We Moved In!

Life has been so crazy that I really haven't had the time to do a new post, or even blogsurf! Congratulations to all of those who are expecting new babies. I was told I had to go view some blogs for the latest news!

A friend e-mailed me today asking about "our story". So, I e-mailed her back and thought, at the least, I can post this on my blog. Then, you will all get in on the amazing journey of faith that we have been on.

We did move into our house! We are loving it. It was such an amazing journey of faith. God brought the buyers of our house on my birthday. Isn't that so God?! They are a couple with 3 children. She was a stay-at-home mom, when her husband had a seizure at work. I'm not sure what is wrong with him, but he owned his own business, and had to undergo some major medical stuff. They accrued a ton of medical bills that they weren't able to pay. She went to work, while he had surgeries. During that time, their credit was destroyed.

Now, they make enough money to buy a house, but they don't have a credit score that could possibly get them a loan. They loved our house and really wanted it. So, they proposed the lease to own. At first, I was like, NO WAY! But, I had felt like God told me that our family was on a 2 year plan not too long ago. When John proposed it to me, he said, 'They want to do a 2 year plan.' That was my cue that God may be in this! :)

We had also lowered our price so much that John was praying that we would sell it for more than our asking price. I would just kind of tease him and say, 'ok, you go ahead and pray that!' Well, in 2 years, they will buy it for $18,000 more than we were asking! God took care of the details. We'll actually be in a better place financially month to month than we would have been if we sold it outright!

Through it all, I felt like God was challenging me to BELIEVE Eph. 3 that says He will do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond what we can ask or think. I've always HOPED that scripture, but I never really truly believed it! God did beyond what I could have EVER thought up! Also, in Heb 11. We always quote, 'it is impossible to please God without faith'. That portion of scripture goes on to say that faith isn't just believing in God, but also believing that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! I want to have the kind of faith that believes my God wants to reward me!

This has been a challenging journey (ie - John getting laid off). But, it has been a journey of faith. The week before John got laid off he was feeling an uneasiness in his spirit. So, he fasted and prayed for 3 days. He was also asking God, 'Are we meant to live in our new home?' At the end of those 3 days, all he felt was to trust God and that he had us on a journey of faith! At one point, when we were told, our house had to sell or we had to put our new one on the market in about 3-4 days, I was driving along and began to say out loud, 'My God is bigger than this, He will do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond what I can ask or think!'

God is GOOD!

John did get another job with the same company. It was offered to him on the last Friday of his 2 week notice. During those 2 weeks, John and I felt an amazing amount of peace that God was in this and was going to take care of the whole situation, and He did!

Tagged, again!

Rules of Engagement:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 very random, not easily known, facts about me:

1. I took accordion lessons as a child. I know, what was my mom thinking?! For one, I could barely hold the thing and what would I ever do with the skill of playing the accordion. It's not a instrument in high demand!

2. I tried out for the National Ski Patrol at Mt. Spokane when I was 14 and made it. I took 120 hours of First Aid (in water, snow, rescuing from cars) in order to be on the Ski Patrol. I don't ski anymore. Breastfeeding and babies, and lack of money to stick with the sport. I think I would still love it though. Maybe that will be part of my empty nest days.

3. The summer after my Senior year in High school I lived for 1 month in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia at an Agricultural School Campus. A group of us traveled with a Christian singer, Jannie, and did street drama. I was the clown. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I also found the best chocolate ever there!

4. I've also been to Mexico, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, the Bahamas, and across the US. I haven't been on a mission trip, outside of my home, since I've been married. God still sends those that I'm supposed to minister to right to my doorstep though. Maybe traveling will be another part of my empty nest days! :)

5. I have ran a 1/2 marathon. It was an amazing accomplishment for me. I wish I could describe the feeling of crossing the finish line. All of the hard work was worth it at that moment! If you want to learn perseverance start running. God's still working this one into me. I haven't been that diligent lately!

6. From about the age of 13, I haven't lived with my family. God always provided a safe haven for me. I lived with an Aunt and Uncle in Oregon, my Youth Pastor's family, my Grandparents, houseparents, and then married. It was extremely hard, but I learned a lot about the love and care of God through it. I can't imagine my children ever living life like that, but it also produced a gratitude in me that I'm trying to work into my children who have such a blessed life.

OK, now I'm going to break the rules, eek! I'm not going to tag 6 people b/c I don't have links on my blog and also the mental energy to think of 6 right now stresses me out! I hope everyone gets tagged though! :)

I've been tagged...

This is for you Rachel...

I am: a wife, mom, and friend

I think: today is going to be a good day

I know: I am loved

I want: to move into our new house

I have: a blessed life!

I wish: I had more time in a day

I hate: feeling tired

I miss: time alone with John

I fear: anything bad happening to my family

I feel: content

I hear: Spongebob (my kids are watching it)

I smell: veggie sausage

I crave: sweets

I search: The Bible

I wonder: what tomorrow will bring

I regret: not being a stronger person when I was younger

I love: God and my family

I care: deeply for my friends

I always: feel like I'm not doing enough

I am not: a night person (wish I was)

I believe: God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him

I dance: silly with my kids

I sing: praises to God

I don't always: put on make-up

I write: tasks on the calendar

I win: lately, at Croquet (I beat John!!!)

I lose: at every other game against John (he's a Potts)

I never: smoke! (couldn't think of anything else?! But this is a guarantee!)

I listen: to the Holy Spirit, but usually my kids are louder :)

I can usually be found: by cell phone

I am scared: that my kids won't choose to serve God

I need: time alone

I am happy about: my life today!

I did it! Usually, I way over think these things. I'm not going to read back over it, because if I do, I know I'll change answers. I'm sure if I did this again tomorrow, many of my answers would be different! But here it is Rachel.

More pictures of our boating adventure...

The HUGE starfish that they found stuck to the dock. Aren't they amazing!
So proud of his catch.
Enough for everyone!
Another family pic with no add-ons. :)

Sailing away...

Our family got the chance to go see the Tall Ships in Tacoma and take an amazing boat ride out on the Sound. The kids, and grandpa, were brave and swam in the cold, salty water!

My brave little Gracie!
Hudson got in 1 time and was out of there and quickly dressed! Isn't he cute?!
Malacai jumped in several times from the top of the boat. The boat has room for 25, so the top deck is high! Way to go Malacai!
Family pic w/ a few add-ons. No, I'm not pregnant! It's just the shirt :). The add-ons are my nephew and John's cousin's daughter. It was such a fun day!

Carpet & Shutters

We have carpet!
We have shutters and a front porch!

We still need to place the columns.
Carpet in the office.

No news yet on the sale of our current home.

We're still waiting. The closer our new home gets to being done, the more I just want to move in!! Ugh!

I know God is in control and His timing is usually different than ours.

"Why a mudroom, you ask?"

"Just playing outside, Mom!"

Would you want this on your new carpet???
Gracie and cousin Noah after a spin in the go-cart.
Malacai had already scraped some of the dirt off.
Hudson, all clean, after a wipe down in the mudroom sink!

When we first started building, the property was a mud pit! We had days that we would have to strip the kids down to their muddy underwear for the drive home. Then, when we got home, we had to hose off their clothes because they were so covered in mud.

I'm going to LOVE having a mudroom!

Getting closer...

Here's a view of the kitchen from the family room. Notice, the wood floor is no longer covered in ugly cardboard! Yeah!!
I'm loving how everything is turning out! We still have a few more things to do in the kitchen - cabinet trim, base cabinet trim, and the caps on the rest of the drawers. We are getting so close to be done!
The stonework on the fireplace. Next, the fireplace guys come back and put it all together on the inside. Right now, it's just a bundle all wrapped up.

Carpet installation starts Monday!