So Much

There is so much to say.  God is so very faithful to us.  So kind to us.  "How?" you ask...

House News...
We put our house on the market February 1st.  We asked many of you to pray that God would bring a buyer in the month of February.  Because of timing, we planned to only give selling a chance for one month, and then we would try to rent it.  For 20 days, we had house showings nearly every single day...some days up to five showings.  Then....an offer, some negotiations, under contract, inspection, appraisal, and now we're 2 1/2 weeks away from handing the keys over at closing.  Wow! 

so thankful for this home

The plan is to sell everything--EVERYTHING--(have sort of an estate sale) on the 24th, move into a hotel for a few weeks, then settle into my parents home after that.  This is nuts...almost 12 years of marriage, 3 kids, and a 5 bedroom, 3 story house...that's a lot of stuff!  But, oh how amazing this journey has been.  We have moments of getting sentimental over things (and we ARE keeping a few boxes of keepsakes), but mostly, it is a liberating feeling to start to release all our possessions.  (And if you are wondering about Corey's folks and grandma...they are in a season of waiting and trusting and praying, etc. right now as well.  They are in the process of buying a house in Virginia, trying to sell their house in Texas, and about to move into temporary housing next week!  We are all just taking it one day at a time!!)

Church News...
Oh how we love our church.  God is at work here and it seems to be growing and thriving more than ever.  Each time we are with our church family we ache with gratefulness for the REAL fellowship and community that we are experiencing here.  On Sunday, our church family voted 100% for the new pastor that will be replacing Corey.   We are certain that God has brought this new family into our body at this time.  That is not to say that it isn't bittersweet to be with them and that there are not MANY tears throughout this process, but we are filled with JOY over this confirmation.  I can't even type this without tears dripping from my chin.  More to say...another day. ;)

Family News...
We are treasuring these recent few days...my two sisters are in town, as well as my oldest sister's 3 children.  We haven't all three been together in almost 7 years.  !!!  I know!!  We've all seen each other...just not the THREE of us together!  I'm putting all the house stuff on hold while we spend a couple days just enjoying each others' company.

Lots more posts coming...the old, the new, the normal....you know, like the fact that I need to go unclog a bathroom sink that Benji filled with water and toilet paper....

A Story and A Song

Here's a update for ya...our house is on the market!  Yep, the reality of packing our bags to head overseas is sinking in.  Feelings of excitement and fear are swirling around us.  Getting a house ready to sell with 8 people and 2 dogs has been an event, and I'm sure I haven't been very gracious through it all.  I'm especially thankful for a hard-working husband, a mother-in-law who has helped me chip away at the mountain of laundry, and 3 little boys who have trusted their parents in a very confusing time.  They've watched many of their toys get boxed up and sent to storage and they have happily offered them up with only a few questions.  I think God is preparing their little hearts.  No, I KNOW He is.  For example...

Corey spent some time in family devotions recently teaching on some of the parables of Jesus.  CJ really liked these stories and seemed to understand their meaning.  One day recently...

CJ:  Mama, how many people do you think will believe in Jesus in Central Asia?
Me:  Oh, I don't know...
CJ:  I think just ONE will believe.
Me:  Oh, really?  Well, wouldn't it be worth it for us to go and tell that ONE?
CJ:  --pause-- Mama, we're Shepherds!
Me:  Yep, CJ, we are Shepherds.
CJ:  We're like REAL Shepherds.  We're going to get the ONE LOST SHEEP in Central Asia!
Me:  --pause--tears--pause--  YES, CJ...you are exactly right.

For some context:      [3] So he told them this parable: [4] “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
(Luke 15:3-7 ESV)

And now a song...this little ditty has resurfaced in our house after I found an old VBS cd.  We also hear it on the radio occasionally.  What's funny is that they sing this chorus the right way (mostly) here.  Usually they add many of their own lyrics about how God can move buildings and oceans.  I love that God is so strong and mighty in their eyes.

Rewinding 2011: School Dayz

Remember the "H" word?  Well, we decided to give it a go this year as well.  I started homeschooling CJ and Will both at a K-5 level (practically the same as K-4), while Benji worked on preschool workbooks and puzzles.  We joined a homeschooling group where the boys learn new material in class once a week, as well as other fun things like science, art, and music projects.  We are all enjoying it and learning a lot together.  CJ is an absolute SPONGE and cannot get enough information.  Will's mind wanders a bit and he gets tired pretty easily, but he loves it too.  Ben is a fireball and makes teaching the other two quite a challenge, but he's getting more interested in coloring and gluing (yikes!) these days.  All in all, we are loving the start of the school year and look forward to the days to come!  Here are my attempts at the first day of school pics:

CJ-my big kindergartener

Will-ready for K-4 (5)

sweet blurry boys

oh well...time to go!

Rewinding 2011: Fall

We kicked the fall season off with a Labor Day weekend getaway.  Some friends allowed us to use their vacation home at a ski resort in West Virginia.  It is never completely relaxing with three little ones, but we sure did enjoy our family time away from the normal routines of life.

watching spiders and fish

deer watching

found a fish hatchery

the orange ones for william

king of the stump

rode the durbin rocket

real train whistles are loud!

First day of school up next...

FULL

I'm sorry for the long delay in updating the blog.  Life is just FULL these days.  Fuller than ever.

Our house is FULL...Corey's parents and grandmother are relocating to Virginia and have been staying with us for just over a month now.  It has been so fun having them around, but an adjustment for sure!  There are now 8 people and 2 dogs in here!

Our life is FULL...Just to give you a glimpse, here is a list of the blog posts that I've been working on to catch everyone up on the Fall of 2011 and Winter of 2012 so far:  garden, vacation, homeschooling, mason, roths' visit, will's birthday, ticonderoga, corey's birthday, zoo, ben's head, thanksgiving, cakes, ben's birthday, christmas, etc.
Terrible, isn't it?  I tried to motivate myself with that "blog marathon" a while back, but I think I got kicked out of the race.  Besides blogging for the small following of readers, I also do this for myself...to remember all this stuff!  We're getting the blog printed so we can keep it like a scrapbook for years to come.  So, I WILL catch up...eventually.

Our brains are FULL...decisions, decisions...what-ifs...and so on.  We are still on the path of pursuing an overseas job.  Medical clearances (done!!), job opportunities, replacements, house plans, etc. have been just some of the things on the agenda lately.  We are continuing to ask God for wisdom and ask you to continue to do the same...thank you for praying.  This is all so scary and exciting!

Our hearts are FULL.  I continue to stand in awe at the blessings that surround me.  Maybe I'm just going through a phase, or maybe it's because thinking of leaving puts a lot of things in perspective, but I've been brought to tears left and right lately.  I don't deserve God's mercy and grace...and yet He pours it out in abundance over me.

With the new year comes goals and plans and resolutions.  I'm trying to focus on one thing this year...well--this life!...here are some lyrics from a current favorite of ours...

What would make a man so bold
Make a woman lay her own life down
Only one thing
Jesus Christ, Magnified
All over the world
Lifted High, glorified
All over the world
Only One thing
Is Worth everything
Jesus Christ, Magnified
All over the world

One Thing by Matt Papa

like it so much we gave these cd's to all the youth

Bear with me as I seek to balance all that's going on and still try to keep recording all the fun here!

Happy Anniversary

Both my and Corey's parents celebrate 38 years of marriage this month (14th and 22nd, respectively).  We are so grateful for them and God's promises that have sustained them all these years.  Here's to many more!