It's that time of year....

Why do oreo cookies go so well with coffee?  I know, so unhealthy. I guess I will just have to make up for it tonight by eating some extra veggies.  Life is good.  Even with a cold and two sick babies, I can enjoy just being alive.  Brian and I were Baptized in the lake this last Sunday.  It was a such a beautiful, just have a good time, kind of day.  It's nice to be back home, close to friends and family.  I have missed this and I think Brian has too.
I can feel Fall just around the corner.  I know this because I have this unexplainable urge to bake.  I am ready for the smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon. Orange and red everywhere you look. Weather cool enough for hot cocoa. And college football!  Yes, over the years Brian has turned me into a true fan.  I just love watching a good Razorback game on a cool Saturday while eating chips and homemade salsa.  I love Fall weather clothes!  All the sweaters and hoodies.  Big piles of leaves for my littles to jump in while I snap memories with my trusty nikon.  I. Seriously. Can't. Wait.

Ready to be still for a minute...

It's been an exhausting week.  After what ended up being a nine hour drive with some crazy stops, we made it to our new home in Arkansas last Thursday.  By crazy stops, I really only mean one crazy stop for coffee at a country gas station.  We stopped only to realize Alex had pooped all over himself, literally all over.  It was on his head.  And after two bees and a rambunctious labrador puppy tried to hitch a ride with us, were finally able to get back on the road.  I don't want to make a drive like that again anytime soon. 

Ethan started school Monday.  I can't say that he loves it, but he's adjusting okay.  I like the staff, they are all sweet, Christian women.  I have to say that it hasn't been easy on me either.  I miss my boy like crazy.  And even though I am enjoying the extra time I am able to spend with Adelyn and Alex, I feel like I haven't spent any quality time with Ethan this week.  I suppose this new schedule will take some getting used to.  I will give it a year and see where we stand from there. 

We have been in a semi-empty house all week.  Brian is in Alabama today to oversee the movers pack up the rest of our things.  I can't wait to have all of our stuff delivered.  To finally just be settled for a minute. That's only about how long things last in this world before something changes.  I am not complaining.  I know how very blessed I am.  I am so Thankful for the changing seasons of my life. 
Just imagine how boring life would be if everything always stayed the same...

We found a house.

It has been a busy couple of weeks, and they are not over yet.  We made a second house-hunting trip to Arkansas last week.  And what do ya know, we found a house.  Actually, it was all God, just like I knew it would be.  I could attempt to explain the way it happened, so easily and perfectly, but I just don't think I can convey it in words.  Our house is perfect for us.  It sits up on a hill and we can see the lake from the front yard, which is less than a five minute drive.  It's not a huge house, it's just the right size for our family.  The two things I love about the house though, the two things that God knew I would love, are the hardwood floors and the wall-to-wall shelves in the living room. 
I was also able to get Ethan into the school I wanted, even though it was out of our zone.
Yeah, I've decided to give up homeschooling this year, but definitely not forever.  I just need a bit of a breather for now.
Now, all we have to do is wait to find out when the movers are going to be packing up our stuff.  I can't wait to get settled in our new home.
I know God has big plans for us and I just want to enjoy them. Life is good.

Busy

Hello blog, old friend I have been neglecting.  I have been so consumed in this mad house-hunt that I have let little things that I enjoy go.  Here we are, two weeks until Brian's start date and still no house.  That's how God works though.  Just when something seems impossible, he swoops in like superman and saves the day.  Only he's not superman, he is much bigger than superman.  He is God.  He is the creator of all things good.  He is the creator of the creator of superman!  So, even though I have been incredibly frustrated, I'm still holding onto my faith.
This is going to be one busy week.  I have lots of phone calls to make and we are going to attempt another house-hunting trip.  Oh how I dislike that drive, but it has to be done.
I am currently in the process, and it's a long one, of filtering through our things.  I am determined not to drag a bunch of useless junk to Arkansas.  With all of the back to school sales right now, I have no problem finding the organizational tools I need to get the job done.  Wow, that sounded just like something someone would say on a Wal-Mart commercial.
Anyway, I have a little man who wants to be held and another little man who needs help with a computer game, so I guess that means I'm done writing for today.  Hopefully, by the next blog I will have a new house to write about.

Exhausted

Over the weekend we made a trip to Arkansas to find a house, only, we didn't find one.  The seven hour drive on Saturday was draining, but not nearly as bad as the seven hour drive back home yesterday.  I had been looking forward to spending time with my mom, but things didn't go as planned.  She came down with a nasty stomach flu the day we drove up and it lasted the entire time we were there.  Being the good daughter that I am, I was making trips to see her anyway and to take her medicine, gatorade, and ginger ale.  Sunday night my stomach started to really hurt.  By Monday morning I realized I too had come down with a stomach virus.  Isn't it just my luck to be sick on a day we have to drive seven hours home?  Yes, we had too.  Brian's boss made it abundantly clear that he had to be at work Tuesday (today).  So, I took a combination of imodium and emetrol to try to settle the horrible cramps, nausea, and other symptoms I would rather not talk about.  I told Mandy how I was feeling and she called me so we could pray about it together.  We did and I felt better.  Good enough to eat at least and get to our scheduled house showing for that day.  Once we looked at a house that we were completely disappointed in, we headed back home.  Although I was not throwing up, my stomach felt terrible.  I will admit it could have been much, much worse, but either way that drive was not fun.  I was exhausted from not getting sleep the night before, and the kids made it impossible to fall asleep on the way.  The sun went down about two hours before we arrived home, just as we drove into some very heavy rain and lightening.  The rain pounded down on our van, only leaving about two feet of visibility for us.  Cloud to ground lightening surrounded the area we were driving through and it was so bright that it was blinding.  Talk about conditions that are hard on the eyes.  I prayed and stayed surprisingly calm through the storms and once they passed, I climbed in the very back of the van, curled up with a blanket, and went to sleep.  I know that's not safe, but I was desperate by that point.
I am feeling better today, but still recovering and very tired and looking forward to a good night's sleep.  As far as the house goes, I hope something pops up soon.  I know it will, but I'm still not fond of this whole waiting thing.  Good night and sweet dreams, I'm going to la la land.

A little bit of crazy

Can it be?  Only 7:30 and all of my children are asleep already.  Score! I just hope they stay that way.  Especially after the stressful, yet kind of funny and not all that uncommon for us, chain of events that unfolded in my house earlier.  Okay, first off, we have been invaded by fire ants.  For some reason Ethan's bedroom floor is covered in the little suckers and they are venturing out all over my house.  I have no clue where they are coming from.  Honestly, if it were the nice little kitchen ants that simply wanted food, I wouldn't really care too much since they don't bite the crap out of you.
Ethan is very allergic to them.  I found this out last year after an attack by them in our Florida front yard that ended up in a trip to the emergency room when his face swelled up fifteen minutes later.
Anyway, Ethan came to me earlier  with two fresh bites on his knee.  He was crying and told me the ants were on his leg and now his leg was really hurting. I gave him a dose of Benadryl and pulled out my anointing oil to rub on my hands and pray over the bites.  About two seconds after we were through praying, I looked up just in time to see Alex fall over and bump his head on the bottom of a chair.  I immediately ran to pick him up.  I proceeded to pray for him as I walked into the kitchen to fetch an ice-pack from the freezer.  Once I sat down to hold ice on Alex's head and comfort him, Adelyn walked in.  I saw some kind of substance covering her arms and legs and then realized she had been into my anointing oil.  I must have forgotten to put it back in my purse.  She then showed me where she left the empty bottle and the rest of the oil.  My kitchen table was also covered in it.  "Sigh."
I sat the baby down on the floor to use both of my hands to clean up the mess.  I instructed Adelyn to go wait in the bathroom for me to give her a bath.  When the table was clean, I needed to check on the baby.  Low and behold, he was covering my phone in drool.  Luckily, it was not destroyed.  This all happened in about a twenty minute time slot.  I sat down on my bed to text Mandy and make sure my phone was okay, when Ethan said, "Mommy, Adelyn ran out the front door naked."  Are you kidding me?  Okay, so I jumped up and flew out the door to grab her before the neighbors decided to call the police and report us for having a naked three year, who is covered in oil running around our front yard.  She didn't get very far from the porch and I picked her up and walked back to the door, only to realize I locked myself out.  Yep, sure did.  Ethan was nice enough to let me in this time, rather than laugh and refuse to open the door.  I think he must have really wanted a piece of his Daddy's birthday cake.  And I also think some days, my life would make great reality t.v.  Although, I would never agree to such a thing.  I guess you all will just have to settle for the blog.  :)