Happy Easter!

We had a spectacular Easter. My heart is so full and thankful this morning.

We were all able to go to Church together and I was actually able to sit with my husband in the worship service- which is a complete rarity. Hannah and I sang with the choir which was actually pretty fun- one of the songs has been stuck in my head since yesterday. :-P

We hosted our first family dinner and it was wonderful!  We borrowed a table/benches and folding chairs from my parents and siblings.

Don't we have beautiful children! 💖❤💖

This is my other favorite family picture :-D We were all trying to cajole Chance to sit on the step. He was really confused by the whole picture taking thing.

Two nights this weekend we have just sat around the table at night talking and laughing and it was great.  Last night we (well, mostly Rhett) were looking for a place to go camping this summer.  It as been eons since we have gone on a family camping trip! I can not wait.  A whole week with no work, outside by the lake, all my children and my mister.  And hopefully the puppers. The only question is- how many books should I bring? 😏

remember the good...

I awoke to the cat knocking over a glass of water on my nightstand. My helpful hubby grabbed me a towel from our bathroom to mop up the mess. He went back to sleep and I trudged downstairs with the pup. I considered going back to sleep. I curled up on the couch briefly but by then my mind was racing and overwhelmed.

I gave up on extra sleep, made coffee and settled at the table. Opened my Bible. Prayed. Slowly His joy began to seep into my soul.

 

Last night at Moms Connect and also earlier in the week with another friend I was reminded of the importance of looking for the good and remembering to good God has done for me.

I found a scarf I have been missing for like two years this weekend! I was somewhat perplexed in the packing I never came across it- where could it possibly be??  Well this week we were over cleaning at the old house, I moved my old dresser and there it was caught behind it on the bottom drawer. =) Guess what I wore to church yesterday!


I tested a new Pampered Chef recipe yesterday- Strawberry Blondies- super yummy! The recipe is in the NEW Season's Best recipe collection.  Available March 1.  They maybe making an appearance at my upcoming pampered chef party too. =)

Chance and Storm love the window seat in the living room. Interestingly enough- they seem to becoming more tolerant of each other in the new house.

The mister and I had a pretty sweet date Saturday night. We bought new living room furniture (to be delivered tomorrow!!) and then had dinner at The Distillery.  Maybe its that we were both starving but we had Loaded Tater Tots for an appetizer and they.were.amazing. We also had burgers and fries. I think his was better than mine. But mine was pretty tasty too.

When we got home- I helped him put together Mikayla's new bed. Basically by handing him screws. But hey- he said it was a help to him and I was more than happy to do it. Our girl will be home in 11 days! Not that I'm counting. 

My dad preached at our church yesterday.  I got to sit next to my best friend in service.

Another winter storm

I woke up tired and anxious. Seems like a constant struggle.

One big reason. Weather. Schools are closed. Again. Lots of yucky weather rolling in.


I was hoping to get in some treadmill miles tonight but now I'm thinking I will go straight home depending on weather. I'm super discouraged with running and fitness. I just can't seem to get back in the groove. Despite all my bravado before the move- I am afraid to run at the new house. I have to cross a somewhat busy road to get to safer running roads. Basically I am being a weenie. On top of that Chance was banned from running last week- I seriously cried. He has a bum knee it would seem.

Just because I love my dog.

So anyway I got to work dreading the snow, sleet and ice that is coming. Frustrated with just all the little things.

But then. I opened my email. Clicked on one with this subject, "Trusting God When You Don't Know What's Ahead" I skimmed it until these words jumped out at me.

"This week I read a post about a practical way to implement scripture, called breath prayers. I tried it with Hebrews 13:5 

     (Inhale) The Lord
     (Exhale) is my helper.
     (Inhale) I will NOT
     (Exhale) be afraid."

This grabbed me because this exercise is used in the book below I just finished reading last week. I loved this book. LOVED. Like cried actual tears and found myself breathing, "yes, Lord." In agreement with their prayers. Then laughed at myself reminding myself they were fictional characters. This is the 2nd book in the series. In the first book these four ladies are strangers and attend a spiritual seminar series where they become intertwined in one another's lives.  You can read my review of Book 1 HERE.  This book was equally as good. Following the same four ladies as they continue on their spiritual journey and their friendship deepens as well.  If you'd like a read to help deepen your spiritual and prayer life and also just about friendship of women and christian daily life. This is a great book. I'm looking forward to reading book 3.

"Our hope isn't uncertain. Christian hope doesn't fluctuate according to circumstances. True hope is about having confidence that God's purposes in Christ can never be thwarted, no matter how it appears." -Two Steps Forward p 11

In house news- the mister painted Hannah's room this weekend. Her new bed frame came on Saturday too =) Chance loves her new bed!

In Pampered Chef news... yesterday I suddenly got excited about pampered chef again. =) Its been on the back burner- pretty much for all of last year. I'm doing my first LIVE video from our new kitchen tonight. Also will be having a party the first week of March, working on nailing down a date for that. I'm treating this as my Kick-off. We'll see what happens.

Welcome Home!

Saturday was moving day!!

Chance was a little concerned Saturday morning... He just wasn't quite sure what the heck was going on.  He stuck pretty close until we loaded up to head over to the new house.

Headed to the new house! Approximately 1.5 miles from our old house.

Ryan and Hannah ate their leftover Chinese food for breakfast while Rhett and I went to pick up the Uhaul.

View from my new kitchen window. I think they ended up making three trips back and forth with the tuck.  After the first trip I stayed at the new house and moved boxes from the piano room to the room they belonged in and began unpacking the kitchen.  My new kitchen <3 I can't even guys! Its amazing!

Cozied up on his bed, starting to settle in. 

Storm on the other hand took to the new house right away, exploring every nook and cranny. He was and still is loving life at the new house.

Later on Saturday evening Hannah and I made a Target run- I found these awesome new lamps for our bedroom. LOVE!  So perfect! Our new room is so pretty!

          

The kitchen is pretty much set. A couple more boxes left to unpack. This morning I added a book shelf and unpacked my cookbooks. My devotional basket also will go on the top shelf- once I find that box. :~P

A little housewarming gift- definitely warmed my heart.

Cheers!

By Monday morning Chancey was feeling right at home!

As more of the house is unpacked and presentable I will share more. Hannah's room is to be painted this weekend and her new bed frame delivered Monday.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! All who helped us Friday and Saturday! You're awesome and we couldn't have done it without you!

See- I am doing a new thing...

Can I just say-  UGH. January feels like an utter fail.  I don't think I accomplished a single on of my goals.  Except for reading (Completed 11 books! 3 books ahead of schedule). And close on the house which happened on the 2nd to last day of the month (see below). I ran a total of 4 times and didn't even break into double digits coming in at 8.61 miles for the whole freaking month. I have no one to blame but myself. I did go to my parents and log a couple treadmill miles on Monday. Hopefully next week I can do that as well and get back in the groove. 

My focus for February is housekeeping and homemaking as well settle into our new home. <3

So much of January I felt like I was in a holding pattern- waiting to close on our new house and move! Our life stacked in boxes. 

This picture is from a couple weeks ago when they put up the sold sign.
Now we have lots of snow, ice and frigid temps.

During the walk through I discovered that we have an ice maker in our freezer! I'm so ridiculously excited about that!

The kids and I took a few loads of boxes over in the past couple days.  Today Rhett and Ryan are starting moving most of the boxes. Tomorrow we do the furniture.

Then we settle into our new life in our beautiful new house.

I can't help but marvel at God's faithfulness and healing over the past year.  I can't even fathom the difference a little over a year has made.

If you told me last January that I would have a getaway with my husband in the mountains during the summer, that we would go to a Metallica concert together in October and that this January we would buy this amazing new house! My heart overflows!  Can't wait to see what other adventures await us in 2019.

We are HOMEOWNERS!!!

See, I am doing a new thing! 

 Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19 NIV

Light

Its wonderful to finally have a day where it feels like the fog is lifting and I can breathe deep again. 

Bonus its FRIDAY! 

Some of my favorites from this week~

More salads in my Make and Take Mason Jar, this one is Chicken Fajita. Leftover fajita filling in the bottom. Followed by bell pepper and cherry tomatoes. Lettuce and shredded cheese. Topped with Aldi's Salsa Ranch dressing and crushed tortilla chips. Yum!

My sister in law and I got in a few miles with her youngest two boys while all our other kids were at VBS.  I'm thankful she invited me to run with her. It felt good. I was pleasantly surprised with how nice of an evening it was, their road nicely shaded. =)

Kinda loving this new tag line from Pampered Chef--
 A new season coming up, great time for a fresh start. Can't wait to get my hands on some of the NEW products. I will be doing a virtual reveal in August! Swing by and "LIKE" my facebook page... when I hit 100 likes I will be doing a GIVEAWAY!!

--> 6 years ago today we had our first supper in our new home <3 Memories <3

Finding out a random stranger reads (& is encouraged by)  my blog. =) LOVE getting blog comments, they make my day!

Live as Children of the LIGHT! (From Ephesians 5:8 niv)

ta-da

Nearly 11 months after we moved in Mik and I finally painted her bedroom. Despite the fact I am not a green person, it looks great. And she LOVES it! Storm has recently been introduced to Mikayla's room. He is the ONLY cat with basement privileges. But Mikayla loves being able to enjoy her kitty in her room, he even tolerates the guinea pig...

I added it to my "New House" album on facebook. Naturally I had to look at the rest of the pictures in the album from last summer. I got a little choked up. This house is such a blessing. I love it so much! I am so thankful that we now a have a home we call our own.

God IS good...