the house that God built

The honeymoon phase is over… But the house is still amazing!

Sometimes we think, oh, surely… surely if I get this or if that happens… surely then I will be happy, we will be better, things will be lovely... but the truth is, we bring ourselves into every new and better thing!

Even in a new home, the issues we face are those we brought with us; off kilter schedules, differing opinions, unpleasant habits…

So, the true method is to greet each day with a new measure of grace. Grace for ourselves and for one another.

And be thankful for all of the places we are in, the new and the old, the challenging and the exciting. 

Truly grateful to live in the house that God built!

Oh mama where ya been?

This is what I'm into, what I'm up to, where I've been sort of update....

What I'm into… Well, our family has moved... The dream house is a dream and is no longer a dream.. it's reality!  It is a dream because honestly it is utterly amazing!

This is the house that God built. 

So what else is new? I am privileged to be able to take part in leadership training through my work and I'm excited because it will apply so well to many areas of my life, not just at work.

I'm dealing with some new physical challenges that are redirecting me from the computer... and dreaming of working someday with people. I am on a team that is developing a feasibility study for our area which will provide us some input for growth. If I have my way, I will spend my 50's and 60's running a community center and being a liaison between people and local resources, sharing Christ where I can!

Raising Money for our Dream Home!

This is completely an advertisement.
I sorted out a pile of my books to start the process of purging and packing - and came across a pile that I will be giving to our local used bookstore. BUT.

Before I do that, I thought I would offer them to you, my dear readers.

They are almost all in excellent condition, with many of the cookbooks unread! Everything below is available for a minimum donation of $1 each.  I will gladly send photos! I can ship and I can take a check, paypal, or you can use our gofundme to support this endeavor (gofundme minimum is $5) This is easier than half.com!

Food:
Once a Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg c1992
Chocolate Cake Mix Doctor Anne Byrn c2001
Weeknight Wonders Ellie Krieger c2013
BHG 365 Comfort Foods c2014
Fix it and Forget it New Cookbook Phyllis Good c2013
Soup Night Maggie Stuckey c2013
225 Best Pressure Cooker Recipes Cinda Chavich c2013
The Artisan Bread Machine Judith Fertig c2011
Mug Cakes Leslie Bilderback c2013
Betty Crockers Kids Cook! c1999
BHG New Junior Cookbook c2004
American Girls - Kirsten's Cook Book, Samantha's Cook Book, Addy's Cook Book c1994

Other:
What not to wear for every occasion Woodall & Constantine c2003
The Kids' Nature Book Susan Milord c1989
People in History Fiona Macdonald c2001
Harry - three book set Gene Zion
Amelia Hits the Road & Amelia Writes Again - Marisa Moss c1996
Samantha An American Girl - books 1,3,4,5,6 (and book 4 Happy Birthday Kirsten)
Madeline - Ludwig Bemelmans (four books)
The Mysterious Benedict Society books 1-3
Redwall Brian Jacques c1986
Seven Jen Hatmaker c2012
How to Study the Bible for yourself - Tim Lahaye c2006
Doctrine Driscoll & Breshears c2010
The Wind in the Willows - Sterling Publishing
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Sterling Publishing

The Jungle Book - Sterling Publishing

Home and...

Today is the very last day of school for the three...
(note to self, take last day next year off work)

The dogs aren't happy with the weather, as their walks are limited...
(note to self, find doggy coats, ha!)

I don't really feel like I'm at home yet.. because I've not been.. daily working and nightly errand running with one or more... it feels like all I do is spin around in a circle pouring away gasoline...
(note to self, breathe. and make no commitments at all beginning tomorrow morning!)

Speaking of home... the house is not unpacked. pile, pile, pile... ugh ugh ugh... 
I don't know of any good tips for that. Perhaps in my next week without commitments I will have some time to nest...

Cars and keys...
Make sure you always have a spare set. I'm learning that replacing keys when they are completely gone is a very hard and expensive task... SIGH.

But all is not hopeless and stressful and busy, never fear. It just feels like it right now.
L.

new beginnings...

Kitchen... LOVE

Well, the move is nearing completion... We have about a truckload of odds and ends left at the old house. Surprisingly, I have yet to gather much of my kitchen wares. This, you see, is because I don't have much in the way of cabinetry yet, and I've been hesitant to haul it over.

I woke early today (5am on a Sunday) and concluded that this morning is the morning. Right after my spot of coffee, I will collect the rest of things. I will put everything somewhere, in boxes if need be, and then cook a delicious breakfast. YES!

The one thing I miss in this kitchen is my fridge. I thought I could handle the side-by-side, but frozen pizza doesn't even fit... I will someday have my fridge in this space.... it may live in storage for a month or three waiting for repair, but its exciting to know of the gifts in store!

Digi Free Room. Ahhhh....

I can't begin to describe how much of a blessing this move has been. But I'll give an example... Jake and I have managed to have some time sans screens ... He both pauses at the bar to chat while I work in the kitchen and sits with me in the (yet to be sorted) digi free room. In addition, due to the new nature of our home, we have to go on official dog walking excursions. I'm a tired woman, let me tell you! But its been delightful to have the company of Jake or one of the girls... such a change! I'm thrilled!

It's official. I can walk to town!

The other day I lost my keys to my jeep.. I have yet to find them, actually... (any spotters out there? Is my jeep still safely on Broadway?)  and so I had to walk home from town. Isn't this a lovely sight? I haven't been able to walk from home to anywhere in ages, and I felt so free, like I could just sit on this wall and smile for an hour. Actually, the rest stop there was lovely as its a vertical climb to my house, but hey, I'm no wimp. I made it in 20 minutes. Let's not break out the ruler... but it might be a whole mile!

I read this thought a week ago, and I've had it on my mind. Especially with the move.

If we aren't thankful to God for now, why would we be joyful for more?

Thoughts to ponder. Cheerio!

All Done and Dusted

Here we are!
The house is sold... the gears are moving... its time to begin to move!
Thankfully we have put a lot in storage in prep to sell the house, but it is amazing to look at all that we have accumulated over the years here...

Moving day is Memorial Day weekend, and we have much to do here in the kingdom...
See you on the flip side!

Oh, its listed!

The past months have been a whirl, and resting square in the the middle of it all, you find our house.

Our house, the place where we the girls have gone from toddlers to teenagers...

It has been a busy 8 years here, and over the past couple we have begun to really feel this house as a burden rather than be able to enjoy the blessing. There are so many reasons ... too numerous for words... Over the past month we began to work with a realtor, and I've been peeking at RMLS for a couple days... the picture isn't great, but here it is - Oh, its listed!


A giant shop and a second outbuilding with about 700 square feet of finished space divided into three rooms...

Its a fixer, for sure, but I believe this property could be an affordable starter dream come true for someone who wants to raise animals, have a garden, and get away from it all.

Two bedrooms, two bonus rooms, and one bath.
A kitchen with character...
Oak hardwood under carpet...
The roof is sound and it would love a fresh coat of paint, any color you want! Check it out!

We. Are. Moving.

I prepared my first box today for the move.

I couldn't figure out what to really put in it. We are moving in a month or three... but with our work schedule and the hours of yard labor required to possibly sell our house, we have to start now... with those things we can.

So I prepared a box.
I spent 15 minutes looking at the books in one of my bookcases thinking... do I need any of these? Should I pack any of these?

And ultimately I decided to walk away.

I think we often live our lives like this. The easier things tend to keep our attention... Those things that require effort or attention tend to fall by the wayside, to be picked up when all that can be done is react.

"I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. ... What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?" Jeremiah 2:2 & 5

I will be sorting my books when I wake up.