pack us out AND move us!! Praise the Lord!!!!! SO I just have to get this little house back in shape!

Now for the info you probably want to hear...We had a really wonderfully tiring weekend! The youth group is great and we can't wait to get to know them better! Everyone in the church is really friendly and they like to laugh a lot! They have a real passion for the youth from young to old. We were overwhelmed by the welcome we received before we were even voted on.

Before we left we were praying that God's will would be very obvious either way. It was. We are so excited!!! God is good, even in the hard times we see so clearly how God has been preparing us for this.

What a Week!

Ok, so these are the pictures we have to document our visit to WSS. We were enjoying our visit with loved ones so much we didn't take pictures. I did remember to take pictures of baby Seth because I knew it might be a while before we saw him again and I would really regret it later if I missed my opportunity.
This is our family picture that we took to send to the church. It is the most recent picture of us you can get and one of the only pictures of me. I was growing my hair out and this pic is pre-hair chopping fiasco. But I am not bitter...it's hair and it grows back. Oh, well.
Here is sweet Momma Ellen with sweet baby Seth. She is my new hero for making that drive and spending her first night with baby away from the help of David. It was a hard night but she made it! What were we thinking asking her to come to us??? We owe her big for this one!!
The girls loved their sweet cousin. The jury is still out for Seth. He was tired of having his picture taken! He held out for a long time though, what a champ!
The proud uncle Dan-Dan.
And last but not least, Here is "The Good Reverend Dan" speaking for the Senior Staff Reunion. Sorry for the poor quality. Trust me, Dan is there in front of the white screen.
What fun we had getting to catch up with everyone again. Dan did a great job relating his heart and the message God placed there. I was so glad to hear him speak his heart. It was a great experience. On the drive up we got to spend the night with Jim and Karen Grube!! How fun! If only we hadn't been in the car for 12 hours we might have been more fun. Next time, Grubes!We stayed at the Thomas' and felt right at home. Their home will always feel like home to us. We got to visit with the newly engaged couple, Dailey and Katie, and spend some time with the newly weds Aaron and Lynsey Thomas. Dan got some game time in with Rob and I got some good visit time with Chandra while the kids got to remember how to play together. It was loads of fun!! As much as we love all of those people God made it clear to us that we don't fit there anymore. We are right where we are supposed to be and even though it hasn't been the easiest transition or most fun to adjust, God has plans for us. The best part is that God wants us to take everything we learned about how to love people and make family and do that where ever we are. So, even though it's a lot of work, we can't wait to get started again!

Actually, we learned a lot about ourselves this week:
1. It is possible to make the trip to PA in two days with 3 kids, the DVD player didn't hurt either!
2. WE DON'T LIVE AT WSS ANYMORE! This was a bitter-sweet lesson to learn but I think we are finally ready to move on.
3. We love the staff at WSS just as much as we did when we were a part of it and they still know us better than just about anyone else. IT IS SO GREAT TO BE TRULY UNDERSTOOD! (and still loved)
4. Home has to be where ever God has you at the moment!



Did I mention that it snowed, A LOT while we were there? Boy, was I ready to get back to spring!! It was so green when we got back to Texas. Of course, in a about another month I will be wishing I was back in spring up at PA! I am NEVER satisfied! I love spring! The new life, the smell of new life especially. If you don't know what I am talking about you need to spend some time outside in the hours of dawn and dusk. And just soak it all in!! It is truly a beautiful picture and reminder of what Christ has done for us. Happy Spring, happy rebirth, happy new life. I was reminded that it's never too late to start fresh, Thank the LORD! There are so many things I want to do differently! Not in my power but in the power that can face death and rise again the victor!

Spring Fever

Can I just say what a beautiful day it is? I got up early with Dan to help him get off to Iowa Park so he can be there for the house inspections. My Dad is going to be there too. The only ones missing are Mom, me, and the girls but I guess this has to be just a guy thing. Anyway, as I was taking the trash out this morning, (trash day) the sun was rising, it smells like spring and everything was damp and fresh. Even now I am sitting at my computer with the windows open and I can still smell spring. The birds are chirping, it was like a Mickey Mouse cartoon! I even felt like singing!

I almost envied Dan's two hour drive this morning. Then I remembered what I get to do this morning! I get to pack for our trip to White Sulphur Springs!!!! I admit packing for trips was a lot more fun when there was only one person to pack for but I still enjoy the expectation and planning. Even if I now plan for 5. Spring Break trips. You gotta love them!! The getting up super early to leave, the donuts and snack food in the car, the double screen TV's that keep the girls occupied in the back seat!!!! You have to love modern day car travel!

Hope you are having a great spring break or if you live where spring break is closer to when you actually have spring hope you enjoy your week. We are travling back to winter right when I am just beginning to remember how much I love this time of year!! And in Texas you take a big risk of missing when you are gone for a week and a half. SO those of you sticking around, hope you enjoy this beautiful weather!!!

All the Things I am NOT Doing

I am my own worst critic. Does anyone else out there struggle with this? Can I get an AMEN!

This has often been a tool that spurs me on toward being a better me. Right now it is a hinderance that is keeping me from seeing past the failure of incomplete goals, unfinished tasks, inconsistency, and and well, failure. But any tool, when used wrongly, can cause more damage than good.

When I find myself in this position I usually have some large task or life change upcoming. I always look ahead to what is about to happen and see how far behind I am from where I would like to be. Basically, this all boils down to one large pit that I dig myself into with out any way out.

That's where I found myself lately. Way too tuned in to all the things I haven't done that I felt I should and I couldn't really even see anything that I was doing well. Because even if I did accomplish something during the day I did that with a lousy attitude. So, in my critical thinking, the bad attitude cancels out the accomplishment.

None of my goals are bad. Nothing that I know I should do in any given day is wrong. I have the right motives in all of the things that I desire for my family and our life where these goals are concerned. The only problem is I get so focused on the goals, or lack there of, that I miss opportunities to make forward progress. What happens when you walk forward yet always look behind you? You walk crooked.

You will never meet goals if you are constantly looking back and DWELLING on mistakes or failed attempts. It is helpful to recognize these failures so you don't make them again and learn from them but if we are always focused on the failure we will never walk straight enough to make it to the next goal.

This week I realized I had to let go of everything I wasn't doing and hadn't accomplished and focus on what needs to happen NOW! This verse popped into my head:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."
Philippians 4:8

I need to change my way of thinking!

My Head is STILL Spinning!

Since I last posted we have had a visit from Mimi(Dan's mom), gone to look at houses, put in an offer on a house, had van trouble(AGAIN!), and I FINALLY went to the doctor to check out this little baby growing inside me!

We are now in contract on a house; dependant on Dan actually getting the job. The baby is doing well and is right on schedule as far as size goes. The van is hopefully getting fixed this time and we are still planning to leave for PA on Saturday long before the sun rises.

My life is one crazy emotional rocketship that has lost control! Now even if I weren't dealing with pregnancy hormones this would qualify as monumental emotional instability but you add the prego hormones and you better just watch out! There is no telling how I might react to your innocent inquiries! I know that the Lord is teaching me something here! I sure wish I could figure it out and move on to the next lesson! But, alas, it looks like I have weeks of emotionally charged events coming my way!

BUT, the baby is well and growning and in a few weeks we might even know if the girls prayers for a little brother have been answered. The doctor tried very hard to get a definitive answer but the baby just wouldn't cooperate. The doctor gave some hints what he thought but wouldn't say for sure. SO I won't either! I said as long as this baby is healthy and stays where the baby should stay for as long as the baby should stay there I am one happy momma!

My dear friend Erin came to watch the girls so I could go solo to this appointment. THANKS EVER SO MUCH, ERIN!! She told me that FaithLyn told her that we were getting a new baby and it was going to be a boy. Erin said, "But what if it's a girl?" FL, "Oh, no. It's a boy." Erin, "Well, how do you know?" FL, "because we prayed and prayed and prayed for a little brother. So it will be a little brother."
I love to witness that kind of faith. I have told FL that we can pray and ask God for anything but He always gives us what is BEST for us! Even if it's not we asked for. So it will be interesting to see how God uses this. I know He will be glorified how ever the story turns out.

Now, I am going to try and have an uneventful, relaxing, very slow, and low-key evening.