One Mom’s Lifesong

Besides being terribly tired and running on fumes physically, we’re running on paint fumes as well. The painters are back today to finish up the wonderful job they are doing. Today they have to work around all the furniture that is piled in the middle of the rooms. That’s right. We got furniture! The movers came yesterday and had everything unloaded in about 4 hours. It was wonderful to sit in a chair and just tell them where to put stuff. Definitely the way to go!

Mom and dad helped last night with some stuff – mom unpacked my kitchen. Dad started to demo the closet shelves to make way for the closet organizers that I want to install. I can’t do much unpacking in our room until that’s done.

The kids beds are together and made. Being able to leave clothes in dresser drawers helped a lot with the settling in process for them. First thing this morning Noah dug into the toys. They are now strewn out all over the playroom. I need to wrestle them under control. It’s going to be and adjustment going from that huge bonus room we had down to the smaller playroom. But we’ll figure it out.

Later today is the big Home Depot shopping trip to get blinds, closet organizers, new sink, ceiling fans, etc. Whee. Lots to do. I’ll get pictures put up in a few days.

It’s official. It’s ours. We got the keys! (Celebration dance). There’s a few loose ends (like the missing stove) that still have to be fixed but it’s ours. The painters come at 7. I’ll post pictures soon.

The end is finally in site – we will soon be in our own home. We get the keys in 2 days, will be moved in 4. Mark is seriously contemplating sleeping in the new house in a sleeping bag for the 2 nights before the movers. Me, I prefer a real bed, even if it’s in a bedroom w/ 4 people in it. Actually I have to say that the kids have done quite well. Mark even managed to get both of them to go to sleep together at the same time (vs. the usual let Natalie fall asleep, then put Noah to bed). Kudos to him. Well this may be the last you hear from me in awhile. Next time I post I’ll have new pictures of the house!

Well today we moved back into my parents house. This is the last move though. Yeah! Luckily the parents were gone when I arrived and so I was able to get everything put away. They have no idea how much stuff I have “hidden”. I just didn’t want them to feel invaded

Noah gets back from his road trip to “Arkansauce” (as Natalie calls it) tomorrow afternoon. Can’t wait to see him. We talked on the phone for awhile today and it sounds like he had a great time.

Everything is lined up for the move week. We did our walk through and gave them the list of stuff to fix. They said they’ll have it all done, on time, next Tuesday. We have painters coming on Wed, movers on Thurs and then the painters will finish up on Friday. Yeah! Only 9 more nights til I can sleep in my own bed again

Why is it that when we are apart from our kids for a few days and we see them again it suddenly seems like they’ve aged a half a year? Mark and I picked up Natalie at my parents house this afternoon upon returning from California and in just 5 days she seems to have grown up at least a half a year. He hair looked different, her face looked different, she was talking even more (if that’s possible – she’s quite the chatter box). There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when your two year old squeals “Mama”, runs to you and wraps her arms tightly around your neck.

Do you suppose that God has that same feeling when we run to him for comfort and for joy?

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel – we have a move in date. While vacationing things began to get settled for the house. We got a real, official, confirmed, double-checked close date. We do our walk through on Monday the 18th, they have a week to fix stuff and we will get the keys the afternoon of the 26th. I’m trying to get the painters lined up for the 27th. Either way, the movers are coming on the 28th. If necessary, the painters can come later. But we miss our bed and I want to get the kids settled as soon as possible.

While all the people back home are suffering through 115 degrees we escaped to the wonderful breezy 78 of San Diego. It was kind of a last minute getaway but much needed. Natalie is with my parents. Noah is leaving bright and early in the morning with Mark’s parents for a road trip to Arkansas to see his cousins. He is so excited. Hopefully he will be good for them and have a great time. It’s a 16 hour drive that they’re going to do in 2 days. They’re bringing our niece back with them for a week long visit which will be fun. We haven’t seen her since Jenny’s wedding. We’re off to Coronado tomorrow for some beach time and maybe a bike ride.

My family of 4 is currently leading the life of gypsies. We are building a new home that will be done on July 26th. But we sold our old home and had to be out June 30th. But, as ever, God is so awesome in providing us with places to stay.

The first week we stayed at my parents house that, while not convenient to Mark’s job or church, was a welcome site and we loved using the spa to soothe our moving muscle aches. With them on vacation we pretty much had the run of the house. It was also nice in that it was a familar spot to the kids.

Last week we moved to the house of friends of ours who are out of the country for 2 weeks. They have young kids so there are plenty of toys to play with and best of all they have a pool. I think we’ve been in the water every day. The kids are loving it and it’s helping with their progress at learning to swim.

After they return we’ll have about one more week. We will either be back at my parents or staying with other friends while the wife and kids are out of town.

While packing and repacking every week or so isn’t exactly fun we are so blessed by friends and family who are letting us crash. The kids are taking it in stride as well. Natalie has been a little clingy and keeps saying “We go home?” But we are all surviving.

I can’t wait for the house to be done, painters to come and to get our stuff out of the Mobile Mini’s.

I’ve been thinking of starting a blog for awhile but I’ve held back for many reasons

1) Like I don’t have enough to do already
2) Spill my guts for all the world to read…hm…let me think about it
3) Possibly addictive?

But I’m jumping in. Primarily because my church is looking at adding a blog on our web site and since I’m the web site gal I’ll be helping set it up, look for content ideas, etc. So I figured I’d practice with my own personal blog. Besides, I love to write so maybe this will encourage me to find the time.

The title of my blog comes from a song by my favorite band, Casting Crowns, called "The Voice of Truth"…

But the giant’s calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I’ve tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you’ll never win!"
"You’ll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

The song is talking about David and Goliath but it also refers to the "giants" we face in our everyday life and how the world will do it’s best to tell us we’re not good enough and we’re not strong enough. But fortunately for me, my strength comes from Christ and he is all powerful!