Home Again

Well here it is, my first blog from home. I am sitting here in my newly renovated (yet not completely organized kitchen), my cup of coffee beside me on the counter, listening to Third Day. Even though it is a dreary day it is a welcome one. I am grateful for all the blessings we have seen come our way through this ordeal but it is just so nice to be back home after 6 months of being away. In that time our cat stayed with some friends of ours but she is even home now and has gotten re acclimated faster than I even expected. I never thought cats had very good memory and just lived for the moment but the next day after bringing her home she was back to her normal routine and doing things she hadn't done in months (like going to the back door and meowing to have the door opened so she can watch the birds outside). So even in this we are seeing a sense of normalcy returning. But at the same time we have certain changes taking place; Bethanie's 8th grade promotion was last night and with the end of the school year looms a new chapter in her life....that of being in High School. Yes most of her friends will be going there too but still it is change. For MJ the change is in the form of more responsibility and independence at the same time since he is in Driver's Ed and hopes to have his license by end of summer. For Mike and I it is a renewed sense of spiritual/fiscal responsibility thanks to a financial seminar/ bible study we are in that teaches fiscal responsibility through biblical principles.

But if there is one thing I have learned in all this is that we can get through anything as long as we trust in God's love and provision. However, it is so much easier when you have a sense of normalcy and consistency in the background as well.

Not there yet but there's light at the end of the tunnel!!!!!!

Ok, last blog I said we hoped to be in our house by the end of May....well, here it is June 2nd and we still aren't there yet. However there is light at the end of the tunnel and our move date is June 13th. We are so close to being ready to move back in, the kitchen is almost done. Cabinets are in and the countertop was delivered today. Some of the appliances should be in tomorrow (fridge, dishwasher, disposal, washer) because the plumber is coming to hook up everything on the first floor....YAY!!!!! Everything except the stairway leading upstairs should be done by Friday and next week we can concentrate on cleaning and planning how to organize things when we move in. The funny part in all this is that it will be 6 months and one day after the ice storm happened. So until next time (hopefully I will be typing the blog from my new kitchen).

Sorry I forgot about you

Sorry if it seems I had forgotten about this blog site, unfortunately I guess I had in some way. That's what happens when life knocks you to your knees. Last year I was busy most days doing homeschooling with my youngest and simply managing my home to try and keep things running smoothly. It's not that easy raising 2 teenagers and 1 preteen on one income and keeping things running smoothly with everyone's crazy schedules; and yes that includes my dear hubby's schedule. But we have managed even in the ensuing chaos left behind after the ice storm that hit our area in December. We have basically had to trust in our precious Lord to provide for all of our needs since our home has been inhabitable since Dec. 24th. But we have had wonderful friends who reached out and took us in for 3 1/2 months then God provided us with an apartment on a short term lease (which is unheard of in this area) for the remainder of the time. And now there is light at the end of the tunnel as we are looking to finally be back home by the end of May. That is a very short synopsis of the last year, but that is not the end of the story.

You see in all of this God has opened up new doors for me and I am now working on starting my own business. While we were at our friends home I took on the job of cooking meals most nights since their schedules are even crazier than ours. This got the wheels turning and I found myself really enjoying being able to cook for other people on a regular basis. So as of right now I am in the process of taking classes and preparing to be a personal chef. Not something I ever had thought about but God has opened my eyes to one of the talents he has given me that would allow me to help others. So the journey continues but in a new direction and with each step of the way I am looking to God for guidance.

Where does the time go?????

Oh my!!!!! I can't believe its been over a month since my last blog but things have been pretty crazy here for us lately. Along with the usual day to day things we have had a birthday party sleepover (my daughter turned 13....YIKES), a Super Bowl party and other things going on at church as well as bouts of colds and other illnesses. To top it all off the last 2 weeks I have been dealing with pain in my neck and upper back (don't know what I did to cause this but it has been a hassle non-the-less). Needless to say my exercise routine that I had started in January (and was doing pretty well with) has fallen by the wayside for now. However I do hope to get back into that by the beginning of March. For now I am just taking things one day at a time, getting ready for physical therapy for my back (doctor recommended) and trying to enjoy the remainder of the winter break that the kids have had this week.

It has been interesting though since Mike and I decided we were going to get rid of tv. No we did not literally throw out our tv, we merely got rid of the satelite so no regular tv viewing for us (it didn't seem like there was much worth watching anymore anyway). Instead the kids use the tv for their game cube games and we watch videos/dvd's if we want to watch anything. Otherwise the plan is to play board games or just general family time in the evenings. The satelite was cut off on Valentines day and we really haven't missed it so far and it has been just over a week now. I will say that it has been extremely quiet in the house lately (except for when MJ isn't doing as well as he thinks he should on the GC games and starts screaming at the tv). We have also been listening to a lot of music this last week as well.

As for me, I grew up glued to the TV and can't believe I am saying this but the relative quiet is a welcome change of pace.

T.G.I.F (Finally)

Oh brother!!!! This has been one heck of a week. Even though the weather was great (started the week off in the 50's and 60's) because of the January thaw everyone in this house was sick this week. On Tuesday I woke up with my sinus's killing me, the Dr. thinks I am starting to have allergies. Then Wednesday and Thursday Thomas was sick so we couldn't do any school those two days. Mike came down sick Thursday and was home from work both yesterday and today. Then to top it all off Bethanie came down sick today. The only one who hasn't missed any work or school is MJ who toughed it out this week because he had mid-terms.

All I can say is Thank God its Friday, hopefully everyone will be better by Monday for work or school. Although I heard on the news tonight that we may be getting another snow storm Sunday night into Monday....so much for the warm weather:-(

A New Year, A New Me

Well, here it is January 2nd and I am starting something new. I've never been one who does the blog thing (that's more my dear hubby) but I have a feeling this is going to be a year of changes and what better way than to have it documented here. I'm not saying I will be posting every day but at least once a week. Please be patient with me as I learn the in's and out's of posting on here, I am sure my hubby will help out if I have any questions. But for now let me just say Good morning and Happy New Year to those of you that I will be calling my blog friends before too long.