Making Memories

With the three older kiddos off to Bible Camp, we (ok, in all honesty, I) decided we should do some 'fun things' with the three littles left behind.

After all, they really miss their older siblings while they are gone AND we had built up the whole 'camp' thing pretty high. Seemed only fair THEY'D get to do something exciting too. Right?

You've already heard a bit about 'drop off day' and little girl wisdom.  Here's a more in-depth look at our week of memory making.

The planning began.

Selah on the 'rock wall'

Trinity swinging

First - a morning at the park.

Fun ensued!

Slides, swings, monkey bars, a rock wall, rope climbing.

All ending with a lounge in the grass.

Charity gliding down the slide - head first

Front yard camping in the pop-up was next up.

Eating hot dogs waiting to make s'mores

Trinity loves 'burned' marshmallows - like her older brother

S'mores over a campfire;










hot dogs on the grill;

Mmmm -- ooey gooey goodness

How am I supposed to eat this?

games in the camper;

Trinity snuggled in

stories in bed while snuggled in sleeping bags.

Selah and Charity getting situated

Doesn't get much better than that.

Bright and shiny smiles early in the morning

Breakfast prepared by daddy IN the camper rounded out the experience.







Next up, a trip over the mountain to swim in Saratoga at the pool and hot springs.

One of many snow banks up top

Our views as we drove over the mountain pass into Saratoga.

This is WHY we love it here - what breath taking views

An odd feeling enveloped us as we saw the snow while we sat in the car in our bathing suits.  :-)

Selah checking on big sister

Lower elevations and some heat from the hot spring made splashing in the pool quite enjoyable.

Splashing is so much fun

We won't talk about the chilly wind as we got OUT of the pool and hot springs.  ;-)










Worn our from the camp out and swimming, napping in the car on the drive home seemed appropriate.

Sleep tight my precious bundles

Per request, homemade donuts were next in the line-up Wed morning.

Two of my helpers

Fun times and a tasty treat.

Selah REALLY got into helping - managed to get
powdered sugar in her hair and all over her face

What other adventures can we have?

A Signed Contract

Sigh!

In a good way.

Today, we received the e-mail from our realtor that we've been praying about for the past 5 months ---- a contract for our house in Ohio.

Nerves bunched, thoughts spinning we read the terms of the contract.  We needed to have it signed and returned by noon -- TODAY!

WHAT?  It was already 10 am in Ohio.  Doug was working, I was reading the terms, we both had a mild panic attack.

Would missing that noon deadline make everything null and void?

Frantically e-mails went out. First to our realtor stating we got the message and would call him once we had read it over; once Doug had a moment to break from work.  Next to the potential buyers to let them know we weren't just 'sitting' on the contract, but that things on our end were late in getting to us.

Fortunately both responded positively -- no problem, that time thing is arbitrary.

I guess it's just there to induce panic and anxiety in the seller.  LOL!

Another sigh -- still in a very good way.

Upon printing and reading the contract, we had only minor changes to suggest to our realtor. All seemed smooth sailing.

Moments before 12:00 pm, we signed, scanned, and e-mailed the forms back to our agent.

Phew!

Even though that 'time thing is arbitrary' we didn't want to take any chances.  :-)

Now, a new type of waiting begins.

The buyers need to sell their home in order to purchase our house.

Trusting God's timing; His provision; we'll continue to pray, to wait, to live life in the here and now.

He's proven His promises are real - time and time again. This time it just happened to be through a signed contract.

Drop off day and little girl wisdom

Our oldest three children headed off to Bible Camp this week.  Anticipating tears from the littles, I decided to head to the park to play and have some fun.

As we dropped the big kids off, packed their bags onto the back of the truck, prayed for their safety on the trip, gave hugs good bye, the girls were distracted playing with the other 'younger siblings'.

Blessings.

As the kids pulled out, Trinity's voice faltered a bit as she waved farewell.

We piled into the car, heading toward our destination to play at the park.

First, a quick stop at McDonald's for a 'potty break' and to grab a cup of coffee for mom.  Getting in line, tears emerged.  "I'm sad, mom.  I miss Bethany," whimpered Trinity.

"It's ok, Trin.  We're going to the park." Chimed Selah.

A soda for the road calmed the tears while thoughts of the playground filled their little heads.

Slides, swings, a climbing wall, a surprise appearance by church friends, rope climbing, and laying in the grass filled the morning.

Smiles abounded.

Wisdom exuding from the girls, Charity stated, "I think the park helped Trinity's crying."

Trinity then responded, "Yeah, and camping and the pool will be a big help too. That's why you planned those, huh Mom?"

Why yes, my precious little ones, that was partially why we planned some of the fun events for this week.

While the older three are off, learning about God; strengthening their faith; growing closer to the savior; bonding with friends, we planned some fun family connecting for just the three of you.

A time to grow together, closer to mom and dad, and closer to God as we explore His world and all the joys Wyoming has to offer.

Let the fun continue!

God's amazing timing

Just as I hit rock bottom; as I struggled with doubts about our move west; wondered how we were going to continue paying all our bills HERE and THERE; as I questioned God's timing in our lives - especially the sale of our house........

I received a message.

A message from an acquaintance who's possibly interested in purchasing our home.

A message of hope.

Wow - God is good.

He's quite amazing really.

Mere hours after I sat and cried, wondering what it was I needed to be learning.  Why God was waiting to sell our house.

He responded.

When I finally submitted myself to His Will, His timing - he showed Himself.

Not that He wasn't always there, He was.

It was me.

I wasn't trusting enough.  I was doubting how He'd led us in this journey.  I was scared.

This isn't the end of our waiting.

The house hasn't sold yet.

However, God reminded me - his frightened daughter - that HE. IS. IN. CONTROL!

All I have to do is lean on Him. Trust Him.  WAIT on Him.

His timing really is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Waiting on God

During our summer vacation, God put on my heart a strong desire to move out west to Wyoming.

Techno-genius and I discussed it, made lists of pros and cons, prayed about it, talked to the kids about it, told friends our desires, prayed some more, sought Godly counsel, and both felt God opening doors to make the move happen.

• Doug's dad responded when we asked if he'd be willing to let us live in his mountain home, "I think that would be wonderful!"
• Doug's company enthusiastically said yes to him working remotely from 1000's of miles away.
• The kids were amicable to such a move.
• We found a Biblical church that we liked - A LOT, fit our values, our doctrinal beliefs, even our families personality. 
• Homeschooling options similar to what we used in Ohio would be accessible in Wyoming.
• Many families in the new church homeschooled.
• Being more self-sustaining would become an option with 3 acres of land not to mention a long term dream of having chickens, goats, maybe even a horse danced through my head.
• Financially feasible college options would abound as Wyoming residents for all our children.
• Upon heading Godly counsel, we both felt assurance we were moving forward with God's blessing.
• A highly recommended realtor advised us to 'simply go' as it would make selling our house easier.
• It felt like home in Wyoming - even after just a few short months.

So.... why hasn't our house (it's no longer our home - our home is HERE) in Cincinnati sold?

That's a question I'm struggling with more and more as time marches on.

What am I to learn from this time of waiting?  What is God teaching me?  What does He have in store for us, for our house, for the family He has in mind to live there?

It's hard.  I won't fib and say it's a bowl of cherries.

We have had A LOT of expenses erupt since moving here.

Not only the typical expenses of moving, but TONS of medical and dental financial burdens as well.  Fillings, root canals, cracked crowns, replacement crowns, a tooth abscess, wisdom teeth extraction. Then there are the trips to the ER for stitches not on just one child, but TWO.  Urology tests and doctor's visits.  Upcoming orthopedic appointments as well as finding a new orthodontist.   Not to mention house maintenance expenses - propane furnaces; plumbing; propane furnaces; did I mention propane furnaces?  Phew!

It's somewhat surreal.

All while still paying a full mortgage on our house in Cincinnati.  All while paying utilities for a house not in use.

Waiting is hard.

I watch on facebook as acquaintances sell their houses after mere days of being on the market or even without it ever making it on the market. 

When visiting Ohio we discovered that 2 houses ON OUR STREET sold - one in just a couple weeks - all while ours.... S-I-T-S!

Waiting is rough!

We keep lowering the asking price of our home.  It's a great house.  It's a huge house.  Seems not many want such a great, big house.  Who knew?

Losing money each time we lower the price, but knowing in the end it will work out.

Waiting is weary.

The bills come in. We write the checks. We sigh.  

Fortunately, we know where our provisions come from.  

God knows our needs.  He sees the desires of our hearts before we ever utter a word.  He hears our cries and sighs of stress and financial faintness of heart.

Yes, waiting on God's timing is difficult.  Yet, wait we will.  

I trust Him.  He knows what's best.  His timing is far better than our timing. His ways better than our ways.

Jeremiah 29:11

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Even though I can't see the end.  

Even though I can't predict when the house will sell. 

Even though paying all the bills is causing strain.

I'll wait.  I'll trust.

God's timing is ALWAYS better than mine.  Even when it's challenging.

Toy Jail

Recently we had a bit of an explosion in our house.  The girls had left their room in utter disaster AFTER having been told to clean it before their naps.

I feel at 4, 5, and 7 they are old enough to take responsibility for their belongings.  They've even proven in the past they ARE capable of cleaning up their messes.  On a number of occasions they've been sent to their room prior to naps to 'clean'.  After much giggling, playing, and not much cleaning - time would be up.  I'd come to tuck them in with the announcement that I would be in AFTER nap with a trash bag since they didn't accomplish their task.

Quietly, during nap time, the 2 girls who nap together would pool their resources and clean like nobody's business.

This scenario had played out more than once, I'm ashamed to admit.  Proud of the girls for finally getting the job done, but ashamed that I allowed disobedience to fester.

On this recent occasion, daddy tucked them in for nap, so there was no 'warning' of the trash bag fairy making a visit.

Being old enough to get themselves out of bed; being distracted by the myriad of tasks on my own to-do list; I had not returned to their room to 'monitor' progress on the assigned cleaning task.

The evening progressed.

We had a fun-filled-family-movie-night watching The Princess Diaries 2.  Also referred to as The Princess Diarrheas by some cute little girls in our household.

Bedtime arrived.  Big kids were slowly meandering on their evening chores.  Littles were pittering around half heartedly getting ready for bed.  Mom's patience was waning thin.

Charity had a toy whip she'd found in the toy room - mine from childhood - as she attempted to whisk it through the air, I cautioned her of the inappropriateness of swinging it in the living room.

Off she went.

Moments later Trinity arrived.  Charity had inadvertently knocked a lamp over in their room shattering multiple bulbs.  The culprit?  The whip.

Deep breath.

Next Jacob appeared.  "It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the complete mess in the girls' room."

Deeper breath.

Attempting to remain calm, I instructed everyone to stay in the living room. I told Selah to get her PJ's on - for the second or third time -- I couldn't recall.

Deepest breath.

I walked toward the back bedroom.

This is where things turned ugly.

That mess I'd told the girls to clean?  It was even bigger than I'd last seen it.  Barbies, clothes, stuffed animals, pipe stem cleaners, even a container of bandaids -- EVERYWHERE!

I marched to the kitchen, scolding little girls as I went.  Grabbed a black garbage bag.  Belting out my displeasure over their lack of obedience as I stomped back to their room.

Thrusting toys - after shaking off shattered glass - into the bag, I made my way through their room.

The bag full, I vacuumed up all the broken light bulbs. Changing sheets on Charity's bed to ensure she didn't sleep on shards of glass, I muttered my unhappiness.

Mission accomplished, I dredged the bag of toys and treasures from the girls room announcing they were to be thrown out.  Tears threatened to flow from their little eyes.

I wasn't proud of my actions - or more adequately, my reactions to the situation.

I had lost my temper.

I sent the girls to bed and sat down to 'cool off'.

Knowing full well I wasn't going to 'throw away' all those toys.  I changed directions.

I slowly plodded my way back to the girls' room.  Breathing deeply as I went.

Calmly this time, I spoke to them.  First, I apologized for 'losing it'.   Next I reminded them of what they had been asked to do earlier in the day.  Asking them if they knew I'd put everything in a trash bag if it weren't done?

"Yes", they all nodded and whispered.

From this point, I assured them the toys were not to be thrown away, but.... they were in TOY JAIL! 

To free their items from toy jail, the girls would need to keep their rooms cleaned; their belongings put away; they would need to obey 'the first time'.  Over the week, the toys would be released from prison based on improvement in these areas.

I'm not proud of how I reacted 'in the moment', but I'm humbled for the opportunity to teach our girls a beneficial skill.  Stretched to realize my own fault in their lack of obedience.  Thrilled for the reconciliation I nurtured between myself and my precious little girls.

God continues to work in my heart as I attempt to work in theirs.

Too bold or not bold enough?

This past weekend as we did our grocery shopping, Techno-genius and I witnessed an odd occurrence.

As we browsed the cracker aisle in search of our generic 'club crackers' we observed a young man - maybe in his 20's - peeking around the corner of the next aisle at a trio of shoppers.

Smiling, we assumed he was 'playing a prank' on or sneaking up on his friends or family.

We walked on to the milk aisle.

Later, as Doug and I divided and conquered our grocery list, I witnessed this same young man acting a bit 'peculiar' in yet another aisle.

Again, he held his phone to his head, glancing down the next aisle being sure NOT to be seen.  Jittery and skiddish were words that came to mind as I watched his suspicious behavior.

Finished with our final selections, we made our way to the check out lane.

Once again, what did we see?  You guessed it.  The same young man stalking that small group of women.  This time at the self check-out line.

As we walked passed I again noticed his leery behavior.  Phone pressed to his head.  Pacing and peeking. Over and around the divider he peered,  purposefully remaining unseen while watching every move of this group.

I looked at Techno-genius.  I reminded him of having seen this same individual multiple times in the store and how uncomfortable I felt with his questionable behavior.

"Should I say something to those ladies?"  I asked him.  Without waiting for his answer, I gave my own, "I'm gonna go tell them.  I think they need to know he's watching them.  I would want to know."

Techno-genius just watched me walk away toward the self check-out lanes as he unloaded our groceries.  Keeping a close watch over the tops of the dividers on what transpired.  My earthly protector.

Passing the suspicious young man, I went up to the three ladies.  I assumed it was a grandma, a mom, and a little girl.  I greeted them and acknowledged that what I was about to tell them would seem a bit weird.

I asked if they knew a man fitting the seeming stalker's description - in case it was in fact a game or prank.

"No." They all chimed.

I went on to explain how I'd seen this young many watching them throughout the store.  His suspicious actions.  Where he was at that moment and to please be cautious, alert, and observant as they left the building.

They thanked me with a bit of fear and confusion in their eyes.

I headed back toward Techno-genius who was still in line to pay for our purchases.

Unfortunately, my actions revealed my own presence to this questionable young man.  Walking past him to return to my rightful place next to Techno-genius he snidely said, "Really?"  Following me, he continued to make the same remark.

I simply kept walking to my refuge.

As he saw my tall and rather imposing looking hubby, he turned away with one last "Really?"

I pray that my boldness in letting the three women know someone was following them, helped keep them safe.

I realize this man could have been following them for a legitimate reason.  But, his actions made him look wary, distrustful.

In my heart I felt I should warn them - at the very least.

Maybe I should have gone to the management of the store.  Gotten security involved.  My thought was in doing that, the threesome of women, along with their possible stalker would have been gone and in harms way before I could even find someone to take action.

What would you do in a similar situation?  I wonder if I had been alone if I would have taken the same risk?

I know if it were me.... my mom.... my girls....  I'd want to be made aware of a potentially unsafe situation unfolding.