Catching Up

Happy 2011 everyone!

We are already two weeks into the year and so many exciting changes are going on around here. We had put our house on the market at the end of the year. Surprisingly, even with great curb appeal we didn't get an offer...
I mean who wouldn't want a house with a jacked up 'rolla missing a wheel in the driveway;-) Just kidding, the car only stayed like this for an hour or so while my awesome hubby fixed the car.

All in all, it was surprisingly a good experience. I learned that I can keep the house in excellent condition when I try hard enough (not that this is always the expectation, but I think I had been giving myself too much slack at times), looking at other homes in other areas helped us to realize how much we love where we are currently and blessed to be in the home we are in, and probably the best part was forcing us to declutter and purge closets and the unfinished basement - both of which were way overdue! We ended up coming in second on the list of potential homebuyers two times and the day we took it off the market had an offer to rent our house for 3 years for more than double our mortgage. For such a slow time on the market and only trying to sell it for 3 months, I was happy with the amount of interest on it. But am thrilled to not have to worry about showings for a LOOONG time!

In the meantime, we are doing a little renovating in the kitchen. Here's a before pic:
here's a during pic:countertops and the border (Praise God!) are gone. Already missing my kitchen faucet, its one of those things that you use, oh say, about every hour. But it should be back by tomorrow night:-)

Each of our precious boys has also had an interesting couple of weeks:
Grant started kindergarten! Yes, starting mid year is a tad unusual but we are so proud of Grant adjusting very quickly. Grant has a late summer birthday and the school he will attend for elementary (Lord willing) has a early summer cut off. We were fine with this and had him in 4 year old preschool. After counsel from his preK teacher and finding the program he is in, we decided to make the switch to kindergarten. We really didn't know how things would go, but we have been thrilled with how much Grant wants to go everyday and is quickly progressing in academics. He wrote his first "story" tonight. It says, Grant has cars and jets. Seriously, two weeks ago he had no interest in writing beyond his name so this is exciting for us. What does this mean for next year? We don't know for sure. He will most likely be doing kindergarten again because the school he will go to has a rigorous behavioral and academic standards. We really think he would benefit by having another year of maturity before going to a whole day school. But, we are holding our plans loosely. As God so clearly showed us, He has a perfect plan and will show us that plan in His timing. I wasted many hours worrying about what to do, when God showed us at the right time. So honestly, I don't know what next year will look like and that's okay, but God has his perfect plan for Grant. Although I always knew it, its so joyful to have full belief in it!

And for our super huggable yet very devious middle child? Well Colin quickly mastered potty training. In a little over two weeks Colin had the whole thing down, including night time and naps. Sometimes it pays to wait until they are older. We are so thankful for an easy transition!
And for our sweet baby, Evan James? Who is already eight months old. EIGHT MONTHS OLD!! After getting his first ear infection and not being able to get over it with antibiotics and having fluid hanging out in his ears, we were being advised tubes would be best for him. God gave me great peace about the surgery and it went very smoothly. It only broke my heart when he woke up from the anesthesia. They warn you that they may be really upset, but it was so hard to hold him and not be able to calm him down for over 30 minutes! I ended up taking him home still crying. He cried home (we were only a couple of miles from where they put them in), I bring him in crying, he sees his brothers and starts cracking up with laughter. Ahhh, for as a crazy as my house is, there is always so much joy too. He is sleeping through the night, something he hadn't done since he got the infection in November and already added ba ba and ma ma to his vocabulary. I would say we are all thankful for the surgery!

And for Kurt and I, we feel God is continuing to change and grow us. I have started a fantastic new devotional on the proper way to view food called the Lord's Table. Its not a diet but a devotion to taking care of yourself in way that glorifies God and making sure you aren't using food to fulfill something that only God can. I'm excited to grow in this area of my life as it has always been a struggle for me.

Kurt at one point was looking into a different position within Toyota, but after much prayer God made it apparent that he is to stay where he is at. Kurt said it was like having cold water splashed on his face and it has really re-energized him in his current role. I'm so thankful for this, Kurt has always worked so hard to provide for us so I am so happy to see him at peace where God has him.

So we continue on in 2011 seeking, changing, and TRUSTING in our Almighty Saviour. We pray the same for your family this year as well!
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11