Pictures as Promised

   I haven't uploaded any of the nursery pictures yet because I want to finish decorating it first. We are loving our new home and so are our little ones! *grin*  Poor Caleb and I are sick with some sort of virus, though, and haven't felt well today. Anyways, here are a few pics...and still more to come later.

Moving stuff out of our old apartment.

Dining room/living room at new apartment.

New kitchen (beach theme)

Living Room window (beach theme)
Found the curtains at Goodwill for $1.00

Pictures to Come

    We are officially moved in and I am so thankful. We have so much more space here and it makes me so happy. I did THREE happy dances today...yeah, I'm a dork, lol. Anyways, I'm totally exhausted and getting ready to head to bed (Caleb worked really hard to get our bedroom in good order) but I will try to post pictures at some point tomorrow of the moving process. Anyways, hope all of you had a great day.

Tomorrow is the Big Day

     Well...the moment we've been waiting for, for months has FINALLY arrived. But with it comes mixed emotions. I am so thankful to God for providing our family with a bigger home (with lots more space) and providing for us financially. The kids will have their own room and I cannot wait to get started on decorating, lol. We seriously went "window shopping" today to pick out all new decorations including lamps, curtains, bedding etc. I'm totally going overboard and I love the fact that God has provided the funds for us to do so. :-)  There are so many positives that come with this move, and only a couple negatives.
     For starters, this is going to be a very hard move on Caleb and I because this is where we started our lives together. This was the place he carried me over the thresh hold when we got back from our honeymoon. This is where we came and ate cake and celebrated with family and friends after graduating from college. Here is where we brought home our little Noah Bug and our newest member of the family...baby  Halebop. It makes my heart ache to leave this place we've called home for so long. And then, the move also comes with having to say goodbye to my best friend. She is moving a few hours away and I'm going to miss her and her little munchkins like crazy...(love you Becca with all my heart).  But, I've already told her that I might have some "splainin" to do when hubby discovers $100 in gas has been charged to the credit card...on all the days I decide to up and drive to Richmond while he is away at work. *giggle*  No, but in all seriousness, this is SOOOOO hard.
      I have had my moments where I've just weeped because I've felt so overwhelmed and sad but those are becoming few and far between. Instead of focusing my energy on being sad, I've started to thank God for this rough moment in my life. Yes, I feel like my friend will be really far away, but through this, I know He is preparing my mind, body and soul for something greater to come. This is His will and I accept that with my whole being...God will never give me more than I can handle and for that I'm grateful. I pray that He uses this experience in my life to somehow be an example to others. That, yes, there are moments in this life which are painfully difficult, but our lives aren't mean to be happy, but holy. When I take my final breath, I want to know with my whole heart that I looked at every situation as an opportunity the Lord could use in my life. God bless you all.
    The next post I write will be from our new home...with pictures to follow.

Friends for Life
Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Attack of the Allergies

   Beginning to wonder when i'll stop being attacked by my allergies. I seriously wake up every day with a runny nose, scratchy/itchy throat, and the inability to breathe right. I even have a humidifier hooked up which is doing absolutely nothing. And the thing is, I'm not the only one they are affecting...poor little Haleigh gags when she eats because of her constant nasal drip (thank God for Simply Saline) and sneezing; Noah and Caleb have it too. At first I thought it was a virus, but I have a tendency to think not. None of us are running fevers or really feel bad...just a family full of sneezers, lol. 
     We have officially packed up almost everything we own...except for the bare essentials. I had forgotten how exhausting it is to try to pack...and Saturday is going to be even more hectic. Hopefully, it will remain fairly well organized since we labeled each of the boxes with the room they are supposed to go to and what each one contains. Anyways, please be praying for us that all will go well and that the Lord will hold off the rain...and also that it won't take the kids too long to get adjusted to being somewhere new. :-)  Have a great day!

Blessings

Just heard this on the radio. AMAZING!!

Hales and Noah

 

Sunday is the Bestday!!!!

     Woke up this morning not feeling too well again. Turns out this is the worst experience with allergies I've ever had; most days begin with a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes...and my most recent sympton...a sore throat. Sheesh. Anyways, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying this wonderful Sunday. After listening to an amazing sermon on chapter 17 of Judges (a story about Micah and his mama) which teaches that as God disciplines us because he loves us, we should bring our children up in the same way...and even though punishments aren't fun for anybody, it teaches our children obedience and respect; not only to us, but also to God.
    After this, we discussed what to do for lunch and my awesome husband said he would make us bacon/cheeseburgers. YUMMY!  They were delicious. While he did this I started up the crock pot to make homemade vegetable soup which was also yummy. After lunch we decided to take a trip up to the parkway...something we haven't done since last summer (about two weeks after finding out I was pregnant with Halebop).
    We went for a nice hike...which three of us enjoyed. Our little Hales was less than thrilled but after she got comfortable she spend the majority of the hike snuggled up sleeping close to her Mommy. I am addicted to photography so I took a ton of pictures of the day...and I'm glad I did. This is one memory I want to remember forever and I'm glad I had my camera with me to capture the day. Needless to say, I've had an awesome weekend and am looking forward to the big move next Saturday.

"Livin' Outta Suitcases and Packboxes"

     I'm currently sitting on my bed...surrounded by boxes, lol. Here are a few pictures of our progress.

    It's a work in progress but it's coming along. :-)  More pictures to come as the week progresses and moving day gets closer. 

Getting Crafty

      I've had the idea in my head for quite some time how I wanted to decorate the nursery when we moved into our new place. I had decided to get the big letters N and H to hang above Noah and Haleigh's cribs. Becca and I went to Michael's today (seriously the greatest store EVER) and I ended up going a bit overboard, lol. But even so, I only spent $20 on 4 containers of acrylic paint, the letters, paintbrushes, super glue, wooden shapes to decorate the letters with, and sponge brushes. So seriously, twenty bucks was an awesome deal. I couldn't wait to get started on them when we got home and I managed to hold myself back until after the babies went to bed. I don't want to brag on myself, but I think they turned out to be pretty awesome. In fact, I like them so much I think this may be my new hobby; painting. Anyways, I took a few pictures but I will just post ones of the finished project! (My next idea is to buy wooden frames, paint and decorate them, and find cute ribbon to hang them with...these will go beside the letters....one on each side) SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!

Working on my Walk

   Sacred Marriage has been such a blessing in my life. This book is an incredible read and it is teaching me how to be more humble and respective in my marriage and my everyday life. :-)  One of his main points is something I've been struggling with recently:


     "Don't give into temptation to resent your partner as your own weaknesses are revealed". 
   
I sometimes ask Caleb to tell me if/what I'm doing is hurting his feelings or making him feel not as respected or admired as what I should be making him. He is always honest with me and I truly respect that. But somehow, hearing my sins stated out loud feel much harsher to me than when I simply address them in my mind. Then, I get embarrassed which leads to anger and resentment...when instead, it should make me pray for forgiveness and understanding. Forgiveness for sinning against God by disrespecting the other half of me (my incredible husband) and understanding of how I can work on my behavior to not only better myself, but to better my husband. 


As I delve deeper into this book, I am beginning to understand what the author means by our marriages being meant to make us holy, not happy. It's almost impossible to experience true happiness outside of Eden. The only place that we will be truly happy is outside of sin...which will not happen until our souls go to be with the Lord. Then, we will have the experience of enjoying true love and happiness for all eternity...and when I think with this mindset, it makes loving my husband so much easier.

I've also learned that when I practice total devotion and admiration for my spouse, it makes it easier to love my God...and vice versa. The marriage relationship and the spiritual relationship with our Savior aren't two separate entities, but go hand in hand. :-)  The way that God loves us is the way that we should love our spouses...with total commitment, adorning, and humility.  If we can strive to be like our Savior in every way, it makes daily life here on Earth so much more enjoyable. Not "true happiness" but definitely as close as we can get before going Home to be with our Savior. 


God bless you all and I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend. If you get a chance, you should definitely take some time to read this book.