Blessings, Blessings Everywhere ...I just needed to open my eyes to see them :)

This has been an overwhelming and emotional week with house stuff.  It definitely took a toll on me and I won't go into the details, but I allowed it to cast a dark cloud over my week.

As I think back on this week I am amazed at the many wonderful blessings that were a part of it.  I knew it in the moment, but seeing it in pictures as a whole, overwhelms me with the goodness of God.  Even in the midst of trials there are blessings everywhere.

The last few days we have been busy with other things and it's been so nice.  It's given me a needed break from focusing so much on the details of the house and reminding me of the joys that are in the every day.

Here are some of the ways I've felt God's love this week.

I got a hair cut.  

I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but here are a few details.

As I made my appointment I had to coordinate my hairdresser, a sitter, and a ride to and from the appointment.

We ended up with a house appointment that morning at our property, so Andy rushed home to drop us off to eat lunch as he hurried to a lunch meeting that he was late for, promising me he'd get home in time to take me to my appointment.  Andy left his meeting early and came to get me, but our sitter was a no show and I couldn't get a hold of her.  Andy couldn't keep the kids because he had afternoon meetings, and I didn't know what to do.  I knew I couldn't cancel the appointment right then, so on the way there I texted a friend whose daughter sits for us.  Her daughter was helping her dad at work, but they dropped everything and brought her to our house, and then the mom offered to pick me up from my appointment so that Andy wouldn't have to juggle his meetings.

"Do not be anxious about anything..." echoed in my mind.  I had no idea how all of it would work out, and I felt silly since it was all over a hair cut, but the details worked out wonderfully and I got to enjoy two hours to myself. :)

This week a horrible storm came through Tallahassee.  There was even a tornado that went through a part of town.  Many homes were without power, and some people were unable to get home because there were trees and branches everywhere.

Wednesday, the day after the storm, was the first "normal" day we've had in a long time.  There were no swim lessons, no VBS, no doctor's appointments, or house meetings.  It was just a day where Andy went to work and we planned to hang out at home.

I told the kids it would be a "Fun and Work Day".  The plan was that we would do some work and then get a fun break time, then work and have fun, etc.

We began with a few chores and then Drew brought up the idea that we should see if any of our neighbors needed help picking up branches from the storm.

We all thought it was a great idea, so they paired up into a big and little team (even coming up with team names), and we headed out.  We had a wonderful time.  We got to talk a neighbor who just wanted an opportunity to catch up, we met the grandma of a new little baby who was baby sitting and found out her kids go to our new church and she goes to our old church, and then we saw our friends at the end of the street arrive home so the kids got some play time while I got some mama catching up time.

As we wandered home I thought about how it really is true...

"It's more blessed to give than to receive".  

We loved helping our neighbors and we came home with full hearts after getting to visit and play with others.

Thursday Andy and I got up and left at 5:00 in the morning to head to Shands for a second opinion on my epilepsy diagnosis.

I was actually pretty awake on the ride down and Andy and I enjoyed a lot of good alone time catching up on a variety of topics.  I'm not sure how much talking there was on his part, but he was a very good listener.  :)

We arrived at Shands and I was a little surprised to find out my appointment was with a different doctor than was originally scheduled.  I had looked up the first doctor and she was an older woman who I assumed had a lot of experience and expertise from her many years practicing medicine.

This doctor was much younger and when she arrived at our appointment, pretty late, she apologized for not being on time because she was sick.  I didn't know what to think.  In the first few minutes she seemed to be a little scattered and I was nervous, but then we began to talk details and you could tell she was so smart.  She was also extremely thorough making sure to gather any information that she thought might be pertinent.  

At the end of the appointment she did confirm my diagnosis, but will begin me on a new medication that will hopefully have less side effects than my initial one.  She is also having me come back for a few tests and a follow up.  I left that appointment feeling completely at peace that I had received the best care possible.

Since our appointment was over fairly quickly, Andy and I were able to take some time to walk around campus, go to a bookstore to buy new Gator shirts for the family, and have lunch at The Swamp. (GO GATORS!) 

The day before my appointment I had a friend text me to see if she could stop by for just a minute.

This is a friend from our home-school co-op and she hadn't heard about the fact that I wasn't driving.  On the day she found out, she was out shopping and while she was at the store she picked up a meal for us.

It was perfect timing!  When we got home from our day in Gainesville I knew that I had this prepared meal that I could pop in the oven.  It was so nice to not have to cook.  And it blessed me to have a friend show love in this way.

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Our week ended wonderfully!  We had a great weekend.

On Friday we went to St. George Island for the day.  The weather was beautiful, it wasn't overly crowded and we spent most of the time together.  The first trip into the water Ellis cried all the way out there to take her back to the sand, but once she got used to it she never wanted to get out!

The only time Andy and I really sat was when the kids were playing in the sand, but I loved having time together as a family and interacting with each other so much.  I didn't really feel like I needed a break since we had 1 1/2 hours in the car on the way there and back.

I didn't get any good pictures, because we were just enjoying the day and I honestly didn't think about it too much.

For the 4th we had a relaxed morning and then friends came over for a cook out.

We had the best time!  The kids had a blast playing and we loved just hanging out and catching up. 

Here is Ellis with her friend Charis.  They had so much fun!

Ellis took pictures of Christi and I.  Aren't they great? ;) 

Davis and Knox wanted a turn with taking pictures too.  I can't remember who snapped this one.

After that we headed to our church's parking lot to meet up with others who would be watching the fireworks over Shannon Lakes.

It was great seeing friends and meeting some new friends from church.

Davis is a super cuddler and here he is in his happy place, waiting for the fireworks to begin.

I am so grateful to the Lord for reminding me that in the midst of hard times, we are never lacking in His many blessings.

How are you?

One of the first greetings we often give one another is "how are you?"

Most of my life I've responded with words similar to

"pretty good"

"great"

"I'm good.  How are you?"

But, what if we really took that question to mean that someone was genuinely wanting to know how we are doing.  What if we opened up and allowed others into our world and shared from our hearts.

That is when I believe relationships are deepened.  That's when we strip ourselves of pretenses and share the real things going on in our lives.  That's when we open up about our joys, sorrows, struggles, praises, challenges, etc.

Since I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few months ago I've had so many friends checking in on me to see how I'm doing.  Some days I've responded with my "pretty good" answer, and for that moment that may have been how I felt, but I've also decided to take this time to try and be more open and real.

Last night I had a friend text me to check in and I got real.  She's a friend who I know I can trust with my heart and who genuinely wants to know how I'm doing.

The last few weeks has been a bit of a struggle.  The house is overwhelming me, I'm having a harder time not being able to drive, I'm struggling to find the inner joy and peace that God blesses us with.

So I shared some things with her and it felt good to be open.  It felt good to be real.

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I do want to be myself.

Often times I see snip-its of peoples' lives and I don't see the struggles or the hardships they face.  But, Monday I began a new Bible Study and it was just what I needed.  Just in the introductions alone, the women were real, and tears were shed.  No one was trying to impress the person next to them.  These sisters in Christ were just opening up about their lives and by the end of that morning the conversations were easily flowing with one another.

I desire to have deep and intimate relationships.  I want to have friends that I can share with when I'm struggling and I know they will pray.  I want to hear from my friends when they are rejoicing so that I can rejoice with them!

So, next time I ask you "how are you?" please share with me and I will do the same with you. :)

As I opened the computer to find some praise music to listen to last night, this sermon by Chuck Smith popped up and it is titled "When Life is Overwhelming".  Andy was putting the kids to bed so I had some time to myself and I was able to listen.  If you have 30 minutes and you are struggling with being overwhelmed, I encourage you to do the same.  One principle he shared that I am clinging to is that if our vertical relationship with Christ is not in order, then our horizontal relationships with others will be out of whack.  It was a word I needed and I'm so grateful that I chose to listen to Pastor Chuck instead of grabbing the laundry to fold and watching a show, which was my plan.  And, can I just tell you that I really struggled with that decision.  I wanted to relax with a favorite show, in the quiet, but I kept telling myself "this is better" and it surely was.

May you be blessed today!

Blameless

It's been awhile since I've posted.  I downloaded a bunch of pictures and then they disappeared.  :)

So instead I'll share this song with you that I heard the other day at the gym.  It's one of those songs that makes me want to raise my arms and praise the Lord!

And because I love this song I wanted to share it again.  I always think about my friend Leah when I hear it now because the week she passed away I heard this song and kept clinging to the line that "Death has lost its sting".  What a wonderful truth!

April (so far) In Pictures

Trying to pick carpet for the house.  Aye-yai-yai!

Haircut time

Everything the boys do, Ellis wants to do also.  Here's her "fake" hair cut, or as we like to call it "hair floofing". 

Baseball

Drew turned 9!

 More baseball (Knox)

 Easter

  

Loved this easy idea for Easter morning.  Thanks Alissa!

Back on Whole30! (Day 19 today, can't wait til May 6th!)

Someone became a Memory Master 

(for our home school group Classical Conversations)

Picking out a Memory Master prize

Gymnastics

Received my first passport for my upcoming international travel!

Met friends at the park to listen to music.

Had a different helper for my weekly grocery shopping.

House is getting one of the final coats of paint.  (I'm sure there are more coats to come)

Bible Memory Masters

(John 1:1-7) 

Last day of CC.  Donuts for Dads! 

 It's nice to have one of the owners of Krispy Kreme in our group.

All the dads went forward to share their birthdays.  Notice anyone additional up there?

 Thanks to a friend, I figured out that I could use my food processor to slice my sweet potatoes to make my favorite chips.  Life changing.  ;)  Wish I had known this before slicing part of my thumb off with my hand slicer!

Rainy day games.

Got to play a game one on one with each of the kids, and Drew beat me at Scrabble fair and square.

Made butternut squash for the first time (I think).  So yummy!

(salt, pepper, cinnamon, and coconut oil)

Landscape plans for the house complete.

Fun night out with my work out crew.  So many laughs!  I'm going to miss them when we move.  :(

Field trip to the Senate Chambers.  Great way to learn about the legislative process.

 Making herself at home. 

 Asking a question about the law we were debating.

Enjoying ice cream at our end of the year class party.

 Girl tea party, while boys were enjoying a free day (earned by Drew's memory master accomplishment).  Memory Master is a lot of work so I love to get to reward Drew for his diligence. :)

Pouring tea for baby.

She invited the boys to join us and they came running (as they always do when she calls).  In fact, last night when I put her to bed she wanted to show off her ballet (self taught) so she called "my boys" (that's what she calls them) and within 2 minutes she had them standing and twirling with her.  They sure do love her!

Free day: Davis helping Ellis on the computer.

Drew and Knox playing their favorite...Wii. 

At the end of the day Drew asked me if I wanted to know how long they played, since the Wii apparently keeps track.

I'm not going to type that here!  Let's just say they loved their day!

I hope you are enjoying your April so far.  Sometimes it's so great to look at a month in pictures because it reminds me of the many wonderful moments we are having that often get lost in the shuffle. :)