Andy, Kristen, and our boys(+ 1 princess): Be anxious for nothing....

I realized that I haven't updated much on the house, but that doesn't mean that it's taken a back seat in our lives right now. If anything, it has pushed and shoved it's way to being a major part of our everyday lives.

So many people had told us that building was going to be a lot of work and a huge undertaking. Although I listened to what they were saying, I dismissed it by thinking about how Andy and I have similar aesthetics and how we both love looking at houses and have dreamed for a long time about what we wanted. In fact, we had been working on our house plan with our builder for about 2 years.

But, reality has hit us smack dab in the face. There are SOOOOO many decisions. You get to the point sometimes where you want to say, "we don't care." But, we know that's not true. We do care, and we will care. So, I'm trying to realize which items need more attention, and which thing I do need to let go of a little.

In the first few weeks of the start of our build, I would notice things that weren't done correctly, or at least had just been miscommunicated. Really, most of the issues were very minor. But, I would stress about it all weekend (when we usually got out to our property), and worry until Monday when I could clarify things with our builder. Which always has gone incredibly well by the way. Every time we have brought a concern or issue to our builder, he has listened and worked with us to figure out a solution that works for all of us. We have been very pleased with that aspect.

But, in the mean time, decisions continue needing to be made. It's not just about figuring out what light fixture you want to put over your dining room table (which believe me I agonized over), but it's about choosing a fixture that's in budget, and if you go over budget there, where do you need to cut? AHHHH!!!! It can definitely be overwhelming trying to keep everything straight.

As with everything else, I knew I needed time in the Word, and this afternoon the Lord spoke to me through a very well known verse. So, I copied it and put it around the house. I put one copy by my kitchen sink because I'm there all of the time.

I put one next to my bathroom mirror.

And I put part of it above my laptop, where I get inundated with house e-mails.

I have known this verse for many years, but I need to be reminded of it in moments when I need to cling to it's truth.

There are many more house decisions to come, and I know that we will have to make some compromises, but I pray that in the mean time I will keep my eyes upon the Lord. I believe God uses all of our situations to teach us, to grow us, to minister to us, and to remind us that He is with us.

I don't want to live my life just "getting through" things. I want to embrace the moment.

Andy and I snuck away for a last minute date this weekend, and as we sat on a swing enjoying our time I told Andy that days at home with the kids can be long and hard. (That part was not news to him) But, what I want to change is waking up each day and considering "I wonder what part of today is going to be really fun?" As I'm typing this, I can see how that might sound sarcastic based on my previous sentence, but I'm serious!!! I want to find fun in each day! Even if it's as simple as sneaking chocolate chips with the kids when we shouldn't, or having a dance party before we start school, or laughing at Davis when he's making his silly faces. There is fun to be had in each day. Some times we just have to look for it.

Here's some of our recent fun! Enjoy! : )

Visiting the house...