Our new place

Here are pictures, finally! We did get moved, in case you were wondering. My wonderful family came and helped us for a whole week. We nearly sabotaged their truck so that they would have to stay longer. (No, Kristin, I didn't drain the battery, I promise! It did that on its own!!) We also had some sweet guys from our church help move in the heavy stuff, including our piano. I don't realize how heavy that thing is until 4 way-stronger-than-I-ever-will-be guys are straining to get it up the front steps. A very big THANK YOU to them for all their help!

I do love my new house. I do not love trying to get settled. It's been a little tough getting things where I want them, and I haven't even really started decorating yet! It will take time, I know. My patience is being sorely tested. There are so many fun things I want to do outside (like plant flowers out front and get my veggie garden tilled), but I've got plenty to keep me busy on the inside of the house.

The upstairs is looking promising, but the basement almost makes me want to cry. We have 3 bedrooms upstairs, along with the kitchen and living room. I am happy with the kitchen for the most part. At least I know where I'm going to hang stuff in there. I have some ideas for Ruthie's room and the living room as far as decor goes, but haven't really gotten started on that. I worked on organizing the office/craft room today. It's still a mess, but it's better than it was this morning!

The master bedroom, laundry room, storage area, and family room are downstairs. (Yes, it's been weird sleeping on a different level than my kids. No, I don't like the trips upstairs in the middle of the night. I'm surprised I haven't fallen over a Thomas the Tank Engine train and killed myself yet!) The master bedroom is actually coming along pretty well in spite of how the picture looks! Once I can figure out what goes into the storage area and actually get it there I will be on a good road with the basement. It will help to get some more bookshelves and toy bins, etc. to organize and create homes for everything. Lord willing, we'll be able to get some more of those things in the coming months. Right now I am just grateful that we have the space to have potential homes for everything!

I will post more pictures as I get things put away, hung up, etc., but for now, here are some pictures that were taken when we were moving in and during the first 2 weeks. Please forgive the mess!!

View from the curb

From the yard

Our backyard. The previous tenants left the swingset. I'm so glad they did! Silas loves it.

New kitchen! Yay!

I am not thrilled with the country border, but we'll definitely work with it!

Living room. The clock is now hanging on the wall though!

This chair was such a special blessing from the Lord. It's originally from Pier 1 (love that store!) but I got it on craigslist for a very good price. Yay!

Office/Craft room

Silas' room and new big-boy bed. Who do you think picked out that comforter?

Did you guess right?

Downstairs family room/play area

My messy bedroom. This picture was taken on a Sunday. Does anyone else have trouble getting their bed made and their house in order on a Sunday?

My laundry area

Of course, no blog post would be complete without some cute pictures of the kids!

Here's Ruthanne with Aunt Kristin.

Silas in the driveway with the little garter snake.

Silas loves to play with spaghetti whenever I make it. Food and good music - what more do you need?

Our last weekend

It's rather inevitable. I always get sentimental right before a big change. (You should have seen me a couple nights before Ruthanne was born!) I cannot believe that we are starting our last weekend in this house. Though I feel like I've been packing forever, this move has sorta sneaked up on me. I have been thinking how, once we move, Silas will finally sleep in a big boy bed. I know it's way past time for that for most people, but I am sad to see him grow up in this way already. I'm still surprised that I have a three-year-old some days!

Last night, Kevin and I were discussing the path the Lord has led us on over the last 2 1/2 years. We are so amazed to see what the Lord has allowed and done in our lives over this time. This townhouse was a new beginning for us in many ways. We have been through what is undeniably the lowest valley our marriage has yet encountered, and can praise the Lord for His faithfulness through it. I look back and see growth, and that is SO exciting to me. God is continually teaching me the value and importance of the Cross in my everyday life. I am far from perfect, but I can see changes in my life and I am so encouraged.

It's easy for me to view housing changes as chapters in my life, and I am excited to see what this next one holds. This home was where Silas learned to use the potty (yay! is it wrong that I still get excited about that?), where he changed into a preschooler, where we settled in to a new city and church, where I've learned and loved my husband more, and where my sweet Ruthanne was born. So many great memories. I am so thankful!

Giveaway Alert

Head on over to my friend Trisha's blog. She shares some great deals and coupons that she finds, and, in honor of now having 100 subscribers, she's doing a giveaway. The free item is a beautiful little dress. Her cousin-in-law makes them, and they are too cute! Thanks, Trisha!

We got the house!

Yay! Apparently, I blogged too soon today! Kevin called me this afternoon saying that we were good to go. The lady just wants to meet us and have us sign the lease. We're planning to do that Monday morning. (Kevin said that she seemed to be really laid back about it all. I don't think she has any idea what kind of suspense she was keeping us in!) We'll get the keys on the 23rd and move in that week. I think Kevin is planning to do the "big move" on Wednesday since that's his day off. We have to get some man power to move our piano. That seems to be the biggest thing we'll need help with. My mom, 2 sisters, and youngest brother will be coming to help us move and help watch the little ones. Silas is so ready for them to be here! He just loves Aunt Kristin's big truck! He loved it when she came to help us last fall when Ruthanne was born. He rode all over the place with her!
Thank you all for praying. We are so excited. I will post pictures as soon as I can get them. We may try to drive by the house here soon so I can at least get a picture of the outside for you.
Praise the Lord. He is so good to us.

Still on hold...

Just a quick update - Silas is doing better. Thanks to all who have been praying. I have felt so bad for him! He is one of those kids who gets pretty emotional when he's sick (I think he takes after me. I remember my mom saying I was the worst "sickie" she had. I guess that's pretty sad considering I am the OLDEST in my family.). I have prayed for lots of patience! I am so thankful that the rest of us have stayed healthy. I am planning to clean and disinfect today to help keep it that way!

About the house, we have heard nothing definite yet. I know, it's been a week now! Kevin called the lady on Monday, then again on Wednesday. She called back around noon on Wednesday, said she's been very busy, and was planning to get to our application that afternoon if possible. She did call back Wednesday afternoon with lots of questions. Kevin faxed her some info yesterday and now we're waiting again. Hopefully she'll call by Monday. I KNOW that God is teaching me patience! We just love this house and are so hopeful that this will all come through. It sounded so promising when Kevin talked with this lady's husband at the initial walk-through. We have speculated that they are assuming that all will be fine, they'll rent to us, and are just going through the formality of the paperwork. I wish they'd communicate that to us though! I've had a hard time not decorating the house in my mind. Am I the only one out there that does this?!

Here are a couple more pictures:

These are from our trip to my parents' in January. Silas was Grandpa's big helper.

This one is from last weekend.

Gotta run. Lots of cleaning awaits.

Does pre-Spring always = colds?

Poor Silas. He has a cold again. It seems like every time I turn around we're catching something! Is anyone else experiencing this? Several friends who live close claim that Lexington is the worst area in the US for allergies. Maybe that's what's wrong. Silas started coughing on Saturday afternoon, and I didn't think anything of it. I let him play out on our patio and he had a grand ole time! He ended up with a fever yesterday. I hate when he has to miss his class on Sunday nights. His teacher does such a great job with him, and he always comes home with these cute projects he made. He usually remembers what was taught too. I've not heard the words, "Let my people go!" said with such gusto since I was in Sunday School! He is doing a little better as I write. His fever went down and he is resting. I am so thankful that these little things pass quickly and are not serious. Too bad he's missing the gorgeous weather today, but hopefully he can get outside again in the next couple days. Here are some recent pictures of the kids:

Playing on the patio

Playing on Mommy and Daddy's messy bed


I love this one! Please pardon the messy room. We are moving...

For those of you wondering, we haven't yet heard anything about the house. I will post when we do. Thanks for your prayers.

I think we found it! At least, I hope so.

Well, I forgot my camera yesterday. Of course. I was so excited to see this place since Kevin seemed excited about it. We had to wait til the kids got up from their naps so you'd think that I'd have packed the camera then, but no. Oh well. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures of this house as "ours" rather than a potential place.
I could not believe this house. Actually, there were 2 homes. I had spoken with the lady earlier in the week, but didn't think we'd go with her since it didn't sound like she'd hold any house long enough for us. We drove by on Wednesday and called her since the place looked really nice. Kevin went to see the house after work yesterday. The man said he had 2 homes on the same street. Kevin saw both of them, came home, and we went to see them as a family. They both had 4 bedrooms - which was a secret hope of mine! I really wanted a separate office/craft room since my sweet husband bought me a sewing machine! Both homes were very nice. The one we'd like to go with has a big backyard with a swingset, and a finished basement. The basement is tiled, and is perfect as a play area. The kitchen is a huge upgrade from what we have now. There are very few negatives on this place, especially once we consider the price. For this neighborhood and this size home, the landlords could easily ask $100-$150 more than they are. Silas thoroughly enjoyed himself while looking around - actually playing outside was his thing! - and cried when we left. I felt so bad for him. We told him that now we have to pray that Jesus will let us live there if that's what He wants. We'll keep you posted on this! And, if we get it, I PROMISE to post some pictures.