3 more months!

We have renters for the next 3 months! They've signed another lease through the end of May. Whew. One less worry for the present time. Thanks for those who have prayed for us as we waited and wondered!

Quimby update

We have had renters in our Quimby street house since the end of last May. It has gone well so far...as far as I know. I've been probably too detached from the house and my role as a landlord. This is made easy by the fact that our tenants never call us with questions or complaints. They pay their rent on time and that's all we hear from them all month.

I can't drive down Plainfield without getting anxious. In fact, when I drive on 131 past the exit to get to Quimby, I become anxious. I've been functioning with the 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality which I know isn't healthy, but it's kept me sane.

I'm meeting with my tenants on Friday afternoon to discuss if they will continue a lease or not. I'm anxious. Please pray for God's guidance for us and them as we figure things out. Please pray for my anxiety about all this, and that I will truly "Trust in the Lord with all of my heart, and lean not on my own understanding."

What a Pain!

Ever since college I have experienced back pain on & off. It will worsen for a few weeks up to a few months, then get much better. I've never bothered to get it looked at, as I could always think of a reason it might be hurting and my pain became 'normal'. Well it got much worse while I was pregnant, and I thought after delivering it would be better again. Wrong. So, I finally went to the doc a few weeks ago & have started physical therapy. Today, I had to perform some very simple tasks: balancing on one foot on a mini-tramp while moving a ball over my head with my hands, arm presses while on the balance ball, turning over while laying on a table. I couldn't do them. I could barely balance on one foot, and certainly couldn't lift a ball over my head. I was struggling through the arm presses, and I winced in pain turning over. I've got a long road ahead of me, folks!

I think I've been avoiding working out because I want to jump right back into where I was just over a year ago - running 5 miles, swimming for hours, biking miles on end - and I can't. I can barely balance, for pete's sake! I've got degenerative disc disease, or something like it. She's still trying to figure it out. Apparently, I also have a 'block' when I try to bend to the right (which is why bowling became so painful on Saturday!), which I have to work out as well. My pubic bone is also not quite aligned. So, I'm doing my exercises 4 times a week and PT once a week for who knows how long. I'm really hoping to see some improvement. Pain has become normal, and I'd like to see what life is like without it!

I am so thankful for Physical Therapists and doctors who can help determine what needs to be done, and then treat me!

I had missionaries come speak to youth group on Sunday night, and one of the questions a student asked was about medical care. The closest place to get decent care is hours and hours away from them. And they have a 2 year old son and one on the way. It really reminded me how much they have to trust God for ALL things, including their bodies and health. I am thanking God this week for missionaries everywhere who make such sacrifices to spread the Word of God.

4 Months and 3 Years

 My little man is 3!! We celebrated last week for 3 days straight! We started out on Thursday (his actual bday) by going out to lunch as a family to Red Robin. He got a free sundae & a balloon. We could have stopped the celebration then and he would've been fine! Friday we had a few church friends over for a playdate, and Saturday we had our family over for more celebrations. We had a great time with all our friends and family, and our child was certainly spoiled.

At the doc, Isaac is still measuring at 97% for his age. 40 1/2 inches tall! He's around 90% for weight and is doing well in every way possible!

2 Years Old

3 Years Old

1 Month Old

My little girl is 4 Months old! She was 26 inches long (97%), around 80% for weight. Her head size is quite large (97%), and we're keeping an eye on it to make sure it's not anything to worry about, but for now the doc has calmed my fears and told me he thinks she's just got a large head. Apparently my grandpa who died before I was born also had a large forehead. As long as she's healthy we are happy! She has now rolled over several times and is doing great!

2 Months Old

4 Months Old

Captured In Clay

When Isaac was 5 weeks old, my good friend brought us to a woman's house in Ada to get his footprints and hand-prints in clay. It was such a thoughtful gift and we have loved having this keepsake!

So when Hope was around 4 weeks old, I called here to make an appointment so we could get one made for her.

She was actually going to be out at a consignment shop in Ada, so the next weekend, we headed out there. 

She has different size tiles,  colors, fonts, stamps, beads and ideas. We chose the same size and fonts as Isaac, but got to add a girly color and stamps.



It takes less than 5 minutes to actually get the prints taken, and she does the hard work of actually making the impression.

A few weeks later we got to pick up the final product. I was very pleased with how it came out!

New Years Resolutions?

Anyone have any?

My specific goals are to: 
1. Run a 10k
2. Lose 20lbs

My difficult-to-actually-measure goals are:
1. To live with no excuses. I think "No excuses" is my theme for this year. From little things, like neglecting to unload the dishwasher, to more important things like time with my family - no excuses. I don't want to settle for less than what God has in store for me, and I think I do that by procrastinating, being lazy, or making excuses.
2. Follow my husband. Obviously, we will be following God first and foremost, but it's time for me to follow my husband and allow him to use the gifts he has and is now certified to use!

Love. Love. Love.

Trying to Trust

I've realized how lousy I can be at trusting God. I am such a planner, a list maker, and an almost obsessive trying-to-figure-everything-outer, that being in a position with so many unanswered questions about our future is tough.

To prove my extreme planning nature: There are two positions open at a high school in St. Louis, MO. I've gone on the schools website probably 50 times. I've looked up the location on mapquest numerous times. I've looked up apartments/houses for rent to see what you get for your money. I've looked up the local seminary (which Marc and I would both LOVE to attend) to see if my classes would transfer. I've looked up parks nearby. I've got us packed & moved already, and Marc hasn't even applied yet!

And before you lecture me, yes, I know this is not a healthy behavior. Yes, I know the job market is tough and the likelihood of Marc getting the first job he applies for is not high. Yes, I know there is a chance he might not find a full time teaching job, or even a job at all. Yes, I know I'm romanticizing moving and starting over.

But how do I stop? I need to learn to trust God's plan rather than create my own. Easier said than done. I need to trust that God is Sovereign and in control of our lives and our family. Trust that he knows our future and where we will be. Trust that he will figure out our finances. Trust that he will provide what we need when we need it.

I feel like an Israelite.

How many times did God provide for them, lead them, prove his faithfulness to them, and yet time after time they created idols to worship, doubted, complained and stopped trusting.

God has certainly proved himself faithful. Now if only I can prove that I can surrender and trust him.

Routine? What's that?

Next week starts our true family routine. We've never had one before. Never. I guess we've had semi-schedules, but with 3 different people watching the kids weekly at different times, Marc's class schedule changing every semester, my youth group events new each semester and a kid who went from napping to not napping, I'm not sure we can legitimately call it a schedule.

I'm a pretty laid back person. I like to go with the flow, and I really enjoy flexibility. HOWEVER, I have learned that I function MUCH better in a routine. My Mission Year days taught me that. I thrived that year. But I had 4 other adults living with me to keep me to it. I'm not so sure Isaac is going to be my best accountability when it comes to less TV and an earlier bedtime. I know it's good for me, and really good for our family to be in a routine, it's just tricky to start, especially when I value sleep more than, well, just about anything.

So, this week is a practice week. Marc is teaching a J term class at Northpointe each day, so we can't truly get into our schedule until he's done. I started this morning by getting up on time & getting ready, bringing Young to school, waking up the kids (waking them up hoping that = going to bed earlier), feeding Hope, going to the post office & heading to the office all by a little after 9am. I'm hoping to get the kids on a better schedule, giving me more time to sleep and hopefully I can wake up even earlier to get a work out in. I'd also love to do my devotions in the morning instead of at night, but one thing at a time.

Any tips for creating & sticking to a family routine? What's your routine?