and, the wall came down...

We have some family in MS that helped pack us, helped us move out, housed us, kept our children, helped us move in, and then unpacked us...this post of update pics is for those loyal souls...

This morning, the wall in our den/kitchen started out like this:And, tonight, the wall is down...leaving gaping holes in the floor, sheetrock dust everywhere, and excitement for what will be destroyed tomorrow.
(I promise, my OCD self is surviving...I Clorox wiped every surface in my kitchen before dinner was made.)

The End of Summer Review

Well, I figure to post a little is better thank nothing at all. So, while Syd watches her 30 minutes of tv for the morning (Dora, of course) and our builder is drilling holes in our walls, I am downloading pictures and catching up a little. Here are some moments from our summer (where did it go??)...

This is our new house...we are now in renovation mode...but, we are really enjoying our new area - very convenient to all we need.These are my kiddos enjoying outings with their friends on those days when we had to get away from packing up our old house.
And, of course, staying at home amidst boxes was an adventure also...On some days, there was sliding...And, other days, there was running/kicking...OK, that was an onslaught of pictures...Dora has ended, so I am off to fix a little ballerina princess (purple dress, beads, ballet shoes - ha!) some lunch.

Next update will be pictures from the beginning of school, hopefully soon...

the birthday boy

A couple of weeks ago, my son turned 6 six years old. He has grown up before my eyes. He is doing better regarding the move and new school - thank goodness. He still has his "hohum" days where he complains ALL day long, but overall, he is acting more like the old C-man. He is such a funny kid. His favorite tv shows are "How It's Made" and "Phineas and Ferb" - both about how things are invented, cool contraptions. He is not overly exciteable, pretty laid back most of the time. He wants to stay home - always. He really enjoys video games, so I have to keep a close eye on a clock to limit his playtime. He pesters his little sister and is loving on her in the next minute. Over the past few months, I have noticed how our talks have deepened and how much more affectionate he is with me. He will forever be my "buddy" - no matter how old he becomes... He and his daddy's first picture - just minutes after he was born - August 27, 2003.
He was such a sweet boy as a one year old...so easy...he spoiled me...At two, he was Mr.Social...he still does really well meeting new people... This is one of my favorite pictures of C - he was an almost 3 year old and almost a big brother too...
At 4, he was into superheroes and had a Superman/Spiderman birthday party at a gym - he had the best time! As a 5 year old, he was all about Star Wars and soccer on his birthday...And, this year, for the big 6th birthday, C chose to play laser tag with a few friends...so fun...they were worn out after 2 games and video game playing too...little boys are the best!
Happy Birthday, Rocket! (we used to call C "booster" until this summer when he told us he needed a cooler nickname...like "rocket".)

Home

Home...I am amazed at how at "home" I already feel in our new house, even amongst the boxes and clutter. I have been thinking about what makes a home comfy and inviting so much lately with our upcoming renovation. Color, comfortable seating, good lighting, organization, cleanliness - just to name a few things that come to mind in creating a welcoming home. I have to admit that I can sometimes get so caught up in the details of things like these that I then feel guilty at the time I have spent thinking/planning. I try to convince myself that a house is a building, it doesn't mean much. It can burn in an instant. Thieves can rob and steal the "precious" things inside. All true. The Bible speaks of where our treasure is, there our heart will also be. I don't want my treasure to be a brick structure. So, why do I plan and clean and organize and decorate? Why did I look at 40 houses before we bought this one? Surely, the Lord laughs at our materialism. Then, I take a step back again..."why" is a good question to ask ourselves sometimes. Well, I have decided that making a home is more than a new address, a certain number of rooms, the perfect room layout. My home is where my family is, where our memories are made, where we share our lives, where we worship and grow and learn, where friends and family can join us, where my children will giggle, where my husband and I can talk and pray. This home we are creating is more than the walls that surround us. Each day the Lord gives us will start and end here. We want this place to be a comfortable place for friends to share troubles and joys with us. I pray our home is a refuge after long days of living in this world. My desire is for all that enter to feel love and to know that the homeowners have a Father that they adore. I want all the time I work in our home to be for His glory. I want my time here to reflect my love for my Lord and those around me. I am blessed to be a stay at home mom...have felt His peace in that since I resigned from my old job. My "work" is here. This house feels like a home - no matter the clutter, the boxes...that is just stuff. And, like the saying goes, Home is where the Heart is....and my heart is full.