Morning brew...

I woke up this morning with a lot on my mind. Nothing bad, just a lot that has been going on. I have some friends that have been going through some rough things and today they all seem to be on my mind...

A family that means a lot to my husband and myself has had it rough. The mother is one of the sweetest women you will ever meet. She recently lost her mother. Then, the family lost an aunt. They had a dog who just had puppies but didn't do well after; They had to put her down. Then, the puppies began to die. I know it has been a rough few weeks for this family. There is a lot going on beyond that, but that is just the last few weeks... They have been in my thoughts and prayers a lot lately.

Several other family members and friends of mine have had losses in the last few weeks. An aunt lost her father. An uncle lost two family members. An aunt was diagnosed with cancer. Several people have lost jobs. They all cross my mind and I wish I could do more to help, but I can't. So instead, I pray.

At the same time that death and loss seem to be so near, there is also life. Many friends of mine (at least 14) are expecting additions to their families. One is welcoming her little one today, a few others are due any day, and some just found out. I think of when my two were small. I remember all the little joys and blessings that those tiny bundles bring with them. I look at my two and see how much they have grown and I am amazed.

I have also been thinking of the house we just moved into. I've been trying to get things moved in, but it is taking a while... My business is picking up and doing well. With that comes more work, and some concern about what direction to take... There are several other personal issues that have been weighing on my mind, in addition to thinking of my friends and family...

So this morning, as I got ready and took Ayla to school, my mind was full. I admit I was a little heavy hearted about all of the things on my mind. When I got home, my husband was getting ready for work. As we talked, we both were a little short with one another and I realized something.

As much as I had things on my mind, I know he has things on his. A very difficult issue has come up in his family, and he is hoping for a promotion at work, plus he has been having some health issues, and he has the concern of providing for me and the kids. As often as I worry about the house, or the bills, or the kids, I know he is worried too. He works very hard to provide, and sometimes it seems as though no matter how hard he tries it isn't enough... I know inside, that I always know he is worried about things. I was just so caught up in my own thoughts today, that once I remembered this... well, to be honest... I felt a little ashamed.

My husband goes above and beyond. He does little things (like getting up at 6 am to move the garbage can, or taking a PTO day to take care of the kids because I was sick, or all the things he did for my birthday this year). Of all the people that should be in my thoughts and prayers, he should be at the top of the list. Most the time he is, but today he wasn't... for some reason I just needed to share this. I know we all have times when the world sits so heavy on our shoulders that we can't seem to remember that there are other people out there...

There is a country song that comes to mind... Sawyer Brown sings a song titled 'They Don't Understand'. The chorus goes like this...

(They don't understand)

Everybody's busy with their own situation

Everybody's lost in their own little world

Bottled up, hurry it up trying to make a dream come true

(They don't understand)

Everybody's living like there ain't no tomorrow

Maybe we should stop and take a little time

Cause you never really know what your neighbor's going through

(They don't understand)

Every time I hear this song, it makes me cry. I just felt as though I should share my morning thoughts... For all of you who take the time to read this, I ask you to do something.

Take a minute, right now, and think. I am sure you have issues in your life. I know you probably have a lot on your minds. I'm sure you have needs... but for just a minute, think of someone you know who could use a special gift today. Maybe they have had a loss, or just received a blessing, or maybe they hold a special place in your life... Pray for them. Just lift them up before God. Thank Him for placing that person in your life. Acknowledge something special about that person and ask God to bless that person, just for being a part of your life. If you want, do something special for that person, go ahead. But most important - just remember them in prayer...

Thanks again for listening to me... May God bless each of you!

Fluffy

Alright, I know I am from Montana. It is a normal occurrence to have feet of snow on the ground. It is normal to have snow nine months out of the year. It is normal for people to drive in feet of snow and schools do not close down until it is twenty below with three feet of snow.

That being said, I now live in Georgia. It rarely snows in Georgia. There are no snow plows, snow tires, or snow shovels. Schools close down if there is simply a chance of snow. If there is snow in the forecast, people flock to the local supermarket and load up on milk, eggs, and bread, as though the world were coming to an end. They bundle up as though a single snow flake has the power to kill. 'It hasn't snowed for decades', 'it never snows here'... plenty of people have told me things like this. I know of teenagers here who have never seen a real snow flake in their lives. And yet, in the past four years that we have been here it has snowed almost every year.

Do you hear me complain? No. Do you see me make an extra trip to the grocery store? No. Do you see me walk outside in two inches of snow without a parka, long underwear, snow boots, and gloves? Probably. I never thought I would miss the snow. Ten months a year of defrosting the car, scraping the windshield, and shoveling walks... and yet every time it snows down here I get a little giddy. Memories of white Christmas's, the taste of real maple syrup on fresh snow, snowball fights and snow angels all come rushing back. It reminds me of my family and friends in Montana. It reminds me of my grandparents farm.

And I guess, especially today, it reminds me of the simple pleasure of watching a big, fluffy, white snow flake floating from the sky. I hear my kids ooooh and aaaah over the sight of growing piles of snow. They giggle and beg to go out and play... and somewhere deep inside I remember what it feels like... I remember how it used to be...

I dedicate this post to two special people who are no longer making snow angels... Clarence Tackes and Ron Imel... You two have left a lasting memory within my heart. Thank you for sending me some snow for my birthday!

Decorating the new house...

In the master bath, I decorated with chocolate rugs and towels. I am also going to add some gold accents. It is very rich colored!

In the kids bathroom, with blue and green striped walls, we wanted a theme that would work for both Ayla and Zach. I found these adorable frogs and they matched wonderfully!!!

I still have a lot of decorating to do - pictures to hang, vases to fill, and floors to clean (LOL). Once I get things finished in each room, I will post new pictures. Of course, anyone who is in the area is welcome to stop by and have a look for themselves!

Pictures of the new house, before we settle in...

This is our new house!

The Kitchen

The Living Room

The Breakfast Bar and Front Door

The Dining Room

The Kids Bathroom

Ayla's Room

Zach's Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

This is how everything looked when we moved in this last weekend. I am slowly getting things put away and finding decorations. I will post more pics as I go along...

Thanks to everyone who prayed and helped - especially Torina and Lisa for watching Zach while I packed and Jon and Adam for helping Bryan move the furniture...

MOVING!

Alright, so I just got off the phone with our new landlord! YES!!! We got the house. We meet with Jonathan to sign the paperwork tomorrow afternoon. Next week, we will start moving our things over to the new house! I will update this post with pictures as we get things settled. I just had to share the news with everyone who has been praying with us. Thank you all so much!!!

A home of our own...

In March of 2008 we were living in a 2 bedroom apartment. My husband, myself, our daughter and our baby boy; all in a 2 bedroom apartment... We decided we needed more room. We began looking for a house to purchase.
It wasn't long before we found the home we are in now. It was newly built, never lived in. It sits in a quiet, little subdivision, back off the main road. It is 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, 2 car garage with large living room and huge laundry room.
We quickly found out, due to earlier issues, we couldn't buy right away. So instead, we decided to do a lease-purchase. After a year, we tried to do our purchase again. We ran into problems again... So we resigned a lease and continued to hope. Until this past fall. The managment company switched hands. The new management was not very nice. They were very impatient and not at all understanding. Sometimes they were even rude.
Then, last month, we found out that the management company we have been paying has not been paying their bills. They were forclosed on. So we lost all our down payment and had to make a choice. Do we stay in a house that we no longer really love and resign a whole new lease with a whole new company, or do we start over. Well, we found out the bank wants to sell the houses... so we started looking for something else.
After hours of looking through ads, surfing sites online, and making phone calls, we found several properties that fit our budget, our size needs, and our neighborhood preferences. Unfortunately, many of them had already been rented, or were in horrible condition... On the verge of giving up I stumbled upon a certain house. The photos online made it look wonderful. The price was the same as what we pay now. The size is a little smaller, but the yard is larger. It is a little further from Bryan's work and Ayla's school, but it is still close to church and the rest of town.
So, the question is whether or not it is available. After talking with the super nice realtor, we find out it is open. So we fill out an application... now all that is left is to wait and hear from the owner... He called. He is very nice. We are going to meet him and walk through the property Saturday afternoon....
So we went to look at the house. It is WONDERFUL! The yard needs a little work, but it is 3 times as large as the yard we have now! It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with hardwood floors in most of the rooms. It is so cute! We just have to pay the deposit, and pet deposit, and first months rent. Thankfully, I get a stipend check this week from the college I attend. It should pay it all! We just have to pay before anyone else takes the house. I really feel though, that this place is the right place. We certainly appreciate all the prayers from those who knew about the situation. We would also love you all to continue to pray that we can pay quickly and get moved in without too much hassle.
We are trusting that this is our new home. Today a dear friend of mine is coming over to keep an eye on Zachary while I start to pack and clean. Tomorrow, Zach is going to a family member's house to play so I can work some more. Then the rest of the week, I will be packing little by little. We will keep you all updated as things progress!!!

Waiting

rumble..... rumble.....

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what? I didn't hear anything"

"Listen..."

rumble..... rumble.....

"That!"

"Yeah, so... what is it?"
"I dunno"

rumble..... rumble.....

"Hey, is it just me or is it getting closer?"

"Yeah, what is it? Can you see anything?"

"No. Shhhh......"

rumble..... rumble......

"Oh no!"
"What? Can you see it?"

"Uh huh...."

rumble..... rumble.....

"RUN!"

"What is it?"
"It's her!"

"Who?"
"HIS BRIDE!!!!"

.........

Let me have the kind of faith, so that with each step I take in my walk with the Lord, all of Hell will be shaken...

After a time of trials, I am standing - Now, tonight. I know that within the next few days I will have some amazing news to share with you all....

So stay tuned!