January

is almost over.

I have a son who will be 14 later this week!  Crazy...where did my baby go.  He's now taller than me...

one of my favorite photos from years ago...

Here is this past summer...or was it last summer...it's so hard to tell because he's growing so fast!

 

 

 

We're having a pretty good week.  This week I was thinking about my children's names.  I couldn't remember what they all meant so I looked them up.

 

Josiah (Supported by God or Healed by God or Fire of God) Randal (Shield of the Wolf)

Autumn (Season of Harvest) Fay (Faith or Fey)

Janae (God is Gracious) Anne (God's Favor; Grace)

Zachary (God has Remembered) Chase (Huntsman)

Mark (Warrier) Bradley (Broad Clearing)

Micah (Who is like God?) Tyler (Tile Maker)

 

It was interesting thinking about it.

 

Well, I should come up with something for supper.  Our neighbors graciously allow us to skate at their pond so the older 4 are sliding and/or skating there.  I'm so glad they have this opportunity!

 

As I probably mentioned, Josiah & Autumn are involved in Bible Quizzing again this year.  They are studying Exodus.

 

The snow is still lovely...but I admit I'm anxious for spring.  And partly anxious because I want to know what's in my new flower beds.  Are there any bulbs (tulips or daffodils) or perennials?  Definitely looking forward to spring!  On the other hand, it's much easier to get kids into bed early when it's still dark!

 

Have a lovely day!

Our Moving Story

I'm scheduling this post...so by the time you read this...it will be 2-3 months ago.  But I'm not sure I want it "out there" ahead of time.

Back in August, we went to the beach for a week.  While there, a house near Randy's parents went up for auction.  We had seen it, but assumed it would be out of our price range.  After all, it was a lovely brick 4 bedroom/4 bathroom house complete with several acres and a barn/pasture.  While we were vacationing, we learned that they had not sold at auction and were encouraged to go and look at it.  So after we got home, we did.  As a listed property, the price was much higher than the highest bid on auction.  We knew this was above our range, despite the realtor's admonishments that we could afford it.  We did look at it a second time, and told him our highest possible price.  He pretty much laughed and said there was no way.  By this time it was September.  Mid September, he called us and suggested an offer to us.  We were convinced that we could not afford that much and walked away.

Saturday, October 26, Randy went to another auction (as a spectator, not a bidder) held by this auctioneer/realtor.  Monday the realtor called him and told us that if we were still interested, to make our best offer + settlement in 30 days.  They were meeting Tuesday and he wanted to have something to offer him.  Tuesday we had a verbal agreement.  Wednesday we were signing paperwork.  Thursday and Friday we were scrambling to start the financing piece and almost amazed to find ourselves the potential owners of a lovely piece of property.

I write this on November 3.  It's settling in.  We're moving.  While initially some of the kids were not excited, they are getting there.  It will be hard to leave all that is familiar to us.  Randy bought this as a very young man.  I joined him when we got married...the only place I have lived aside from our parents.  And this is all any of our kids have known.  We are both excited and uncertain at this newness.  We are moving to the country...I know it will be darker and windier there.  But the skies will be lovely and the mountains and fields a pleasure (except, perhaps, when the farmer is spreading manure around us).

Now we need to pack up, fix up the house...those dings and dents...scrub walls, perhaps some paint, clean the carpets...and get it on the market so we can sell it.  And all the while, life will go on.  The kids will go to school.  Mark will get his therapies.  And so it goes...

Add Thanksgiving and Christmas into the mix and it could get quite interesting....

**Update:
It's now December 2.  We ended up settling on the house on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.  So we moved a few boxes Wednesday, a few more Thanksgiving morning, a lot more on Friday, and had the big final move on Saturday.  We're settling in.  I love the Central Vac and the views around me...especially in the morning.  We now need to get the other house ready to sell and it's coming together quickly.  The carpets are getting cleaned tomorrow.  We decided to hire someone to do the patching/painting and they are coming tomorrow as well...and off-and-on until it's finished.  They expect to be finished by next Friday.  Then it's just make the bathrooms, floors, and windows sparkle...and wait for it to sell.

**Update:
December 25:  Our house was listed for sale on December 16.  Yesterday we signed paperwork to sell the house with settlement on January 24.  A miracle!  It's unheard of to sell a house this quickly in todays market.  We feel so blessed...

**Update:
January 24:  Our house sold as planned.  A very minor glitch with the address at the end, but it all went through smoothly.  We are so grateful!

Monday Randomness

• Quizzing Season has started again.  This year the kids are memorizing the book of Exodus.  Our church has 3 teams this year.  Josiah is on one of them.  Autumn is assistant coach/scorekeeper.
• It's also the time of year again when we start selling tickets for the dinner concert benefitting Transport for Christ.  It's held the last Saturday in March and this year features "By Grace Ministries"
• Last night I started watching "Fiddler on the Roof" while waiting for Randy, Josiah, & Autumn to get home.  I've been wanting to watch it again.  I got through the first half hour...not sure when I'll finish it.  I love the movie, and yet it's so sad...
• The kids have been sick...fever/aches/chills/sinus stuff/coughs...Micah and Mark are on the mend.  Zach and Janae are slowly getting better.
• We watched "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" Thursday night/Sunday afternoon...it's fun showing our kids these classic movies.
• Yesterday was our church's Ladies Tea.  My "Secret Sister" gave me a lovely frame for photos and paper whites bulbs.  I'm very excited to see them bloom!
• Still on my reading list:  "Parenting from the Inside Out" by Siegel and Hartzell.
• There is a strong possibility of us getting snow tonight/tomorrow from an Alberta Clipper...along with a cold snap (otherwise known as the polar vortex)...kids are missing more school this year than the past 2 combined!

And that's the random Monday wrap-up....

Pondering...

As I may have mentioned, this year I'm reading through the New Testament with some friends.  My friend even started a little facebook group so we can discuss things that strike us.  Anyway...for January we're reading the books of Matthew and Mark.  I'm not getting very far very fast...despite having read these books many times, I still find things to chew on; to ponder over.  I guess every time I read I have different circumstances or experiences which affect me...

Today I'm pondering Matthew 7:14.  "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."  (ESV)

I've read and even memorized this verse.  But today what strikes me is not that the gate and the way are narrow, or that those who find it are few, but that it is HARD.  That my way, my life being HARD does not mean that something is wrong.  Sometimes our way is hard because of the consequences of our decisions.  Sometimes our way is hard because of other people's decisions/actions.  But sometimes the way is hard because...we're on the narrow way...and the narrow way is hard...it's not easy...The wide way is easy...we're not on the wide way....

Because I'm such a "can see the other side person"...When things are easy, that does not necessarily mean we're on the wide way that leads to destruction (v. 13)...it may be a blessing from God...a break in our hard road...a gift for a time....a gift to encourage us to keep on going on the hard way...like an oasis in the desert.

Anyway...those are my random thoughts for today...

January Randomness

• We're slowly settling back into our normal routine after the holidays.
• Because of snow the kids only had one day of school last week.
• This week they have school every day but have a half day on Friday.
• Because of the extreme cold, Randy was off work (kind of...he did maintenance and catch up stuff part of the days) Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
• I am continuing to work at potty training Mark and Micah.  In my opinion, Micah is potty trained, he just doesn't choose to do so.  Mark...well, we're working on it.
• I finished reading the book "Unglued" by Lya TerKeurst.  I really enjoyed it!  Next on my list are "Parenting from the Inside Out" and "When Godly People do Ungodly Things".
• In the Lord of the Rings trilogy movie watching department--I'm ready to start #3 - The Return of the King.
• Josiah has started studying/practices for this year's Bible Quizzing.  They are studying the book of Exodus this year.  I love that his Sunday School teacher studies it with them in class as well...so they are learning it, not just memorizing the words.
• For my "what shall I do for devotions this year" question, I'm joining with another friend (or more) and reading through/studying the New Testament.
• Okay.  Time to go pack lunches.  Have a good day!

Frigid

It's very, very cold...the wind is whipping around the house.  Most schools in the county have a 2-hour-delay, but not ours, at least not yet...waiting to see...