Just some cute pictures

These glasses we call the "Mr. Goodattitude" glasses. I am not sure why they got that name but you have to have a good attitude when you have them on. They may come in handy later! The girls found these glasses in Dan's car(well, the car he currently drives). They are 3-D glasses. Dan looked in the rear view mirror and had to do a double take. He wasn't sure who was sitting in his back seat. I think they are very Buddy Holly on FaithLyn.
This was just too cute to pass up. Olivia woke up early from a nap and woke me up early from my nap. It has become a bad habit I hope to break soon, (Olivia waking me up that is!) but in my groggy sleepstate I went straight into the room so she wouldn't wake up Elise and gave her the "baby fish mouth". Then I grabbed her out the crib and laid her down in my bed next to me, dirty diaper and all. Let's just say I wasn't thinking clearly. But she did slumber peacefully for an hour longer! I even got up and went about my business and she still slept on!

Ok, so you may be wondering what exactly is "baby fish mouth"? Well, this is what my father did to me when I was talking back, or disobeying or just for fun or to cause me embarrasment. He would grab my face right on my cheeks and make my lips squish out like a fish mouth. You know. Anyway, we have some close friends that would always make fun of Dad for doing that and Nancy named it "The baby fish mouth". You know as a parent there are always things you say you will NEVER do to YOUR children...well, it's best to just not say that, EVER!

Home Sweet Home

I know this is silly, but this is my new fridge. I am so excited about it. It is our first fridge that we have owned. It's just special to me. Dan has a friend at church that picked up the fridge for us and brought it to the house and now he calls Dan "fancy fridge".

Ok, here is the front of our house. I can't wait to get to work in those flower beds! And I am dreaming of a rope swing hanging from that HUGE tree. This is our side/back patio. The door you see goes into the living room. I can't wait to have our first cookout!
This is the fenced in back yard. It gets some good shade and has lots of nice grass. The girls are making friends with the neighbor dogs.

This is my prayer for our life in this home: Psalm 1:3

May our family be "like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither."

A virtual tour of the new house in Rewind

Dan and I were looking through some pictures that I haven't gotten in albulms yet. (He's trying to get his office fixed up) I was so saddened by the hard truth that I don't have ANY hard copy pictures of Olivia! They are all on this computer!! What would I do if this computer crashed? I only have a few on CD. I have some work to do. I am going to start using that expensive camera that I used to use so much but became outdated with the advancement of technology. But here is the virtual tour, thanks to that advancing technology! It starts at the back of the house and goes forward. But I don't have any pics of the outside. That will come next time. Or rather later. This is the closet in the tiny room that the big girls will share when the new baby arrives. The girls are especially excited about this room. And I do mean room, it is only slightly smaller than the bedroom itself. This doubles as the playroom!

Still more pics!

The other side of the kitchen. Minus the new fridge and all the counter tops and cabinets.
The utility room. Notice the nice large closet in the back. It has lots of shelves too!
The fire place in the living room. Which, it turns out, we could have been using. It has been COLD here!! It snowed on Easter and it was in the 40's today most of the day! WHAT?
That is the corner that I am sitting at right now.
Here is the girls room or FaithLyn's room for right now.We had to rip out those shelves to make the bunk fit. BUT we moved them into the closet!!

More Pics of the new house

This is the hall bathroom or the girls bathroom. This is the front room which someday will be a more formal sitting room.
This is our front door. I like it.
These are the hall closets right inside the front door. Sorry, I get excited about closet space.
This is one view of the kitchen, with a peek into the utility room.
Look at all that counter space!

Hello to all from Iowa Park!

Here are some pics of the house when we came last weekend for the walk through. These are the before pics!This is the master b-room. Where Elise is standing is where my dresser and mirror are now.
Master Bath. THE best shower....EVER!
The sitting room connected to the master b-room. Or it will be eventually. (Not our dog!)
The hallway from the master b-room. The girls really wanted to be in the pictures.
This is the YELLOW room. right now Elise and Olivia are sharing this room. When the new baby comes it will be the two littles in here. Hopefully we will have time to repaint before then.

This may be the last you hear from me in Fort Worth. We start the long process of moving this weekend. Well, it feels that way anyway. We are leaving for Iowa Park today for the walk through of the house before closing on Monday!!! I am super excited. Hopefully I will be able to picture our stuff in the house this time.

Then Dan is sticking around in IP to help at Camp Chaparral. It's the Baptist Encampment there and it's pretty great! They asked Dan to help facilitate the low ropes course for a leadership confrence they are having on Sat. He loves that he will not have to totally say goodbye to all his ropes course training and fun! The girls and I are heading to Floydada to spend the Easter weekend with my parents. Dan will join us later on Saturday. I am so excited to spend Easter with my family. Then we leave the girls with Nana and Papa and head back to Iowa Park on Sunday night so we are there bright and early on Monday morning for the closing of the house. Woohooo!

While we are signing our lives/souls away to this house the packers will be starting the packing back here in Fort Worth. I have a good reason to miss a little bit of that process and I have to admit I am not too sad about it!! But we have to be back here on Monday by three because Dan has a test in Hermaneutics! Then Tuesday we finish up packing and Wednesday morning the movers are coming to load up all our stuff.

I am going to be so glad when this is over!! Our last move we knew would be big and we started preparing in Sept. for a June move. We moved half-way across the country. Of course it took a lot of work and planning. This move is two hours away and it feels like I have been at least thinking about it for ages!!! I am so thankful that I am not packing and loading the house up but at least when you do your own packing it feels like you are moving toward your goal. Anyway, this is not complaining!! I just get to live in my house until someone else worries about getting me to Iowa Park. It's pretty great, unless you have a problem with control. But I don't know anyone around here that deals with that!!

I'll try and keep you posted and when we get moved I'll send out our new info. and post some pics. Have a Happy Easter. I hope you are able to enjoy the celebration of what our glorious Lord has done for us. Our once dead, but now living Savior has overcome death for once and for all!! Praise the Lord!

It's a ......

I had another sonogram today and today the baby was much more cooperative. I wish we had a scanner so we could post the pictures for you. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a profile shot of the face because baby was face down. But every thing is looking good and very normal right now.

OK, OK, I know that the only thing you people really care about is the sex of this baby. Are we having another baby girl or are we finally going to get our baby boy?








WELL.................




IT'S A .....................................................BOY!

I am not really sure what to do with boys. I guess I have some shopping to do. Anyone want to put in their two cents on baby names? I think boy names are hard. Growing up I had a boy Cabbage Patch Kid named Barkley Kit. I thought that name was pretty cool!

A Little Excitement in the Neighborhood

Well, I have to say, I will not miss city life in the least!! We have always known that this isn't the best part of town but I have never felt unsafe. Even when we occasionally hear a few gunshots somewhere in the area, I always know that it isn't on my street at least. We came home this evening to quite an alarming site. Right next door to us in the empty Seminary house was a Tahoe surrounded by SEVERAL police cars. My guess would be at least 10 cop cars where blocking the street. Since all of the other neighbors were out on their porches we sent the girls to get their pjs on and we sat on our porch.

Dan thought it important to document the event with a picture and of course I was indignant that he would even think of such a thing, but when he almost chickened out I egged him on! That's why the picture quality isn't the best but we will at least have documentation!

I have to admit I was a little embarrassed that I needed to sit and watch what was happening but I felt I needed to know what kind of danger we were actually in! Plus, this was the closest our neighborhood has come to a block party! Anyway, Dan didn't pull the van up very far in the driveway because we were a little distracted by all the flashing lights. So I couldn't really get a good look at what was going on. I decided to "do something" in the garage. There I could peek, unnoticed, from the garage windows and get a really good look at what was going on. I saw I woman sitting in the patrol car, obviously cuffed, and a man talking to her through the window. Then the cops started unloading the back of the tahoe. I saw a computer, stereo, and some other large objects make their way to their own patrol car.

Just as we were about to give up on getting any info, the campus security guard drove by and then backed up and pulled in to our driveway to fill us in. Three or four people were arrested. The cop pulled them over because the tags weren't current but then the people pulled into the house next to ours, a seminary house, and acted like it was their home. The campus security heard what was going on through the scanner and went to make sure the house was ok. Then the cops asked everyone to get out of the car and found LOTS of drugs and stolen stuff. OH, and did I mention the tahoe was stolen, too? WHEW!!! I am sure glad they weren't our neighbors!

Now, I need to say this because our Moms read this, WE WERE NOT IN ANY DANGER and never have been in this little house. God has taken good care of us and campus security is always driving by and they know who should be in the neighborhood and who shouldn't. BUT, at the same time I can't help but feel thankful that we are getting out of this city. And not soon enough if you ask me!!

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.

THE Update

I know, I know. We were supposed to find out what was going on last Wednesday, so why has it taken me SO long to let the rest of you know? Well. I am sorry, this has been a lot more stressful than I imagined it would be. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me back up and start from the beginning or at least last Wednesday.

We didn't get the call until Thursday night at about 9:00. So Wed. was a pretty sad day. You know some of the details of Wed. from my last post. BUT we made it through another day and I was so caught up in the lastest episode of Grey's Anatomy thatI forgot to be waiting for the phone to ring! It was a tear-jerker. Anyway, then . . . . . the phone rang. My heart stopped just like it did every time the phone rang since Wed. afternoon. Long story short, we will be going to Iowa Park, in view of a call on March 25. Of course, this is all subject to their review of our credit report. . .so we will be going in view of a call on March 25! We have spent the last couple of days trying to figure out how to get pre-approved to buy a home and I haven't slept very well since, oh, last week.

Ok, ladies, tell me what you think of this. I have more free time at home than Dan so I thought I would start doing some research on first time home buying and home loans. I think it was a good idea but I made a mess of everything and all the information I collected assured me that we had no business buying a home and that we should just rent for at least 6 months! We really felt like that was just not the best idea for us and I was so worked up and laid it all on Dan as soon as he got home from work. NOT a good idea, ladies. Then I spent another restless night dreaming of scary loan papers and man eating houses. So, Dan wakes up this morning and calls our bank and has us pre-approved for a ridiculous amount of money in about. . .30 minutes!!! Are you kidding me?! I did at least 4 hours of internet research and EVEN talked to the same Bank that Dan talked to!? HUH? I guess the difference is he spoke in Man language and I was just "asking some questions".

You might like me to clarify for you my definition of MAN LANGUAGE. Here goes. Men often talk with each other in exaggerated truths. They speak as if everything is right on and WILL happen. It's a get er done kind of mentality. Women, well maybe not you, but I usually speak as if good things are a small possibility or COULD happen.

Apparently that makes all the difference in the banking industry. I just don't know how to speak the lingo apparently. Or it could be the fact that I have NEVER in my life talked to a realtor about buying or selling a home. I have never tried to take out a loan. I have never even seen other adults go through this process. I am CLUELESS!! So I was a little upset when Dan swooped in and in 3/4 of the time had every question of mine answered satisfactorily and had us in contact with a realtor in Iowa Park. Don't get me wrong, I am SOOO thankful that Dan is a genius when it comes to these kinds of things I just wish I could have forgone the hours and hours of worry and torment that our future was indeed doomed.

I know I could have forgone this time of despair if I had simply trusted the words and promises of my Lord, but. . . I didn't. I worried and despaired because my little brain couldn't wrap around how God was going to do this. There are still some scary questions that need to be answered. But those are questions that don't have to be answered right this moment. Somehow I am ok with waiting to find these answers.

SO if the Lord keeps leading the way we feel He is leading then we might possibly be moving into our first home sometime around April 1.

That's the update. For those of you that we promised phone calls to, they are coming, please be patient. The next few weeks are going to be CRAZY!!

Between now and then we have to(get to) find a house, go look at it, make an offer, get the FW house organized so it will be easier to pack up, go visit WSS and all our other loved ones in the PA area, Dan has some papers to write, school to attend, and a job to finish up. Oh, and then he needs to think about what to say to the whole congregation in Iowa Park on that Sunday morning. If we seem distant or uninvolved, please give us a little grace. We have never done this whole "American Dream" thing before so we need some time to figure things out.

But Yeah! We are so excited about the direction God is taking us. I can't wait to give you more details about this church body. The youth group sounds pretty amazing and didn't I mention the 5 youth workers who have kept it going since the last youth pastor left in Sept.? But, it isn't a Done Deal, not yet anyway. We are trusting God to lead us through every step we have to take between here and there and we trust that He will lead us to exactly where we need to be and we are praying that He will protect our hearts from moving ahead of His plans for our family. We would still covet your prayers. And I am sure I will find some time to let you all in on the craziness along the way.

This is a hard post for me to write. God has revealed to me some dark places in my heart that need to be given back to my Lord.

You would think that I would have this, "trust God for all provision" thing down by now. But I was made sadly aware of my lack of trust today. We decided to go eat at Chick-fil-A for lunch today. On the drive there I was thinking of money and how irresponsible it was for us to be eating out right now. Especially after learning that our van was going to need repairs that would total $1100. So I was guilt ridden and wallowing in self-pity. "If only...things were different...if only...we were in a church making a salary... if only...." See I wasn't worried about the money we needed to spend or the money we don't need to spend what I was really worried about was having to adjust our lifestyle to fit with with the funds that the Lord is providing for us. I mean things are already hard enough, right. What if I have to give up my internet connection or our great long distance phone plan or HEAVEN FORBID...stop eating out!!!?

Then at an intersection while we are stopped at a red light Dan sees man with a sign that reads, "Hungry + Broke" He asks me if we have any money and I assume he is asking so we can pay for our lunch in cash. Yes, I too, had seen this man. My thoughts were so consumed by my own selfishness that I didn't even realize what Dan meant. We had $17 dollars in cash. Dan said, "I meant for that guy."
"Oh, yeah, how about three?" That was pretty generous. I mean it was more than 10%!! And I had to think about how we were going to pay for our lunch, RIGHT?

Dan gives the man the measely 3$ and his face lights up. "OH, Thank You! God Bless You." He says.

Dan asks the girls to pray for that man and as we prayed my heart was broken. I realized that We were supposed to give that man $17!! Dan offered to turn around and go back because I was obviously very distraught. Darn, those pregnancy hormones! We went ahead and ate our lunch but came up with a plan of action. We figured out an easy way to make it back to the intersection where the man was. It took all of the self-control I could muster not to bawl through the whole meal. I wasn't a very conversationalist.

We hurried everyone through their chicken nuggets and fruit and set off to try and set rught my convictions. When we got to the intersection the man was gone! I was so broken hearted! I missed my chance to recieve the full blessing of the Lord by giving more than I thought I could to someone in need.

The girls asked why we were coming back when we had already given the man money and "Mommy, why are you crying?" We got to explain to the girls that Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:42, "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." I explained that God wants us to trust Him to give us all that we need. And it makes Him happy when we give to others. But I was only thinking about us and not that man. I gave him a little but I should have given him all that we had. FL asked, "But don't we need money, too, Mommy?"
Yes, but we have other money and we should have given all of the money that we had with us to that man. His sign said he needed money and we had some and Mommy is so sad because God told me to give it all and I wasn't listening hard enough to hear Him in time.

Dan got to explain about convictions and he assured me that the girls learned much more from this than they would have if I had given all of the money the first time. I realize that I wouldn't have learned as much either.

I jsut kept picturing that man was Jesus and all I was willing to give Him of myself was 15%. Everyday Jesus asks us to give ourselves to Him. Today, I didn't. I was caught going through the motions. I was only giving enough of myslef to calm my mind. But Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

My treasure today was self. I was so deep in my own "troubles" I couldn't even see the gravity of other's. Now, it doesn't matter to me if that man was a professional or not. I don't care if he does that everyday and makes more money than we do. The lesson that I learned is that God can provide for my family and we still have so much more than some. When the Lord is my treasure and my portion then only will I be truly satisfied. If I have to give up every comfort I have ever known in order to follow my Christ, I STILL WANT TO FOLLOW HIM! I will probably grieve every loss but I am learning that if my treasure is stored above, then there is nothing of importance that can be taken away from me.

I am so sorry, Lord that I missed your call today. I pray that you would bring Your light to those dark places in my heart and that I would truly be willing to sacrifice anything in order to follow You. I pray that those 3$ that I begrudgingly gave that man will bring glory to you, Lord. I pray that you would bless that man and as FaithLyn prayed, Help that man and everyone else who doesn't have money get some.
Even if every cent is supposed to come from me. Thank You, Lord for your conviction and may it burn in my heart always! In Jesus sanctifying and Holy name, AMEN.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Ellen!

My Big Three Year Old!!

Now: Feb. 16, 2007

Happy Birthday, ELISE DANIELLE!!

We are still trying to figure out what traditions we want to make part of our family. We both agree that birthdays are special. So Dan had the idea that I take Elise out for a very special birthday lunch just me and her. Dan took the girls to the Science and Cowgirl museums this morning to give me a chance to recoup after another night of sad, sick Olivia. He did a great job of preparing and building the excitement for our special birthday lunch.

Elise decided that she wanted to go to Chick-fil-A. FINE with me!! Beats MickeyD's any day!! So we talked about what she was going to order on the way and I took the birthday hats and noise makers along for a little treat. She was more interested in the noise maker than her lunch and I didn't even make eating an issue. I just let her enjoy her time with just Momma with out all the rules and regulations that usually accompany me.

Then I let her pick what ever treat she wanted. She picked the brownie and a chocolate milkshake. I didn't even bat an eyelid when I realized she had taken one bite of chicken and one bite of strawberry. This is a special occasion, I say!!

Well, Mommy ended up eating the brownie and now that she is napping I am also finishing off the milkshake. Hmm...it's a good thinkg this is a once a year thing!

Check out those green eyes, Aunt Angie!

I am learning so much about this sweet little girl!! She is so very different from her sisters. Not that I am surprised but it is becoming so much more evident with each passing day. She is a little bit too much like her mom if you ask me. She is very independant but not in a loud pushy sort of way. That is all her own though because I have always been a little pushy about getting my way. She doesn't do anything until she decides that she can do it and do it well. This child will not settle for second best or mediocre. She has either mastered a skill or yet to try accomplishing it! Let's take potty training for instance. The last you heard she had finally gone poo-poo on her own. Well, now a few weeks later she is completely potty trained and has gone for at least a week and a half with NO accidents of any kind!! She's done. She doesn't even wear a pull-up for nap time. She makes it most nights with a dry pull-up. Skill mastered. I am sure there will be some accidents but this kid is amazing!! She just decided it was time! She is very grown up now.

I have learned that sometimes she needs a little push to help her get started but push too hard and she will shut down!! This kid can not be manipulated.

I am so thankful for her strong spirit. I am praying that she will carry that determination with her always. I pray that it will serve her well in those delicate years of peer pressure and the need/desire to fit in.

I have also learned that Elise knows what she likes and once she has decided that is that. There is no wishy-washy back and forth with this little girl. One day she decided purple was her favorite color and it has been ever since. Her favorite sandwich is Peanut butter and Jelly. That is what she wants for lunch, EVERY DAY!! She loves milk!! Would rather drink milk than water and sometimes even juice. Snuggle Bunny has been her bedtime pal since birth and she calls him Snuggs.

She is also a very good big sister. Elise would rather play with Olivia in Olivia's room than watch TV. No arguments here! She always trys to include her baby sister in what ever she and FaithLyn are doing. She never asks me to let Olivia play in her own room with the gate up. She wants everyone to be included. When she sleeps with someone, she is a cuddler. IF we are all watching Curious George in the afternoon she would much rather sit in my lap than on the couch by herself. If I am reading a book to the girls, my lap is her favorite place. Sometimes when I go in to kiss her goodnight she wraps her arms around me and says, "Mommy, I want you to sleep with me."

I know there will come a day when she won't even want or need me to come in and kiss her goodnight. But I know that she will always have her way of letting me know that she loves me. She is very good at making people feel special and she is very loyal. She has a heart of gold. I love this little girl and I am so proud of her. I trust that the Lord will cultivate that golden heart and use this sweet, tiny, little girl for His wonderful purpose. I pray that I can be a large part of that cultivation.

Then: Feb. 16, 2006

This a picture of Elise at her party last year. I remember thinking she was so grown up then. I have learned so much about this girl in the past year. She is growing up and I love her more every day I get to know her.

Happy Birthday, Elise. You are such a blessing and I am so thankful for you. May God bless you as you grow into the woman He created you to be.

The Saga Continues

Hope everyone had a fun Valentine's Day! The girls and I made Dan a cookie cake and it's already gone!!

It only took me about 2 hours to make! But that was because Olivia had a fever of 103.1 all day yesterday! She wasn't too big on me having any projects that didn't allow for me to hold her. But we got it made and decorated for Dan before his lunch hour was over. I had to run out for more children's Tylenol and Motrin for Livie as soon as Dan got off work last night and fought with all of the shoppers who forgot it was V-day. When I got home I walked into a very romantic candlelit home with the table waiting for me to eat. FaithLyn had the idea to light the candles and she even set the table with fancy glasses for us. It was quite a treat after a very long day of caring for super sick baby.

I guess though that some of you are waiting for an update on the interview. It went really well and it was such a blessing for me to get to be there. Thanks again, Gerlthouse!!
It was so fun to see Dan get passionate talking about all his ideas for youth ministry. It really felt like God was going before us and preparing the way because several of Dan's ideas where things that the youth or youth workers had recently expressed an intrest in to each other. Dan really got going and I love to see him talking about his passion for the Lord!

We have heard from a friend that the commitee is calling all of our references. They are meeting next week to decide if they want to call us in view of a call or not. SO I guess next week at or around this time we know just how well the 2nd interview went. We, again, had a really good time during the interview and laughed a lot. It was a pretty special time to have with Dan. I was able to focus on him completely and we really enjoyed ourselves. But hope not to make interviews the norm for our time out alone!!

Please continue to be in prayer for us as we seek the Lord's will for our family.

I guess I should also make the official announcement that we ARE in fact expecting baby #4! I am due Aug. 21. We are praying that God will protect both baby and Mommy this pregnancy. I am specifically praying that this baby will be full-term, a champion eater, and fabulous sleeper! We would also appreciate your prayer for this little blessing. The girls are praying for a little brother and have been since we moved here to FW. I just want a healthy baby! Well, I also want a good eater and sleeper, too. But mainly just a healthy baby!

We will keep you udated!

The Best Friends in the WHOLE Wide World!

Today is Dan's interview. I have to admit it has gotten very hard for me to keep my perspective clear on this thing. Let's just face it, I am a drama queen. I confess. So it's pretty safe to say that my emotions often run away with me. I create these elaborate scenarios in my head. I know that I shouldn't because if I do I will more than likely be disappointed.

I realize it is doubtful that all of the people we meet with today will look at each other and feel the spirit leading them all at the same time to call us to this postion. I understand that there are certain protocol for situations like this. I know in my mind that they will not take us on a tour of my dream house that they have taken upon themselves to find and purchase for us. But in my mind's eye, I have a very elaborate idea of how things will go this afternoon.

I guess that's why the Lord has made it possible for me to accompany Dan at this interview. To knock a little sense back in to my overly active imagination. I wanted desperately to go. I wanted to make sure that I felt the same peace in this small town and loving church that I overwhelmingly felt at our last visit. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't my active imagination that created the connections I felt with the committee members. I also didn't want to have to hear about it second hand from Dan. He is a great storyteller but, bless his heart, he isn't the best about remembering the details of day to day. He might miss that one crucial facial expression, or be oblivious to that underlying question that everyone implied but didn't ever ask. Not that I will be vocal during the meeting, well, I am praying that God will help me, Today of all days, be the helper suitable that Dan deserves. I know Dan will represent us well whether I am present or not but to experience this first hand and be able to know right away if I can hold out hope or move on with my heart, that is a gift that I wasn't expecting.

Unfortunately, my good fortune comes at a price for those dear ones who are so willingly making it happen. Gerlthouse agreed to keep our clan this afternoon and into the night. They even offered to let the girls spend the night!! The only catch is, this is Chad's first real day off since he returned from a 10 day business trip! I am still a little ashamed of myself for even asking it of them but they are such gracious friends and hopefully they will give us the opportunity to return the dear favor. I am dealing with some guilt about it but I am also so very thankful to have this opportunity and a little time with just Dan.

We have so blessed by so many who have sacrificed for us in so many ways. Thank you Gerlthouse for your sacrifice of love and I am praying that God will bless you for it. What dear friends we have. Thank You, Lord, for this sweet treat right around V-Day and thank you for such loving, caring friends who make it possible!! We love you, Gerlts!

More Encouragement!

We got a call last night from the church in Iowa Park. When the phone started ringing I knew it would be an important call because I had just convinced Dan to sit and take a break with me from reading to watch the premiere of Lost. But regardless of our plans this was a call we were glad to take!

Dan is going back next Tuesday to meet with the Youth Workers/Volunteers. This is a very important meeting because these people are the backbone of the whole Youth Ministry Program. But we are really excited about this next step. Again we are trying not to get ahead of ourselves because you never know! We are trying to take this one step at a time.

My Mom has already reminded me that Iowa Park is only 3 hrs. away from them!!

One funny tidbit: The gentleman that called us and has been our contact person, presumably the chair of the committee told Dan that the only concern that was expressed about Dan during the meeting was a fear that he might be too gentle and calm to connect with the youth. hehehe.
I guess they didn't get a full view of Dan's character did they? They did ask me this question during our interview and I had to laugh!! IF this where God calls us, then they will find out soon enough, won't they?

Please be in prayer for us. We want to follow God's will for us and we really feel like full-time church ministry is a part of that will. SO we want to be sure that this is the place that God is calling us. We will let you know!! The interview is Tuesday, Feb., 13, at 5:30.

Blessed Encouragement! Heavenly Provision!

Dear Friends-

God is so good and He always knows our hearts. I sent up a prayer for some provision a couple of days ago and found the answer to that prayer sitting in my mailbox this afternoon. We recieved an anonymous gift of money in an envelope with no return address. The only message was this verse typed out,

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Attatched to the note was a money order for a not at all small amount. So, to our dear friends and co-laborers, Thank You!! Thank you for blessing us, thank you for being obedient to the Lord's leading, thank you for the encouragement, Thank you for the Love.

Thank You, Lord for your faithfulness. Even when I lifted up a tentitive prayer you listened, comforted, and proved faithful. I am so humbled by my Savior's care for us, even when we feel unworthy and undeserving. This is a fight worth fighting and we will follow our God down any road that He leads.

I have a sneaking suspicion that our friends at WSS has something to do with keeping this a mystery. The letter was folded like it arrived somewhere else first in its own letter and was post marked from Altoona, PA. But that is as far as my deduction skills will take me. But that is unimportant because this way I can give complete credit to my Lord and Savior who heard my prayer.

This journey has been one of the most wonderful I have ever taken. I hope that others will be encouraged by our journey. I realize that is will never end. I am thankful for that. We have been so blessed!

The interview on Tuesday went well. No matter how it works out we had a really good time. That counts for something. You can't always say that about interviews. It's hard for me not to fall in love with every church we visit as a prospect but I am doing a better job this time of keeping it all in perspective. I know that God has a church for us to serve in and in His time He will lead us there. I have to be patient and wait. So I am trying very hard to be patient but we really liked the church and people that we met.

Dan started his Seminary job today. He is an electrician. . . . At least he is learning a marketable skill. He is hoping to meet some people and forge some relationships, too.

That's the update for us. I'll let you know more as we learn more.

Reminiscing

I think David and Ellen and sweet baby Seth are going home today.
Every time a friend or loved one has their first baby I am reminded of my first baby experiences...


Leaving the hospital with that helpless little baby. Having to wait outside of the car for my Dad and Dan to hook up the car seat. The nurse saying "See you next year" and scoffing to myself, Yeah, right! (Prophesy?) Stopping at Wendy's for lunch on the way home!? Filling my pain med precription. The pain meds wearing off while I waited!! How I thought I didn't need any help. How ready I was to get home and do it myself. How bad it hurt when my milk came in for the first time. (Sorry guys, if there are any!) How mad I got at my sweet Mom for offering advice that I now know was great advice!! How greedy I was with my baby. How hard it was to figure out how Dan and I were supposed to work as parents. How tired I was!! (I didn't know anything about being tired yet!!) How I stubbornly did what ever I wanted regardless of the doctors orders on "no Stairs" and "No Driving". How hard it was to get my sweet baby to sleep. My first glimpse of her in the delivery/operating room. That overwhelming love for this tiny creature I was only meeting face to face for the first time. Figuring out what features she had from which side of the family. Trying to imagine her personality.

Those were such sweet times! I am so thankful that David and Ellen are making their own sweet memories to remember later. We have some pretty funny stories of late night fiascos. I hope, David and Ellen, that your memories are sweet, precious, and yes, even amusing!!

Here's to firsts!!

Our Poo-Poo Princess

We have had quite an eventful day at the B Casa!! Not only did we get a new cousin and nephew but another much anticipated and hoped for event happened this evening as well!!!

Elise pooped in the toilet BY HERSELF for the first time EVER!!

Now, some you may be thinking, is this really blog worthy information? Well, until you struggle with potty training a child don't even go there!!! Has anyone heard of the book, How to Potty Train in a Day? Well, I say to that, you have never met Elise B.!!! She can not be tricked, conjoled, guilted(not that I would EVER try to guilt my children into anything), or demanded to do anything until she is good and ready!! She can be forced. Everyone can be forced but the last time we tried to manipulate her to poop in the toilet was about 9 months ago.

We thought it was a great idea. Set up the TV in the bathroom and make her sit there until she poops. Well, you can see, 9 months later where that got us!

BUT tonight, (insert Hallelujah chorus) while the girls were taking a bath, Elise got out of the tub and went poop on the potty all of her own accord!!!

I might have mentioned previously that we cut a deal with Elise. I can't say I recommend that you negotiate with your children but potty training can really just throw all those rational ideas out of the water. Anyway, Elise kept saying that she would try when she got bigger. Well she turns 3 in Feb. I told her that 3 was bigger. I asked if she would start pooping in the potty when she turned 3. She said yes. Then Dan had the great idea to offer an early birhtday gift if she happened to do it ahead of time.

SOOO........Here is our Poo-Poo Princess and her very excited support group!

Welcome to the World!!

Our much anticipated and prayerfully hoped for nephew, Seth David, made his appearance into this big, big world today!!!

He tipped the scales at 7lbs. 5 oz. and 19 3/4 in. long! Baby and dear mother, Ellen, are doing well. I think Daddy David is doing ok, too.

Only one day after his expected arrival! I'd say that's pretty timely on his part but unfortunately he didn't have much to do with it. But I will leave all of those stories for his parents.

Our dear Seth, we pray God's blessings and love to you. May your mind hunger for the knowledge of God and your heart burn with the compassion of our Savior. I pray peace for your spirit, strength for your soul, and love for your heart. May you live to love our Savior and King all the days of your life and may that life be wholly honoring and pleasing to the God who created you.

David and Ellen, I pray confidence in Christ Jesus will accompany you each day that you strive to fulfill this honor of parenthood. I pray peace for your hearts, rest for your bodies, resolution and clear thinking for your minds, and joy for your souls! Enjoy the adventure!!

I Think Today is Going to be a Good Day!

Since we have Dan around more we are trying to make meal times a family event and priority. This is hardest on Dan because he has to be at class by 8 and the girls always want to spend time with Daddy in the morning. But I am so blessed to have a husband who makes these kind of priorities and then strives to really keep them. Part of our breakfast routine is to pray using our Pray for China daily calendar. It helps us focus on Christ and help the girls learn to pray with us and hopefully make missions an everyday part of our family. It has truly been a blessing for us as a family. We all go around the table and decide who or what to pray for. Everyone prays. Except, of course, Olivia. She has a pass until she can talk. But this morning Elise wanted to pray for Mommy. Dan always helps her with prayers so she was repeating what he said but my heart melted when I heard her sweet little voice say, "Thank you for such a great Mommy!"

I am thankful for such a great Danny! He is always so good to help the girls honor me with the correct language and attitude. I am so prayerful that my attitude and actions toward Dan will foster the correct submission and respect for their earthly and heavenly Fathers.

Yesterday, I spoke of hope and God is so faithful. We got a call from a church we have been in contact with and they want us to come for an interview!! SO, next Tuesday at 4 pm, please pray for us. We are determined not to get ahead of God on this one. I am trying to keep everything in perspective and keep my excitement in check. Unfortunately that isn't as hard as it once was. I see this as a hopeful event but I am a bit jaded by the whole process and able to keep my head a little better.

It is a very hopeful opportunity though. Dan sent in his finished questionarre yesterday and we received the invitation for an interview late last night. It is nice to feel persued. All you ladies know what I am talking about and I am sure you men who have been looking for a job know what I mean too.

Every day God is reminding me is subtle and not so subtle ways that He has a plan for us and we are in good hands.

It Takes a Little Faith

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Have you ever lost hope? How our perspective on life changes when we lose hope is astonishing. As long as there is a small bit of hope floating around in my heart then I can press forward. But the instant that hope is gone I am ready to throw in the towel. BUT, that's where the second part of the verse comes in, CONVICTION of things not seen. That's the part that hurts. To keep believing when nothing in your life shows any reason to believe.

That's faith. It applies to every part of your life. From the smallest cirmcustance to the largest.

Here's a small example from my life. We have been potty training Elise for at least 12 years. HA! That's how it feels anyway! No, it has been more like 8-10 months. I had lost hope. There was no signs of this taking hold anytime soon. My Mom gave me an egg timer. Something that LOTS of people suggested. But this little apple shaped egg timer brought hope to this sad, tired, little Momma. Now we are seeing some great improvements and she promises that she will poop in the potty when she turns 3! That's only a couple of weeks away. But hope made all the difference in our small circumstance. I was ready to invest in Pull Ups! I was in for the long haul and already thinking of what to tell her Kindergarten teacher, unless of course that ends up being me! Now that I have hope, I am prepared to stay the course!

Now for a big example from our lives. We left the dream job, in the most beautiful place in the world, living in the most beautiful house in the world and came to Texas with no job a more than twice smaller house, and the direct leading of the Lord. We started out with hope. Hope that God had a plan for us, a purpose for good and not harm. We are so blessed to say that despite the crazy journey we have been on that hope is still alive and well. If we didn't know without a shadow of a doubt that we are where God wants us it would just not be worth it!! But we have a CONVICTION of the Unseen!! That unseen for us right now is a position in a full-time church ministry position, and a Masters of Divinity. Right now, we don't have a job, Dan is throwing himself full-time into classes and we are waiting and waiting to hear from a church that feels God is leading us to serve with them. On the outside we look pretty hopeless! But we have an assurance in things hoped for and a conviction of things not yet seen. So, regardless of how our situation appears I have never been more content! IT does NOT make sense. But I am so thankful for so many things!! All of our needs are met; we have a pantry full of food, a freezer full of meat, all of our bills are paid. What else could we ask for? We get to see Dan lots right now and he has plenty of time to get his homework done so when he's home, he's OURS! I mean really, what else is there? I guess the only thing that would make me more content would be to have each and everyone of you right here with me to visit and laugh with. I might even make a chocolate chip cookie or two.

I hope you aren't short on hope right now. It makes all the difference in how you are able to look at your world and circumstances. Once you give up on hope then you might as well just give up!

But, it takes a little faith. I am so thankful that God blessed me with a husband who has taught me the joys and adventures of a life based on faith in a God so much bigger than anything I can imagine! But faith is a muscle that needs exercise and use. With out use it just turns into fat or withers away. As long as My God is the ruler of this world then there is hope!

Life Goes On

Well, it's the official start of the new spring semester for Dan at Southwestern. We are trying something new this semester. Dan is going to take a full course load and try to get a campus job. He must first finish his paper for the J-term class he just took. It's due tomorrow by 5pm. I have never been so ready for a class to be over with!! This J-term class was a lesson we learned the hard way! But I am so proud of Dan for sticking with it. Believe me it hasn't been easy! So once this paper is done and Dan begins his classes on Monday then it will be the official start of something new for us. Since we know that God has called us here to do this we are trying what ever we can think of to make it through with out sacrificing what is most important, our love for the Lord and our family. SO, this is the next step in trying to figure it all out.

I decided that with this new step it was time to stop living like we are in transition. I am so tired of thinking we might not be here long! I am tired of waiting for something big to happen. All of that waiting is distracting me from what God has for me right here and right now. I took a long hard look at how things WILL be changing for us, new semester, less income, hopefully more of Dan. And it's not all bad. We have lots of great friends in the area, a fantastic church, and a few churches who are still remotely intrested in us. We have family in the same state for the first time in 4 1/2 years. We have an opportunity to go back to White Sulphur Springs for the Senior Staff Reunion!!! Dan is going to have 24 credits at the end of this semester!! And the stomach bug has been absent from our home for at least 72 hours!! There is a lot to smile about around here. Did I mention we even got an inch of snow this week!!?

It's a little late but I have decided to look at this year as the year of opportunity. Every day holds some new opportunity and I am going to look it full in the face and make the best of each one. I have a friend who once said "Do the thing you fear!" That is my motto for the year. And right now, the scariest thing for me is to settle down into this turbulent, month by month life we are currently living. I could tell you some stories about how God has already provided for our family and the blessings we have encountered for following His leading in our life. Maybe someday it won't be so fresh on my heart and I will share them with you, but right now, they are just between my God and me. He is good, all the time. And this scary transitional permanence that has become my life is exactly what Abraham must have known. God told him to go and live as an alien. He did and he lived his life. I believe he had a good life and I believe Abraham was thankful for the life he had. I know God has a promised land for us too. It's just not time yet and if I can't be happy waiting, I don't think I will be happy in the promised land either.

It's easy to keep looking forward hoping that some THING will make our crazy messed up lives better. A new job, a new start, a new house, a new car, more income, better body, more sleep, more motivation, more whatever, a new whatever; IT'S A LIE!! None of that will make you happier. If you can't be happy in the circumstances you find yourself in then chances are you won't be much happier ever! Sure circumstances can change who we are, but we don't have to let that change be for the worse. See I didn't have the power to let this whole scary transitional life thing go until I realized how much I was holding on to it. That's when I gave it over to God and that doesn't mean I am cured of it.

I watched a movie the other day about a man who thought he was a total failure. His marriage failed, his kids were a mess, his ex-wife hated him, and people who didn't know him kept throwing stuff at him on the streets. He tried to write a novel and failed. Everyone ignored him and he had a volatile temper. He was a mess. He got this idea that if he got this super $1.2 mill a year job then his whole life would just magically float back together. His wife would love him again and his marriage would be fixed, his kids wouldn't be messed up and his sick dad wouldn't die. But the funny thing is, he never made any changes. He just expected it all to get better if he could just succeed at this one thing. He realized by the end of the movie that that wasn't the case. His dad died, his wife got remarried, his kids got into more trouble. The only thing about this movie that redeemed it a bit is the fact that this man started to take responsibility for his part in why things where the way they were. He started to slowly make changes and he did get the bazillion $ job. IT didn't change anything.

It's just a movie so it lacks the answers that I believe will truly change this man's life. But I don't. I know that I can not make any changes, make anything good happen in my life apart from my Savior's presence in my life. That's where real change is made!

So. To changes and to a new start and to doing the thing I fear!

BRRRR!!!

Texas weather is like no where else I have ever been. You never know what you might get except in West Texas where it is so flat. At least there you get to see the storm clouds rolling in about 1/2 a day in advance!

Right now it is cold!! I think the temp outside right now is in the upper 20's! And you know nothing says road trip like the threat of freezing rain!! Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to go visit Angie and Luke in Austin. I thought for sure that if I went south we would be safe and the weather would blow off by Sunday. Well, apparently, the weather was following us!! I woke up this morning after staying up most of the night with a very sick FaithLyn to find that the bad weather was coming straight for us and the threat of ice in Fort Worth was worse as the day went on! SO, naturally, I packed up all the kids, and a few extra plastic bags for FaithLyn, just in case, and we headed home!

I am not sure if Angie will ever let me come visit again. We were so tired from taking care of four kids that we weren't real enspired to do fun girly things. That was the intent of my visit. Anyway, Luke started feeling crummy with a 101 temp last night and FaithLyn reported that the food she had eaten for lunch hadn't been good to her tummy. We spent less than 24 hours there and most of those hours was filled with trying to comfort a sick child. Sorry, Ang, my intentions were good! But I am glad that I got to spend some time with Angie, regardless of the circumstances. It just doesn't happen often enough if you ask me!

But we made it home before the roads froze over. That is imminent any moment now!! SUnday school was cancelled this morning and the city is on the verge of pandemonium but I think now that we are safe at home we will all survive!!

Dan has been furiously plugging away at his assignments to complete this J-term class. He is really having to hit it hard. There is SO much work to get done between now and next Friday! The library will be closed tomorrow for MLK day so I hope Dan can still concentrate with all of us girls running around vying for his attention. I just hope no one else gets this stomach bug. I am really sick of everyone being sick!How many times do we have to run this stomach bug through our family?? AND does that say something about my housecleaning or is just a really persistent strain? I am choosing to believe the latter but think I know the truth behind that question. I guess you all know what I will be doing tomorrow? Cleaning the bathrooms!!

Hope you are all safe and warm. This is a pretty far reaching ice storm. Hope you get to enjoy a nice cup of Hot Chocolate!

The Sleeper has Awakened

There is no need to worry but this blogsite has been undergoing treatment for depression. It was totally unmotivated, slept for days, and did nothing for a whole month!! But I think I have coaxed this site out of hibernation and will try to return to normal updates. It's no wonder, Everyone says the holidays are the highest time for depression and suicide and all those sad things. This poor blog became one of the sad statistics.

I don't mean to be glib, depression is nothing to laugh at but I did take a nice long holiday from my computer and all of my computer habits, (or addictions) for a while. Honestly, I just hadn't been motivated to share anything for a while. But there is nothing like the threat of a really nasty day of housecleaning to bring back the desire to sit and share my thoughts!

Here is the only family pic I have of the holidays. Ok, I am really holding back. There is one picture that includes me but I reserve the right to withhold any picture that I feel is not flattering! Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have to record the visit of Mimi and PopPop. They took the picture before church but we don't have any with them in it!! I really fell down on the job this holiday season. I don't have much to show of wonderful Christmas season!

But let's get back to the details. Dan's parents came for a whirlwind visit the weekend of the 16th and we enjoyed having them so much!! The girls loved taking them to the Cowgirls Hall of Fame Museum. I missed that one but heard they had a great time in the huge water fountain out front! Too bad we don't have that on tape!! I heard it was America's Funniest Home Videos worthy.

The Wednesday after Mimi and PopPop left the girls and I loaded up and headed for long visit at Nana and Papa's house. We had a great time! It took us a few days to figure out how to make the best use of our small space, especially since Angie and Luke were there also and Dan and Uncle Brett and Tres Arnold would be joining us on Saturday, the 23rd! We got creative and made it work. Unfortunately, we all passed around a nasty stomach bug, but enjoyed our time together nonetheless.

My favorite thing about being at Mom and Dad's was that we got to spend some good time with my grandparents, the girl's great-grandparents! My Memaw and Papaw moved to be closer to Mom and Dad so they are living right behind the house in shouting distance! It was so fun to see the girls react with and learn to love the grandparents I have always loved!

This isn't the greatest pic but I love it anyway. FaithLyn decided to walk with Memaw to the mailbox. Not a big deal but it melted my heart to hear her chattering away with my Memaw just like I used to. These moments are the things that I hope to remember and hold on to for a long time.

We went and ate Christmas dinner with my other grandparents, Memaw and PawPaw Wayne. Memaw always has lots of food and the homemade pumpkin pie is always the focal point of the meal!! She has learned to make two so that family feuds don't errupt over that silly pie! We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked because Dad was home sick with the stomach bug so we all rushed back to make sure he didn't enjoy his few hours of peace and quiet too much! The girls were especially sad to go because they made fast friends with their cousin Zeah who was also there for the day.

Olivia has always adored her Nana. They have a very special relationship, Nana does what ever she wants and that has bonded them together until the ends of time! This is the only picture I have to document their time together but I am not kidding that this child has it fugured out!! She knew who to go to get her needs met!! It was lots of fun while we were there but the 5 and 1/2 hour drive home we sure did pay for it!! The seperation was just too much for Olivia and she screamed for Na-Na just about 5 hours of that 5 and 1/2 hour drive!!

But really, I am so thankful that the girls love their grandparents and great grandparents!! We had a lovely time with family. AND cousin Luke eventually warmed up to Aunt Kelli. It took a while but he finally taught me how to play and we had lots of fun tickling and chasing each other!

Nana and Papa got the girls a new kitchen for Christmas. The girls were so excited but we couldn't put it together until we got home. They have had more fun with this kitchen!! Thanks Nana and Papa!!

I wish that I could say our return home was just as lovely but let's face it coming home from a long trip is never as good as you imagine it to be!! The piles of laundry, the suitcases to be unpacked and put away, the reality of a home that you left in a rush, It is still home, though and we were glad to get back to our small space where at least our stuff fits.

On Saturday after we returned I was awakened by a sad croupy coughing Elise. We got her comfortable and back to sleep and then Olivia woke up coughing but not with croup. So we had two very sick little girls and then Daddy got a second visit from the stomach bug and we ended up taking him to the emergency room with abdominal pain. IT was pretty scary, he couldn't even stand up straight but thank goodness it wasn't anything serious. Just a nasty case of stomach flu! I don't think Dan was thankful but I was sure thankful it wasn't something worse! The girls didn't mind because they got to spend some time with their friends Grace Anne, Gibson, and Hayden Mize while daddy was in the ER. Thankfully we didn't, as far as I know, pass on any of the illnesses to them.

Once we got Dan on the up and up we had a great week together. We really enjoyed having Daddy around for meals and bedtime. This week Dan started his J-term class and is sitting through 8 hours of lecture a day!! I am not sure there is a professor on this earth that could make that fun! But it will be worth it when all the work is done and he is one class closer to finishing! We are still glad to have him for meals and bedtime! That's one trend we would be grateful to keep up!! We didn't realize just how much we had been missing having Daddy around. Dan and I have been ecouraged about his choice to quit his job. We have experienced immediate rewards with the girls. They are doing so much better and we can tell that not having Daddy around as much taking a toll on them.

We are still trying to wait patiently to hear back from Jacksonville on the position we interviewed for in December. We just can't quit thinking about it and hoping for it. We are in a very new place right now. We have always trusted God to lead us but He has always shown us the way before we started hoping for it. This time we are waiting to see what God has for us, knowing He has something perfect for us, but at the same hoping and praying that this is what He has. We have both been afraid to go ahead of God in hoping for this position but at the same time want to have faith that what we are feeling, this hope, is from the Lord. Either way, we know that God is in control and we are satisfied with HIS best for us. Right now we are enjoying more family time!!

I forgot to mention Dan and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary! We are thankful for God's blessing on our marriage and hope to experience that blessing for many, many years to come!