Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?

So, we're mostly moved into our new place of residence. Hallelujah for carports and tire swings! I feel so spoiled since I can kick the kids outside to play. AND...(drumroll please) the kids can play with the neighbors!!! That's right we have two different families with whom the kiddos can spend countless hours. They're lovin it and I'm lovin it! Also, there's a cheap and stupendous teenage babysitter just down the road. You'd think God had planned this out or something!

I'm shocked with how quiet it is here too. I'd gotten used to the mayhem of living with others and the silence helps me sleep, but it's definately weird. Hey, at least I can yell at my kids again without wondering if my friends think I'm a psycho.



For the most part I don't read women's contemporary fiction because it has zero depth and not much quality. I happened to pick up "The Debt" by Angela Hunt and was pleasantly blown away. She packs real Christian depth into stories with tough situations. Between Hunt and Beth Moore my views of well-known Christian women is changing. Pick up either authors stuff if you want something encouraging.

I'm Back...Jack! (Sort've)

I've been itching to get my mitts on some non-blocked internet and praise be to God the church has wireless!!! How did we all live before such a beast as DSL?!

Some words from my kiddos:

Ruthie:"Caedmon, give me my chopstick!"

Me:"You mean chapstick."

Ruthie:"Caedmon, give me my chapelstick!"

Sometimes, correcting 4 yr old wording is pointless. If you really want a lesson in being less judgemental live with other people for 4 1/2 months. I have been a part of 6 different households and God has called them all to walk through life in very different ways. They are all doing exactly what they're called to do and some are doing it in plenty and some are doing it in want. Yet they all opened up their homes and really their lives to a family walking a different path and loved us anyway.

One of my close friends and I have had a really tough year, we couldn't see past the different paths we were walking enough to love each other as we should. We have spent 6 months slowly rekindling the enjoyment we found in each other. I continue to be blown away by how God weaves each of our lives to walk our different roads RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. Praise God for the times when those paths join and we can laugh and cry out of understanding. I continue to love my path...sure I wish that rock wasn't right in my way and I have moments of wanting to step off the path completely. Then I catch a glimpse of the end...or even the waterfall around the bend and I keep walking with my calves burning and drinking in the Living Water.

He Answers in His time

So God finally decided we can be done with nomadicy! We were approved to rent a 3 bedroom duplex! The only downside(s) is there's no dishwasher or washer/dryer. Housing perfection is unattainable at our income level, but 3 bedrooms sounds like heaven.

Here is God's sense of humor in this...back in May we moved out of our nice apartment assuming He took us out of there partially because rent was too much. The new place is nearly the same monthly amount! Also, I thought He wanted us to be nomadic so we could save funds for whatever we did next. He brought monthly giving down to the same level of squeaking by that we were doing in our apartment. I'm humbled by the blatant example He's given me of all resources coming only through His hand. I finally really believe that if He wanted us to have thousands of dollars monthly He could lead us to that job or those donors. But He (in His crazy wisdom) knows what I need to grow, "further in, further up". The stinker.

Sounds like we can't move in until around Nov. 1st to our place so I we'll stay with my friends who have no TV and internet until then. It's tough on me to live w/o my comforts of "House M.D." and "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy". Though I totally respect the couple we're living with and their decision to go without electronic distraction. So, I'm blogging in the church sanctuary right now, plying silence from the kids with "Veggietales."

Thank you for the blogosphere!