Bittersweet, what's the point of that?

One week to go! Lots done and still lots to do. The best news is that we managed to get most of our checking account money back, and the rest has been temporarily replaced by wellsfargo pending their fraud investigation. In other words we were finally able to buy milk, trash bags and other much needed supplies :) Praise the Lord, I know that situation could have been much worse.

Packing is going well and the Moving truck is coming is a just a couple of days. The reality of the move will set in soon as we begin to empty our current home until it is no longer ours. Every morning Joshua asks how many days until we live in Colorado. He has become overly enthusiastic about the change and consistently talks about his new home. I'm so relieved that he is happy about the changes and not sadly dragging his feet. Jonas of course would be thrilled even if you told him were going to live in a tent somewhere, he is one of the most easy going kids I've ever met (a blessing for sure).

Today is Luke's last Sunday preaching at MBC, he is baptizing one of our dear friends this morning. When she asked to be baptized Luke was thrilled, "I can't imagine a better way to wrap up my ministry here". This last week has been a mixture of feelings for us. Bittersweet for sure, although I'm reminded of a quote from The Office when Michael says: "That's why I hate bittersweet chocolate. I don't even... what's the point of that? Why not just sweet? Who are you helping?"

So glad that in just over a week we will be past all the sad goodbyes and stressful packing and on to the fresh starts, new friendships & excited unpacking!

Disaster, murphy's law, or whatever you want to call it.

Chaos, utter chaos is what has become of our lives. Several people have been wondering how preparations for the move have been coming. Let me open with this vignette: Monday morning we were shopping at walmart when Luke's check card was denied several times. Impossible! I gasped since we have overdraft upon overdraft protection even if we were out of money the transaction should have been processed, not to mention that I had checked our account online before heading out and saw we had plenty to draw from. Thanks to modern technology I just logged on wellsfargo.com on my phone and found our funds depleted by fraudulent activity. Luke's card had already been deactivated due to the bank suspecting fraud. Needless to say this has been a very stressful week of dealing with phone calls, disputes and of course no money.

Yesterday was Luke's birthday and yes we did manage to have some sort of celebration. Luckily I work in advance on things and had already bought Luke's present, we ventured out for dinner at our favorite Mexican place and came home to out favorite Babysitter Morgan saying that we didn't owe her anything. That girl is such a blessing to our family not to mention the object of a 4 year olds crush. She will truly be missed by our family.

We are a little in limbo until the bank reimburses our funds so work on the pirate room has yielded for a bit. I did manage to purchase Joshua's bedding before all of this happened and it arrived today in the mail. Very cute and he caught just a glimpse of it when I had it out to match paint samples to, and he gave his enthusiastic approval. I also started work on a shelving unit that will hang in his new room and hold things like medications, Cds and other small items he frequently needs.

Bedding & Paint Samples

Shelf about half done

Our life is not without God's blessing though, just yesterday an anonymous person blessed us immensely knowing that we were in a financial situation and really helped us beyond what they know. 

We have been boxing things up and the moving truck will arrive a week from today! Hopefully by the next time I blog our bank account will have been resuscitated.  

New adventure...and a Pirate Room

We're Moving!!! I'm not a huge fan of change, but I am getting excited for our upcoming move. When Luke and I first entertained the idea of packing up our family and heading to new opportunities (after MUCH PRAYER!) both of us had the same concern....Our oldest son. Joshua much like myself doesn't function as well outside of routine and known outcomes. Luke and I brainstormed and we decided that if turned out that God's plan lead us to a move we would be sure to entice Joshua's excitment as much as possible. My first idea for this was to come up with a plan for a superhero bedroom. I thought that I would compile photos of possible super hero decor and show them to him. Well my idea worked!......sort of.



We approached Joshua asking him what he would think of getting a new house, and new bedroom. Things seemed to being going pretty smoothly and he seemed to be understanding there would be packing involved and a long drive and then I proposed the superhero bedroom idea. "how would you like your new bedroom to be a superhero room?" Tada, I thought, but he just looked at me solemn faced for a moment, then came back at me with an unexpected counter offer. His eyes were wide and excited as he announced it, "a pirate room mommy." Like any good negotiator I quit while I was ahead. "It's a deal."

Bag of soon to be pirate room decor

Well since I'd only researched hero decor it took me a few days and a lot of Google-ing to come up with some possible pirate room ideas. Believe it or not there are not that many great 'little kid' pirate room ideas out there, I have had to really stretch my creativity but I think that I am finally on the right track for designing something that I think Joshua will love. As we pack, move, unpack and decorate I know our families will be wondering what we are accomplishing so I plan to update this blog with our status periodically.

the finished banner for Joshua's new room

So far we have about 15 or 16 boxes packed up and have been hard at work throwing things away, and getting somethings ready to donate in hopes of downsizing some. I made the trek to Sioux Falls a day or so ago and got some pretty crazy looks when I asked for advice on what fabrics looked the most Pirate-y. But I have been able to round up some supplies that I think are finally starting to come together nicely for the much anticipated Pirate room. Even though Joshua asks repeatedly when he will be getting his pirate room, for now Luke and I are just glad that he seems excited to be moving and has yet to show any nerves about it.

Next Blog I'll hopefully have the curtains done!

A new ministry adventure is just beginning for us all!

The Hope of Christmas All Year Long

I've been contemplating putting the rest of our Christmas decorations away. We took our tree down last week already, and as a rule I usually pack up the rest after New Years day. It seems though that every year I get a little slower about tending to the task. I can remember my dad leaving our live Christmas tree up sometimes until my brother's birthday (Jan 10) and thinking how ridiculous it was. Now I think I can relate to the delay. Every year I feel less and less like undecorating.

 While I was postponing my housework which today includes the packing up the Nativity, Christmas Village, and boughs of greenery I wondered about my sluggish attitude concerning the whole thing. I love Christmas. I love Everything about it. I love the cold air and snow, the bright lights, the tree, the presents, the warm glow of holiday spirit that exudes from every home as you drive down the streets at Christmas time. More than anything though, I love the feeling of hope. Christ was born. He was and still is our only hope. I came today to the conclusion that the one thing that fills me with the most joy at Christmas IS the one thing that I can have all year. The hope that I find in having a Savior. I don't know why it is so much easier to feel it at Christmas. Is Christ's presence in my life greater from November 24th until December 25th? Of course not. As a result my feeling of hope shouldn't fade after January 1st.

While I'm boxing up my wreaths and un-tying my ribbons today I feel as happy as the day I hung them up. Christ is in my life. He is my center and my guide, and it is because of Him that my life is as beautiful on Presidents Day as it is on Christmas Day. I desire to carry the Hope I feel at Christmas with my everyday, because I can carry Christ with me everyday.