Bug & Reptile Recap

I have no depth to me tonight.... but felt like blogging.  So after getting rid of a scorpion I thought, hm, it would be fun to go back and recap all the things I have had to exterminate over the last several months... or, turn my head and let them scooch off into the bushes.

These are pretty amazing, and some of them look like they are on steroids.

Not quite sure WHAT this was.... centipede I thought.

 Countless spiders... really- I lost count after the first month

Toads! This one actually wouldn't leave my hand. Kinda wanted to keep him. But not really.

These things I hate with a white hot passion: sun spiders.  Horrid little creatures.  Non-poisonous but very fast and very aggressive.

My buddy the alligator lizard.  He was hiding up my dress when I was getting ready one morning.

Our garter snakes, friendly and small.  

(pictured below is one the girls accidentally killed when he got caught under their swing set.  V cried for a significant period of time and insisted on a proper burial... which yes, consisted of a target bag)

Here's the scorpion I found tonight.  YUCK.

And of course... we can't forget.... 

my epic battle with the (at the time) young rattle snake.  Pretty sure it turned out to be a young gofer snake, but boy was he mad- hissing, striking, coiled up, and shaking his tail like crazy... I had to assume it was a young rattler.  Soooo, yes, he met my shovel.  And the shovel won.

 How much more country will I get?? 

Stay tuned...

Where Am I ... God, marriage, kids (PART III)

Where am I at with the Lord right now.... I am, thankful.  Busy serving Him.  Hearing conviction every week and doing my best to obey His calling and follow hard after Him.  Serving in BSF as a group leader this year is quickly proving to be one of the strongest tools He's using in my life to stretch my faith.  It's almost as if I can literally FEEL the stretching.... pulling, challenging, encouraging, bringing me to my knees constantly in prayer.  Prayer for my 16 ladies in my group, prayer for the other leaders and staff, prayer for myself and my family as they too are sacrificing in this ministry.  It brings a smile to my face when I think about where He'll have me next May when this year ends... but also He's taught me I have to take ONE day at a time, depending on Him every step of the way, increasing my reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom that only He can give.

I love listening to this song on my drives into town in the mornings, definitely one of my favs....and since it pretty much sums up where I am at right now, I thought I'd share.  Enjoy.  :)

Where am I... God, marriage, kids (PART II)

Where am I ...?   Part II   Marriage

I'm... thankful.  Infact, just today, out of the blue, I get this:

I have no idea what I did.  :)

But really, I didn't do anything.  I can't take credit for one ounce of marital bliss.  I am so thankful that God has been at work in our marriage.  I'm thankful to have a husband who isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty when it comes to the hard stuff.  I'm thankful for the very real examples of God's protection over our marriage even just in the last couple of weeks.  Let me back up, yes I did say marital bliss.  Now that comes with the package as newlyweds.  I have a horrible memory but I do remember some of our first year of marriage.  I remember the honeymoon- the smell of hawaiian tropic and plumeria, the amazing food, beautiful beaches and feeling like we could take on the WORLD.  But what's almost surreal to me is how different those two people were from who we are today.  SO different.  In my unpacking I recently found a memorabilia box, various things from 12 years ago... and let me just say... HILARITY.

It was like a trainwreck- I couldn't NOT look.  I kept reading (and laughing) at our dreamy plans and endearing pet names for each other.  Not that we don't call each other "babe" and "love" now, but this was over the TOP.  Yet again, two different people.  My driving force is not what it was before.  My heart is not what it was before.  God has taken jealousy and replaced it with confidence.  He took bitterness and replaced it with forgiveness.  He took hurt and replaced it with healing.  He took selfishness and replaced it with love.  I am not who I was before, and it's for that exact reason that I love my husband more than I ever did when we were first married.  Did you catch that?  I didn't say it's because he isn't who he was before.  Sure he has changed a lot over the years, mostly in the last couple.  But that's not what deepened my love for him.  God did.  Then, as a result of God's work, I see what He is doing in my husband's heart- the way he serves me, the way he cares for me, the way he talks to our girls, how he disciplines them... and that propels the falling in love even more so.  It's a vicious cycle, this love thing.  ;)

So I'd say, when it comes to my marriage, I am thankful.  So content.  So loved.  And so IN love.  Can't wait for the next 12 years... and the next 12, and the next 12, and the next 12....

Where am I... God, marriage, kids (PART I)

So I kind of promised myself I would blog once a month.  Well, it's been a month and lots has been going on but honestly, I'm not sure what to journal about.  I love having this blog.  It really does not matter to me who or how many read it.  Because it's a way for me to write down what's going on in my life.  And what our journey as a family looks like over the years.  I haven't exactly been consistent with it, but it is pretty amazing (for me at least) to look back over the years and read about it all.  So, I'm going to keep my commitment of at least once a month.  It's worth it.

One of the things our life group does when just the ladies get together is a go around of how we are doing... with God, with our marriage, and with our kids.  I love this because it basically encompasses the main aspects in my life and helps me reflect on a regular basis.  So I thought since I have nothing very particular to blog about that's what I would do... where am I at... with God, my marriage, and my kids.

PART I of this blog... kids: oh boy.  They have me busier than ever, and it is just about to be turned up a few notches.  Hannah is CRAWLING.  Man she steals my heart.  And robs me of much housekeeping time.  Still waking up a ton every single night (2x if I'm lucky, 3-4x regularly), but hoping when I wean her off night feedings (which only God knows when that'll be since I have issues with letting go of nursing) that she'll get longer stretches of sleep.  OH!  And she is looooving table food.  Can't hold that girl back.  Papa's spaghetti in particular was one of her favorites.  Thanks Papa.

Sophie... her feisty-ness and hilarity just seems to get more intense as she gets older.  She cracks me up with her facial expressions and Boston accent.  (Yes, she has an accent, no idea where that came from.)  I love hearing her play with her older sissy down the hall and listen to them both laughing til their bellies hurt.  The older Soph gets, the more fun they seem to have together.

 She takes my breath away sometimes.

^Exploring at Shaver Lake                 ^Sisters being goobers

And Victoria... ok, *deep breath*... she starts kindergarten August 15th.  I am SO excited for her.  God has been at work orchestrating this school year for her.  From the timing of our move, leading us to school registration, to meeting the principal & teachers then having a connection with one in particular- seeing Jesus in her, to opening a piece of mail yesterday informing us she is in THAT teacher's class.  Tears literally came to my eyes reading that.  The Lord is placing her in a classroom with a teacher who made us feel so welcomed and who warmed my heart.  That is who will be teaching, caring for, growing, and investing in my firstborn, 5 days a week for 9 months.  Thank You Jesus.  August 15th will be a tough day for me.  I had some insight into myself the other day as to why so tough, why am I already crying just thinking about that day?  Ok well a chapter of V's life is ending.  And a new one is beginning.  My almost 6 years of having her home with me every day is coming to a rapid close.  And she is about to be opened up to a whole new world, one she will be a part of until she's an adult.  One filled with fun, joy, and learning... and also struggles, difficulties, hurts, and influences other than Mom and Dad.  But, I have a peace with our choice of public schooling.  I understand my role as her mother, and Frankie understands his as her father and leader of our home.  I am embracing the thought of the many teachable moments and opportunities to show V what God's Word says in her different experiences... what Truth looks like in our daily lives... and how it's applied.  Going to be praying for this year, for V's sensitive heart, for Mrs. Blesse (seriously, that's her name- how fabulous is that), and for my heart and mind to be at peace sending her off.

Soooo that's where I'm at with my girls... guess this post will be longer than I thought.  

Part II on marriage coming soon...

Creating Memories

Wow.  What a whirlwind these last 2 weeks have been.  I knew moving with 3 little ones was going to be a lot, but not this much.  I feel like I have never worked so hard physically, emotionally and mentally.  Not only were we changing houses, we were changing lifestyles.  So even just organizing myself enough to make the lengthy grocery trip to costco so we'd have all we need once we are "out there", to talking with the girls about what to do if they see a rattlesnake, to taking Sam to the vet for a foxtail that burrowed its way into his ear canal, to everything else in between (ie: unpacking, property maintenance, swim lessons in town, and oh ya, taking care of 3 kids) I am in awe of the energy and stamina God has provided throughout this process.  Although not sure it would have happened without Mimi.  Yes, grandma worked her tushy off helping us get the rest of the old house packed up.  (Thanks Ma.)  So much has already transpired, memories are being made in a home that has only been home for not even 2 weeks.  So instead of trying to blog about each, I'll sum it up....

Our first morning waking up here.  This is looking out our bedroom slider.

First order of business: tidy up that kitchen.

June 15, 2012: Hannah turned 8 months old just 2 days after moving in.

Our second morning waking up here.

My little country girl in her pinafore, helping mama with dishes.

Loving the sunsets.  So majestic.

V holding a small praying mantis.  She's stepping out of her comfort zone.

My view from the kitchen window.  Mow away babe!

My firstborn on her swing.

Our first bbq.

The girls waiting for the nightly spa time.

Ending an evening with a little fire in the courtyard.

This is what we do for entertainment: watching the frogs on the window eat their dinner.  Actually was quite fascinating.

A fairy picnic.

Our last meal, saying goodbye to the old house. *tears*

Woke up one morning and looked out my bedroom window to see this... my man having quiet time with our Lord.

Frankie and Sophie in the spa at 6:00 AM

All my loves in bed with me at the crack of dawn.

Daddy and the girls mowing.

We have frogs everywhere.  Girls and dog love chasing them.

So close to crawling.  Oh, my love.

Favorite morning activity: baking.

Enjoying the wonderful breeze and cooler weather.

She's really picking up on chores.  Such a servant's heart.

"Girls, what's your favorite thing about your new house?"... "The spaaaa!!!"

We're HERE.

Thank you Jesus for the blessings You have lavished upon us.  Teach us to be wise, to be good stewards of these gifts.  Bless this home, may Your hand always be upon it, protecting and shepherding the family that dwells inside.  In Christ's name I pray, Amen.