Wordless Wednesday

Sunday nap....

We love a Sunday nap at our home. Especially with a pregnancy they are very much loved! Today I laid on our new couch for the first time. We have had it about 10 days and I hadn't really stretched out on it. It was so wonderful. So supportive and a bit wider and longer than our other couch. I was so tired. I told my husband I was going to break in the new couch with a nap. But than we started talking and enjoying the cookies I had made and the nap never happened. As much as I love a good nap. I love a good conversation even better. God is good, good naps will come and I sure will be tired this evening. This baby must really be growing. I was famished last night at about 11 and took a 2 hour nap yesterday. I am 15 weeks today!

Another year is about to begin.

We are about to begin another school year. It definitely feels like a new season. Andrew will be a sophomore and driving soon and Jacob and I will embark on our 4th year of homeschooling. 1/2 way through the year we will welcome our little one and l.o (Little one is our nickname for her/him at this time) become apart of our family.

Last night we attended a mandatory sports meeting for Andrews school. I am so thankful for his school. It is just an amazing place with amazing people that serve a awesome God and their goal is for the school, student and staff to bring glory to Him! I have to say they do an amazing job! It is hard to imagine we only have 3 more year there. It has been apart of our life so long.

Jacobs year is coming together! God is so good and we finally have things in place. We know that how we start out the year might have changes along the way. We are trying all news things year for anything we are apart of outside our home. That just feels right at this time and away we go!!! If something ends up not being a good fit we can make changes. I am excited to dip our foot into a few new things and see how it feels and fits for Jacob. It will be a busy week. However, I am looking forward to it. Last fall I remember feeling apart of me die because I had so much (too much) time on my hands and it felt like what really mattered to me didn't reflect in my time. So glad to have my son returning home.

Even as this l.o is still in mom I find myself thinking about his/her schooling. I have a huge heart for homeschooling. I love the life it gives you, the relationships it develops and the creativity educational you can have. I can see myself homeschooling this one especially in the younger years. However, I believe in looking at each child individually and seeking the Lord about what is the best match for them. Bethesda isn't for everyone but I would definitely consider it again if it was a good match for my child. It will be years before I have to think about that but what can I say....I am a planner at heart.

Being a planner is part of the bent God made me with however I have submitted to His ways (sometimes easily sometimes not) seeing that His ways are not my ways and He often has a route that I wouldn't choose. I trust His heart for me and my family.

Can you ever have too many books???

My answer was always no. But I am starting to change my mind. We are trying to make our study more functional. We need it for my scrapbooking, Trae to work from (a couple of days week or when he has office things to do at home) and possibly a desktop computer for Jacob and a place to store his homeschool things too. We won't do our entire school day in their as we like to be creative and work in our home and not at a desk all day. But we basically need it for a station for everything. We have decided that our office could be a lot more functional if we moved 90% of our books. So they are going out in our sun-room because that room has little function at this time. It has Andrews drum-set and I am setting up an easel for Jacob to use in there by the window. We can't see parting with our books as they are so dear to us but we have to make room for a more beautiful space and less stuff!!! I think we are buying less books than before but they are still a love of ours. So for now Ikea has come to the rescue and they have found a new home.

You know I bet my post are getting really boring because they are so much about the projects, the house, etc. Sorry!!! That is just where I am at. So much to do and so little time. I did find out we won't be getting shutters in our LR/DR!!!! I had someone come out and give me a bid and it was $4090 for 2 windows. And that was Costco's price!!! WOW!!! Faux wood blinds it will be!!!

The clean up begins.

The painters finished up yesterday. Their work is amazing! We were so happy with them. We ended up also hiring them to do all our doors and a couple of ceilings. We thought the doors were fine until the trim was done and we saw the difference. It was a pretty penny to have it all done but the quality of the work and being done in 5 days was worth it to us.

Today we are working as a team to get things back in order. The pantry was a huge job/utility room was a huge job to get back in order but it is finished. I love to work as a team. The boys are with their dad and so this child free day is once again doing our projects however we are thrilled to be progressing. Monday I have someone coming from Costco for a couple of special order blinds and Tuesday our new furniture is being delivered! We got an amazing deal at Dillards. On clearance plus 40% off!!! The favor of the Lord was upon us! We got a leather couch, 2 leather chairs and a ottoman, tax and delivery for the price of most couches. We are so grateful! How awesome is it that the Lord cares about all those details in our life enough to move on our behalf. Blows me away!

Our next focus is getting the blinds up and the rooms situated. After that we have to figure out how to make our study work for all of us. Personally I am stumped how to make it workable for all our needs.

God is good and we know he will be faithful in walk us through all these decisions as we make our house our home. Our goal is to have as much done as possible by Thanksgiving. That way we can enjoy the holidays and welcome our little one this winter. I have also heard that nesting, cleaning and organization can help with PPD. I had a little with my first son and none with my 2nd son so that encourages me as we prepare for this little one. I have thought I felt some movement but I am not sure. I am so ready to feel the baby moving around.

The painters are here!!!! Projects are progressing!!!!

Praise God for wonderful painters! In about a week our entire house will be painted and I can't wait. No more chalky builder paint!!! I was able to use the painters that worked on my last house. I am so glad!!! They are wonderful!!

Trae almost finished the trim on the LR/DR floors and he installed our new sink and faucet. Our list is getting more and more complete.

I suppose I am nesting a bit. It is the women in me that wants my home to be a place of beauty, love, peace and refuge. The older I get the more I treasure home. My boys have a heart for home too. They both enjoy being here and both crave home cooked meals often. After days at camp or on vacation they start making request.

Our original goal was to be complete with a lot (not all) of our projects by mid August. That is when our school year will start back up and the stress of too many home projects would be too much. Decorating for me takes years. I am not quick to do so. I like to find things as life happens not go on a search. So no rush in that area. I love to find treasures where our journey take us and that means life and time has to happen not just a trip to the area shopping mall.

My husband has become a lot more of a handy man. Bless his heart as I know it has stretched him but he has faced the music and taken on each job. And it all has worked out. He is an amazing man and his attitude and heart is the best thing about him.

I will have to post pictures when all is said and done.

Pine Cove pictures!

I am so sorry I have been delayed in posting updates and pictures. Remember that post on home projects? Well we returned to lots of work at home and needing to tend to those goals so I have been a bit sidetracked. I posted a few of the 700 pictures we took! I have a DVD from our week that is a great way to get a glimpse at Pine Cove if you want to see it. It sums up the week in about 10 mins! We had a wonderful week and we are so grateful for that place and all it stands for. It is hard to describe but I usually describe it as the best place on this planet.

Most of the pictures explain themselves but I few I wanted to share about. Trae and the Robot costume is a special pictures. The week before Pine Cove I was busy and we were talking about the theme nights. Jacob asked what were we doing for Space age night. I told at this point not much. I hadn't made anything or bought anything and was stumped. Theme nights at Pine Cove are optional. You don't have to do them or you can dress to the hilt and run with it. But Jacob loves space stuff and all. I went off to my ladies group that evening and returned to the beginning of the robot. Jacob collects tin toys and he has a green robot one that he loves. He and Trae made a life size one for Jacob! They worked on it all week and Jacob was the hit of space night! What a incredible gift Trae gave Jacob by caring so much for something that he knew he would love.

The pictures of the man singing is Anthony Evans. He has come down a couple years we are there on banquet night and sung. He is incredible. It is a special treat for us and we are always blessed! His dad is Tony Evans and he grew up going to Pine Cove and eventually was a counselor there. Amazing voice, amazing family and amazing blessing to our week. Now if we can just get his sister Priscilla there to speak! She is one of my favorites!!!!!

Trae and Jacob did the zip line. Andrew wants a piano. They love riding horses in the mornings and Jacob is a huge fisherman at heart. He would grab his pole for a hour of fishing each morning before breakfast. We are so blessed the friendships that we have made a Pine Cove. Each of us have made connections that year or year we grow in. Jacob loves his Pate and Caleb. They are like the 3 Musketeers!

We already signed up for next year! Just like everything else the price went up but for us it is pricele$$!