Christmas Cheer...

Okay, I have no time... but here are a few pictures for your enjoyment!!  We had a great Christmas and I'll write more later!

Noticing a difference...

I thought you might enjoy hearing some of the major differences that I've notices since being here.  Overall, everything is the same, but there are somethings that just make me laugh.  The first is that all the little boys here wear cowboy boots and hats to Church.  It's pretty cute.  Not too crazy, though.  The funniest was yesterday.  My dad gave my mom and I permission to go get pedi's while the girls were napping.  At the salon the ladies were talking about how they feed their deer.  That would NEVER happen in Missouri.  They were all talking about their champion hunting dogs and other such things.  It just made me laugh and I immediately turned to my mom and said, "yep, I have to blog about this!"  So... here it is!!  Have a great day!
Di

Do you not precieve it?

SO, the last week and a half have been eye opening.  I feel like I'm finally catching a glimpse of what God has in store for us here in Kerrville.  It's funny, when we left Independence Mike & Becca gave us a card with Isaiah 43:18-19 in it.  "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not precieve it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." As I read those words on our way out of town I cried knowing that I had no idea what God had in store.
We've been going to my dad's Church here in Kerrville, Trinity Baptist Church.  From day one we were absolutely blown away with the kindness of everyone here.  We were immediately welcomed into a Sunday School class and invited to everything possible.  There was one guy in particular, named Mike Cook funny enough, that went out of his way to make sure Wade got a job... and he did!!  It's just been awesome feeling like we immediately had a family. 
I went to a meeting Monday night called "Moms Reaching Moms."  It's basically 50-somethings ministering to mom's my age.  They made us dinner, served us dessert, and we all just talked about what we're going through as moms.  It was incredible to feel like I was being taken care of and also being able to pour out on a few moms who are about to have their second child.  Overall, it was just an awesome night with other Christian women. 
Anyway, as you can tell things are going good.  I'm just busy.  I wish I had more time to write, but hopefully that will come soon!
Night y'all!!

For Narnia...

SO, Wade and I got out by ourselves today to see a movie... first time in a long time!  We saw Voyage of the Dawn Treader (in 3D).  It was a great movie, but I have to admit that the 3D stuff made my head hurt.  Oh well.  We had a lot of fun just hanging out.  My parents looked after the girls who, for the most part, slept the whole time.  They were only up for about 30 minutes before we got back.  It was great for everyone.
Everything else is going great.  We've changed the routine for the girls and it's going to take some getting used to.  Because of Wade's new job we're doing things a bit later in the evening.  The girls are going down at the same time now... surprisingly Zoey isn't hating it... at 8:45.  Yes, it's late, but you have to do what you have to do.  Wade doesn't get off work until 6pm and when daylight savings is over he'll be there til 7.  We couldn't have the girls going to bed right when he walks in the door, so I'm hoping, in time, they'll start sleeping a bit later in the morning... we'll see. 
Other than that, I can't wait for Christmas.  We got the girls some super cute stuff, including Pillow Pets.  I can't wait to see their little faces light up.  I hope everyone else is doing good!  I love y'all!
Diane

Unexpected Changes...

So, Wade officially has a job!!!  He starts Monday at the local Cadillac dealership selling used cars.  So, my husband is now a used car salesman.  Completely unexpected.  This is why I have to laugh... everything else in life has been unexpected, why would I be surprised by this change??  I'm so excited to see how God is going to use this in our lives.  I can't say I ever would have pictured Wade doing that but like everyone else has said, I think he'll be amazing at it.  I'll update once he's started and let you know how it's going.  Oh, and yes, I'll take a picture of him in his blue leisure suit on his first day.  We're going to slick his hair back just to make sure he really fits the part... KIDDING!!!

Finally, a moment...

So, we are officially "Walking down the country road" now.  As I parked my car in front of my parents house last night, I actually had to shoo the deer out of my way so I could get to the house.  AMAZING!!  This has been the first moment I've had to think and collect my thoughts.  I am absolutely in awe of the sovereignty of God's plan.  No matter what life looks like, or what we think it should look like, if we're seeking Him He will work it out. 
Wade and I basically tried everything to avoid moving here to TX... well, not really, but we didn't exactly put it at the top of our list.  Things were going horribly in Missouri and there didn't seem to be a way out of anything.  As soon as we made up our minds to move here, everything started falling into place.  Literally two days after telling my parents, we had two offers on our house, I had a doctor in Kerrville, and we had a trailer to move all our stuff.  We started laughing as so many things came together that we had nothing to do with.  God was just waiting for us to submit to His plan and once we did He showed us exactly how it would all work out.
We've been in Kerrville for about two weeks now and Wade has spent three days scouring the place for jobs.  He had a great interview yesterday and has a lot of other things in the works.  He did have a job offer at an interview on Monday but it was for next to no money.  It just seems like everyone here wants to help us.  It's awesome.  I've been to a Sunday School party with my mom and there were 5 other new people there.  It's great getting to know everyone and they are really sooooo sweet.  In fact, if they were sweeter, I might puke! :) 
Overall, things are good and God is showing us just how well He can provide when we truly let Him.  I'm just trying to stay out of His way.  I'll be putting together an update to send to everyone with pictures of the new place and what's going on in our lives for the new year.  I can't wait to hear from everyone else about what's going on.  I definitely miss friends like crazy, but texting has kept us close.  I just can't wait until God tells all of them to move here too! :)
Until next time...
LOVE YOU ALL!!
Di

Making a new home...

So, we're here in Kerrville, TX.  It's been awesome so far, but very tiring.  We're getting settled and unpacking lots of boxes.  We're very busy... so I hope I can write more later.  For now, have a good night, y'all! :)

Catch you on the flipside...

Our computer is officially going in a box now!!  We leave Friday for Texas and I'll catch you then!!

Mario's Story

I just finished watching this on Netflix.  I would recommend this to ANYONE!!!  It was amazing.  Basically, it's the story of a 16 year old who is wrongly identified as the shooter in a murder in CA.  He spends 8+ years in prison with people fighting for his freedom on the outside.  He learns the joy of writing and is basically changed because of his incarceration.  It's an amazing story and I left it being so thankful for my own freedom.  This is view instant on Netflix and a great watch!

Done and Done...

So many things have changed in the last week I feel like I have whip lash from my head spinning.  First off, and most exciting, Kaesyn decided it was time and started using the toilet!!!!!  I feel as though "potty training" didn't really occur.  It was more like months of me asking her if she wanted to go and her emphatically refusing then one day of her making up her mind to do it.  Since then we've had less than a handful of accidents in a little under a week.  She's so awesome.
I've also started packing everything in our house.  We move in two weeks... exactly.  So far I've basically emptied every drawer in the house except for a select few in the kitchen.  That's where most of the packing needs to continue, but I've got a major start on everything.  I feel like there are boxes everywhere and it's made taking care of the girls here a bit harder.  Zoey wants to be in every box too, which has been a bit hilarious at times.
I finally got my hair cut.  It was badly needed and my stylist actually commented that she didn't see two pieces that were the same length.  Well, they all are now.  Thank goodness!!!
Other than that, I've been selling stuff like crazy on Craigslist and there a ton of stuff in my garage ready for the DAV to pick up on Wednesday.  It's been so nice paring down.  I feel like I've gotten rid of about half of what I own... which is okay, because over half of it was junk anyway!  There are a few things that make me sad, like getting rid of pink baby clothes.  Tear!  I love my girls but this week I especially feel as though they're growing so fast.  I want to hold them on my laps and remember this time forever.
For now, I'll keep packing and trashing things.  For the next two weeks it will be a wild frenzy to the finish line.  After that, I'm going to have myself a huge glass of decaf sweet tea and put my feet up for at least a week!
Goodnight y'all!

Playground Fun...

We love the playground.  We go at least 3 times a week... it's really good for the soul.

We went tonight to our favorite park... it's always empty because it's at a school.  That's really the best part.

I took my camera because I realized I hadn't been taking many pictures lately and wound up with some really great ones.

I love this one.  Zoey is so thoughtful and constantly examining things... I think  you can tell.  She's very peaceful.

There are pretty large fields around the playground and we usually walk around a bit before heading home.

This one is getting way too old.  I'd like to stop the clock for a while.

Yes, she's still wild and crazy.

They're both exactly how we like them... just themselves.  We are so happy with life right now.  Big changes are coming but we're still savoring every moment.

Amish...

I recently watched this documentary and I'm in the middle of reading this book series.  My overall perspective... I wish I was Amish.

Babies...

I just finished watching this brilliant documentary.  It basically chronicles the lives of 4 babies living in VERY different environments (as you can probably tell from the picture).  Overall, I would suggest this to anyone.  It was very entertaining.  However, for those mothers out there like me, get ready for some heart ache.  While I try not to judge others for their parenting choices I will judge those who simply don't parent.  I was dying for one of these babies to have a single moment in the arms of their mother. 
This documentary left me feeling a bit sad but, all in all, very grateful to have the opportunity to raise my children in America.  Along with all of the media bombardment that we have to put up with, we also have the ability to keep our houses sanitary and our children fed.  Thank you Lord for that. 
This movie is "view instant" on Netflix for those of you who subscribe!  Go watch it... then hug your kids.

Just plain fun...

A few days ago we received a statement from the credit union for our auto loan.  Of course, with the move and whatnot, we've been trying to really plan our budget well so that we have the cash to move without scraping by.  Well, the statement indicated that we didn't owe another payment on our car until November.  Wade does our bills so he asked me to call and make sure that was correct since he didn't remember paying extra ever.  I called this morning only to find out that we actually aren't due for another payment until December 15!!!  AMAZING!!!  I don't know how He did it but the Lord worked this out for us.  They said we were ahead and I'm not going to fight them.  So, officially, our car payment isn't due until we're through moving!!!  HOORAY!!! I'm having a great day... things like that are just plain fun! :) 

Hair...

So, apparently, plagues normally tighten their grip on more than one victim at a time.  I just finished reading my friend Erin's blog post titled "Hair..."  I started laughing the minute I saw it because it's now almost 11pm and I'm sitting at the computer my alloted 30 minutes while my hair color sets.  Hilarious. 

Erin was talking about an article she read all about "mom hair."  Having been such a hair diva in high school this is something that strikes to the core of who I am.  Tonight as I was doing my hair I actually thought to myself, "This is mom hair."  YUCK!!!  I'm dying for a change... and so is my friend Erin.

So, I'm off to rinse my color and hoping that my current emotional state regarding my hair goes right down the drain with it... fingers crossed.

I'm lame...

It's 11:30am and both my girls are already napping... ah... it's a good day.  However, I sat down at my computer to research a few things for our move and I can't stop thinking about two things: a chicken salad sandwich on a nice flaky croissant and super sweet iced tea.  Both things are in my kitchen and that equals the end of my post.  I'm gonna go put my feet up and indulge for a minute.  Do the same if you can! :)

A Possible Crash Landing...

My husband's interview went well yesterday.  It's for a better position than he suspected, which was a very welcome surprise.  The next step in the process is to interview with a panel of supervisors and complete their aptitude and math tests.  I'm sure he'll do great.

They're wanting to fill the position as soon as possible, so I guess that could mean a possible crash landing for us.  We've planned all along to go in November and have been on a packing schedule that would end at just the right time.  If we have to move in the two weeks or even month I'm a bit worried that things might start getting shoved in boxes with no organization what-so-ever.  YUCK!!

All things aside, a job would be a good thing... so I'm not complaining.  I'm actually very excited that there's an opportunity that's presented itself.  Like I said, the Lord is working in ways we haven't seen for a while and we're gladly following!

Good day all... until next time.

Walking Down The Country Road

So, here we are... starting a new blog, a new life, a new home, a new journey.  Well, at least we're on our way to all of those things.  Recently life has thrown us more than a few curve balls.  We're definitely not where we expected to be or going where we expected to be going.

As of yesterday, we have a contract on our home in Missouri.  It had been on the market 42 days and we couldn't be happier to be saying goodbye.  We are definitely thanking the Lord for allowing us to sell it so quickly.  There are lots of memories in this house... the birth of both our children, the birth of my culinary skills, the birth of a spiritual vision for our family.  However, most recently, we have a vision of where we're going that puts all emotion aside when thinking of leaving this place.

As of Thanksgiving, we'll be taking up residence near San Antonio, TX.  Yes, it's a long shot from where we are now.  We'll be closer to family, closer to the equator, closer to Whataburger!!!  Needless to say, we're ready to go.  We'll be living with my parents while we look for a place to live, so that takes a few wories off the table.  I have already found a doctor for this pregnancy... HOORAY!!!  And we have a phone interview at 4:30 today for a job for my husband.  The Lord is working in ways we haven't seen in a while and it feels so good.

Anyway, for those of you reading this, please know we love the heck out of you.  We'll miss those we're leaving like CRAZY!!!  It's so surreal spending time with you all knowing we're seeing you for some of the last times.  I'm crying now... hormones... and this is why I'm not going to get sentamental with any of you in person.  I'm an ugly crier!  :)  For those we're coming to, we can't wait to be with you.  I'm so excited to make Christmas cookies and candies with my mom this year and actually be able to go Christmas shopping together and not online! 

Altogether, this is the biggest change our family has ever gone through, so please... pray for us.  We're hoping the Lord draws us even closer together than He already has.  He truly is so good all the time. 

Post #1 done... check.  There will be plenty more...

LOVE YOU ALL!!
Di