We've Moved

I know that most of my readers know that we have moved, but in case you didn't know.... we've moved! We moved into our rental house on March 1st and I'm down to one last room of boxes. We actually call the extra bedroom the basement because those are the boxes that are left to unpack in there - the kids get tickled because the "basement" is upstairs:) We still need to put pictures on the walls and add some finishing touches but for the most part everything is in its place for now.



We had been praying about a job for John that would require less travel and that would bring us closer to family. God's timing is perfect. John didn't even apply for this job, a friend recommended him and, well, here we are; we are hours away from family instead of days and John is home every. single. night. It is wonderful.

Because the master bedroom is on the first floor in this house, we decided to let the boys decide if they still wanted their own rooms or if they wanted to share the big room upstairs. They chose to share and the room really is perfect. It has two windows, two closets, and plenty of space to play. We are using one of the other rooms as an office and the other (the basement room) will become the guest bedroom. I've actually spent a lot of time in the boy's room because I want them to adjust well so I have put pictures on their walls (I used those hang-ups instead of nails; I have anxiety about putting holes in the wall;))and some paint-safe decals as well. I also want to make a canvas or two with scripture on them for their room but I can't seem to choose which ones.... any suggestions? Here is a sneak peak of the boy's room:



We decided to plant some vegetables this year and teach the boys how to care for a small garden. We picked out the seeds and let the boys arrange the soil, plant the seeds and begin to water them. JT decided we should make signs so we will know what is growing where; he made them all by himself and is very proud of them. We are obviously proud of him.



The seeds took about a week to start sprouting and the boys were oh sooooo excited!!! Now they check them every day, sometimes twice a day. I'm not going to lie... I check them just as much.



These are a few of the signs JT made: tmatow (tomato), red unyin (red onion) and zookene (zucchini). He's practicing his handwriting and phonics so I'm not complaining!



In the next few days we will transplant these into really large pots so that they will all have room to grow. I'm hoping to see at least a handful of vegetables this year as we have been weaving scripture into this project. Our motivation started with Isaiah 58:11 "The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." I want the boys to see a vibrant picture of the Lord's provision in our lives through this small garden.

As for the transition, I think everyone is doing as expected. John is really throwing himself into this job, as I knew he would, and seems to be enjoying it more everyday. It is very different from his old job but I know, as he has proven time and time again, that he will thrive here and exceed their expectations.

JT really acted out the second week or so. I expected a little of this but he really outdid himself:) He had a few meltdowns before school, after school, about homework, about bedtime, about insert anything here and he probably had a meltdown over it... The first week we showed him a lot of grace and tried to talk with him about the changes. The second week we took away the Wii and all of the games. The past week was wonderful. I hope we are on the tail end...

Finley broke his foot the Sunday after we moved in:/ He was actually doing pretty well until he witnessed JT act like a crazy kid and the past week or so he has taken the liberty to act the same way. We responded the same as well. Grace, talking, losing the Wii for a day... Sometimes I think he just wants to test us to make sure that we will treat him the same. Done.

As for me? I've been struggling with feelings of being alone and feeling inadequate. I can't really explain it. I've been really trying to focus on what God's word has to say about being a wife and mother at this point in my life. I have been getting up around 5:45am with John every morning to make everyone's breakfast and have coffee with John; this has really been a great time to pray over my family - I can pray for their day, their conversations, their choices and their hearts - but it also makes for a very long day. I know that this is temporary and that these feelings will pass but I wanted to get them out there so I can look back and be thankful when the time comes.

"He has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11