I'm sure you all are wondering how we're settling in, adjusting, coping... etc. Ponder no more; I'll fill you in on our glamorous Kansas life... ahem.

Most of the days are spent praying, "Lord, please make the clock speeeeeed up! Until November that is..."

Although, we do find ways to entertain ourselves.

You'll find us presenting Puppet shows,

taking truck rides,

gracefully sipping on tea

and lingering along the trails in the Kansas wind

(I'm pretty sure it's Charlie's favorite part of the day).

Obviously, our time is full of laughter and fun. There is only the occasional meltdown over chicken nuggets that don't cook fast enough.

And every now and then, I let them destroy the bathroom so I can blow-dry and fix my hair and put on make-up in the same sitting.

And I may or may not have, just once or twice, had a breakdown of overwhelming stress and crashed on the couch with popcorn and Pride and Prejudice til the wee hours of the morning... I'll spare you the picture of that one.

But, even during those crazy moments, the Lord still whispers his sweet truth to my oh so fragile heart...

So, come on November! Until then, we'll push along and make-due with the ever-unpredictable Skype and family phone-calls :)

New Mercies

Did I ever tell you how cute my hubby is?? :) This picture was taken my senior year of college (Go Rams!).
One of our first conversations happened outside Weaver Hall when I was freaking out over class- probably some issue that resulted from my beautiful ability to procrastinate on every. single. assignment. Anyway, he gently reminded me about Matthew 6 telling me not to worry, God's going to take care of my needs, and don't stress about tomorrow. At the time, it was exactly what I needed to hear- God's got today and He'll have tomorrow too.

Having just moved to KS, I made up my mind I WOULD NOT sit inside all day in my PJ's waiting for November. So, when the pastor's wife called yesterday to invite us over with some other families, I thought, "OK, get up, get the kids and go be social... isn't this what you were just praying about?" So yes, I was excited. But, these are the things that popped in my head:

1) You can't even make it through one Target run without Sophie screaming "I POO POO!!" and Charlie doing the make-you-want-to-rip-your-ears-off squeal coupled with the arched back (I thought that didn't happen until 2??!?)

2) It's someone else's house. If you can't keep your own kid from eating the remote buttons, playing in the toilet, and emptying every cabinet within reach, how will you stop them where everything is new and exciting?

3) Bottom line, you'll be a freak show.

Harsh I know, but that's what I thought.

So as I was finally brushing my hair for the first time that day, I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of something I read the night before and had been told by an oh so handsome gentlemen a few years ago.

"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam. 3:22-23

Piper puts it best in his A Godward Life:

"Often we feel like our reservoir of strength is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won't. Today's resources are for today, and part of those resources is the confidence that new resources will be given tomorrow. The basis of this assurance is the wonderful teaching of the Bible that God assigns only as much trouble to each day as that day can bear. God will not let his children be tested in any given day beyond what his mercy for that day will sustain. That's what Paul means when he says, 'No test has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able, but with the test will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.' 1 Corinthians 10:13... With every day's measure of (trouble), he gives new mercies. This is the point of Lamentations 3:22-23."

So, we went. Sophie only pushed a kid down one time and Charlie ate 1 piece of chalk :) Even though all they ate was a brownie, it was fun and I was reminded of the beautiful fellowship of the Body of Christ, and that the next day and the next and the next... God's mercies will be new and He'll meet each need. So I choose to enjoy the ride.

Unpacked!

No more boxes! Well, except those I just can't seem to get rid of so they end up stashed in closets... but for the most part, we're done :)

The great thing about unpacking is finding stuff you forgot you had- like my cute glasses "Granny Martha" gave me!
And this great storage crate for shoes... thanks mom :)
The kiddos are adjusting pretty well. Charlie still likes to climb in cabinets.
And I'm pretty sure he thinks this is his chair... I have a feeling daddy won't mind sharing...
Sophie's doing better. She was a little off for a few days, doing things like having an absolute breakdown in the grocery store, screaming and sobbing in the middle of Hobby Lobby, "But I want to go to Hobby Lobbilly!!!" and the rip-your-heart-out, "Mommy don't leave me..." at bedtime. But now she's back to singing to the stars and calling every kid her "friend." She's even found an old rocking horse she named "Barney." We try to check on him daily since he's not in the best health. Poor thing's missing his eyes and is down to only one ear. The only thing left is to take back nap time! She will at least give me a good 2 hour nap if she's in my bed.Here are a couple of pictures for mom and Mrs. Pam :)

Now we're all settled and it won't be long until November!