we are...

Under contract & Overwhelmed
but Totally excited, shocked, thrilled, nervous, etc...
Mainly we are in disbelief. I got a little sad because this gave our move PERMANENCE. It always has been a long-term move but it seems more real now.

But don't get me wrong, we are absolutely beside ourselves that we are getting a brand new house, on a cul-de-sac with a large fenced back yard!!!

Ephesians 3:20-21

I think God may have given us the perfect house for our family today. It is not huge but it is exactly what we need. It is under construction so we get to pick out pretty much everything. A daunting task I am excited and anxious about. We have not signed any papers or made an offer yet but will probably soon.

I have been fighting moving to a certain town near-by Little Rock. Chip really was for it for many reasons. The schools are better, taxes are cheaper etc. It is a little more rural of an area than I am accustomed to. However, I decided yesterday to submit to Chip. It was sort of a silent decision within myself.

The house is in a new development. We went in several finished houses that were open for showing. We really liked one of them. Then we drove around for a few more hours looking at other homes. We decided to drive back through the neighborhood before we headed back home. Our attention shifted to a house being built. We did not know if it was already sold or not. Some non-English speakers were there working so Chip called the number for the builder. SHE met us there and walked us through the house and another house that she built. I love that the builder is a woman. She is in her 60s and really seems to know what she is doing.

I will share more when there is more to share. Until then, to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Arkansas--The Natural State

We miss our friends but it sure is pretty here...

onlookers--what they must think

What can I say? It was early in swim season. I had not yet bought any swim diapers. Actually I had visited a few stores that did not carry them. So instead I just brought a few regular diapers to the splash pad in Fairhope. After I checked his diaper a few times to make sure all was well, a nice mom came up and offered me a swim diaper. She said she hoped it did not offend me. It was funny because Robyn was joking earlier that the other moms probably thought I did not know about swim diapers. I was happy for that other mom's generosity and boldness. You could tell she had debated about bringing it over to me. I can see how some moms would be offended. I am so past that. Any help is welcome in my world. Bring on the charity! :)

Best Buds

We had a great time visiting friends and family. It was really hard to leave. Ella almost cried today on the phone today when she told Jadyn she missed her.

our first out of town guest

Clara Mae came to visit us this past week. We had a fun and relaxing time. She experienced our everyday life--went to a t-ball game, visited our church, met our friends. Since she was here though we really needed to do something fun and touristy. So, we adventured to Petit Jean State Park. We are already planning her next trip here!

Praise Him Praise Him all ye Little Children

Streed got into the homeschool group!!! We are so excited about this opportunity. He will love it and get to be with lots of kids. I am hoping some good friends will come from this too.

Country Road

An old cd was playing this morning while we were heading to our hiking expedition. It was James Taylor singing "Country Road". While my bud Clara Mae was getting some snacks from the gas station, I watched some high school seniors or college students load up their jeep with gasoline and a canoe. They were young and carefree. This song took me back to my old high school and college days...day trips to the beach, floating on a raft for hours at Panama City etc. Days when I had only to pack for one person, which usually consisted of a towel and a bottle of water. I cannot adequately describe my feeling. It was not sadness over my stage in life but I think it was more of a longing for easy days of old. I think I was anxiously anticipating the hiking trip with three young kids. I did get to experience some "Country Road" beauty on our drive today.

And although I had fun back in the day, I would not have gotten to take this picture if I were not in this stage of life.

summer cut

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I think Nate's had some words for me swirling in his head.

Its basically summer, nate gets really hot,

so it was time to put my selfish desires behind and cut his luscious locks.

lots to post

I took lots of fun pics on our super fun trip. But, I need a blog-cation to get them all uploaded and posted. We have a friend in town right now. She leaves tomorrow so today we are going to a state park about an hour away. We will see how this goes. We are going to attempt a 1/4 mile hike that is designated as "easy". Yes, with the kids. We had our friends Mark & Jenny and their kids over last night to grill and swim. And later in the week we have some other Baton Rouge friends coming to visit on the way home from their vacation. I have been looking fwd to May because of all of these opportunities. June we will just swim. I plan to blog daily in June like I did last summer. I enjoyed that a lot. But for now I gotta get ready for our hiking trip. I have already made breakfast, packed lunches and got dinner in the crock pot!!! What a morning. I think I will pat myself on the back.

here's lookin' at you Monday

mobile

we (the kids and I) are in mobile, visiting family and friends. having a good time. taking lots of pictures but i will probably wait to upload them when i get home since i did not bring my computer with me. i may put some on my dads computer. we will see how the night goes and where the kids end up sleeping. some of them have been sleeping in the office.

it was a 9 hour trip down here. i decided to take a longer route so that i could go all interstate. so, we traveled from Arkansas, to Tennessee, to Mississippi and finally to Alabama. we stopped for about 45 minutes to eat lunch at McAlisters, potty and rest. all in all it was a good trip down. i will say, the night before i was dreading it big time. but i was pleasantly surprised. not that it makes me want to do it again any time soon!

the next leg of the trip is taking us to Baton Rouge to visit friends and to meet the newest member of the Williamson family. and just in case you are wondering, Chip is at home working hard. i just needed a little break from little rock and the apartment. and since it was mother's day and the baby had arrived it seemed like a good time to go.

new post

there is a new post below the preschool update. it was one i had saved for later so that is where it showed up.

t-ball makes my little boy happy

more pics

preschool update

Ella and Nate are officially signed up for preschool next year. They will go to a Methodist church school here. Our new friend Jenny is sending her son there too, who is Nate's age. I was going to keep them home to save money but I was starting to get apprehensive about homeschooling Streed with the other two monkeys here. They will go two days a week. I basically decided that in order to adequately teach Streed that I needed to be able to give him some undivided instruction and some much needed one-on-one time. Knowing his personality and love languages, he is going to love homeschool.

I am PRAYING that Streed will get accepted into a classical education co-op here that meets all day on Mondays. They are currently full for Kindergarten but may open a second class. If you think about it please pray with me that they will open the second class. It would be so great for him to have one full day a week learning and playing with other kids! He will play t-ball or soccer too but he really enjoyed preschool this past year and made some really great friends.

what we do

A few nights ago daddy decided to grill hotdogs. I like to think that he is grilling them on OUR grill by OUR pool. I guess for now it is OURS! So what do we do while he is grilling? Streed rides his scooter around the pool deck. (DISCLAIMER: I know it sounds dangerous. It is not as bad as it seems). Ella rides her big wheels around the same pool deck. (UMMM...this is as dangerous as it sounds). Nate walks around, sits on the lounge chairs, gets close to the pool, gets in trouble, yada yada. He's 2!

And I...take pictures with my NEW CAMERA!!! I have waited YEARS for this. I was about to send it back yesterday and get a new one because of a few minor issues. But, I stayed up late reading a lengthy review (Olympus e-620). They agreed with my same observations but pointed out other things that I had not taken the time to learn yet. So, today I am more patient and really diving into the manual.

PS-Yesterday we were out there again. One of the girls from the office came out and told me that they really were not supposed to ride or have toys out by the pool. And if they did it again that something else would be said. I was in shock and God held my tongue. I wanted to say, "Exactly what does that mean? You are going to kick us out?" I got really sad because there is no where to play here at the apt. I could drag all three kids and three riding toys up to the parking lot for them to ride by the cars. (We live on the bottom floor but you have to walk down twenty stairs from the parking lot to get to our apt. It's hilly here) This is really my biggest beef with apartment living--it is not kid friendly. Anyway. We are here and will just be making the most of it.

Just put your feet in

Why do I waste my breath? The dynamic duo hears what I say kind of like the teacher on Charlie Brown. That has to be the case. Surely they would not disobey in front of my face...as I take countless pictures of how cute they are in their moment of weakness. I mean, what 2 and 3 year old can resist a pool on a sunny hot day in May.

Boo Boo got a boo boo

Chip and the kids were running into the apt as the tornado sirens were screaming. Ella then started screaming. Chip kept telling her just to come inside. He did not see her fall. He soon figured it out. This was the result of her wipe out.

year 32--psalm 32

Since I did not start the calendar year off with a bang as far as reading my bible I figured I could start over with this year of my life. I got up this morning at 5:45 and read in Psalm 32 since I am now 32 and also in Proverbs 4 since today is the 4th.

Psalm 32
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is not deceit.
For when I kept silent , my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Therefore everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
You area hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!