A Real Work Week!

Today Gary actually had to go to work! :) We truly have been spoiled with the extra time together. Today begins our first "work week" at our new home. I"m thankful for so many things in this home. One of them being the dishwasher! Who knew one of the keys to happiness was not having to do dishes? I am really enjoying cooking again! A few months back I got to go to Amish country with Jackie and Connie and I bought a Mennonite Cookbook. I've made three new things from it already, as well as pies recommended to me from Pillsbury's website. All delicious! I did tell Gary, though, if we're going to eat like Mennonites, we'll need to work like them. This stuff is very high calorie!

I'm also enjoying having more windows. I'm seeing they will be a lot of work to wash this spring, and dusting this morning took longer than the old apartment, but what a joy to be able to look outside and see God's creation. And natural light!!! And NOT be looking right into someone else's house. :) I can't help but wonder how much people can see in through the curtains we have. A whole area of the house has no curtains because the nearest place would have to have binoculars to see in. I'm excited to see what Spring brings. We have many trees and to see them bloom and grow, then change in the fall will be awesome. I also know that there will be flowers. Those might not live past this spring, but I'll do my best! We have a blacktop driveway and large garage so we won't have to walk down the street to a parking lot to ride bikes... we also have a yard where we'll have plenty of room for running, swinging, playing ball and a garden.

I try not to be someone who takes things for granted, and I also feel weird mentioning the things i'm thankful for, as if I'm bragging. I assure you that is not my intention. I really just feel led to record things going on in our lives, and part of that is this move, the blessing of this house and I want it in writing how thankful I am to the Lord, and to Gary for his hard work, to make this home ours here on earth. I know so many dear to my heart and strangers alike, who struggle daily with even the basic necessities. I feel like as I pray and ask God to provide for those, I need to also thank him for providing for us. And He has. He always has. There have been times where we too struggled, and people came beside us and encouraged us, prayed for us, and gave us gifts of generosity. I know that they were tools used by God and I pray I too can be an encouragement, a faithful prayer warrior, and someone who shares.

Gary's parents returned safely from their trip out of the country. They had a wonderful, restful time even though it was a work trip. I"m excited to hear more about it and see pictures of the sun! A friend from High School's 4 month old daughter had surgery to remove what turned out to be a cyst on her brain. They thought it was a tumor. What relief they must have felt when the surgery was so successful. Having a 4-month-old myself, that one was easy to pray for. Many other friends and family members have great prayer needs right now. I make new year "goals" most of the time, thigns I want to improve so that i don't "fail" and give up. I also usually use Lent as an opportunity to reasses and recharge those goals. This year I heard something on the radio about not only giving up something for Lent, but "taking up" something for Lent. Taking up something for 40 days seemed like a great idea. I decided to make a commitment to walk on my treadmill and pray every single day. I've not done it to be honest, but the praying I"ve done. :) I'm excited about it because I hope it will create a habit that I definately want. What good is a treadmill you don't use?

Now that we're moved in, and hopefully getting into a routine, I'm also excited to get back to some things I've not TAKEN time to do for months, like memorize scripture. So I leave you with a few passages that have touched me this weekend/week. I hope they encourage you too.

Phillipians 4:4-20 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.¹⁴Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. ¹⁷Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. ¹⁸I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

²⁰To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

And Isaiah 40- I love the whole chapter, but especially these more well known verses--28-31.

²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Tyler and Grace playing trains at the Hartville Kitchen

We're HOME!

We're in our new house!! We moved on Saturday and could not have done it without such wonderful help. We were pretty nervous about the amount of help we'd get and Gary started asking everyone we knew. :) Thankfully some of his OUTSTANDING co-workers came and their willing hands were greatly appreciated. We also had lots of help from people from our church. Our last move we had tons of Grace Community Church help too. Then it was help from our parent's church friends and family. Now it's our church family. That church is a huge blessing for our family and we're so thankful to live in a time and nation where we can have that freely.

We brought over about 20 van loads of belongings before moving day and we still filled a 24 foot truck, a very large trailer and had to go back for more in the van! We have just way too much stuff. A lot of it is kids clothing and toys which Esther will be growing into soon. I told Gary we are NOT moving again until the kids are old enough to help! That being said, they were very well behaved through the entire process. I"m so thankful they play so well together. I know that they were disappointed to get so little playtime with me though. It's hard to balance it all and I know it will be worth it, but it's still hard to tell your kids "no" when they ask you if you will play with them. On moving day they went to stay with Mary Mills for the day. They still talk about what a fun day it was, and I"m so glad! They loved seeing the new house when we got here and they got to see Papa and Mr. Ben, two of their hero's. It was cute to see them walking around and seeing all of their stuff at the new place. They were concerned that there was still more to get but I assured them, everything was here. They didn't believe me until we went to the apartment this week to clean and they saw how empty it was! Grace was cute that night, she asked me why we didn't bring our beds back to sleep in. Funny how no matter how many times and ways you explain something, it just has to sink in on it's own. We got moved in Saturday, enjoyed a good night sleep (the kids were asleep before I left their rooms practically) and a wonderful church service Sunday. Gary's dad helped with a few odds and ends (like the swing set) on Sunday and Monday before he headed off to Grand Cayman on Tuesday. Wish we were there!! I was thankful for Gary having Presidents Day off because we were able to tackle a lot that day. Tuesday we relaxed more and enjoyed his snow day! We did get some things unpacked but my focus shifted to "living" and getting back on a routine with the kids. What a wonderful way to start a new home, with a family day! Gary went into work for an hour or two and then to Walmart. Walmart is wonderful and horrible at the same time. It's great for one-stop-shopping but the madness and the slow lines don't really help you save any time I don't think...hopefully not having the kids and I helped him some. :) You can imagine our surprise when we woke up Wednesday to yet another snow day! Gary worked some that morning but spent the afternoon at home relaxing and I'm glad. He won't have another good break now until June when we travel to NC for Josh's wedding. Unless we get more snow of course. The greatest thing has been being able to watch the Olympics as a family. The kids go to bed before too much comes on, but sometimes we have it on in the afternoon and have the update videos from the Internet going.

At this point we're pretty well unpacked. Once the trash goes out tonight I'll have a little more space to finish the "school" room which I'm sure I'll change multiple times anyways. Tomorrow we're having my mom and Bev come visit for the day and then when Gary gets home, after a funeral home viewing, we'll do dinner together. That will be nice, to have company! Last night we got to show the house off to the Mills which was very fun for me.

Last Friday, before the move, Esther had her 3/4 month checkup. She's 25 inches long and 13.3 pounds. I"m SURE the pounds are wrong but they were not concerned as it showed an adequate amount of growth. Her length is in the 90th %ile and her weight, somewhere right around 50th. She's a little congested but nothing in her lungs and she's "happy as a lark". Again we're so thankful for her being so easygoing.

This week was a wonderful first week in our new home, but some sadness too as a friend of Gary's from High School Youth Group passed away unexpectedly. He was 30. I never met him but from what I've read on face book and heard from Gary, he was a man after God's own heart. Our prayers and sympathy go out to fellow friends, and family. We also praise the Lord for a life lived for Him, and the knowledge that we'll see him again in heaven. This house is our home, we Love it and are thankful for it. We'll make many lasting memories here, but we also know that our TRUE HOME is in heaven with the Lord.

The Fury of February!!

As my mom's cousin Charlotte would say "HOLY MAN!"

We started the month with travels. Gary had a tech conference in Columbus to attend with his co-workers and I went to the Kellogg's to help them out with babysitting Faith. Her mom usually does it and got stuck in North Carolina with family when they got almost of a foot of snow! It was a great time and it was good for me to get away and not sit at home. Of course I lost 4 days of packing!! Yikes! We got our keys when we got back (Wednesday) and spent the evening checking the place out. The previous owners left us a sweet letter letting us know a little bit about the history of the home. We are excited to make it our own and build years of sweet memories just as they did. The past week is a bit of a blurr, however I do know we got almost 2 feet of snow and have taken at least 20 van loads of belongings to the new house! My mom came for a couple days to help clean and also paint the girls room purple. The Bush's have also been a huge help getting the drive shoveled, cleaning, and moving things. The whole house is now clean (it was in GREAT shape but empty 6+ months and so we gave it a good scrubbing) and ready for us to move on Saturday. We had some panic with the snow about not getting enough help, but I think with some additional help from some of Gary's co-workers we'll be set. If we can get the furniture over, I know Gary and I can finish the rest.

In the midst of the madness we had the tremendous privilege of traveling to my mom's house for my brother's wedding! It was a sweet ceremony with immediate family at my mom's house with dinner afterwards. It was pretty quickly planned (probably not to them!) and I told Joshua "It's like you are eloping and we get to come!" I'm so thankful to have gotten to be a part of such a special day. Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and it's such an amazing way for people to be in relationship and grow closer to Him. We pray God's richest blessings of happiness, love, grace and mercy for them!

The kids are still awesome. Tyler and Grace are suffering from lack of attention and structure but other than some minor behavioral changes (which I hope to quickly correct in the next month!) they are doing well and very excited about the move. Getting to spend so much time at the house has really helped them get excited about and, hopefully, will make for a smoother transition. Esther is also doing well and we're thankful beyond words that she's so easygoing. We've only been able to pull this off so quickly because of help from others, and Esther's willingness to just sit and watch the action.

To close I want to mention Gary's grandma, Evelyn. She passed away a year ago today and we miss her dearly. We're blessed to know she had a personal relationship with Jesus and knew him as her Savior. Because of that we have assurance that she is in heaven, and because of our own salvation, we will be with her again someday. As we've gone through this process with the house, I've thought a lot about the promise Gary and I made on our wedding day to build a "household of faith". We're both blessed to have people in our lives who've gone before us to show us how, and to show us that persevering and not giving up on each other, leads to great rewards in the end. We love you Grandma!